Sounders Practice Canceled; Santos Update And Live Q&A

….it’s just pouring down rain down here (well at least in my next o’ the woods).

I would imagine yes. Some players, in the past, have also been put up by host families.

some who were supposed to be here at the open of camp likely didn’t even make it into the city.

And I don’t think any of us have seen the rookies and trialists we know about play. I think the guys most in danger of making the roster are probably Seamon, Sanyang and Estrada, but I don’t think that’s really going out on a limb.

I’m not comfortable saying any will or won’t make the team. The returning players on the bubble are those that didn’t play much (Seamon, Estrada, Tetteh, Sanyang) and the two “older” vets (Scott, Levesque) just because the youth movement is really clear.

There will be a movement about the changes in age soon.

I did a quick roster rundown this morning and decided that another way to look at this question is as a percentage problem. What gross percentage would I assign to a player’s chances based on the Sounders returning roster and positional needs?

1. I’m going to assume that all of the returning Sounders who logged significant minutes with the 1st team last year will make the roster again. This includes players like Carrasco, Scott, Levesque, Ochoa, Fucito, etc. Because the team is young, Scott and Levesque provide both veteran leadership and flexibility. I am also including all the GKs because the team hasn’t invited anyone else that we know of and they will be competing among themselves.

2. Of the offseason acquisitions, Johannson is a starter and Sivebaek and Burch earn the benefit of the doubt.

3. I also included Zak and OBW and am not putting either on IR for this exercise.

That means that the team will have 6-7 additional roster spots. I expect that the competition will break down like this.

1. CMs – Due to how thin the roster is at this position I expect the team will carry two additional players here. Currently there are 3 contenders: Seamon, Sanyang and Rose. If the Sounders operate the way most sports teams do, then the returning players have the slots until the new comer displaces them. These 3 players each probably have a 67% chance of making the squad.

2. CBs and FBs: I expect the team would like to carry two more players at these positions. Tetteh, Duran, Pontius, Alvarado and Guitterez are fighting for these two spots with Tetteh having the edge at the start of camp as the returning Sounder. If we assume that Tetteh keeps his spot, then the others each have a roughly 25% chance.

3. Wings and Fwds: That leaves 2-3 slots for FWDs and Wings. Estrada and new signee Cato have the inside track at the start of camp with competition from Sodade, Banton and Ngassa. This is the area most likely to be impacted if the team puts either OBW or Zak on the IR. I also think that this is area that is most likely to be a battle. At the minimum, they all have a 40% chance of making the squad.

Obviously, IR and the actual performance will make a difference. But this gives a numerical baseline.

And you’re right about the pressure. The ability to recruit these youth internationals will be damaged if players like this don’t make rosters. But MLS clearly has to work better with its teams. These players have to be of interest to teams for this trend to continue.

If he plays well in training, he does play a position the Sounders are always looking to improve. I really don’t think MLS is going to tell the Sounders to put him on the team if the Sounders really don’t think he’s earned it.

I’m guessing some team gives Paniagua and the other signed int’ls a trial at least.

but it stuck. At my house about 5 inches. Then we got an icestorm last night. So even the roads that were cleared are covered with ice.

are you located Adam? One of my employees is in Billings, and he said it’s been pretty darn nasty over there.

after Cato

I expect the team wants more international slots.

At some point, the league will be in a strong enough financial situation that the players will be able to force an end to single entity. How far off is that? Well, that’s a whole other question. I’d think it’s not even on the radar for 10 years.

is that the team can retain a drafted player’s rights for two years even if unsigned.

My readings about Rose make him look more box-to-box than CDM so maybe more pressure on Seamon than Sanyang.

But it takes a ton of changes structurally throughout USSF.

The next step is probably to have an actual First Team and Reserve Team so that the number of reserve games can expand.

I’ve talked to NASL officials in the past who have expressed real concern over being seen as a literal minor league where MLS teams essentially have farm teams playing against otherwise independent teams.

I’m really intrigued by the Ford/Meredith competition. They clearly like each other have opposite strenghts and weaknesses.

i meant Parke and Evans are NOT locks for USMNT

They have like 6 players who will be gone for more than 3 weeks.

Dallas loses a couple as well, and Brek Shea could be gone for both Olympics and Qualifiers.

My neighbor has a gaping hole in the side of his house now because of the same thing.

MAKE SURE THE BEER FRIDGE SURVIVED!

…I like the comment “You just saved European scouts some work” lol

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121194248966725139.html

I can’t see our shirt sponsor changing unless we get some major $$. It’s great exposure for them and unlike “Herbalife” people see actually know who our sponsor is/what they do.

To quote FakeAdrian, I’d rather have “XBOX” than Barbara Bush on our kits.

I might have to get dinner tonight from the place that just sells pies.

Fedex/UPS are more reliable than some dude in a rusty ’93 Corolla.

Jan 30 is the day when they go on sale.

I think the last thing MLS wants to create more ways of confusing people.

I don’t suppose you ever blogged about your Sounder neighbor?

but instead they will be picked on how they could/should do this year or next.

One for me and one that is split between three people. For me I’ll get the card. For them I’ll get the paper so that it is easy to just give each their 6 tix when the season starts.

Until they develop the ticket holder card into the Sounders app. Then I don’t need to worry about a card or tickets just make sure I have my phone.

And yes every author here sees a CAM and Montero as the trequartista as occupying very similar spaces.

But he’s 35 and I haven’t seen him play recently…

…but I’d like to see Real Madrid out this direction this year.

but we don’t really have inside info

Falcao (Atletico Madrid), Rodallega (Wigan), Carlos Darwin Quintero (Santos Laguna), Moreno (Tijuana) but with WCQ games on the horizon I would not be surprised if he got a chance to come up during the summer.

Vancouver hasn’t addressed it’s problems in the back and up the spine. Lots of new creative talent on the attacking end, but I can’t see them stopping other teams from scoring yet.

They’re coming a reasonably successful season with a core of guys in the midfield that are used to working together. They’ve done the tough work on the off-season to upgrade their defense and look like they’ll be stiff competition for us in our region.

Vancouver on the other hand is having to retool again after two coaches and a number of lineup and roster changes. They’re starting fresh and I don’t think they’ve made the off-season moves they needed to make to compete at a high level.

once a decade snow and then an ice storm though …

Lived in Augusta for a number of years while with the Army and fell in love with Charleston. Took my wife to the Low Country for our honeymoon.

He said the 3 o’clock flight was scheduled to depart on time tomorrow.
I think the same flight was delayed but still going to Phoenix this evening.

it seems that any flights tomorrow will almost certainly be delayed.