My thoughts on what worked, what didn't in 2012 and what to expect next year.

Hits

1. Forward Eddie Johnson re-emergence as a scorer was the best acquistion ever by the Sounders. He tallied 17 goals in all competitions, and became a sorely needed physcial presence in front of the nets. Johnson is my pick for the Sounders' Player of the Year.
2. Keeper Michael Gspurning stepped into Kasey Keller's spot between the posts and proved to be more than an adequate replacement. The Austrian recorded 10 shutouts in MLS regular and post-season play. Seattle struggled when Gspurning was out for several matches, proving how valuable he was to the Sounders.
3. The versatile Brad Evans played as a forward, midfielder and defender during 2012. In addition, he scored six goals and notched five assists in all competitions.
4. Striker Fredy Montero scored double digit goals for the fourth year in a row. He tallied 17 goals and 11 assists.
5. Osvaldo Alonso defined himself one of the top defensive MLS midfielders. He earned his second MLS All-Star selection in 2012 and was named the U.S Open Cup Player of the Tournament.
6. Midfielder Mauro Rosales led the team with 15 assists and added three strikes in addition to his playmaking skills.

Misses, Near Misses and Question Marks

1. The Sounders signed midfielder Christian Tiffert in late July. The German also earned one of the three Designated Player slots. He recorded a disappointing three assists in over 1200 minutes of play.
2. The forward tandem of Johnson and Montero yielded phenomenal results during the regular season. Johnson appears interested to stay with the Sounders next year. The issue will be Seattle's willingness to pay Johnson DP-type wages and part company with Montero.
3. Head coach Sigi Schmid managed to get his squad into the conference finals this season. He led the Sounders to the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. Seattle's management team thought they had the talent to make it to the 2012 MLS Cup. Schmid will bear the brunt of criticism for another failed attempt at MLS' ultimate prize.
4. Steve Zakuani returned from a horrendous injury he suffered in 2011. His recovery is remarkable, but he's still a work-in-process. Zakuani can no longer make his patented runs across the endline as he did before his injury. Despite limited minutes, he still managed to score twice and record one assist in 2012. Next year will reveal the true extent of his comeback.
5. The injury bug and a full schedule of matches (MLS, US Open Cup, CONCACAF Champions League and one friendly) led to numerous changes in the starting rotation. Several of the Sounders broke down and the number of games may have taken its toll on a squad that needed more depth to reach the MLS Cup finals. Will the Sounders invest in quality versus quantity in a squad that's deeper in talent?
6. Rosales is the playmaking midfielder that makes things happen. The 31-year-old led the team in assists. When it counts the most--during last two playoff runs--Rosales was injured or on the bench. The answer may lie in managing his minutes with a capable replacement to ensure Rosales is fresh and available for the 2013 postseason.