Standing at the threshold of the playoffs inevitably brings on a wave of introspection. Despite 34 regular season games and however many more from other competitions each team may have played, there’s still some question about each remaining team’s identity. That feels especially applicable for the Seattle Sounders, but I think we know who this team is; it’s just that some notable blemishes have obscured the true picture.

There have been frustrating moments throughout the season, from late dropped points and coughed up results to lopsided losses on the road against several of the teams we all expect to make up at least part of the road the Sounders will have to travel if they want to lift another trophy this year. Even in some of the team’s better performances, individual errors of execution or judgement have left us frustrated or sighing a breath of relief.

This season has also included some phenomenal highs, and of late some much cleaner, sturdier performances, the types that tend to see a side through a knockout competition like the MLS playoffs.

I’ll try to stick to the stuff on the pitch here, but first allow me to lay out a bit of my own personal...