P/I/P Sounders vs LAF 7:30PM 7/20/2024

airkeeper
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P/I/P Sounders vs LAF 7:30PM 7/20/2024 Jul 19, 2024 18:58:22 GMT Zafiro, Holden, and 1 more like this

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Post by airkeeper on Jul 19, 2024 18:58:22 GMT

This is a big one! LAF are second best in the West (4th in Supporters' Shield) while we are on the ascendency in 6th in the West (11th in the Shield). Historically, LAF have dominated the head-to-head: in 19 meetings, they've won 10 (including 2-1 back on 24 February) and drawn four times, and they have won the last three matchups. I may not be a Schmetzer fan, he made a convincing soundbite to rally the supporters ahead of this clash. In the past, we've "[felt] better than Bob;" let's see if we can't feel superior to Steve after the final whistle on Saturday!

STATISTICAL COMPARISON
Records (WDL)-- LAF (away) 4-2-4; SEA (home) 6-5-1
Goals For, Against, and Difference-- LAF: 45, 30, +15; SEA: 34, 26, +8
Points Per Game-- LAF 1.91 (1st in West, 3rd in MLS); SEA 1.54 (5th in West, tied 9th in MLS)
Current Form-- LAF: DLWWW; SEA: WWWWW
Goals in last 5-- LAF: +2 GD (12 GF, 10 GA); SEA: +7 GD (10 GF, 3 GA)

PLAYER AVAILABILITY REPORT
Los Angeles FC
OUT: Lorenzo Dellavalle (knee)
OUT: Timothy Tillman (leg)
OUT: Christian Olivera (foot)

Seattle Sounders
OUT: Josh Atencio (international duty)
OUT: Stuart Hawkins (international duty)
OUT: Braudilio Rodrigues (hamstring)

MATCH OFFICIALS
REF: Allen Chapman*
AR1: Andrew Bigelow
AR2: Diego Blas
4TH: Elijio Arreguin
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
AVAR: Jonathan Johnson

*Chapman is a name most of us probably recognize; he's officiated 24 matches involving the Sounders. In those 24 matches, 50% have been wins, 20.8% draws, and 29.2% losses, and we average 1.71 points per game. Those stats look better when focusing on home matches: out of 13 matches, 60% were wins and 23.1% draws and 2.08 PPG. On the other side of the ball, LAF on the road with Chapman as referee have been historically terrible: out of 11 matches as the away team, just 9.1% were wins, 36.4% draws, 54.5% losses and just 0.64 PPG.

TV/Streaming: MLS Season Pass on AppleTV
Local Radio: KJR 93.3FM and El Rey 1360AM

Last Edit: Jul 20, 2024 6:42:23 GMT by airkeeper

#SchmetzerOut

fuzzy
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P/I/P Sounders vs LAF 7:30PM 7/20/2024 Jul 19, 2024 22:24:40 GMT airkeeper, sounderfan1974, and 1 more like this

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Post by fuzzy on Jul 19, 2024 22:24:40 GMT

First time in a while I'm excited to watch a match. I honestly just hope nothing weird happens early to muck this up for either side (e.g. red card, gk holwer). While obviously I want to win, I'm really tuning in to this one to see where this team stacks up and I'll feel cheated if there is some obvious excuse available to defend the result.

airkeeper
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P/I/P Sounders vs LAF 7:30PM 7/20/2024 Jul 20, 2024 0:17:58 GMT via mobile sounderfan1974 likes this

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Post by airkeeper on Jul 20, 2024 0:17:58 GMT

Jul 19, 2024 22:24:40 GMT fuzzy said:

First time in a while I'm excited to watch a match. I honestly just hope nothing weird happens early to muck this up for either side (e.g. red card, gk holwer). While obviously I want to win, I'm really tuning in to this one to see where this team stacks up and I'll feel cheated if there is some obvious excuse available to defend the result.

Not gonna lie--if LAF picks up an early red, gives up an early goal, concedes a penalty, scores and OG, lets in a howler, has a player start to disappear like Marty McFly before his parents smooched at the Enchantment Under The Sea dance, etc. no one will be hearing me complain. I just wanna beat LAF and continue our win streak!

#SchmetzerOut

sounderfan1974
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P/I/P Sounders vs LAF 7:30PM 7/20/2024 Jul 20, 2024 4:20:21 GMT airkeeper likes this

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Post by sounderfan1974 on Jul 20, 2024 4:20:21 GMT

Watched the highlight of LAFC's last match vs. RSL in LA. LA scored early due to a mistake by their GK, but RSL seemed to hold their own and had many chances in a 1-1 draw. One of the commentators said that Bouanga seemed to be their only threat, so if the Sounders want to win tomorrow, they can't let him get in behind...

airkeeper
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P/I/P Sounders vs LAF 7:30PM 7/20/2024 Jul 20, 2024 6:41:03 GMT Zafiro and sounderfan1974 like this

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Post by airkeeper on Jul 20, 2024 6:41:03 GMT

Jul 20, 2024 4:20:21 GMT sounderfan1974 said:

Watched the highlight of LAFC's last match vs. RSL in LA. LA scored early due to a mistake by their GK, but RSL seemed to hold their own and had many chances in a 1-1 draw. One of the commentators said that Bouanga seemed to be their only threat, so if the Sounders want to win tomorrow, they can't let him get in behind...

Yes, Bouanga is a huge goal-scoring threat (pretty much any time he is within 20 yards of goal)--3rd in the Golden Boot race with 14 goals and 9 assists in 23 appearances. He has not had a goal or assist since 4 July, so he is probably feeling frustrated, but he leads the league in shots on target with 44 on the season. Another big threat is Bogusz; he is 6th in the Golden Boot with 12 goals and 6 assists; on top of that, he is 5th in MLS for SOT with 33. Tillman (4 goals, 5 assists) and Olivera (5 goals, 1 assist) have turned up on their IR as OUT for the match, so that means their best two players are going to be relied on to create almost everything....

It seems to me like a lot of teams tend to sit back and try to absorb and counter against LAF; when teams put pressure on them and take it to them, that is when some cracks start to show. If we play with the intensity and mindset we've been playing with the last few weeks then I really think we have a good chance to beat them. Whether we can get a clean sheet, on that I am less optimistic. Suffice to say, I am glad that JP got some rest because the back four are going to need him as a buffer. Our defenders are gonna have their work cut out for them, and Frei will need to be on his A-game.

Last Edit: Jul 20, 2024 6:45:37 GMT by airkeeper

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airkeeper Senior Member Posts: 8,197	P/I/P Sounders vs LAF 7:30PM 7/20/2024 Jul 21, 2024 3:00:33 GMT via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by airkeeper on Jul 21, 2024 3:00:33 GMT Terrible defense and then the most moronic play I've ever seen where Nouhou thinks he is a keeper. So, Fuzzy, will this penalty sully the result for you if LAF go on to win?
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airkeeper
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P/I/P Sounders vs LAF 7:30PM 7/20/2024 Jul 21, 2024 3:10:44 GMT via mobile

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Post by airkeeper on Jul 21, 2024 3:10:44 GMT

What happens when you let LAF come in and dictate the match? This. This is what happens.

Poor effort by the starters, back to the lazy tactics we'd moved away from during the win streak, and a lineup tinkering for no damn reason.

This ain't working. Should move RBW to RB, push C.Roldan up to RM, and move PDLV to the left. Then at halftime, make subs early for certain dudes...like PDLV--dude has looked gassed since minute 30 or so and never should have started as he is very obviously not up to fitness. FFS

Last Edit: Jul 21, 2024 3:24:05 GMT by airkeeper

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airkeeper Senior Member Posts: 8,197	P/I/P Sounders vs LAF 7:30PM 7/20/2024 Jul 21, 2024 3:37:29 GMT via mobile Holden likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by airkeeper on Jul 21, 2024 3:37:29 GMT My dog showed more hustle and talent when he took a dump in the backyard in the 41st minute than any Sounders player has showed in the first half.
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TSchulz Administrator Victory, or death! Posts: 8,608	P/I/P Sounders vs LAF 7:30PM 7/20/2024 Jul 21, 2024 3:51:34 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by TSchulz on Jul 21, 2024 3:51:34 GMT Interesting re-tweet by S@H:

TSchulz Administrator Victory, or death! Posts: 8,608	P/I/P Sounders vs LAF 7:30PM 7/20/2024 Jul 21, 2024 3:53:42 GMT airkeeper, sounderfan1974, and 1 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by TSchulz on Jul 21, 2024 3:53:42 GMT One of the youngest players on the team telling one of our "most experienced" players to "use his head"

airkeeper
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P/I/P Sounders vs LAF 7:30PM 7/20/2024 Jul 21, 2024 3:56:44 GMT via mobile sounderfan1974 likes this

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Post by airkeeper on Jul 21, 2024 3:56:44 GMT

Only reason I'm bothering to watch the second half--well, two reasons: first, I have nothing better to do today; second, damn near every match this season, we play just one good half of footy, so we are due for a good half. *fingers crossed*

#SchmetzerOut

airkeeper Senior Member Posts: 8,197	P/I/P Sounders vs LAF 7:30PM 7/20/2024 Jul 21, 2024 4:06:03 GMT via mobile sylvia likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by airkeeper on Jul 21, 2024 4:06:03 GMT Wow. Rothrock looked like he'd been clipped which should be a penalty but he got a caution for "simulation"? Oof
	Last Edit: Jul 21, 2024 4:45:14 GMT by airkeeper: Auto-(in)correct messed up spelling of Rothrock to "rethink" lol #SchmetzerOut

INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ
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P/I/P Sounders vs LAF 7:30PM 7/20/2024 Jul 21, 2024 4:20:49 GMT via mobile sounderfan1974 likes this

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Post by INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ on Jul 21, 2024 4:20:49 GMT

Jul 21, 2024 4:06:03 GMT airkeeper said:

Wow. Rethink looked like he'd been clipped which should be a penalty but he got a caution for "simulation"? Oof

Might be an unpopular opinion but Rothrock brought that on himself. Whether or not he got touched, it LOOKED like a dive. Minimal (if any) contact, a delay, then a big theatrical fall.

airkeeper
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P/I/P Sounders vs LAF 7:30PM 7/20/2024 Jul 21, 2024 4:51:35 GMT via mobile searabbit and sylvia like this

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Post by airkeeper on Jul 21, 2024 4:51:35 GMT

I have nothing positive to say about that match. Schmetzer and his coaching staff have no clue WTF they are doing, our GM has no transfer targets (unless some other RSL reject becomes available), and our FO refuses to do anything other than spend on real estate development.

This one really comes down to terrible tactical choices--from the starting eleven to style of play and Inability and/or unwillingness to make adjustments until too late. Steve is feeling better than Brian...

Hey, it's too bad LAF didn't get a fourth goal; maybe the organization would've offered fans a f***ing refund (see: 8 May 2010 vs LAG).

Last Edit: Jul 21, 2024 4:52:28 GMT by airkeeper

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INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ
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P/I/P Sounders vs LAF 7:30PM 7/20/2024 Jul 21, 2024 5:15:22 GMT Holden, sounderfan1974, and 2 more like this

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Post by INVINCIBLE 2023 Fantasy Champ on Jul 21, 2024 5:15:22 GMT

All the dumbasses who get their opinions from Hanauer's handmaidens must be in shock right now, while everyone who knows soccer is not surprised. We were beating up on bad teams. LAFC is not a bad team. Hence, 3-0.

Rusnak was atrocious. Dude needs to get the fuck out. Like, Rothrock was clearly outmatched, but he was still trying. Put Rusnak against a team that's in playoff contention and he just doesn't give a shit.