Looking for the right mix

SEATTLE — First and foremost, Sounders FC is looking for its first win of 2011 when it plays host to Chicago this afternoon. Another, though less important, first could also happen today if Seattle repeats its starting lineup from a week ago.

In four games so far this season, head coach Sigi Schmid has used four different starting lineups, which comes as somewhat of a surprise after the starting lineup seemed set heading into the season. Some of those changes have been forced by injuries, but other times Schmid has made adjustments related to performance. Through those four games, Seattle has six players — goalie Kasey Keller, defenders Leo Gonzalez and Jeff Parke, midfielders Erik Friberg and Osvaldo Alsonso, and forward O’Brian White — who have started every game.

With starting forward Fredy Montero expected to miss a second straight game while recovering from wrist surgery, there’s a chance the same lineup from last week’s 2-2 tie in San Jose could be on the field. Just don’t count on it.

“I thought in the first half last week offensively we played all right,” Schmid said, “but we are still looking at possibilities and maybe some lineup changes.”

And until Seattle starts winning consistently — OK, at all — expect the tinkering to continue. The Seattle brass feels good about the talent on its roster, and despite the poor results, Schmid for the most part has liked the play of his team. But ultimately the results are what matter, so no one’s job in the starting 11 is going to be safe if the wins don’t start piling up.

Schmid and his players obviously would like to find a consistent starting lineup that produces results, but they don’t view lineup changes and wins as mutually exclusive.

“I think as long as there is enough quality, I don’t think changing the lineup is that big an issue.” Schmid said. “I think we have quality people and it’s just a matter of sometimes finding the right mix or the right formula for this particular weekend.”

Still, a little consistency wouldn’t hurt. Seattle went through numerous lineup changes early last season and struggled in the first half, then settled on a starting 11 during the summer and finished the season on fire, winning 10 of its last 14 games leading up to the playoffs.

“It comes with the territory,” defender James Riley said of the lineup changes. “But last year in the second half of the season, we had a solid group — we had pretty much the same 11 starting every week when we went on that winning streak. But at the same time, you need to have guys that can step up and we have guys that are fully capable of doing that. Whenever we put a starting 11 on the field, we should be capable of getting a result.”

And whatever combination of players Schmid puts on the field today, a positive result is what he’ll expect.

“What you really want to do is … keep that nucleus on the field that makes a big, big difference,” goalkeeper Kasey Keller said. “If we can do that now, that’s great, but I’m also very confident in the guys we have in our squad. If guys aren’t doing the job, then there’s no reason why the coaches don’t have confidence to be able to bring someone else in. We have a good deep squad.”

Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com.