Scouting Seattle
Sorry for the lack of updates recently, but real life has a habit of getting in the way sometimes!
It’s a big week for the Timbers. The Whitecaps’ 4-0 trouncing of Chivas USA finally took Portland’s play-off hopes out the back and put a bullet in its head before coming back inside to tell little Merritt that they had gone to a better place. But the week can still end with celebration as the Timbers take a road trip to Snake Mountain to face the Sounders knowing that a draw would be enough to secure the Cascadia Cup.
A crowd of over 60,000 is expected for the match putting a lot of pressure on the Jumbotron operator to tell them what to chant.
I prepared a scouting report than started out a short overview of Seattle and grew into something that even I thought was too long to put on the site, so here it is in PDF format if you want to read or download it. I’ve seen far too much rave green over the past few days. It’s not good for you.
Short version: Seattle will seek to play at a high tempo; Rosales and Montero and key to the creativity going forward but they will also use Johnson’s height as a weapon, so winning the second ball will be crucial; they’ll push their wingers and full-backs high, so we should look to hit them on the counter here; quick, crisp passing is the key to unlocking the Seattle midfield and defence; set plays (both defensive and attacking) will be very important.
A battalion of the Timbers Army will make the trip north to support the team, hoping to put the Cascadia Cup to bed before the match against Vancouver next week. The team will be without Hanyer Mosquera through injury, though hopefully Diego Chara will be back to give some drive to the midfield.
It’ll hopefully not be so long between posts in future but things are getting hectic at home so no promises. As always, if you want to write something just get in touch!
Bring home the Cup!
#RCTID
