By any reasonable metric, the Seattle Sounders have so far exceeded expectations by a pretty healthy margin. Even after two disappointing ties at home against very beatable opponents, they still lead the Supporters’ Shield race and have the best goal-difference in the league by a healthy margin.
But there is no prize for being the best team at the rough quarter point of the season. If anything, all the Sounders have really accomplished at this point is raising the bar for what fans will accept as a satisfying end to the season. What was once almost written off as a rebuilding year now would be deeply disappointing without some sort of silverware.