In some ways the talk Sounders FC President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey gave could be any senior leadership seminar. There were mentions of vertical integration, a six-point plan, structure & process, and cultural longevity. Garth also gave soccer specific elements in his 38 minutes with the 100 or so hardest of die hards that stayed after the win over Vancouver.
Garth, like the fans, was ecstatic about the three points. His excitement forced him to reference notes during his speech as he kept reflecting on the win.
That multi-point plan is;
- Playing Philosophy (proactive, possession based, attack and entertaining)
- Playing Identity
- Player Profiles
- Development (Academy to S2 to First Team)
- Five-year Depth Chart
Playing philosophy
From 2008 to the present the Sounders have talked about those same four elements, but they’ve also drifted from it, most notably in the playoffs when they’ve taken a more reactive posture.