Seattle Sounders Make Christian Sivebaek Signing Official
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 11, 2012 10:31 AM PST
in Sounders: Trades, Transfers and Rumors
Email
Print
The Seattle Sounders continued their active offseason on Wednesday, officially announcing the signing of 23-year-old fullback/midfielder Christian Sivebaek. The move has been rumored since late December, and the player himself had even confirmed the deal.
"Christian is a player that we have been following for quite some time," Sounders technical director Chris Henderson said in a team release. "He is a good one-versus-one dribbler who can provide consistent quality service to our strikers. He has good speed and physical presence.
"He has been an up and coming player in Denmark," added Henderson, "and we are looking forward to adding Christian to our attacking arsenal."
Sivebaek -- the son of former Manchester United player John Sivebaek -- has appeared in 80 league matches and scored six goals with Midtjylland, a team in Denmark's first division. He has also made 19 appearances for various Denmark youth national teams. But after getting starter's minutes at Midtjylland in recent years, mostly at right back, Sivebaek seems to have fallen out of favor and has appeared in just three matches this season. There have been reports that part of the reason for the fallout was his desire to play more in the midfield.
Like fellow international signings this offseason Adam Johansson and Michael Gspurning, Sivabaek appears to have been won over by the crowds and professionalism in the Sounders organization.
"This is an exciting opportunity for me, to be joining such a club as Sounders FC," Sivebaek said in a statement. "I am looking forward to playing in MLS and for one of the best and biggest teams in America. I am very impressed by the professionalism of the club, the high quality of players and staff, and the great number and passion of their fans."
The expectation would be that Sivebaek, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 194 pounds, would be Mauro Rosales' primary backup at right midfield and could possibly spell Johansson in a pinch. Sivebaek's signing brings the Sounders roster to 27 players just days before the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. The team has also reportedly signed Cordell Cato. Either way, there are precious few remaining open spots on the roster.
115 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Is this preparation...
for the inevitable loss of either (1) Mauro (age) or (2) Fernandez (to some Italian side); or do you think this is more of a direct replacement for Friberg? I know they don’t play the same position, but I assume Sivebæk fills the gap created by moving either Fernandez or Mauro to the middle. In other words, reactive or proactive?
The return of THIERRY
I see it
more as a replacement for friberg. When Rosales was out friberg started in the CM with Evans as RW. now with Friberg gone Evans starts back at CM but who then is the main back up to Rosales. This is where Sivebaek comes into play.
Can he play on the left?
If we do lose Fernandez that is. Or could be spot the LB position?
by chrisperry1983 on Jan 11, 2012 11:12 AM PST up reply actions
I think Neagle is the fill-in if Alvaro leaves
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 11, 2012 11:24 AM PST up reply actions
That's what I figured
I guess I am not sure what Aaron is saying ‘both’ to.
by chrisperry1983 on Jan 11, 2012 11:27 AM PST up reply actions
Ayup.
I certainly could have been clearer.
by Aaron Campeau on Jan 11, 2012 12:01 PM PST up reply actions
He's dabbled in LM
but he’s really a right sided player
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart | Follow Dave on Twitter @bedirthan
Exciting.
Very cool news. I have faith in the FO’s decisions, so I have no doubt that Sivabaek will make a solid impact in our side.
Cannot wait for the season to start!!!!
this signing gives us flexability tomorrow
to either trade up or out. With this signing it brings the avg age to 25.7 with only 4 players on our roster over the age of 30 with Scott and Gonzales the oldest at 31. Whats really interesting is that he is listed as a defender on the teams website. I think he’ll spell Mauro more than Johansson in actual play. I still think we need a CB and a ST round out our roster.
This signing
makes me think that the FO is definitely looking for a CF/Winger type in the draft. I believe they will take the best available, per the previous article here on SaH, but I think they are looking for attacking options.
by Mugen Power on Jan 11, 2012 10:57 AM PST up reply actions
He's played more at RB recently
but has been clear that he enjoys playing RM more.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart | Follow Dave on Twitter @bedirthan
With how Sigi likes the use his fullbacks heavily in the attack
supported by Alonso acting as a CDM, I wonder if Sivebaek would be happier playing RB.
I have no idea how Midtjylland used their fullbacks.
Where's our Norwegian?
We have our new Swede and a now a Dane, I want the Scandinavian bingo…
A sky of blue, a sea of green...(or claret)
by kelliott1527 on Jan 11, 2012 11:09 AM PST reply actions 6 recs
I don't think they count as Scandinavian...
La Vecchia Signora Forever!
by AKSupporter on Jan 11, 2012 12:11 PM PST up reply actions
If we're really going to be nit-picky
you need someone from the Faroe Islands and from Åland.
The return of THIERRY
by Kyle Ritter on Jan 11, 2012 12:54 PM PST up reply actions
I guess, if we go for a Nordic bingo.
But if I remember correctly, neither of those territories are fully sovereign (of course, neither is Greenland), so it would depend on the rules, I guess.
Iceland took independence from Denmark during WWII, gaining the freedom to try investment banking.
by yuniform on Jan 11, 2012 1:36 PM PST via Android app up reply actions 6 recs
Iceland will strike oil soon
And then that place will be paradise (minus the volcanoes and winter weather)
The return of THIERRY
Not a joke
They have tons of energy. Just can’t ship it.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart | Follow Dave on Twitter @bedirthan
They have the lowest murder rate in all of the UN.
But an oddly high burglary rate.
So does he really count as RB depth?
Have to wonder if depth at that position is still a concern going into the draft.
between him and Scott, I really don't think we need another RB
but that’s just me…
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 11, 2012 11:25 AM PST up reply actions
Depth chart would be Johansson, Scott: Man Marker, then Sivebaek, correct?
3 deep should be enough at RB. LB is 3 deep as well with Gonzolez, Burch, and Tetteh.
While I really only see one of those 6 being an above average MLS starting fullback, the team has effectively created depth at the position. I’d still love to see an upgrade at LB if the team has the money and opportunity.
Agreed
Sounds like he gives us flexibility backing up two positions. Lots of win in this signing: versatility, youth, and I like his height.
| Recessionproof since 2009 | Win all the trophies! | You will surely get the Karkand |
youth and versatility
From what little i can tell sounds like a great move. Height is reassuring as well.
by SeaSolSounder on Jan 11, 2012 12:00 PM PST via iPhone app reply actions
CB's
From the looks of this move, its apparent that our vacancies at RB/LB have been filled. Any thoughts on if they’re going to try and find a backup CB through the draft or try to find someone on the cheap? I realize we have Ianni and Scott can play the position but I’m wondering if we need more depth there.
Go banana!
I don't see it.
Gonzalez was used as a CB at times last year as well. Any CB pickups right now would likely be purely developmental.
Welcome Mr. Sivebaek!
Can’t wait to see you on the pitch…
with my brand-new-just-purchased-this-morning-first-ever season tickets!!!
I’m floating on a cloud of blue and green ecstasy.
Wow, in Seattle, "some guy from Denmark" is equivilent to signing Henry
CONGRATS! Be sure to come to the opening March to the Match.
by Agent_J on Jan 11, 2012 12:24 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Just to clarify...
I’ve been to a lot of games over the past few years. I’ve just never been a season ticket holder before. My decision to take the plunge is not based on this particular signing – just a deep and abiding love for the Sounders as a whole. It’s been a long time coming. Can’t wait for the season to start!!
2012 – the year of the RAVE! ;)
Just bought mine two weeks ago
been walking around with a little extra swagger every since.
| Recessionproof since 2009 | Win all the trophies! | You will surely get the Karkand |
by 253Sounder on Jan 11, 2012 2:22 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Season tickets still available?
previous we were sold out by now, no???
I know
but we did 2 years ago too and thought we sold out quicker.
going into 2010 the capacity was only ~32k
It is now 38.5k
Even with a renewal rate in the mid 90%s it should take longer to sell more tickets.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart | Follow Dave on Twitter @bedirthan
I think they are still calling people who put deposits down.
But I haven’t heard we have hit the new cap on Season Tickets.
Nos audietis in somniis, Nos audietis in altum: You will hear us!
I'm a STH (2 seats) and rec'd an email yesterday offering me another seat
since their is a single seat available next to my season ticket location. Sec 105, Row Y if you’re interested :-)
So where's our new Left Back?
I’m still crossing my fingers, but with so few roster spots left, someone (Gonzalez cough) would have to go.
think that's a ways down the priority list
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 11, 2012 12:27 PM PST up reply actions
I was going to ask earlier in the thread what positions we thought the Sounders were below league average in
As I think that is how we should look at the the priority.
To me, the positions that are currently below a league average player:
LB (has to be better than Gonzalez/Burch)
TF (has to be better than Ochoa/White/Fucito)
and CM (depending on Evan’s health, Flaco’s ability to play as a B2B mid, etc.)
Other places to upgrade would be depth or youth at a few positions:
CM – depth
CD – youth
GK – depth
That’s all I have. I don’t think bringing in another Forward or LB makes sense unless they provide some kind of noticable improvement over what the Sounders already have. Otherwise the team is in a pretty good place.
We
already have 3 GK. Only way i see seattle is upgrading with GK is getting a MLS back up vet.
If seattle is looking to upgrade LB even more it would be done outside the draft.
Have a better Forward would most likely involve Seattle trading up cause all the best forwards is the draft would most likely be gone by the time Seattle is up.
Agree with CM and CD.
Think you are forgetting Sanyang...
who plays both CM and CB (in a pinch)
The return of THIERRY
by Kyle Ritter on Jan 11, 2012 12:57 PM PST up reply actions
Sanyang
yes as a DM. No idea if he would be good at CB i haven’t seen him play there. centerback.
But what seattle is lacking is the other CM spot which evans couldn’t has.
bleh take 2
Sanyang yes as a DM. No idea if he would be good at CB i haven’t seen him play there. But what seattle is lacking is the other CM spot which Evans currently has.
I would consider he and Carrasco
As youth/depth for CDM. I’m not sure I think either are ready to contribute in the B2B CM or a CAM role in a 4 – diamond – 2.
Seattle
doesn’t really play in a 4 diamond 2 formation nor does it work with how montero actually plays.
Depending on how Carrasco's development is coming, I think a 4-2-3-1 with he and Alonso holding would be pretty great
by Aaron Campeau on Jan 11, 2012 2:09 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
It would be a great way to shut down a two-nil lead
drop a forward. Keeper Evans as the middle in the 3.
Put in Zach Scott: Man Marker even later.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart | Follow Dave on Twitter @bedirthan
I dunno...
Both Alonso and Carrasco like to roam, I’m afraid they would get into each other’s space more than anything (that’s what I seem to recall happening the one time Sigi tried both of them at central mid, last season, as well). In my mind, Carrasco is there to occasionally spell Alonso,…not so sure about playng beside him…
To clarify:
GK – veteran depth
Also, I wasn’t setting any expectation as to where the team would get the LB and TF upgrades (I’m assuming DP, either youth or standard). There is the draft tomorrow and another 20 days in the Transfer window as well.
At
this point assuming Rosales’ contract is brought down to non DP it would rather like be a youth DP than a standard 335k cap hit DP.
Of
course if seattle happens to put themselves in position via trade to get a good scoring forward in the draft i don’t really see the need to use a DP on a forward.
MLS Transfer Window closes in April
acquiring league is the window that matters.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart | Follow Dave on Twitter @bedirthan
Upgrading LB would require a multi-team deal
Getting a true upgrade at LB would require the Sounders to move Leo and his salary then getting a player in trade or using the free cap room to make an international signing. Either way it would require a multi-team trade likely inside MLS or a series of trades/signings with multiple teams outside MLS.
I think getting a better left back is a pipe dream
Do you know how many teams in the world have a great left back? It’s not like they’re just growing on trees. Look at the best teams in the world: with the exception of Chelsea, Real Madrid and Man City, LB is almost universally a weak position. I suppose a case could be made for Patrice Evra and Leighton Baines, too. LB is all to commonly where you hide that one guy that is left footed that may or may not be good enough for your squad. We were spoiled last year having two more-than-capable ones.
The return of THIERRY
I happen to agree with you
Leo is more than good enough to handle league play. My comment was on how difficult it would be logistically to create the roster and cap space necessary to get a better left back. It would be equally as challenging as finding an upgrade. It would require some intense scouting to find one that is better than Leo and willing to take MLS level wages. They might have a couple of replacements in mind, but its hard to know who might be on their scouting radar.
There is another cost involved
Leo currently has his green card, so he doesn’t take up an international spot. If he was traded, the Sounders lose a lot of flexibility.
Yea
if we replace Leo with another foreign LB it’ll cost us a international slot.
I would have trouble saying we are below league average at TF
There don’t seem to be a ton of great TFs in the league. We don’t have a ton of experience there, but I htink that Ochoa/White/Fucito could give us a lot of quality minutes.
If I felt better about White's health, I'd agree
And I personally think that Ochoa will be very good this year and above average, but it seems that is not a widely held belief so I didn’t want to try to make that case.
What league are you looking at?
…such that Gonzalez isn’t at least league average? Either you have far too much esteem of MLS left backs or far too little esteem of Leo, particularly from a defensive perspective.
In all competitions...
Wahl shared time with Leo because…
1) Fixture congestion demanded resting all starters from time to time.
2) Wahl proved competent at left footed set piece service
3) Sigi wanted a bit more involvement of the LB with the offense.
Wahl was not and is not an all-around superior left back than Gonzalez, and such a measure of relative skill was never the reason behind the time share. Even if we were to base player merit solely upon the coach’s selection, the decision to start Leo in both playoff games vs. RSL, regardless of rest or offensive need, is more telling than the season start numbers. One could argue, reasonably, that Leo is not an optimal fit for Sigi’s system, but that does not make Gonzalez a “below-average” left back by this league’s standards.
by nimajneb on Jan 11, 2012 9:42 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I lost some confidence in Leo
because Sigi chose to start Tyson over him more often and in more important games. I figured if Sigi couldn’t use him as a full time starter, something must be wrong. Seemed strange though as I always thought Leo was far superior to Tyson. Now Leo is going to be the full time starter again? Very confusing.
| Recessionproof since 2009 | Win all the trophies! | You will surely get the Karkand |
I am biased...
But I have a ton of faith in Leo. After watching him shut down Messi on the flank. Of course Messi went on to score but he never beat Leo. Also he scored one of the better goals in Sounder history. As to not starting him part of the year you can look at Hurtado, Zakuani, Montero and Parke as other players Sigi has benched and let a fire brew in them and then giving them the nod. In Leo it was probably a combo of tired legs, someone who didn’t think they had to fight for their job, the need for passing to improve a little and to rethink how you play your position and become more attacking creative. I remember several games where he took off down the flank or cut inside and delivered great balls. I think he was unlucky to not get three or four assists at the end of the year.
by Calin David on Jan 12, 2012 3:13 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Non of those players missed 50% of a season in order to light a "fire"
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart | Follow Dave on Twitter @bedirthan
Leo is an above average LB in MLS for the right team
His defense is good, but he’s lost a lot of speed since arriving in MLS. He’s perfect for an MLS team that runs a bunker-and-counter style or a diamond 4-4-2. I would say he’s above average for a team that is running that kind of system regularly. Say, like Colorado under Gary Smith or Real Salt Lake under Kreis.
Unfortunately, Sigi’s arrow calls for fullbacks with the speed to get forward and back regularly. He’s frankly better as a CB in the Sigi arrow system (IMHO). He might be more valuable for another team which opens up some trade possibilities, but then the team would need to secure another LB either through a multi-team deal or a foreign signing.
not a great fit, perhaps...
“below average,” however, would imply that if you cluttered all the league left backs into a mean skill set you’d come up with a better player for the role, even if you’re extending the term to deal with Sigi’s system specifically. That’s not the case with MLS.
This is not to suggest that the position can’t be upgraded. It just won’t be done this year…
1) through the draft
2) within the league
3) while Leo is here
4) for less than or equal the amount Leo is being paid, which introduces the other team concerns of acquiring depth, a third DP, and/or a target forward.
Target forward describes a type of forward
I think it is weird how ever since we had Nkufo, Sounders fans have treated target forward as if it was a position on a team. Nkufo definitely was a target forward, but not every team has one. It is a type of player, not a position on the team. For example, Fucito definitely is not a target forward, and I don’t think Ochoa really plays as a target forward either.
Fitting Sigi's Arrow and maximizing Montero's strength
The call for a target forward has more to do with a perception of how the Sounders could potentially optomize their attack with Montero rather than a blind assumption that a target forward is a universal role. Neither Fucito nor Ochoa fits the mold. Many fans see this as a compromise and area where the Sounders could tweak the roster to improve.
All MLS rosters are compromises. It’s part of what makes them so fascinating and gives the league parity. Each team has to make a series of moves looking for a compromise that creates the best on field sum. For now Seattle has opted for a compromise at forward.
by Abbott Smith on Jan 12, 2012 4:28 AM PST up reply actions
That is probably true about how many fans think about it
However, I’ve seen the term target forward used by Sounder fans in such bizarre ways that I’m sure some of them have no idea what it means. Some of them seem to think it is a synonym for striker.
I totally agree that Target Forward is a TYPE of player
I also think that Sigi used/s Jaqua, Ochoa, Noonan, Levesque in that manner.
Fucito in 2010 was used more as a withdrawn forward while in 2011 was used as the higher forward, but certainly not in a target manner.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart | Follow Dave on Twitter @bedirthan
About Fucito
There were two ways in which Fucito and Montero played in 2011. Most of the time Fucito was the higher forward and Montero was more withdrawn, but at least on a couple of occasions that was reversed, and I don’t think the reversed worked really well.
I agree with CMC
That’s arguably (and almost surely) our weakest position on the field right now. I feel good about Parke-Hurtado-Alonso-Johannson, but we haven’t heard a lot of confidence in Burch and if the other parts of the defense are solid, then opponents are going to attack the weak spot. As of what we know right now, that’s going to be the left side.
If
Seattle wants to find a better LB than who they got they have to look outside the league.
I don't
think Seattle is going to find a better LB in the draft.
I'd rather see a CB draftee this time around
The fullback spots seem better covered now than at the start of last season. I think there’s a deeper pool of CBs in this draft and so we should be able to get a decent reserve level player with our 15th pick (assuming we don’t trade up or out).
Yeah, it'd be shocking.
Even if they did, there’s almost no chance they’d be able to start this year.
I’d love Tetteh to be able to step in, but all signs are that he’s not ready.
Interesting
the sounders roster page has him down as a developmental player. Don’t know how accurate that is or not.
he's under 25
so qualifies for slots 21-24
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart | Follow Dave on Twitter @bedirthan
Sigi has insane levels of bench flexibility
Taken together the latest signings are interesting are the bench flexibility they bring in. The back-up LBs can play LM. The back-up RM can play RB. The back-up RB plays better as CB as does the starting LB (IMHO). The wide midfielders, for the most part, can play on either side of the midfield or as a box-to-box CM. And the Formidfender plays whenever and wherever Sigi needs him.
I think that Seattle has to have one of the most flexible benches in the league.
by Dizzo on Jan 11, 2012 12:34 PM PST reply actions 3 recs
And the Honey Badger don't care.
He just wants the ball where ever he plays.
by PhootieD on Jan 11, 2012 12:46 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I hope Sivebaek enjoys the silver straps on his back.
by yuniform on Jan 11, 2012 1:15 PM PST via Android app reply actions 3 recs
Clarification needed
Got tripped up by the wording here – “has appeared in 80 league matches and scored six goals with Midtjylland, a team in Denmark’s first division. He has also made 19 appearances for various Denmark youth national teams. But after getting starter’s minutes in recent years, mostly at right back, Sivebaek seems to have fallen out of favor and has appeared in just three matches this season.”
Fallen out of favor on the National or club team?
I think
it was club team cause he wanted to play more at RM but the team was playing him at RB.
he's played three games this year at Midtjylland
He’s never appeared for the Danish senior national team.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 11, 2012 1:26 PM PST up reply actions
Out of curiosity, does anyone know how to pronounce "Midtjylland?"
I suppose I could look it up, but I am not THAT curious.
meatland
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 11, 2012 1:26 PM PST up reply actions
I've just found a Danish team to support.
Hard to compete with Meatland
Go banana!
by Disco_Stew on Jan 11, 2012 1:31 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Seriously?
I had no idea how to pronounce it so I avoided saying it. But every time I read it, I read it as “midget-illy-land”. Which could also be the name of LMFAO’s next single?
by chrisperry1983 on Jan 11, 2012 2:38 PM PST up reply actions
seriously
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 11, 2012 5:54 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Norwegian girlfriend is saying...
“MEEt-chya-lann” — but says it may be different in Denmark because they pronounce things quite differently.
The return of THIERRY
by Kyle Ritter on Jan 11, 2012 10:17 PM PST up reply actions
well yes...
Meatland was the American-ized prononciation
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 11, 2012 10:54 PM PST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Sounder At Heart
Related FanShots on Sounder At Heart
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
