Matchday 26 Agenda Check: Obed Vargas’ price goes up again
Welcome to the Matchday 26 installment 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.
Obed Vargas is the truth
Agenda status: Strengthened
Another week, another assist. This time it was a bounding run through the Austin FC defense that ended with a secondary dime on Jordan Morris’ game-winner. The 18-year-old is up to seven goal contributions this season (1g/6a). That’s already excellent output with the entire stretch run of the season left to add to his tally.
With every game, the price for a potential outbound transfer only goes up. If I’m Craig Waibel I am hanging up the phone and ignoring any offer that isn’t an enormous bag.
Rothrock should start
Agenda status: Strengthened but admittedly complicated
Rothrock isn’t going to wow anyone with his physical traits or athleticism, but his work on this goal was a good example of why he’s managed to break through on Seattle’s first team. He positioned himself perfectly to receive that pass from Obed, shield his defender off the ball, then find Morris for the decisive strike.
With Pedro de la Vega getting back to fitness, however, Rothrock admittedly might not be long for the first-choice starting XI. As much of a fan as I’ve become, I wouldn’t expect him to start over a fully fit de la Vega or Cristian Roldan when they’re available. But I do think he’s firmly established himself as the first sub off the bench when Seattle’s chasing a goal, and a pretty surefire starter in matches where the squad is rotated or banged up.
Rusnák is terrible
Agenda status: Dead
I’m ready to call this our first officially dead agenda in the long and storied history of the Agenda Check. Rusnák only played the second half in this one but his electric form of recent weeks didn’t slow down. The only reasons he didn’t have two more goal contributions are because 1.) Léo Chú put a wide-open shot right at the goalkeeper and 2.) the crossbar is an evil cosmic force of nature that denied him what would have been an insane free-kick golazo.
The purveyors of this agenda could argue that this recent run is over a relatively small sample size and we don’t yet know if it’s all going to come crashing back down to earth. Fair enough, but when you combine his output this season with his track record in MLS dating back to his days with Real Salt Lake, it’s time to acknowledge that the previously pervasive notion that he’s nowhere near worthy of a Designated Player spot no longer stands up to reason – even taking his slow start to the year into account.
Jordan Morris is the No. 9
Agenda status: Complete
Morris also stayed red-hot despite only playing the second half. This was honestly one of the better halves I’ve seen him play. Not only did he score the game-winning goal (his ninth in 11 games across all comps), but he also will forever be seen in the nightmares of poor Austin FC defender Brendan Hines-Ike. Morris gave Hines-Ike absolute hell up until he drew the second of two yellow cards on him to get him sent off. That was about as much as I’ve seen an attacking player overwhelm an opposing CB.
Stefan Frei is washed, Andy T should start
Agenda status: Weakened again, pretty much dead
This winning streak wouldn’t still be intact if not for Frei’s heroics over the past two games. Andrew Thomas might well still be the future in between the posts for Seattle, but for now, I think any debate about Frei’s status as this team’s No. 1 is on the shelf.
His sprawling save of Sebastian Driussi's header in the 49th minute was a huge play in this game.