Sigi Schmid praises Fredy Montero, who hasn't won over some Sounders FC fans

TUKWILA — Saturday was Fredy Montero's most complete game of the season, Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid said of his Colombian striker.

But some fans of the Rave Green aren't liking what they're seeing from Montero, who scored his team-high fifth goal in Sounders FC's 2-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes and also was credited with an assist on the team's first goal.

Montero hasn't been the same player since the first two weeks of the season, when he took Major League Soccer by storm with three goals in two games and earned MLS Player of the Month for March. Opposing teams have roughed him up and some of his decisions with the ball have been questionable, such as the failed clearance against San Jose when Montero sent the ball right to the Earthquakes' Shea Salinas in front of the Seattle goal. Salinas made the first pass that led to his team's goal.

There are those who would like to see Sebastien Le Toux replace Montero in the starting lineup, but Montero remains Seattle's scoring leader with five goals and three assists.

"I have felt the [fans'] endorsement when I've left games, when I've scored goals, when I make good plays or have chances to score," Montero said. "They clap and they support me, and I'm appreciative of the Sounders fans. Little by little I've grown to love this city and want to keep going for goals game after game so they stay happy."

Those words seem to indicate that Montero isn't hearing the naysayers. He has other things on his mind, like learning more English, adjusting to American culture, and on the field, a drop in playing time. Montero was replaced in the 65th and 75th minutes of the past two games, and was visibly unhappy being subbed out at Chivas USA two games ago.

That prompted a talk with coach Sigi Schmid, who was asked about Montero on Monday.

"When you look at his game on Saturday, he was very unlucky not to get three goals," Schmid said. "He got the one goal. He had the other one that was going through [the goalkeeper's] legs. And he had the other one that [Joe] Cannon made a good save on going to his right. Based on all of that I thought it was a very good game. And that's what I said to Fredy.

"The way he worked for 60 minutes, he's got to continue to do that and the 60 will become 70, and the 70 will become 80, and the 80 will become 90."

Montero feels he's getting accustomed to Freddie Ljungberg's and Steve Zakuani's styles and is playing off the two midfielders better. He and Ljungberg switch off from the right side of the front line to the center, each one moving inside when the other goes outside.

"Soccer is a game of moments," Montero said. "When you're on a streak of goals, you have those, but we're all human and can't all be perfect. I think opponents know my game now, but that just means I have to work harder. It doesn't matter who scores, it's wins that count."

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com