Following a 1-0 win at CenturyLink Field against the Portland Timbers, Sounders FC has been busy making final preparations for a three-match road stint.
First up, the Rave Green heads to the Big Apple to take on expansion team New York City FC. Sunday’s match is just the second against an Eastern Conference opponent for the Sounders, who will go on to face Columbus and Vancouver before returning to CenturyLink Field in mid-May.
To preview this weekend’s game, SoundersFC.com caught up with New York-based soccer writer Ives Galarcep, the Creator and Editor-in-Chief of Soccer By Ives. Founded in 2008, SBI is an award-winning American soccer news website that covers the domestic and international game. As of 2013, he also served as lead reporter and columnist for Goal.com.
Dangerman
David Villa, when he’s healthy, he’s their go-to guy. He’s a real handful; he can score goals, he can finish, he can set up teammates…but he’s been injured.
Without him, they’ve been struggling to have someone else step up as the true dangerman. Mix Diskerud is a guy who’s really stepped up for them and played consistently. Even when they’ve struggled, he’s played well.
If Villa is there, the Sounders will have to worry about him. If he’s not, then Mix Diskerud is really the guy who you need to contain in the midfield.
Building an Expansion Team
I don’t think this team is a finished product. I think people knew that when the season began. They still have players that will come as we get closer to the midpoint of the season. Frank Lampard’s coming in the summer – let’s not forget about him – he’s a superstar and he’s going to help them. We’re also talking about a team with ties to Manchester City and there’s an arrangement there to have players come over.
Between Lampard and the two or three other players they may bring in, that should offer them a boost. From what I understand, they do have the space, they do have the salary cap room to accommodate some pick-ups and they need them. Depth is an issue for NYCFC.
Despite their recent troubles, I do think they’ve shown some quality. For me, I thought they were ahead of schedule at the beginning of the season. Recently, injuries have really taken their toll and the lack of depth hurt them. Once they’re healthy and once they get those pieces in place, NYCFC will be a better team in the second half of the season.
I have been saying that since before the season began. With Jason Kreis as the owner and the reinforcements in the summer, I think you’ll really see them in form in the second half of the season.
Who To Keep An Eye On
I like Mullins. I think he’s a player who showed in New England in his rookie year that he’s got good qualities. If you give him minutes and you put good players around him, he can take advantage of that. Adam Nemec is another quality player.
I really like their midfield. With Mix Diskerud and Ned Grabavoy, they’re really creative guys who can keep the ball and knock it around. Once Villa returns, those guys will be key to providing him the service. When you want to talk about Seattle this weekend, if they can contain Grabavoy and Diskerud, I think they’ll have success.
Favorite Stat of the Season
Their passing stats have been good for the first half of the year.
That’s been led by the guys like Diskerud and Grabavoy who do a good job of being possessive and playing efficiently with their passing in the midfield. From that standpoint, they are a team that will pass the ball well and knock it around. If you look at their stats now, they’re on the higher end and higher than you’d expect for a team with the record they currently have.
Final Thoughts on NYCvSEA
Ozzie Alonso is a big guy for Seattle. The matchup in midfield as he deals with Diskerud and Grabavoy is going to be a great one. One thing to really consider is that it is such a small field. On a big field, Alonso has no problem covering a lot of ground and imposing his will on other teams. It should be even easier for him on that field to be someone who can really give them problems. I think that’s a big matchup to watch.
I'm also interested in Obafemi Martins going up against the NYCFC defense. At this point, it is a little unclear as to who will be available for this match. Their defense has been solid when healthy, but there are vulnerabilities there for Martins to give them some trouble. In goal for NYCFC, they had Ryan Meara last game. A late blunder by him cost the team the game so I’m interested to see who starts back there for them
