Now is not the time for Brian Schmetzer to leave the Seattle Sounders | OneFootball

With 5 straight losses, the Sounders are in the worst streak of their MLS existence. In a results-oriented profession, failure can be brutal, and coaches are usually the first ones to be blamed.

The Sounders have had their share of adversity this year due to the departure of some very talented players moving on since last season, such as Obed Vargas and Georgi Minoungou, and their history of prolific scorers such as Obafemi Martins, Clint Dempsey, Raúl Ruidíaz, and Fredy Montero who were hungry for goals and clinical in front of the net.

When injuries to most of the starters are factored in, there is less of a threat on the goal and the Sounders can afford fewer mistakes than previous squads.

Unfortunately, younger players have been thrown in to the mix together and as they learn the league and their teammates, they are being asked to perform at the same level as those previous teams that have won every North American title that they have been eligible for.

The Sounders were terrible against Portland, but since then they have been improving each game. They lost their focus with the clock winding down against Austin, and one mistake proved to be too much against Philadelphia.

With that said, the younger players each improved their play. While it would be great to have a healthy roster, the younger players, including Andrew Thomas, are gaining critical experience that the club will benefit from later on.

When Brian Schmetzer talks about taking advantage of the “one moment,” he is alluding to the struggle the Sounders have had at scoring goals this season. It may be a wayward first touch or a ball shot just off frame, or a lack of hard runs in front of the goal, but the Sounders have not been capitalizing on goal-scoring opportunities.

So all this begs the question: is it time for Brian Schmetzer to move on? He believes that he has earned a longer leash based on his success with the club in previous seasons as well as their success earlier this season. The fact is that he helped make the Sounders the gold standard of the league , and he gets more out of each player that contributes to that success. Musovski scored 14 goals last season, and Paul Rothrock has been an impact player each time he has been in the game. These players may not have the ability of some of the elite players in the league, but Schmetzer got them to perform.

The commitment to defense has been a Sounders calling card since it joined MLS and named Kasey Keller as their keeper. Schmetzer has continued along those lines, and him and his fellow management have brought in a stream of top-notch defenders.

So, for all those who feel like the sky is falling, take a moment to reflect on how good the Sounders have been, and realize that as they get healthier, the experience the younger players have earned, along with the addition of the talent that has been sidelined, will make the Sounders a better team moving forward. There will be a time when Brian Schmetzer should and will step away from the Rave Green, but it is not now, and we should enjoy the years to come as he continues to provide his knowledge and experience toward the goal of bringing more titles to Seattle.