Ljungberg on TFC Fans..."They're Not Arseholes"

[Blizzard]

You're kidding, right? It was a basic one-touch give and go, and Serioux LET HIM GO, he didn't even try to cover him. It was a monumental defensive fuck up, not some piece of brilliance. Christ, high school defenders are taught to pick up their man on a give and go.

There's no doubting how well he played, but given the almost identical team-versus-team statistics, it's fairly obvious this game was at least as much about TFC playing like garbage as Seattle playing well. In fact, I'd say they were competent and professional, but nothing spectacular at all.

We just sucked. Horribly.

Yup. Adrian bit. He stopped moving on the first pass and was ten feet behind on the return.

Harmse almost got his foot on the pass (to my eye) but the fault was all Adrian's. Adrian will be ok but that play reminded me of something Julius James would have done.

B

[Detroit_TFC]

Wouldn't "We're Not Arseholes" make for a great banner?

Yes, yet another banner that will give those delicate ladies in Columbus the vapors.

[jloome]

We didn’t just suck, jloome…we were picked apart.

And I didn't say it was brilliance…I said it was brilliant.

If you watch the game (again) you'll see Freddie did it five or six times against Serioux. He was totally clueless! Half the time he doesn’t even realize where he is on the pitch!

Your thread “Tactical Consistency” is what it’s all about…and Sigi knows it! Its not just your own set up…it’s who your setting it up against.

As I stated here after watching Seattle in their first two games, Sigi has built THIS team for THIS league. He has now “carved up” three back lines and even Saturday without his top goal scorer it didn’t matter because their movement off the ball was absolutely…brill…errrr…magic! Quick give and go passes, two touch turns, passing into space not feet and almost everything on the deck…right from the opening whistle. He played to TFC's weakness and to the conditions. Serioux chased Freddie's shadow until he went off. When I watched the game the second time I didn’t even look at TFC. In the first two games Seattle has left CD's standing exactly like Adrian was on Saturday…that’s not a mistake.

Sigi gets it, this team is for real.

Again, as much as i agree that they're a good team and Schmidt a good coach, the stats don't bare out that they've "carved up" their opponents.

What they've done is display the kind of tactical consistency, effort and drive that EVERY professional team at this level should show. The point on Serioux is important: a mistake like that at League One level or above in England and you might never see the field as a started again.

But in MLS, it's par for the course for two-thirds of the league to not meet those basic tests.

[Toronto_Bhoy]

Again, as much as i agree that they're a good team and Schmidt a good coach, the stats don't bare out that they've "carved up" their opponents.

Just to close the loop on this, I never said anything about the "stats", I was speaking about their performances and the tactics employed in the three games I witnessed that the Sounders have played thus far. They shredded the Red Bull back line and should have won by 5 or 6. Same with Real Salt Lake. Your right the "stats" don't bare out the carving they have given their first three opponents those stats/results should be double!

IMO, your entitled to yours...

[brad]

Again, as much as i agree that they're a good team and Schmidt a good coach, the stats don't bare out that they've "carved up" their opponents.

What they've done is display the kind of tactical consistency, effort and drive that EVERY professional team at this level should show. The point on Serioux is important: a mistake like that at League One level or above in England and you might never see the field as a started again.

But in MLS, it's par for the course for two-thirds of the league to not meet those basic tests.

This whole post is key. Sigi is the reason this team is playing so well. He took a very average Columbus side and did the same thing. He got them playing very simple, basic football and it worked. Seattle look to be doing the same.

[TFCREDNWHITE]

Seattle for real!?

Maybe....I don't buy into yet...

Remeber we went on a 5/6 game unbeaten streak last year...It doesn't me squat for Seattle yet...

I think the house of cards will come crashing down once they play Chivas and then it will all spiral out of control for them as they nose dive into the ground....

Remember, Seattle "thinks' they have it all figured out, but in reality they don't! They have just been fortunate to play teams that haven't hit their stride yet...

Wait till Ljungberg gets injured, WHICH i GUARANTEE he will!!!

[Roogsy]

Maybe Seattle is this league's "Hull City"?

Great start. Fading bad in the home stretch.

[Toronto Gunner]

Maybe Seattle is this league's "Hull City"?

Remember Man City last season? They topped the table for a number of weeks under Sven, but it didn't take long until they dropped down to where they deserved to be. I definitely see Seattle as doing the same thing, but then again, only time will tell.

[Stugatzo]

i think Bull's onto something...how bout a chant?

we're not arseholes clap-clap-clapclapclap
we're not arseholes clap-clap-clapclapclap
we're not arseholes clap-clap-clapclapclap

[brad]

Remember Man City last season? They topped the table for a number of weeks under Sven, but it didn't take long until they dropped down to where they deserved to be. I definitely see Seattle as doing the same thing, but then again, only time will tell.

Indeed time will tell, but I think Sigi is a hell of a coach at this level. He has Seattle doing the simple, fundamental things right. He did the same thing with Columbus. I haven't seen any other teams in the MLS doing this.

[Dirk Diggler]

Maybe Seattle is this league's "Hull City"?

Great start. Fading bad in the home stretch.

That is possible ... although looking at Seattle's roster, it does not seem as if they are playing over their heads. Montero was always highly touted before he even came to the league and may just be the best striker in the MLS. Freddie is also proven quality and as long as he doesn't injure himself, he should be amongst the best players in the league. Keller has proven himself at the highest levels so he's definitely not playing over his head right now with all the clean sheets. In addition, you have exciting young guys such as Zakuani and Nyassi. Not to mention Sigi Schmidt, who may very well be the best manager in the continent.

So all in all, the comparison really is not fair. At no point during the season did anyone think that Hull City had 2 or 3 of the best players and the best coach in the league.