Ship's Log, March 8: The theater of sample sizes
By now everyone knows that small samples sizes don’t really mean much – it’s only if they are an example of a change in behavior, skillset or tactic when they might.
Still, the small samples can bring joy and fear
Joy
- Josh Atencio might just be in his third breakout season. He had the first 8.0 of the year from Realio in a match where he bossed the midfield like a classic Seattle Sounders CM – 100+ touches, dominant defense, rangey passing tree.
- Andrew Thomas has a 1.00 GAA on a 71% save percentage with a clean sheet. This is on par with what he did in the USL Championship. He looks like a strong keeper, not a backup keeper. Seattle took a risk letting Cleveland go. It seems to have paid off.
- Jackson Ragen has worked with two partners and maybe a third coming this weekend. Paired with an array of talents, the not-quite-homegrown looks like he's the best of a group that's deeper than the Puget Sound's Central Basin.
Pain
- Jordan can’t score. He also can’t get touches. Dude is on an island and there’s no ferry service. Can anyone build a bridge to Morris island?
- Raul can’t be a No. 10. If the Sounders are going to play two forwards someone needs to step into the center and pull the strings, because this isn’t working. That could be a DM or a Roldan, but none of them are showing that spirit, yet.
- Moose isn’t loose. Danny is getting even fewer touches than Morris. He’s the worst performer on the squad per ASA's G+ per match, with Chú, de la Vega and Morris not far ahead.
- So far the Small Sample Size theater has been closer to horror than a raucous comedy. The only way that changes is with a sampling of joy soon or the small samples become bigger samples and those mean something.
– Dave Clark
Catching up on Sounder at Heart
Did you step away from the computer over the week? Here are our latest stories
Reign
- Reign defeat UW women, 2-1, in preseason friendly
- Seattle Reign sign Sam Meza for 2024 season
- Reign FC players shine on the international stage
Next up: Reign v. Washington Spirit at Lumen Field on Sunday March 17. The 3 PM PT match is on NWSL+.
Sounders 0-1-1, -1
- Annus Mirabilis or how soccer saved my vocation
- Goals will come: Sounders insist they ‘trust the process’
- The vibes are definitely off
- Nos Audietis Mailbag for Week 3
- Pedro de la Vega out 6-8 weeks
- João Paulo, Stef Frei and Albert Rusnák all out another week
- Realio’s Ratings: Seattle’s newly-minted 8 looks to do it all
- MLS Fantasy Week 3: CCC Fatigue
vs. Philly previews
- Sounders-Philadelphia Union preview with ‘The Goalkeeper’
- Three questions with Philadelphia Soccer Now
Next up: Sounders @ Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on Saturday, March 9. The 4:30 PM PT match is on MLS Season Pass.
Defiance
Purchasing the new jersey or planning to get MLS Season Pass? Use our affiliate links to toss some coin to your bloggers.
Looking back at the week's news
Everything else you need to know.
The W Gold Cup semi was played in rain and a waterlogged pitch. Why?
Michele Kang thinks bundling women's teams with men's teams is bad for the women.
We're going to see a million-dollar transfer in the women's game soon.
Barba Banda is Orlando Pride's latest major signing.
Not only is parking expensive near the new KC Current stadium, tailgating is forbidden.
Ryan Reynolds is taking his 4th division club on tour in the US again.
Brooklyn was supposed to be in USL-1, but now they're in the Championship.
Spokane Velocity will be on KREM and KSKN.
Men's World Cup costs in Toronto are growing.
The lockout of professional refs could mar on the positive attention MLS is getting from Messi fans.
DeBella's blames the Timbers for cancelled sponsorship.