Sounders Post Transfer Deadline Part One: The Frustration
I wanted to wait for the transfer deadline to pass before being too critical. And it appears despite all reported efforts the Sounders will move forward with what they have on their roster.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing and, yet, it’s still a bit disappointing.
As I’ve mentioned the Sounders have 2018 TAM remaining and maybe even more than the amount that I thought if they were potential able to sign both Brad Smith and Paolo Hurtado in the same window. But it’s important to understand that despite not using it, it did not expire with the closing of the transfer window but will actually still be available for use the next two transfer windows.
The Sounders haven’t lost out on funds. It’s best to remain clear, up front and mindful about this as we can objectively lose site of everything due to frustrations. However the season long issue of being overly reliant upon a group of individuals staying healthy when it’s a tenuous outcome still stands.
Victor Rodriguez, an exciting player but continues to be unreliable. Not to take away the talent he has but the injuries mitigate the amount of impact he has and still can have on the remaining season. He’s back in training for now but how long does that last? How many minutes of the remaining 1,080 left in the season does he see?
Roman Torres is in a similar boat. While he got extremely unlucky with the knee injury in his initial season, he’s played just above a full season’s worth of minutes spread across four seasons. With Kim Kee-Hee in a walking boat for hopefully just the short term can Torres A) fill those remaining minutes until he returns and B) play at a level of quality that’s near good?
Gustav Svensson and Osvaldo Alonso both have filled in nicely in the central midfield allowing Cristian Roldan to get forward but both are over 30 and likely won’t play the next 12 games straight. Harry Shipp should be able to help alleviate the issue should Rodriguez stay healthy for a time and giving Brian Schmetzer the potential ability to rotate guys a bit.
The point is while the Sounders added Raul Ruidiaz and Brad Smith during the summer window they are still in need of more quality depth. SportsClubStats has the Sounders chances of making the playoffs at 39% while FiveThirtyEight have them at 56%. They have the talent to compete and win that final playoff spot but the last third of the season isn’t going to go perfect. When that next trap door opens, what’s Plan B?
The league right now has so many interesting pieces available either on the trade market or via loan that it’s reasonable to be a little frustrated with the fact they did not make a move to help push past Houston, Minnesota, Salt Lake or Vancouver.
But there is still time for Seattle to make a move and fill the last spot in their senior roster. Up and until September 14th they can add a player who are unattached and that might be where they are headed. We’ll have to wait and see how this all plays out but this was a bit frustrating to watch go down.
