Always Use Protection

assume that they won’t take Keller. If the best GKs is available in the draft it would be most likely they would get taken.

One non-sentimentality argument would be that they feel continuity is important, which I think you can somewhat make the case for.

Personally, I think Ianni and Hurtado are no-brainers. On top of that, I put Parke on but not Leo on these grounds: couldn’t Parke be as good a left back as Leo? Better maybe? If you have a back line of Parke-Ianni-Hurtado-Riley, then late in games where you are down a goal, you could even just fully push Riley up as a right midfielder and go with a three-man back line, which I think would be a nice tactical adjustment to have in your arsenal that wouldn’t require burning a sub.

I put Riley on just because I’m kind of terrified of Scott and Wahl, and Riley knows the system.

I think it’s easier to justify protecting more defenders just because we have so much less depth in defense, compared to, say, outside mids.

I put down five defenders but the only three I would definitly protect are the center backs. One thing that none of us know is what the FO thinks they can pick up in free agency/trades. I’d put the outside backs as a prime place for us to upgrade this offseason so if that’s the plan I’d leave them unprotected.

…I could see taking a gamble and exposing Nkufo and Jaqua, on the merit that they are very similar, and one of them is going to back up the other if we keep both of them. If one of them got picked, you could then protect the other. Not sure about how attached Nkufo is to the Sounders or the Sounders are to Nkufo, though, managing that relationship matters since he came a long way to play here, and you wouldn’t want other players on the roster to feel as though the Sounders view them more as commodities than people. In that vein, there’s no way I would expose Keller. I just think it’s a PR disaster even to expose him.

I have a hard time saying that Evans is really better than Sturgis. Sturgis has way more caps for the USMNT U-20 team than Evans, and then Sturgis had injury problems. Evans has also had injury problems. I feel that both are really solid midfielders for this league, but one of them (if not both, should Alvaro play CM next year) will wind up on the bench, and it’s tough to protect bench guys in the expansion draft when you can only protect 11. If either Sturgis or Evans gets picked (seems equally likely in my book), then you protect the other. You’d still be two deep at the second center-mid spot along Alonso.

I could see some sense in protecting one or the other and ditching a fullback from the list, on the thought that Sturgis or Evans could potentially cover at that position. I’m not sure how well that switch would go.

in CCL against must harder teams + one against Chivas in the friendly. RB’s are one of the most easily spots to find a replacement.

You have to look at how many Points per Game stat and Fucito is the highest on this team at 3.19.

I think people who are protecting Fucito are doing it based on what they want him to be rather than what he is/will be for the Sounders. Just like LeToux exploded into very good player when he left, Fucito may, but he is not likely to get the chance with the Sounders. If Sigi et al saw him as many here see him he would get playing time. That he doesn’t says all that I need to hear about him. He is exciting, but they view him as at best a second sub off the bench.

was a one-touch right footed rocket at a tough angle from a bouncing ball.

Fucito’s right is better than Leo’s.

Fucito has an EXCELLENT right foot, and he’s more equally balanced in shooting with either foot with power than Montero. He scored most of his goals with his right foot. Do your homework…
As far as being a reserve, he is because the Coach is just plain stubborn. He has been with both Fucito and Flaco. And it cost him. And he’s taking heat for it as we speak.
He should have started the Houston game.
The playoff strategy was abysmal from the outset. It was a no-brainer that Flaco needed to start at CAM in game 1, at home, to aggressively attempt to score multiple goals before heading back to LA. (I’m on record with that) And Nyassi needed to be replaced at 30 mins into the 1st half, and never seen again.
Instead, he went conservative, got outcoached decisively, and didn’t adjust to the defensive tactics until the 2nd half of game 2. And then he FINALLY decides to bring onto the field the hottest scorer on the team, when LA is already packed in with a 3 goal lead. Not exactly brilliant.. Zakuani’s total frustration and quotes reinforces his displeasure with the game plan, and my point.
The best offensive showing (and only goal) by Seattle was when Flaco and Fucito were on the field, and it was too late by then. Give Fucito any space at all, and he’ll give a defense fits, because he creates space, makes great runs, and can actually hit the target.. he served up 3 excellent balls in the box in game 2. 2 with his RIGHT foot, and 1 header for a gimme that Alonso missed from point blank range.
Personally, I hope Fucito goes elsewhere, for his sake. He’s got far greater upside than LeToux ever will, and there are plenty of coaches not so set in their ways to recognize what an impact player he is…
This isn’t about talent, it’s about tunnel-vision.
I suggest you watch the “Sounders FC Goals 2010” for enlightenment.

Actually no, I picked Levesque over, now I think on it.

haha.
unless it was a joke? or someone felt bad for them

i protected montano and riley instead of fucito and ianni

were being played on expect for the final on smaller pitches vs nyassi who with the expection of KC away game scored on larger pitches.

i just hope montano will want to stay through the off season because i bet he is frustrated with the little playing time he is getting.
because even in the last non mls games he was coming on as a sub