Realio’s Ratings: Seattle Sounders vs. 2024, #8-#5

#8 Nouhou – 6.05 in 38 appearances

Community Rating: 6.19

MLS Regular Season: 6.00 in 27 appearances

MLS Playoffs: 6.67 in 3 appearances

US Open Cup: 6.00 in 3 appearances

Leagues Cup: 6.00 in 5 appearances

MOTM = 1 | High = 8 | Low = 5

Love him, hate him, or somewhere in between, Nouhou generated the feelings again in 2024 as he brought his typical flair to defending and two-way play, ending at #8 in the ratings. Nouhou only missed a few games for illness or international duty, and he earned his highest number of appearances in his eighth year with Seattle. 

Highlights: Nouhou remains one of the best 1-v-1 defenders in MLS, and he showed improved decision making in 2024. Throughout the season, he consistently forced corner kicks, crossed into dangerous areas, and got the timing right when bombing forward: “This was a complete performance from Nouhou. His entire match was excellent, with 85 touches, nine defensive actions including an essential goal-line intervention to ensure the shutout, and a 91 percent completion rate. Offensively, he enabled the Rock, providing space when needed, supporting with overlapping runs and connecting smartly to make the left side a creative strength. This balance was evident throughout, as Nouhou made good decisions and found moments to impact on both sides of the field, even working tight give-and-goes on the left before putting in dangerous crosses.” 

This sort of comment was the norm during 2024 as Nouhou found balance in his role on the left of defense. He also stepped up his game in the MLS Playoffs. He played fantastic during the Sounders’ run to the Western Conference Final, and in that last game of the year, Nouhou had a MOTM performance by shutting down a guy with 21g/18a this season: “Against the Galaxy’s best attacker, Gabriel Pec, who had three goals and three assists in the previous playoff matches, Nouhou was excellent. Although Pec had more touches than in any of those previous games, he had almost no success against Seattle’s left defense. This had a massive impact on LA, who kept trying to test Nouhou and had nothing to show for it. Nouhou had five clearances, two tackles, an interception, and even a key pass wrapped around a tidy 91 percent passing in a total effort down his wing.” That lockdown defense plus knowing when to switch to attack, drop a dangerous cross and provide pressure on the left, was excellent work. 

Lowlights: Nouhou wasn’t without his struggles this season. At times he wasn’t in sync with teammates on the backline, like when a team defensive lapse saw him watching a goal happen: “Failing to move to attempt to support Xavier Arreaga during the second goal sequence was abject, lazy, and inexcusable.” Sometimes Nouhou would get caught out of tactical shape on the back of plays, creating some gaps. Other times he got into good spots offensively and insisted on trying to score, instead of finding a teammate. His shots have never been great, and yet every few matches he launches one into T-Mobile Park. Somehow, inexplicably, after a home win against Dallas, Nouhou earned himself a one-game suspension because he didn’t acknowledge the fans after the game, then argued with the coach about it. Childish outbursts aren’t new for Nouhou, who has had his clashes over the years with Schmetzer, but they illustrate how the big emotions that bring his level of play up in critical moments can also boil over into silly cards or theatrical arm waving. When Nouhou is frustrated, his play tends to suffer, but there was less of that in 2024. 

Outlook: Despite the ongoing criticism of Nouhou, he continues to produce excellent defense and quality team play. Perhaps most telling is the opinion of his teammates and opponents, who consistently rate him highly. His ability to move central as part of a three-man backline may support more tactical shifts in 2025. For all the talk of needing more from the left back position, until someone shows up, plays better, and rates higher, Nouhou will continue to get time. 

#7 Jackson Ragen – 6.09 in 45 appearances

Community Rating: 6.11

MLS Regular Season: 6.06 in 33 appearances

MLS Playoffs: 7.00 in 4 appearances

US Open Cup: 5.67 in 3 appearances

Leagues Cup: 5.80 in 5 appearances

MOTM = 2 | High = 8 | Low = 4

Ragen’s breakout year was 2023, becoming the everyday starter at left center back next to Yeimar. So, 2024 was a chance to build on that momentum. Unfortunately, the Sounders limped to their worst start ever, and Jackson was put under a lot of pressure but failed to rise to the occasion. The team defended “okay” during their early slump, but always seemed to give up the key goal or break down defensively at the worst moment. Then the team solidified around a core, and eventually ran all the way to the conference final, thanks in part to Ragen returning to his 2023 form and becoming nearly impossible to play through. The growth and production from this still only 26-year-old was incredible, culminating in his rightful recognition as one of the best center backs in MLS. 

Highlights: Ragen helped the team be the best defense in the league as he improved throughout the year. After some early struggles, Jackson had only one below average league rating after June. In July and after, he averaged 6.5 and increased that to 7 in his four playoff appearances. He was brilliant, an unstoppable physical force who won his 1-v-1 battles, was relentless and dominant in the air, and displayed precision passing in facilitating the attack from the back. At times even stepping up into the midfield, Ragen showed all the tools of an elite defender. 

In two shutout games in September, Ragen was terrific. Against Houston: “His near-perfect defensive positioning meant he had moments to make essential blocks and cut out passing lanes. His 97 percent passing was also almost perfect, consistently finding the right distribution up the field. He won every duel, missed two passes all night, and combined with teammates to limit the opponents to very few opportunities.” Against Sporting Kansas City, he scored the important first goal inside 20 minutes, setting the tone offensively before shutting the match down defensively, limiting SKC to a futile two shots on target. Ragen’s defensive positioning and skill, combined with his ability to see and convert vertical passes, are an elite combination that was on display in the playoffs, as his defense stymied both LA teams’ attacks, and his distribution limited their ability to press and counter against Seattle. 

Lowlights: The early 2024 Sounders were a flawed group that seemed to find ways to drop points every week. First, Yeimar was missing from the lineup, so Ragen was pushed to the right where his play was decidedly mediocre. Sometimes his defense was solid, or his passing, or his positioning, but rarely all three. His connection with Alex Roldan wasn’t great and he earned multiple 4 ratings due to struggles with where to be, connecting with others, and a tendency to get beat in behind. Another issue during this swoon was the team’s inability to keep a full 11 on the field, and Ragen’s turn to be sent off was against Vancouver in April:

“Ragen decided to be overly aggressive near midfield with a few minutes remaining in a half where the defense had been stout, preventing chances for Vancouver. This turned into a disastrous decision as Jackson whiffed, got the player, opened up a huge gap in the defense, then wasn’t fast enough to cover as Yeimar and JP had to slide over into the space conceded. Whether or not it’s a red, it was a bad defensive play! Also, it was deemed red!” This illustrates the early season struggles for Ragen, who consistently played high to support the anemic attack, and continued to be beaten in behind. In order to stop these counters, Jackson often attempted to challenge for balls high up the field, and while not always as disastrous as on that occasion, it was a repeated issue early in the season and earned him multiple low ratings. 

Outlook: Now considered a veteran in the back, Ragen is challenging Yeimar as the best center back on the team, which is extremely high praise. Already a finalist for 2024 MLS Defensive Player of the Year, Jackson still has room for improvement, an exciting prospect. If he can limit the kind of struggles he had early in 2024, he has a chance to break out on a national scale in 2025. 

#6 Stefan Frei – 6.18 in 34 appearances

Community Rating: 6.36

MLS Regular Season: 6.03 in 29 appearances

MLS Playoffs: 7.50 in 4 appearances

Leagues Cup: 5.00 in 1 appearance

MOTM = 6 | High = 10 | Low = 3

2024 was a year when you thought Frei might finally show his age, only to be reminded what an incredible player he is. Yes, his rating was a little lower this year, and he’s being pushed by a promising understudy, but once again Stefan showed he is one of the best goalkeepers in the league. He racked up the shutouts with a rock solid defense in front of him, ending with 12, and had the second-highest number of MOTM awards. He’s not as flashy as some other goalies in the league, but he relied on elite positioning and made key saves in league play, tournaments, and MLS Playoffs. 

Highlights: Frei had a solid season, amassing many shutouts and making important saves as Seattle improved into a very good team. His league season was above average, but his playoff form was outstanding. Frei, who already had the most 10 ratings I have given, added another in the Sounders’ biggest win of the year. Against LAFC in the playoffs, on the road, a team that had beaten Seattle 42 straight times, Stefan was fantastic. The entire ratings post is worth reading again:

“Ratings can be hard. This one wasn’t. On the vibes front, this was about a 15. Stats-wise, Frei did everything asked of him and more. He had NINE saves. He removed over two expected goals for LA. He saved shots he couldn’t see, he ran into the post preventing attempts, he was beaten and battered and stepped on and yet, every time the assorted California stars attempted to kick the ball behind him he resolutely denied them. He was the epitome of a brick wall, if that brick wall was covered in sick tattoos and also didn’t give up any rebounds. Stefan Frei did such a great job that Hodor owes him an apology. He did everything in his power to keep his team in it, constantly buying time and creating a gamestate of pressure, until Jordan Morris could cash it in. Superlatives aside, this wasn’t a shutout, but it was a match where Seattle desperately needed the kind of “step up” performance Stef brought. Someone had to finally play out of their mind, to overcome the streak and the pressure and the road and injuries and all those elements against the team. Frei did that. He had an outsized influence on the match, a heroic effort this team needed to flip the script.” Frei still has THAT ability, a heroic performance that he summons when Seattle most needs him. He was magical against LAFC and re-established himself as the best MLS Playoff goalie of all time. 

Lowlights: Frei missed the first three league matches of the year and took some time to warm up to the season. Some savable balls ended up in the net behind him throughout the year. His worst rated outing was against a poor SKC team that somehow won a match in which Frei was dreadful. “The fundamental key to goalkeeping is to “keep” the “goal” (clear). Frei had two big chances to do that and flubbed both, and he should have saved both. Was the team around him great? No. Did they give SKC a few good looks? Sure. Did Frei also fumble a near-post shot with every other option around him covered? Yup. Did that cost them the game? Probably not. Am I still mad? Yes.” 

Frei made mistakes, errors he has made throughout his career, but rarely so many in the same match, and it was jarring to see him struggle with fundamental footwork and missing saves he normally makes. It was logical to compare Frei’s problems to the flashy saves and inspired magic surrounding Andrew Thomas’ Open Cup run at the same time and wonder whether the torch should be passed. 

Outlook: With Thomas showing well, there’s added pressure on Frei to continue being the amazing goalie he’s been for the past decade, and it’s good to see him being legitimately pushed. Stefan may be slowing down a little, but he still appeared in 34 matches in 2024 and is a top MLS goalkeeper. He is Seattle’s best keeper for at least the near future, and his playoff performances showed what he can still do. With plenty of matches filling up the Sounders’ schedule and Thomas as a viable backup, there may be opportunities for more rest days in 2025, which likely extends an already amazing career. 

#5 Andrew Thomas – 6.27 in 15 appearances

Community Rating: 6.36

MLS Regular Season: 6.14 in 7 appearances

US Open Cup: 6.75 in 4 appearances

Leagues Cup: 6.00 in 4 appearances

MOTM = 2 | High = 10 | Low = 4

Speaking of goalkeeper competition, coming in higher ranked than incumbent starter Frei was his backup, Andrew Thomas. Although helped by sample size, 2024 was a coming out party for Thomas, who announced that not only is he MLS-ready, his time is near. He stepped up in each opportunity to provide excellent cover for Seattle when Frei was injured, and as a tournament #1. 

Highlights: With Frei out to start the year, Thomas stepped in and was solid in MLS play, showing he is legitimately ready to compete for minutes against MLS talent. Playing Colorado in the third game, he displayed a highlight reel of saves, including a penalty stop while down a man that retained a point for Seattle. In the US Open Cup, he had an all-time highlight reel match against Louisville in which he made key saves throughout the game and then absolutely dominated the ensuing shootout. 

A definite “moment” for Sounders in 2024 came from Thomas who not only prevented four separate opponent penalties, but then earned instant legend status by slamming home the game-winning PK himself, racing around the field and trash-talking the Starfire audience. Showing the athleticism to be perhaps Seattle’s best penalty-defending goalie ever, Thomas has the physical tools to be an elite shot stopper. His goal coverage and explosive power combine with his tremendous form and instincts, making him very difficult to score on. 

Lowlights: The issue for Thomas isn’t his ceiling, which is already high due to his physical skills, but his floor. In order to be a viable Sounders goalkeeper, he must be consistently good every match, and that is where Andrew needs improvement. His distribution with his feet is rudimentary at best, and the combination of poor decision making and poor execution severely limits his effectiveness in a Seattle system based on control and possession play. His clearance kicks are tremendous and his accurate long throws are a brilliant tool, but until he can be an asset to the defense as a release valve and combination option in the back, Andrew handcuffs his teammates. 

Thomas struggled in a number of outings. A team-wide capitulation against Necaxa in the Leagues Cup was a reminder that he’s not quite ready: “He missed a potentially savable ball in the 24th minute, and he was caught looking uncertain and flat footed right before halftime on the second. The third would have been more savable had he continued to pursue the shooter, but instead he inexplicably stopped and then tried to start again, passively conceding a third goal.” 

Outlook: It’s consistency and youth that limit the hype (for now). Thomas has already shown the highest of highs and now must refine and bring that floor up to Sounders standards. The biggest improvement Andrew can make is understanding distribution and executing better without using his hands. He has all the physical tools and instincts needed to make the big saves, and his athleticism is excellent. If he can put that together with improved footwork and decision making, he will be pushing an all-time legend for minutes.