Seattle Sounders' Depth Will Likely Be Tested Early
by Jeremiah Oshan on Mar 10, 2011 4:35 PM PST
in Sounders: MLS Regular Season
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One day after injuries forced the Seattle Sounder to remove two of their presumed starters from their final preseason game, it looks like the team's depth will be tested early. On the positive side, coach Sigi Schmid said Brad Evans was feeling much better and might even be able to play on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
The prognosis does not seem as positive for Steve Zakuani, who went out with what was at the time described as a "right hip injury." Zakuani underwent an MRI on Thursday, but no results have yet to be released. With First Kick now just five days away, it seems to be a decent possibility that he'll miss at least one match.
None of the starters were practicing on Thursday and the team has Friday off. That would leave just three days for Zakuani's possible replacement to get any time with the first team. When asked who would start in Zakuani's place, Schmid said "There’s different options. (Pat) Noonan is an option. (Miguel) Montano is an option. (Michael) Tetteh could be an option, (David) Estrada, (Lamar) Neagle. Those are all options. ... It’s too early to tell."
Schmid also mentioned the possibility of playing Evans at LM and starting Erik Friberg in the center. Friberg played 38 minutes in Wednesday's Community Shield match, and was on the pitch for all three of the Sounders' goals. He even registered an assist on the second goal, taking a ball off his chest and volleying it ahead to Fredy Montero.
That scenario, of course, assumes Evans is fit enough to play. Of the other players Schmid mentioned, none of them have seen extensive MLS minutes with the Sounders at LM. On paper, it would seem that Tetteh is second on the depth chart. But Schmid also seems to be at least a little worried about trusting the youngster so early in the season.
One player who won't be considered is Mike Fucito, who suffered an injury of his own on Sunday. Schmid said Fucito will likely be out at least 2-3 weeks.
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Sounds like
Montano and Noonan made the roster? Too bad the new shorts aren’t Techfit as well, might have prevented all of these injuries.
Noonan's
option hasn’t come up yet until April first.
I assume Rosales is out of the picture
Don’t know that he is match fit, let alone signed.
What about this option: Frieberg on the left (or right and Fernandez on the left), and Ianni in the middle with Alonso? We went with two defensive central mids for much of last year.
“Schmid also seems to be at least a little worried about trusting the youngster so early in the season.” Based on what I saw on Sunday, I would concur with that. Remember who LA has on the wings…
Rosales still training
I kinda assume he’s going to be signed. Heck, maybe Sigi is just being coy and he’s planning to start him…
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by Jeremiah Oshan on Mar 10, 2011 5:20 PM PST up reply actions
Odd that he wasn't in the Colorado game
If you’re considering signing him, wouldn’t you want to see him in game action? Even if they’ve already decided, it’s a big chance to see some field time with the team and get used to Qwest.
Nos Audietis
one would think
but still i wonder if they are playing it safe and not trying to play him at the chance that he may get injured.
PLAY FREEBIRD
It seems like Erik Friberg would work on the left with Evans at CM (assuming he’s well).
Tetteh looks good on the ball but seems to have a ways to go in terms of reading the field.
Brad Evans
I do not understand why everyone is so hard up for this guy! He hasn’t shown a damn thing since coming back from his injury. I’m not saying that he can’t play the game or even talented for that matter. I just don’t see him as a starter. Depth yes, starter no. Erik Friberg has earned the starting position in my book. Servando Carrasco is playing better than Evans!
by Pauly "Pablo" Morris on Mar 10, 2011 7:14 PM PST reply actions
Agree... Except
There must be something special Sigi values in what he does that isn’t completely obvious from the outside. It’s been mentioned he has a tremendous work rate, interferes a lot with playmakers and makes great runs (although nothing ever seems to come from them to me). It’s so much more obvious when Friberg is making great tactical passes and showing good offensive and possession judgement that it’s easier for us to like him. Either there’s more to Evans or Sigi values the defensive effort more than the tactical offense.
Friberg is also a good free kick taker too though. And his hair is better.
I've heard this argument before.
While it’s true that Evans’ good qualities aren’t so much the kind that jump up and make you take notice (i.e. he does the little things), I’ll be the first to offer that Sigi is simply wrong if he gifts Evans back the starting role once he’s well and doesn’t make Evans earn it.
I think we all have a lot of faith in Sigi. He’s obviously a good coach. But I think he’s just wrong about this one. From the limited amount that I’ve seen of him, Friberg simply helps the team more than Evans does, and that’s all there is to it. Coaches need the balls (to quote one Van Gaal, anyone who hasn’t heard about this google it, pretty funny) to bench ANY player for the good of the team.
La Vecchia Signora Forever!
The most infuriating coaching decision Schmid has ever done
Was keeping Nyassi as a starter and putting our shiny new DP as a reserve.
Then Sanna notched a few goals and assists and the Sounders played the best ball of anyone in the league.
I’ve learned to trust Sigi.
To a large extent I trust Sigi too.
As I said, all in all he is a good choice and he has done well to earn our trust.
But I don’t trust him over my own eyes. We all knew that Nyassi was playing poorly and that Fernandez had more quality. Just because Nyassi went through a spell of good form at the end of the year, doesn’t mean “Sigi was right all along and we were wrong.” It means that, for whatever reason (be it due to the confidence shown in him by Sigi or that things just started going his way) Nyassi produced some goals.
But that doesn’t take away all his lackluster performances. The conundrum is giving a player in poor form the opportunity to break the cycle. To me, Nyassi eventually broke the cycle, but he was given FAR too much time by Sigi, to the detriment of the team during those games.
La Vecchia Signora Forever!
There were reasons.
When Fernandez first arrived he had some fitness issues, and was still getting acclimated to the system. Then Nyassi started getting hot, and scoring, and we were winning. Even when he wasn’t scoring we were winning.
Why upset a balance that was producing wins?
That being said, I fully expect Alvaro to start and show us more of that lovely control and passing we saw bits of last season.
Some more of those late CCL-campaign-saving goals wouldn’t hurt either ;)
proud 4th line advocate
After a long arduous summer of training, back for a new season of perpetuating hockey superstitions
and then...
Nyassi got shut down by a slow-but-savvy Eddie Lewis for two playoff legs while Sigi stuck with the formerly hot hand, and the formerly hot Sounders followed suit. One might argue, conservatively, that it made sense not to significantly shift the team’s tactics in the first stretch, but one might add that trying the same thing in the second leg too closely meets the definition of insanity.
I feel Friberg should be given a chance if only to improve the delivery on corner kicks. Given the injuries that are likely to arise and have already arisen, they’ll probably both see plenty of minutes. I’d rather not see Sigi fail to address one of the team’s glaring weaknesses (set pieces) out of loyalty.
i disagree on your assesment of nyassi
Because before the goal streak he had the assist streak as well. Fernandez is very good, but based on all factors sigi felt nyassi was a better option and he did amazing things. I think that is a bonus to Sigi and I wouldn’t try and blame the LA series on nyassi. That wondergoal from buddle had way more to do with it.
However I think its fribergs start and just cause Evans can go Tuesday doesn’t mean he should. And I say that as an Evans believer. Friberg is impressive too and I’m glad we have both.
by python6114 on Mar 11, 2011 12:27 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
On the season, Nyassi had 4 assists in 2031 minutes for all competitions. Of those, I can recall one that I truly considered to be a high-quality cross (for a montero header) – and if I recall correctly it came with the usual array of blind, hopeful balls into the middle with no obvious target (or attempts to dribble between multiple defenders, losing possession when an outlet was available).
For the record, I am not out to villify Nyassi. His speed, along with decent technical ability and ability to strike a ball by MLS standards make him a good asset, but I’m certainly not alone (and quite justified) in pointing out that his tactical awareness and skill are presently mediocre, and that Fernandez is (and clearly was) superior in this respect (and also, the additional point that Fernandez is better in the air, which for this team is an important distinction).
I clearly did NOT blame the entirety of the LA series on Nyassi. However, both games were a prime example of how a technically sound defense could shut down every blatant physical advantage Nyassi had on the wing. He was bad/ineffectual and subbed out relatively early by Sigi’s standards. Regardless of whether changing the winger would have made a difference in the end – starting him again in that second game was a choice of loyalty and habit. It made little sense with respect to relative player evaluation or recent form.
Of course, the Sounders’ expansion draft posture is consistent with my perspective. I wish it had been applied a bit faster.
by nimajneb on Mar 11, 2011 2:05 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
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