There appears to be real competition for starting spots

RENTON — Brian Schmetzer will have some tough choices to make as the Seattle Sounders prepare to face the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.

Over the past two weeks, the Sounders head coach has utilized lineups that were missing presumed starters like Jordan Morris, Albert Rusnák and Alex Roldan. Despite facing opponents who were and remain in playoff positions, the Sounders won both of those games while getting solid performances up and down the lineup.

From the look of things, Schmetzer may choose to ride the hot hand.

“There’s going to be good conversations,” Schmetzer said on Friday. “But I’d emphasize that we have a deep squad and those choices will be difficult.”

Historically, Schmetzer has been a coach who has declared that he would prefer to have a reasonably set starting lineup and rotation. As recently as 2023, Schmetzer ranked near the bottom of the league in terms of how often he used his subs and how much time he gave them.

But last year he moved up to mid-table, while frequently using halftime subs to change games for the better. This year, only New York City FC gives subs more time on average than the Sounders (25 minutes).

It’s one thing for a coach to say they want competition for spots among players, but it’s an entirely different thing to put that into action.

Paul Rothrock might be the best embodiment of that on the team, having played himself from one of the last players on the bench at the start of 2024 into a regular starter by the end of the season.

“It makes the training environment better,” Rothrock said. “Maybe it doesn’t translate to the game immediately, but over the course of the year as the training gets better and better and guys know their spots aren’t secured, it puts a healthy pressure on everybody.”

Given that Morris and Rusnák have been the Sounders’ most productive players when they’ve been healthy, it’s hard to imagine them coming off the bench for too long. But those spots won’t just be handed back to them, either.

Players like Morris, Rusnák and Roldan may not be used to coming off the bench, but there’s been precious few outward signs that they’re frustrated.

“It has always been my deal that you don’t want to punish someone because he’s injured,” Schmetzer said. But there are plenty of examples of a guy picking up an injury, the team starts winning, it happens and life isn’t fair.

“It will be driven most by who plays well and who helps the team win.”

Third-string goalkeeper

With starting goalkeeper Zack Steffen suspended after picking up two yellow cards for dissent at the end of the last game and backup Adam Beaudry out with an ankle injury, the Rapids are expected to turn to Nico Hansen. The 23-year-old is a former Denmark youth international who spent some time with Everton’s youth setup but joined the Rapids this year. He’s gotten two starts in MLS Next Pro, allowing four goals.

Familiar face joins support staff

In his playing days, Steven Lenhart was known for his curly blonde hair and physical playing style. But after retiring from playing in 2017, he got a master’s in performance psychology and has been working with athletes on mental health. He’s now joined the Sounders to “help players with the mental side of the game.”