Welcome to the Matchday 25 edition of the written version of the Lobbing Scorchers Agenda Check, where each week we take a look at the status of various agendas that we either would like to push ourselves or notice permeating among the fan base surrounding particular Sounders players.
Let’s dive in.
Rusnák is terrible
Agenda status: On life support, pretty much dead
Seattle’s No. 10 is on some kind of heater. With another goal and another assist against the Revs, Rusnák now has eight goal contributions (3g/5a) over the course of this five-game unbeaten run. His dime to set up Jordan Morris’ opener was one of my favorite helpers a Seattle player has logged this season.
It’s not a huge sample size, but Rusnák is among the most in-form attackers in the league at the moment. The question now is to what degree he can sustain it. I wouldn’t expect him to stay this hot, but a 15-plus assist season feels more likely than not right now.
Jordan Morris is the No. 9
Agenda status: Strengthened
Another vintage run and finish with a higher degree of difficulty than he made it look. The power and accuracy Morris had on that shot while in a dead-sprint, with a defender on his back, was really impressive.
I thought Raúl Ruidíaz actually looked pretty good in his substitute appearance, but there’s not much of a debate to be had about who the starting striker is in a first-choice XI right now. As good as Rusnák has been, Morris has been just as hot, as he’s now got seven goals in his last nine games. There are shades of Dempsey-Oba in this Rusnák-Morris connection that’s taken shape over the last few weeks.
Paul Rothrock should start
Agenda status: Not skyrocketed, but still strong as ever
This won’t come as a surprise, but I was happy to see Rothrock draw the start in this match. It wasn’t the hottest week this agenda has ever had, but I also didn’t see anything to diminish it. The offense just looks better when he’s on the field.
My take on this remains unchanged: Until Pedro de la Vega is fully fit, Rothrock is a starter on this team. Going forward in his career I love his potential outlook as a super-sub that can be deployed to inject energy and an attacking threat when the team is chasing a goal.
Obed Vargas is the truth
Agenda status: Strengthened
Another assist for the breakout midfielder. Vargas is now up to five helpers on the season while mostly playing in Seattle's double-pivot and getting a little bit of run at right-mid.
I can’t picture a first-choice XI without Vargas at this point, which is crazy to think about considering he’s still just 18 years old.
Stefan Frei is washed, Andy T should start
Agenda status: Diminished
This was the best game of the season so far for Stefan Frei. The legendary backstop fully earned his clean sheet, making a spectacular double-save in the first half and coming up with a couple of other clutch denials.
I never felt as passionately as some did that it was time for Andrew Thomas to take over as the full-time No. 1 despite his successful cameos this season. Frei has conceded a few goals this year that could have/should have been saved, but when you need a save in a big moment, there are still few ‘keepers in MLS that I trust more. This game was a good reminder as to why he’s one of the league’s top all-time netminders.
