Each week, I try to ask five questions of the beat reporter for the team that Atlanta United will play.
This week, it’s Geoff Baker with the Seattle Times.
Baker began covering the Sounders for the Times this year, in addition to being a sports enterprise and investigative reporter and writing a weekly column on sports business. He covered Major League Baseball for 16 seasons as a beat writer in Toronto and later Seattle from 1998-2013. He is a nine-time finalist for the Associated Press Sports Editors award – including this year for Investigative Reporting on Seattle’s quest to build a major sports arena — and a two-time winner in the biggest newspaper circulation category.
1. Has Seattle given any indication if the players who are out on international duty will play on Friday?
A: Head coach Brian Schmetzer hinted strongly that all except striker Jordan Morris will be out there, either as a starter or off the bench. The Sounders have been looking at things from a long-term health perspective since January, given their short off-season. So, if anybody looked less than their best in qualifiers, or starts hobbling around, there was an excellent chance they’d sit Friday. But that never really happened. With Morris, though, he didn’t even play for USMNT before being sent back early with a sore ankle he re-injured against the New York Red Bulls the previous Sunday. So, he’d be my pick to sit if anybody does. On the other hand, Clint Dempsey getting four goals in two games was exactly what the team has wanted to see from him, so they’ll ride his sudden surge as far as he lets them.
2. If they can’t, either because of duty or injury, which player will be missed most against Atlanta United?
A: Morris sitting out would not be the end of the world because they have a top-notch striker off the bench in Will Bruin who would be starting with many teams in this league. Take Dempsey or Nicolas Lodeiro out as well, though, with Morris already iffy, you’d lose a whole lot of playmaking ability out of that attacking group. I’m told both Dempsey and Lodeiro will play, though, so that isn’t a concern. Roman Torres got banged up a little playing for Panama, but he’s supposedly OK. He’s looked a little slow at times out there and Gustav Svensson has been such a capable replacement at center back that I’m not sure Torres resting would hurt the team much. Ultimately, if anyone sits it will likely be Morris and that won’t be as harmful as resting Dempsey or Lodeiro.
3. Is there any bad blood between the teams after the preseason game? Brian Schmetzer had some interesting comments after the game.
A: There was definitely some testiness during the second half of that Charleston, SC game once the Sounders veterans came in. I don’t think some of the scrappier guys like Osvaldo Alonso were thrilled when their reservists and trialists were nearly run out of the stadium by what was close to Atlanta’s starting unit in the first half. So, yes, I do expect there to be some chippy play. There has also been plenty of mention about the money Atlanta is spending this year. Nothing too overt on that front, but between the cash and the first-half pounding in the exhibition game there will definitely be a little extra motivation floating around.
4. Of those likely to play, what is the key matchup?
A: I’d say how Seattle’s midfield slows down United’s attack, especially with Josef Martinez out. Seattle plays a possession-based game and guys like Osvaldo Alonso will be out there knocking heads for the ball and trying to keep it away from Miguel Almiron, Yamil Assad and Hector Villaba. Harry Shipp has been a vital addition thus far as well along the left flank and his ball control skills are something to watch as he plays keep-away and gets scoring chances going. The Sounders know they aren’t going to blow Atlanta off the field, but if they don’t give up the ball then United can’t score.
5. Have you noticed any difference in how opponents are playing Seattle after it won the MLS Cup?
A: Opponents have come out fast, furious and hungry on the Sounders, who have had their share of early struggles in games. It really caught them off-guard the first game or two, but they improved their last time out against the New York Red Bulls.
Their key, as I mentioned, is maintaining possession and they can sometimes get ahead of themselves by getting caught up in the early emotion and trying to pounce too quickly on teams. That is especially problematic with teams that are explosive up high, as the Sounders have been victimized by counter-attacks early on.
All that said, the second half of their game against New York was the best they’ve looked this season. They controlled the ball throughout and had the Red Bulls running around in circles. You really saw the talent and skill in this team’s attack, which goes beyond Clint Dempsey and Jordan Morris. Midfielders Lodeiro and Shipp are ball wizards that can frustrate the most explosive of teams and make them look foolish if they get impatient and give the ball up.
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