Over the weekend i managed to catch a re-run of the Seattle Sounders- DC United game at Qwest Field and i'm glad i did, a 3-3 draw which had almost everything, great attacking play, a chance to catch a glimpse at some potential stars and a phenomenal 30,000 strong sea of green. In game terms, it was a very entertaining spectacle, DC seem to be revitalised this season, Tom Soehn has done wqell to address the team's needs in terms of strength in depth after an injury ravaged 2008 campaign, re-signing Christian Gomez from Colorado looked a gamble but one that has so far largely paid off, afctor in the form of rookies Chris Pontius, Rodney Wallace and Josh Wickes, who has by all accounts been a revelation in goal for the Black and Red as well as the attacking talent in Fred, Emillio, the evergreen Jaime Moreno and a rejuvenated Santino Quaranta and all seems well. The playoffs surely beckon for the most successful MLS team in history this season And what of the league's newest team, Seattle Sounders?? With every expansion team that starts play comes the almost foregone conclusion that they will finish bottom of the pile, Chivas USA, Real Salt Lake, Toronto and San Jose will vouch for that. But Seattle seem more than capable of bucking that trend. The owners made an incredibly smart move in brining in 2 time MLS Cup winning coach Sigi Schmid, a man who worked wonders with Columbus Crew last season. He seems to be on the right track here aswell, luring Kasey Keller and Freddie Ljungberg to Qwest Field were master strokes, both offer a steady hand to the younger players and can still play, Ljungberg looks like he means business, that he wants to play in MLS, unlike a certain DB (in my opinion). Schmid has built a solid defence which is more than complimented by the rock solid Kasey Keller and has some quality attackers aswell, Freddy Montero looks to be a star in the making, the aforementioned Ljungberg, Nate Jaqua and first round draft pick Steve Zakuani and while they may not win MLS Cup come November, they look a good bet for the playoffs and who would bet against them at Qwest Field in front of that cauldron of noise, passion and green and blue??
The 3-3 draw aside, what impressed me most was that 30,000 strong crowd of screaming Seattle fans, it was the loudest most charged crowed i've seen in MLS to date, and is wonderful thing for the league with two more expansion teams in Portland Vancouver starting out in 2011. It will surely create an electric atmosphere when those teams play each other, there seems to be a real love for the game in the North West of the country. But in 2010 all eyes are on Philadelphia when the Union take the field in Chester in March, and with the likes of DC, Chicago and New England within spitting distance of the new boys, there coule be some tasty chapters of the MLS story book written out East next season. At a time in football when the likes of Real Madrid are spending £140million on 2 players, the top dogs at MLS headquarters are expanding and growing steadily, new teams, new stadiums, new fans, quality players are all a by-product of this strategy and they look to have learnt from the mistakes of the old NASL. I do, howveer, have some questions to pose: 1) Why can't teams such as FC Dallas and Colorado seem to get decent attendances? 2) Who will win the race to join the league in 2012? 3) What will the league look like in 2011/12?? Single table?? 4 conferences?? Very soon though, i feel that what we saw at Seattle on Wednesday night will be the rule not the exception,and when it is, MLS can finally turn round and say to it's critics who don't think soccer can make it in America, "I told you so"