Fredy Montero Still Questionable For Philadelphia Union-Seattle Sounders Match

by Jeremiah Oshan on Apr 13, 2011 5:00 PM PDT in Sounders: MLS Regular Season

Fredy Montero is still questionable for Saturday's match against the Philadelphia Union after undergoing wrist surgery last week. (Photo by Andy Marlin/Getty Images)

Fredy Montero did, indeed, take part in Tuesday's Seattle Sounders intrasquad softball game, but he was wearing a rather large cast. As such, it's not surprising to hear Sigi Schmid say Montero's participation in Saturday's match against the Philadelphia Union is not yet assured.

"Obviously he has got to feel comfortable with the cast on. The first time you play with it if you’ve never played with it before, some guys have played with it before so they know what to expect, they feel pretty comfortable with it, but for him he still needs to become comfortable with it."

As we've discussed almost ad nauseam at this point, it's practically guaranteed that Mauro Rosales would start if Montero is unable to go. Judging from Rosales' performances in the past two games, there really doesn't seem to be any good reason for the Sounders to rush Montero back into action if he's not comfortable.

The more intriguing lineup decision would seem to be who starts at RW. Erik Friberg has not looked nearly as effective in his past two games as he did in the first three, which is possibly the fault of the flu. Maybe it's time to give Alvaro Fernandez another shot?

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I'd be stunned if Fernandez started

It would be unlike Sigi to make that kind of a change, especially if he feels Friberg just needed another week to shake off his illness.

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by 108Ultra on Apr 13, 2011 5:14 PM PDT reply actions

oh, i know...wishful thinking

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by Jeremiah Oshan on Apr 13, 2011 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Yea, I tend to agree

Larry Bernandez.

by awilson11 on Apr 13, 2011 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Still

I’d like to see Flaco at least come on as a sub tomorrow. Was he even in the 18 last week?

I also think Fucito may be healthy finally this weekend. Maybe he’ll be in the 18 in Philly?

by K61 on Apr 13, 2011 7:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Fucito is healthy

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by Dave Clark on Apr 13, 2011 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions

I wouldn't mind

Seeing Fucito as withdrawn forward and Rosales on the right if Montero doesn’t start.

I have a feeling that Rosales and Friberg are a bit too similar… we need someone with more of a nose for the goal. Can’t you just picture Rosales feeding a ball through to the feet of Fucito making a run into the box?

by Orothar on Apr 13, 2011 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't know if he's 90 minutes

I like that idea though.

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by Dave Clark on Apr 13, 2011 8:19 PM PDT up reply actions

If Fucito isn't 90-fit

Then Rosales can shift inside and Friberg can come in on the right.

When Rosales needs to come out, Jaqua can come on and OBW can slide back into the withdrawn forward role.

by Orothar on Apr 13, 2011 9:02 PM PDT up reply actions

I doubt Fucito is 90 mins fit at this stage

but I’d love to see him as a sub this weekend. I kinda get the impression that Sigi is being a little extra careful because of Fucito’s injury history.

by Nevtelen on Apr 13, 2011 9:31 PM PDT up reply actions

In general, I’d say it seems unlikely Sigi would start Fucito all of a sudden. I think if we were still having noticeable problems up top, maybe, but he likes to ride the hot hand and even though I think Fucito could push to start eventually, he hasn’t shown that over the course of the MLS season yet. I’d love to see him come on at 60 though and have Rosales stay out there. Those two together could do some real damage.

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by Perrinbar on Apr 13, 2011 10:03 PM PDT up reply actions

And I'm not necessarily arguing against Fernandez starting

just that I think it’s very unlikely to happen.

You will hear us on Brougham, you will hear us on Occidental, you will hear us on King. We are all around you, there is no escape.

by 108Ultra on Apr 13, 2011 8:03 PM PDT up reply actions

For me

Fernandez needs to come off the bench for a few games and prove he can play dynamically and in sync with his teammates. Once he’s done that, the whole picture gets confusing in a very nice way.

by swansuite on Apr 13, 2011 7:26 PM PDT reply actions

Friberg vs Fucito

Friberg is starter caliber, Fucito is a sub. I’m sorry, but Friberg has much more skill and is less likely to get hurt. Putting Fucito in for a full game is almost a guarantee he’ll get hurt….He’s played how many professional minutes and been hurt how many times? Adding some speed over a lot of skill is dumb in my opinion. I think Friberg is an upgrade from even a Nyassi at the beginning of last year, who had speed but couldn’t for his life put in a good cross or score a goal (obviously he started lifting his head and looking at where people were in the box towards the end of the year). Give Friberg some more time on the right, he’s had the chances (like last game where he missed the easy tap in) and he’ll get more and knock them in just like the rest of the sounders are starting to do.

by Toxtr3m34u on Apr 14, 2011 8:08 AM PDT reply actions

I don't think this is really Friberg vs. Fucito.

Rosales isn’t 90 minutes fit. Fucito isn’t 90 minutes fit. Both play the Withdrawn Forward role. Rosales starts and Fucito replaces him at 60-70 minutes.

Jacqua comes in for OBW at Target Forward.

And Friberg starts on the right. And depending on how the games goes, Flaco comes in if we need offense, Carrasco if we need defense.

by LoiteringWithIntent on Apr 14, 2011 8:36 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs