Asked to self-diagnose their early-season struggles, the Sounders kept returning to similar themes: Timely decision-making, composure in the attacking third of the field and incisive passing.
Seattle had controlled possession in nearly every game but rarely scored. It would sweep the ball from side to side for long periods of play but end up with nary a shot on goal.
The Sounders weren’t seeing the gaps between the defensive lines, Clint Dempsey said. Possession isn’t everything, coach Sigi Schmid grumbled after their lopsided Colorado loss, and player after player struggled to articulate why they’d looked so stale.