The Sounders' new tactical configuration has been fraught with inconsistency this season. This was a team that dominated the LA Galaxy in preseason followed by two solid performances against Club America, after which they've decided to do a faceplant, losing their first three MLS matches. Most of those issues come down the reshuffled offensive configuration.
It's an attack that looks disjointed, makes duplicate runs, and is still trying to figure itself out spatially -- while teams figure out new ways to stifle its creativity each week. Against RSL it was two masterful man-marking jobs, while their loss to Vancouver showed an inability to attack with incisive passing and unlock a structured low block.