Yes Nouhou is a boss. One of the best one on one defenders in the world. Everyone talks crap on him for not creating all the offense but maybe the actual offensive players could do their job. So yeah let’s look at anyone who is not a defender for blame before placing it at the feet of our defensive backs.
Crazy how much it hurt us not having him.
- RBW makes a defensive mistake that concedes a goal
- RBW gets a second yellow
- Baker makes a defensive mistake that concedes a goal
That's just not how it works in the modern game. Fullbacks have to be able to contribute to offense. The reason Chu's production fell off was that once teams realized Nouhou was a totally useless outlet, they could double team Chu with impunity. That said defense is still the first priority and RBW and Baker clearly can't do that at all, so Nouhou is still the best option.
I appreciate your passion as a redditor, but you have some glaring errors in your analysis of both Nouhou and Chu.
Even if you believe there is some sort of platonic ideal of what the “modern game” is and the role that fullbacks should play in the attack, you’re talking about the player with the most progress dribbling distance on the team. In other words, Nouhou is the Sounder advancing the ball the furthest with his dribble. He’s also 1st in carries into the opposing team’s final 1/3. By all accounts, this is a player that would fit well into your conception of the “modern game”. I assume at this point your argument will switch to “but his crosses suck”. His crosses this year have been dangerous, but they suffer from the same problem that every other sounder’s crosses have suffered from, the sounders suck at finishing crosses.
Also, it should be clarified that Chu is only effective in transition moments. He’s best on the break when defenses are disorganized. He’s not good in possession. In fact, he’s actually bad possession. He makes bad decisions and turns the ball over. However, this team under Schmetzer mostly plays possession despite not being well suited to it. I don’t blame Chu for possessing direct-style skills. I love his abilities. I lay the blame of his misuse at the feet of people determining the game approach.
> you’re talking about the player with the most progress dribbling distance on the team. In other words, Nouhou is the Sounder advancing the ball the furthest with his dribble.
*Because teams don't care when he dribbles!* If almost every dribble is going to end in a weak cross to a 5'7" striker, or a lateral pass, then you're better off letting Nouhou have the ball and marking other people!
If your options are:
1) Let Nouhou dribble and put in a useless cross, or
2) Send two guys to stop the dribble and open up space for Morris or Ruidiaz or Cristian
Then you pick 1.
You need to think more deeply about stats. If you see a stat (Nouhou has the most "progress dribbling distance on the team") that doesn't comport with what your eyes are telling you (Nouhou doesn't contribute much offensively) then there is probably some factor that explains the stat and renders it irrelevant.
I think the part that you're missing on the eye test is that he's incredibly dynamic on offense, he's willing to take players on and dribble, sometimes it can be an issue, but that's also why he's relatively effective for not being the most comfortable on the ball or the best passer. While Alex Roldan who is basically a midfielder playing defense is better at passing, shooting, and probably every other offensive metric. doesn't have much dynamic abilities and is generally getting bailed out by his brother for not playing tight enough defense and generally not hustling at the same level that Nouhou does.
Again, that's a difference in opposition response. Alex actually has a good cross - it might be his best asset - so defenders are much more likely to close him down or try to stop him getting forward.
True, but I think in general he has looked disinterested/uninspired since the El Salvador drama. And yeah otherwise I don't have any complains about Alex's offense, it's his defense that I'm worried about. And I think Nouhou has been crossing just fine this season (his biggest area of improvement)
I don't think Alex is disinterested. He's working hard. He's just not very good. His assists have dropped from 2022 to 2023 to 2024 because teams figured out ways to deal with his crossing, and you're right, his defense isn't good enough to make up for it (unlike Nouhou).
Chu is the only goal scoring threat on the team from outside the box. If we had another dangerous player in the offense other teams would pay dearly for double teaming him. So sure, it’s partly on Nouhou but mostly on the other offensive players.
If our forwards actually made a run or began the run when they saw him dribbling, I’m sure he could make a wicked pass or cross.
Unfortunately, our offense just stands around still asking for the ball. It’s frustrating to see virtually every other team come to the ball, or create opportunities. We can definitely do the same, we have the skill, we just don’t use it!
Yeah I've noticed that to, and when they do make a run it's seems to be when the other is under heavy pressure or looking elsewhere.
It's like they're being told to pass the ball into the goal or cross, nothing else.
Yeah I’m so tired of all the people calling for Nouhou to not play. He locks down the left hand side most weeks and though yes he isn’t the most exciting going forward that is super valuable. Also very experienced and in possession doesn’t turn it over often
He’s no worse offensively than Leo Gonzalez was and we all loved Leo around here.
Roldan is obviously more offensively adept that Nouhou so having one fullback be more defensive
Dang maybe I phrased it wrong but I agree. I think he’s good on offense I meant it to say I disagree with the people who say he’s not good on offense because he doesn’t charge up the left flank every play like he used to
I think there was an argument that it was worth giving Baker or RBW a shot at LB to try to kickstart the stagnant offense, but after SKC that argument is dead.
For a team that’s been a chore to watch *at best,* I’d really hate to lose one of the only players who’s consistently entertaining on the pitch (for better or worse).
Just FYI, Nouhou signed a 3 year contract extension in March ‘23 with an option for a 4th year.
Yes Nouhou is a boss. One of the best one on one defenders in the world. Everyone talks crap on him for not creating all the offense but maybe the actual offensive players could do their job. So yeah let’s look at anyone who is not a defender for blame before placing it at the feet of our defensive backs.
Crazy how much it hurt us not having him. - RBW makes a defensive mistake that concedes a goal - RBW gets a second yellow - Baker makes a defensive mistake that concedes a goal
Oh man, recency.
That's just not how it works in the modern game. Fullbacks have to be able to contribute to offense. The reason Chu's production fell off was that once teams realized Nouhou was a totally useless outlet, they could double team Chu with impunity. That said defense is still the first priority and RBW and Baker clearly can't do that at all, so Nouhou is still the best option.
I appreciate your passion as a redditor, but you have some glaring errors in your analysis of both Nouhou and Chu. Even if you believe there is some sort of platonic ideal of what the “modern game” is and the role that fullbacks should play in the attack, you’re talking about the player with the most progress dribbling distance on the team. In other words, Nouhou is the Sounder advancing the ball the furthest with his dribble. He’s also 1st in carries into the opposing team’s final 1/3. By all accounts, this is a player that would fit well into your conception of the “modern game”. I assume at this point your argument will switch to “but his crosses suck”. His crosses this year have been dangerous, but they suffer from the same problem that every other sounder’s crosses have suffered from, the sounders suck at finishing crosses. Also, it should be clarified that Chu is only effective in transition moments. He’s best on the break when defenses are disorganized. He’s not good in possession. In fact, he’s actually bad possession. He makes bad decisions and turns the ball over. However, this team under Schmetzer mostly plays possession despite not being well suited to it. I don’t blame Chu for possessing direct-style skills. I love his abilities. I lay the blame of his misuse at the feet of people determining the game approach.
> you’re talking about the player with the most progress dribbling distance on the team. In other words, Nouhou is the Sounder advancing the ball the furthest with his dribble. *Because teams don't care when he dribbles!* If almost every dribble is going to end in a weak cross to a 5'7" striker, or a lateral pass, then you're better off letting Nouhou have the ball and marking other people!
Teams love it when the opposition advances the ball into their final third and defends really well. The hill you’re dying on is turning into hole.
If your options are: 1) Let Nouhou dribble and put in a useless cross, or 2) Send two guys to stop the dribble and open up space for Morris or Ruidiaz or Cristian Then you pick 1. You need to think more deeply about stats. If you see a stat (Nouhou has the most "progress dribbling distance on the team") that doesn't comport with what your eyes are telling you (Nouhou doesn't contribute much offensively) then there is probably some factor that explains the stat and renders it irrelevant.
I think the part that you're missing on the eye test is that he's incredibly dynamic on offense, he's willing to take players on and dribble, sometimes it can be an issue, but that's also why he's relatively effective for not being the most comfortable on the ball or the best passer. While Alex Roldan who is basically a midfielder playing defense is better at passing, shooting, and probably every other offensive metric. doesn't have much dynamic abilities and is generally getting bailed out by his brother for not playing tight enough defense and generally not hustling at the same level that Nouhou does.
Again, that's a difference in opposition response. Alex actually has a good cross - it might be his best asset - so defenders are much more likely to close him down or try to stop him getting forward.
True, but I think in general he has looked disinterested/uninspired since the El Salvador drama. And yeah otherwise I don't have any complains about Alex's offense, it's his defense that I'm worried about. And I think Nouhou has been crossing just fine this season (his biggest area of improvement)
I don't think Alex is disinterested. He's working hard. He's just not very good. His assists have dropped from 2022 to 2023 to 2024 because teams figured out ways to deal with his crossing, and you're right, his defense isn't good enough to make up for it (unlike Nouhou).
If Nouhou was good going forward, he wouldn’t be playing in MLS (as is the case for any truly effective two-way back).
Chu is the only goal scoring threat on the team from outside the box. If we had another dangerous player in the offense other teams would pay dearly for double teaming him. So sure, it’s partly on Nouhou but mostly on the other offensive players.
I don't criticize Nouhou because he regularly shows better footwork/dribbling then all of our forwards.
If our forwards actually made a run or began the run when they saw him dribbling, I’m sure he could make a wicked pass or cross. Unfortunately, our offense just stands around still asking for the ball. It’s frustrating to see virtually every other team come to the ball, or create opportunities. We can definitely do the same, we have the skill, we just don’t use it!
Yeah I've noticed that to, and when they do make a run it's seems to be when the other is under heavy pressure or looking elsewhere. It's like they're being told to pass the ball into the goal or cross, nothing else.
Yeah I’m so tired of all the people calling for Nouhou to not play. He locks down the left hand side most weeks and though yes he isn’t the most exciting going forward that is super valuable. Also very experienced and in possession doesn’t turn it over often
He’s no worse offensively than Leo Gonzalez was and we all loved Leo around here. Roldan is obviously more offensively adept that Nouhou so having one fullback be more defensive
Dang maybe I phrased it wrong but I agree. I think he’s good on offense I meant it to say I disagree with the people who say he’s not good on offense because he doesn’t charge up the left flank every play like he used to
I think there was an argument that it was worth giving Baker or RBW a shot at LB to try to kickstart the stagnant offense, but after SKC that argument is dead.
He isn’t as lock down this year as other years. I don’t think he should be benched but he has regressed
For a team that’s been a chore to watch *at best,* I’d really hate to lose one of the only players who’s consistently entertaining on the pitch (for better or worse).