Heading into the 2023 season, the Seattle Sounders are facing lots of criticism based on the previous season’s results.  

I think the Seattle Sounders have a strong chance to make a deep run into the playoffs for this season. In the 2022 season, the Sounders finished in 11th place out of 14 and missed out on the playoffs for the first time in the club’s history. This led many fans to have a strong negative reaction.  

However, the 2022 season was not all bad for the Sounders. In 2022 the Seattle Sounders became the first American team to win the CONCACAF Champions League (A competition featuring teams from around the North American continent), that has been dominated by Mexican teams for decades. This was a massive achievement not only for the Seattle Sounders, but for the MLS, as it was a huge step forward. This victory proved that the MLS has potential as a growing league. It also proved that the Sounders were a strong and formidable team.  

I believe that the failure of the 2022 season had a few different causes. One cause was the Champions League. Because of the double stacked games during the Champions League, the Sounders had to rest some of the team’s best players during the regular season games. Some of these players, like Raul Ruidiaz, Nicolas Lodeiro, Joao Paulo, and Christian Roldan are crucial to the Sounder’s success. Another negative factor affecting the 2022 season was Joao Paulo’s injury in the Champions League final. The injury resulted in Joao Paulo missing most of the season.  

Heading into the 2023 season the Sounders organization faces heavy criticism because of the lack of roster changes. Many people think that the starting eleven need a reworking. I also think that the team lacks a strong presence in the wide areas of the pitch. Another concern is the age of the roster. The Sounders have an average age of 30 among their starting eleven.  

Student Elis Crosby said, “I am worried about the average age of our roster this year. If our players get injured, we do not have great alternatives.” However, from my point of view, the Sounders have a strong roster with many veteran players who have experience winning the MLS cup. The Sounders also have a bench full of young talent with names like Obed Vargas, Danny Leyva, and Ethan Dobbelaere. 

I believe that the Sounders youth academy and Tacoma Defiance(the Sounder’s farm team) have produced many skillful players with lots of potential. These players could bring success and/or money to the club.  

Stay Tuned… the Seattle Sounders have a team capable of winning the MLS cup or making a deep run into the playoffs. Overlooking the Sounders would be a big mistake! 

Sources: ESPN, Wikipedia.