Key additions: Julien Baudet, Danny Earls, O'Brian White, Erik Friberg, Michael Tetteh. Key losses: Sanna Nyassi, Nate Sturgis, Peter Vagenas, Tyrone Marshall.
There's no question the Sounders lost more starters than they gained. Thing is, this off-season was more about getting healthy than anything else. Of the additions, Friberg is the only one expected to vie for a starting position. But the Sounders should also have Brad Evans, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Nate Jaqua close to full health and Designated Player Alvaro Fernandez for an entire training camp. Those four players were all missing for large chunks of last season. Throw in the re-signing of Fredy Montero and Kasey Keller and the off-season has been just fine for the Sounders. Grade: B.
I took a look at all 18 MLS teams' off-seasons up to this point. Part 2 is where I talk about the Sounders, here's Part 1
over 1 year ago
Jeremiah Oshan
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Addition by subtraction
Sometimes a player is kept out of the 18, because another player has cemented his place. The possible deletion of Sturgis required the team to sign another central midfielder, in Friberg. The deletion of Nyassi makes the hope that he would grow into a force, but still was so frustrating, go away. Now, new blood can occupy his spot. Players like Fucito and Fernandez.. We also have to recognize the fact that Nkufo will be in for a full camp. He also will not be coming off a full season at Twente, a World Cup and a total relocation. I think the off-season moves were just the right amount. Other than the signing of a major 26 year old superstar. I don’t know what else they should have done. I give them at-least an A-
Can't say I disagree with you, but...
I gave one team an A-, and that was RSL for basically doing a lot of the same things the Sounder did. The big difference, for me, is that they have already proven that group is among the best in MLS whereas the Sounders have yet to prove the same thing. The Sounders did very good this off-season, but I don’t think it was approaching perfect, at least not based on what we know.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, North American soccer editor SB Nation and of course follow me on Twitter
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 21, 2011 11:20 PM PST up reply actions
Just out of curiosity
what do you think they should have done differently in order to get an “A”?
Good question
I suppose they could have acquired a clear starter to replace Sturgis, maybe another clear improvement at either FB position, maybe figured out a way to move into the Top 5 in the draft. Not saying any of those was realistic, but I think if we’re talking about perfection, that’s the way to get there.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, North American soccer editor SB Nation and of course follow me on Twitter
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 22, 2011 8:55 AM PST up reply actions
So you are really saying it was impossible for the Sounders to get an A
I know we really do this for entertainment, so I am not going worry whether your grade was an A, B or C.
For all we know, the Sounders may have hit home runs in the draft. They did well not adding payroll, but just as importantly adding cap space with the Allocation dollars picked up.
Regarding clear starter to replace Sturgis, I think the Sounders think they have more than replaced him. If Evans were not injured last season, Sturgis would have road the pines. There is a reason that Evans was protected and not Sturgis. Then, the Sounders brought in competition in Friberg making the position much stronger than it was last season with just Sturgis and Seaman as backup.
Trading up also sounds nice, but it is the old robbing Peter to pay Paul. They would have to give up a player and then you just make another hole.
Often in sports, it is the non splashy moves that have more impact than the headline making news. Just look at the World Champion San Fransisco Giants as a great example.
Anyway, very nice article.
Along those lines
I think it’s impossible to give the Sounders an A today. But I could definitely see looking back on this off-season, once we know how it worked out, and saying it was perfect. I’m not really trying to tell the future with this, though, and would say anyone in the B to A- range should be very satisfied with their off-season.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, North American soccer editor SB Nation and of course follow me on Twitter
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 22, 2011 9:37 AM PST up reply actions
I think we are in agreement and I understand what your thinking behind the article is
One of the things that I find interesting is that besides Tettah, most of the players the Sounders drafted were not players that were on many writers/bloggers draft boards at all. Yet, most places I have read is that the Sounders had one of the better drafts and they praised the players they drafted.
The more that I think of this draft, the more that I am hopeful that it is a good one. I am a college football fan and during the summer, many colleges have summer football camps with HS players coming in for instruction. The coaches are actually able to get a hands of evaluation of these players and usually offer a few scholarships to some of the players. Many of them are under-the-radar type players. Speaking of players that attended WSU’s football camps over the years, the success rate of those players that the coaching staff were able to get a hands on view is outstanding.
Why do I tell this story? The Sounders are one of the only teams that have their own camp evaluation of players. It is a big advantage and I am curious to see how this draft ultimately plays out.
It will be interesting to take this article at the end of the season and see looking back if/how you would change the rankings.
I don't know if having their own combine will be shown to have helped
with this season or not, but I think that in the long run the Sounders will probably find more diamonds in the rough than other teams who don’t have their own combine. Estrada or any of the guys drafted this season could even be one of those – I think you have to give them at least 3 seasons to adapt to the pro game and see where they are.
Fair enough
I’m not sure we needed a replacement for Sturgis exactly since we have enough solid midfielders, but actually I would have liked to pick up a more immediately ready sub for Alonso. Ianni doesn’t do it for me as a CDM and I’m not confident Carrasco is yet viable for more than reserve duty or emergencies. It would have also been nice to see the team pick up a quality RB sub.
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