It’s no secret that Sounders FC players and coaches have been disappointed with their recent run of form.
With that disappointment comes a need to make adjustments in order to get back to winning ways. Whether that be changes to the training regimen or tactical modifications, the coaching staff is looking down different avenues to ensure successful results moving forward.
“I think after the spell of games that we've underperformed, I think the tenor and the tone of some of the training that we've done, we've pushed them a little more,” said Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “We started off okay. We started off with a ton of games, so you couldn't really crack the whip, so to speak.”
“But now,” he continued, “things kind of opened up…[Wednesday's] training was a lot longer. We were barking at them a little bit more just to get them to really do the work in training that maybe we couldn't do because of the fixture congestion.”
The main focus in training has been specifically geared toward improvements in the attack. In the last four games, the team has only found the back of the net once. Schmetzer’s objective is to change that on Saturday when the team heads to Toyota Stadium to face FC Dallas.
“We've really been trying to hone in on our attacking movements, specifically in the final third, and, you know, see if we can get someone to make a play and score a goal,” said Schmetzer. “It's been pretty consistent.”
Injuries to players like Jordan Morris, Paul Arriola and Pedro de la Vega have forced the coaching staff to make changes in the lineup in the last four matches. But, differences in playing styles from those who had to shift into those roles, along with his substitution patterns, led Schmetzer to consider a different approach this Saturday.
“At some point, if we don't get results, we'll have to change formation, because that's just the way it goes,” said Schmetzer. “We haven't won in a while, so that's kind of the [next] step.”
It will be up to the players, however, to really come into their own and show what they are capable of.
“I want them to play with enthusiasm, with some freedom, some courage, with some confidence, and then we'll start winning games,” said Schmetzer.
The Sounders got off to a slow start last year before completing a mid-season turnaround that led to a fourth-place finish in the West and an appearance in the Western Conference Final. In that same vein, the hope is to flip the narrative of their recent results and become one of the top ranked clubs in the league, beginning this weekend in Texas.
“Just hope that the [injuries] are early in the season, and then we're healthy for the rest of the year,” said Schmetzer. “Usually, luck evens out over the course of a year, so we've run into a bit of bad luck now. So hopefully at the end of the year, someone's smiling at us.”
