Seattle Sounders: 5 Questions for the 2017 Season

Dec 13, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Sounders FC head coach Brian Schmetzer holds the MLS Cup championship trophy during a rally in downtown Seattle at Westlake Center. Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Osvaldo Alonso (6) is at right. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Sounders FC head coach Brian Schmetzer holds the MLS Cup championship trophy during a rally in downtown Seattle at Westlake Center. Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Osvaldo Alonso (6) is at right. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 10, 2016; Toronto, Canada; Seattle Sounders forward Nelson Valdez (16) hoists the MLS Cup after a win over Toronto FC at BMO Field. Seattle defeated Toronto on penalty kicks. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

5) Will the Sounders retain the MLS Cup?

There’s no denying the sequence of events which took place last season were surreal and unlikely to happen again. However, the beauty of this is the Sounders don’t need a repeat of 2016’s circumstances, in order to repeat as MLS champions.

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For a start, the Rave Green now have the necessary confidence and experience, which comes from winning it all for the first time. Combine this with the mental fortitude displayed during the second half of last season, and they will be tough to stop.

Having Brian Schmetzer firmly established as head coach can only help. His influence was evident for all to see – make no mistake about it, the team love playing for him.

Morris is a year older and wiser, which must be worrying for the rest of the league, and Lodeiro now gets to terrorizing opposing defenses over the course of a full season. In fact, about the only real concern that comes to mind, is the possibility of complacency setting in.

Ultimately though, you have to believe Schmetzer won’t allow the players to rest on their laurels, and at the very least, you should expect to see them once again qualify for the playoffs. And as we saw last year, once you’re in, anything can happen…

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What are your thoughts on any or all of the five questions posed? Do you expect the Sounders to once again win the MLS Cup, fall short, or even miss the MLS playoffs for the first time in franchise history? Share your thoughts in the comments section.