Category Archives: NASL Sounders

Features regarding the NASL Sounders era (1974-83)

MLS Sounders, NASL Sounders

What’s in a Captain?

While the captain’s armband is elastic, it’s far from being a one-size-fits-all.
EvansCapt
Brad Evans earned the captain’s arm band beginning this season, succeeding Mauro Rosales (Courtesy Sounders FC)

Going back 40 years, the role of Sounders team captain has been filled by both noteworthy legends and relatively obscure players. Disparate as they may be, these Seattle skippers share two qualities: unquestioned respect and a contagious competitive spirit.

Nowadays the captaincy carries with it a certain amount of pomp and fanfare. He wears the armband, leads the squad onto the field, calls coin-flips and, if the season ends well, lifts some silver skyward.

Back in the day of the NASL or A-League, when armbands were largely absent, identifying the captain from afar was mostly guesswork for fans. But being a captain isn’t about fanfare, and it’s far from symbolic. And it starts with fanning the flame inside the belly of every teammate. Continue reading What’s in a Captain? →

NASL Sounders

All-Time NASL Sounders Selection: A Closer Look

It’s not surprising that England and Hudson were unanimous choices. England set the standard by which all center-halves have been measured to this day, tower of strength in the air and uncompromising on the ground.
Englandax
Mike England was a 4-time NASL Best XI who came to Seattle from Spurs, where he’s a hall of fame member. (Frank MacDonald Collection)

Seattle opted for the direct approach at Memorial Stadium, then began to play through midfield upon opening the Kingdome. Hudson’s arrival cemented that ball-control style.

Traditionally strong at the back, Seattle selections reflect that as coaches arranged lineups to get added defensive personnel (Rioch, Webster, Gabriel) in midfield. There’s also a proclivity for wingers. Robertson and Hutchison, both flying Scotsmen, are in the first XII, Redknapp in the 2nd and Crossley honorable mention. Those moves made it difficult for strikers to break in, consequently Ward (a league MVP) and Peterson (all-time scoring leader) pushed to second XIV.

Hudsonax
Alan Hudson averaged 10 assists in his four full seasons. Earlier he starred for Chelsea and Stoke, and for England vs Germany (Frank MacDonald Collection)

While many would say talent level climbed through ’82, four members of the ’74 originals made first and second teams. Hutchison is the only 1-year player in first XII; he made quite an impression.

Continue reading All-Time NASL Sounders Selection: A Closer Look →

FC Seattle, NASL Sounders, USL Sounders

Best of All: No Need to Wait ‘Til 2074

The giants of Europe and South America have been around seemingly forever. Man United turned 136 years old this year, Real Madrid is 106 and Argentina’s River Plate is 113.

The tendency of these ancient institutions is to celebrate their centennials and major anniversaries with some all-time selections. Take England’s Derby County, for instance. A few years back the Rams marked 125 years by honoring Alan Hinton and 10 other greats.

That’s great for our AlaOrigSoundersNASLlogon, of course. He got a trip home to hear the applause. One of the other chaps, however, couldn’t make it; he’d passed on four years before Alan was born.

It seems a shame to wait and extol the virtues of people. Instead, how about paying tribute sooner rather than later?

Continue reading Best of All: No Need to Wait ‘Til 2074 →