Viva La Cola!

Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

x close
The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Start Le Toux

News   June 17, 2009 at 1:19 pm SoundersNerd

Sounders (5-3-5, 20 points, 3rd place Western Conference; 5th  overall) 

vs 

DC United (5-2-7, 22 points, 1st place Eastern Conference, 3rd overall) 

First meeting. 

By now everyone and their grandmothers know that Seattle has two great liabilities: Our fourth defender and Fredy Montero. 

The defensive situation is improving, slowly, but for Fredy, one has to wonder why does coach Sigi continue to start him; and why doesn’t he start Le Toux in his place? 

jsuekg5g

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use Le Toux

Fredy at best is inconsistent; harsher critiques—and they are growing in number—call him lazy. In addition to his  assist on San Jose’s goal (!?!), he had two notable moments last Saturday: Creating the first goal, and tapping in the second. Otherwise, he was hardly in the game. 

Seba Le Toux, on the other hand, is the opposite. He is strong, fast, talented, consistent and hustles. Above all, he plays with the rest of the team (as opposed to Montero, who pouts when not spoon fed the ball) as brilliantly displayed in the last five minutes of Saturday’s game with Ljungberg. 

Finally, since Montero’s firecracker start to the season, other teams have all but neutralized him as a threat, making him the highest recipient of fouls in the league. Switching him with the beefier Le Toux would throw a wrench in the opponents defensive plan. 

And tonight we’re going to have to switch some things up anyway. DC United is as storied as teams get in the US: Four-time MLS champions, with 8 other titles under their belt.

And as the founding fathers of then-child prodigy/former savior of US soccer Freddie Adu, they brought him to Qwest field in 2006 to face and tie Real Madrid—Beckham, Raul, Van Nistelrooy, Roberto Carlos et al.

That same summer they demolished Scottish powerhouse Celtic 4-0. Now they’ve just taken the lead in the Eastern Conference and three of their players—Ben Olsen, Argentine Christian Gomez, Brazilian Luciano Emilio- were on last year’s “MLS Best XI;” a list of the best eleven players in the league. Olsen subbed for Claudio Reyna when the US played Ghana in the  WC06. 

This could possibly be the strongest adversary we’ve faced at home. A little reverse psychology: Rather than getting all serious, let’s get loose and  change things up for the chaps, shall we?  And let’s start by starting Le Toux.


  • JoshMahar

    Totally love Le Toux. He’s an incredibly mature player and works his ass off every game. Plus, hes one of the Sounder OGs which makes him even cooler. Go Seba!

  • JoshMahar

    Totally love Le Toux. He’s an incredibly mature player and works his ass off every game. Plus, hes one of the Sounder OGs which makes him even cooler. Go Seba!

  • Nindid

    You have to love Seba’s work ethic and he did well this weekend, but the criticism of Montero is a bit over the top. Montero plays a skill game and he has not really figured out how to deal with hard pressure with the Sounders yet but there is good reason to think that will come with time.

    A skill guy like Montero beats pressure by drawing the defense and then making the killer ball. Montero is tied for second on the team for assists and it is obvious that he is still figuring out where everyone will be on their runs. As that chemistry develops we should expect that teams will either have to quite committing so many men to Montero or our other forwards should be open.

    One last thing… Montero is not lazy. Forwards generally should conserve their energy at times in a match to make the one or two plays that really matter.
    Were you serious when you said: “Creating the first goal, and tapping in the second. Otherwise, he was hardly in the game.” Hell, a goal and an assist is a great game from anyone.

    He is not Le Toux, but then again no one else runs that hard for that long on the team and possibly in the whole league so it is a bad comparison. Le Toux, while giving great effort is not great at finishing or a particularly skillful player. Start Montero and keep on him to improve.

  • Nindid

    You have to love Seba’s work ethic and he did well this weekend, but the criticism of Montero is a bit over the top. Montero plays a skill game and he has not really figured out how to deal with hard pressure with the Sounders yet but there is good reason to think that will come with time.

    A skill guy like Montero beats pressure by drawing the defense and then making the killer ball. Montero is tied for second on the team for assists and it is obvious that he is still figuring out where everyone will be on their runs. As that chemistry develops we should expect that teams will either have to quite committing so many men to Montero or our other forwards should be open.

    One last thing… Montero is not lazy. Forwards generally should conserve their energy at times in a match to make the one or two plays that really matter.
    Were you serious when you said: “Creating the first goal, and tapping in the second. Otherwise, he was hardly in the game.” Hell, a goal and an assist is a great game from anyone.

    He is not Le Toux, but then again no one else runs that hard for that long on the team and possibly in the whole league so it is a bad comparison. Le Toux, while giving great effort is not great at finishing or a particularly skillful player. Start Montero and keep on him to improve.

  • vogel

    Nindid: thank you for adding some reasonable commentary to the Montero debate.

    i’m surprised by the rising tide against him, here and over at Romero’s blog. it strikes me as a fundamental misreading of his role.

    in my view, he didn’t adjust to the league when the league adjusted to him. but keep in mind he is young and still evolving as a player. i think he took a big step forward last match (witness: 1 goal, 1 assist and a ton of offensive pressure).

  • http://www.pcbroke.com/ lastweeksfreak

    I am glad to see this thought about Montero and Mr. #9 come out other then water cooler chat. Its time to sit #17 and play the french man! His open cup play has been great and his MLS play is on par with what could be a great starter!

  • http://www.pcbroke.com lastweeksfreak

    I am glad to see this thought about Montero and Mr. #9 come out other then water cooler chat. Its time to sit #17 and play the french man! His open cup play has been great and his MLS play is on par with what could be a great starter!

  • vogel

    Despite the loss, I hope you Montero detractors can appreciate his excellent play tonight.

    I was glad to see Le Toux and Montero on the pitch.

    If only we could have sunk one of those dead on shots on goal, the result would have been different. Instead — for the first time all season — I have some serious questions about our defense.

  • vogel

    Despite the loss, I hope you Montero detractors can appreciate his excellent play tonight.

    I was glad to see Le Toux and Montero on the pitch.

    If only we could have sunk one of those dead on shots on goal, the result would have been different. Instead — for the first time all season — I have some serious questions about our defense.

  • vogel

    Nindid: thank you for adding some reasonable commentary to the Montero debate.

    i'm surprised by the rising tide against him, here and over at Romero's blog. it strikes me as a fundamental misreading of his role.

    in my view, he didn't adjust to the league when the league adjusted to him. but keep in mind he is young and still evolving as a player. i think he took a big step forward last match (witness: 1 goal, 1 assist and a ton of offensive pressure).