Hey Everybody,
What a great day here in the beautiful Northwest. I hope you didn’t have to spend the majority of your day in an office. Then, on the other hand, not bad having a job in the current economic climate.
We had a good training at Qwest this morning. With the game on Tuesday and only a couple of days before the game on Saturday, today was a pretty light day. Just making sure we are ready and not tired come game time, especially those of us who played on Tuesday. Days like today are more of a tactical session, working on how we are going to try and play against our opponent. Although the physical side of the game might be easier on days like today, the focus has to be sharp. Nothing is worse than having a practice fall apart because the team is not there mentally. Practice went smooth and looks like we should be ready to go against Columbus.
This afternoon I was able to meet up with my Dad and a couple of friends to do some Trap Shooting. It was a great day to go out and blast some defenseless flying clay discs. I’m a decent shot, but one of the guys that I shot with is one of the top shooters in the state. Very humbling ! That’s ok, I don’t think he would have saved that header from Conner Casey in Colorado!
Thanks for all the great comments and a few questions. One that I would like to answer is about getting on players backs when they are not performing. I fully understand when fans get frustrated and voice their displeasure. The problem is when it goes too far. If you want to go on talk radio and say that someone had a bad game and have some legitimate reasons to back it up, that is your right and most players respect that. What we don’t like is when it gets personal. Cursing players families and just being obnoxious is taking it too far. Several years ago Eric Cantona, a famous French player for Man U, got a red card in a league match. As he was going off the pitch he was getting unbelievable abuse. Eric lost it and jumped over the sign boards and kicked a fan in the chest. At the time, most of the players in England were on his side because the abuse we took on the field was unbelievable. No matter what, we were expected to just take it. After the incident, I was doing a radio show in England, and a caller called in and said it was his right to abuse the players because he paid for his ticket, and therefore it was his right. I made the point then that I should be able to come in to his job while he was stocking shelves at a local supermarket and scream at him for 90 minutes. Tell him how useless he is, that he is the worst stocker in the store, maybe even in the whole chain of stores. Then maybe his mother was in the oldest profession in the world, and his father was disappointed that he can’t legally marry his friend Steve. After all, I was shopping there and spending my money, so it was my right. It is all about limits. By all means voice your opinion, but do it with a little class.
Are you ready for the weekend Seattle?
Kasey
Hi, Kasey — Thanks as always for your insights into the game. That’s cool you got to hang with your dad. It’s easier when you’re on the same continent, huh?
I was wondering if you caught the Chivas-Chicago game. I felt that if the ref had to throw around so many cards, he must have lost control of the game, and pretty early on, too. My question is, What would it take to get European level refereeing in the MLS?
Thats what i dont understand about fans sometimes, why dont they try to run constantly for 90 mins. Lol so will kasey be on cribs soon? Landon, is the only other person i recall doing it, although i have’nt watched it in years. Were gonna rock tommorrow!!!
Kasey-
I was wondering about your take on strategy during the game against cRapids at Starfire on Tuesday. One of the guys behind me was being obnoxious and yelling at Wahl about just blasting longballs from the back 1/3, when he had time. Was Sigi’s gameplan to do that, or was Tyson doing that on his own because he saw something?
Second, I’ve seen lots of managers hold their starting keepers out of FA cup games, open cup games, etc, and could never figure it out. Is there a physical recovery time you need after a game? (Compared to say, a midfielder?)
Thanks. Good luck tomorrow. I’ll be there. Southwest corner with the SuperSounders twopole.
Well said Kasey.
And Congrats on Save of the Week.
Totally agree about fans taking it too far and then acting like it’s their right to do so. Total crap. Hope you haven’t run into too much of that in the MLS and especially not in Seattle. Good luck Saturday! Me, my wife, and our 3 children (8,5, and 17 mos.) will be cheering our heads off.
Loving the blog! I’m ready for the weekend! Three points.
I always appreciate your blog. This one is especially timely. The Sounders started off so strong, I think fans grew to expect perfection. But with injuries and a natural learning curve (you’re a new team!) – it’s totally realistic to expect that not every game will be perfect for every player (it never will be!). It is easy for fans to forget that. As Sounders fans, we never want to be thought of as “those obnoxious fans” – we all know a lot of teams we can think of that might fit that classification. Thanks for your great remarks about the importance of sportsmanship and respect – even for the fans.
Hey Kasey, great game tonight against the Crew — fantastic ‘gut instinct’ save to your left!
As a fellow keeper, you continue to amaze me with your positioning. Can you share with us a little on how you manage your line, when you decide to step off it, and how you protect your near post while preparing for the pass across the six?
Thanks, keep up the fantastic work, Captain!
Tim
Kasey-
Quick question – what drives your decision on to go with shorts or pants? I was shocked to see you in pants this weekend.. when I used to play, I would always defer to shorts, even on turf. Just wondering. I figured it would have been hot Saturday in full pants.