Training Camp Opens: Fitness, Ball Work and Games Start 2012 Off

(On the hunger of the team this year…) "We haven’t really talked as a group about the hunger. I didn’t want to start out the first day with that as the emphasis. We just wanted to get back into it. You can tell, just by watching them today, the flow of the game was pretty good and I think guys know what they are capable of accomplishing this year. As long as we go about our business well, we’re trying to get what we didn’t pick up this year."

(On the difference between the two sessions today…) "Today we tried to do almost the same thing for both groups. We changed a little bit the second activity. We went a little shorter with the second group. That was really the only difference. Tomorrow you’ll see more of a difference because we want to do some shooting. We want to do some crossing and finishing with that first group, which we’re not necessarily going to do with the second group. It’s to manage your numbers a little bit better and also for us to get a better look at the new players."

(On Steve Zakuani’s status…) "I think today was a good day for Steve in terms of, like I said, ‘Just go all out for as long as you can, then you can evaluate where you are in the process.’ I think right now he’s got a good feel of how far he’s come and how far he’s still away. I think he was a little frustrated at the end as he was hoping he might be closer, but I was actually happy where he’s at. He knows what he needs to do now…I think he’s probably at about 65-70% in terms of playing with a group there. He still had an impact. It was great to see him score the final goal. It’s been a long time since he’s scored the winning goal at the end of a practice. It’ll come. I was happy with it."

(On if any new players had an impact today…) "It’s the first day for everybody. Obviously, [Christian] Sivebaek scored a couple goals, showed he can shoot the ball, hit from distance. I thought he was OK. [Marc] Burch, who is coming off foot surgery, as well, that’s why we wanted to be a little careful with him, for his first real practice coming off that. I thought he looked all right, spreading the ball around. I thought [Michael] Gspurning was good. The young guys—the game was probably a little more hectic, but I thought there were some guys who had some good moments there, as well."

(On O’Brian White’s status…) "O’Brian White is further behind. Obviously, he’s still just doing the bike and non-impact stuff and the elliptical. We’ll have to see how it goes, but right now he’s still a bit away from being able to train on the field."

(On if the field was quieter without Kasey Keller…) "You know, you don’t hear those shouts sometimes. Kasey’s great. We’re going to miss him, but I’m happy we were able to find Michael [Gspurning] because he’s a veteran goalkeeper, and at times a little quieter. It would have been interesting having Michael and Kasey here at the same time because they would have competed…because that would have been the nature of the two of them."

(On how the team is gelling with the new players…) "Fine. Everybody is getting along with each other, so that is a good thing. Obviously, the rookies and draft choices are sort of feeling their way. We’ve still got a couple of guys—[Jason] Banton will join us tomorrow, and I think Cordell Cato will be here by Monday. There are still some new faces to go that way, but overall I’ve been pleased."

(On when cuts will happen…) "We’ll probably do a little bit of something before we go to Arizona. Certainly after Arizona a little more before we go to Florida, then the final cuts after Florida."

I have nothing else to say except…awesome. Welcome back Sounders.

I’m back. Yeah, transcription time

(beat the weather in?) We got in on Tuesday and they were saying there’s a huge storm coming. I didn’t really notice it because it was beautiful, especially come from Chicago. It all come down right after I got here. It’s pretty interesting.

(impression of first day) It was difficult. At this level it’s going to be hard, but you try to push yourself and try to prove every day that you can make the team.

(Creighton defense all over league) We had a great season. It’s a testament to the whole team, front to back, the coaching staff. We just showed that we could play at that level, hopefully we show we can play at this level as well.

(difference between MLS and college) I was humbled when I was here. MLS is a tough league to play in. A lot of people don’t think so, but I can tell you it’s very hard and difficult to make it.

(faster today?) It’s fast. I was out here last summer and I was extremely humbled by the speed of play. I was in the middle of 5 v 2 for ever and I don’t expect it to be like that. I’m just trying to improve myself and the guys around me and the team.

(Noonan) This is the first time, I haven’t heard them before.

(orange ball?) We actually had those for our NCAA tournament game when it was snowing, but fortuanately we didn’t use them as it got delayed. I’ll take the white ball anyday.

(what do you have to do?) It’s basically proving yourself and the guys around you. I’m just trying to help the team become the best team it can be. That’s first and foremost from the coaching staff. It’s clear to push every player to be the best they can be and that’s what I’m trying to do.

(beat the storm?) Yes, I did. I came in Tuesday night before the storm hit. I was worried I wasn’t going to make it.

(what’s your snow experience) I’m from Canada. So I’m comfortable with it. This isn’t a storm really. This is normal. I was looking and I was like ‘this is a storm’

(First day) It’s always tough on the first day of practice, trying to get to know people. I don’t know everyone’s name yet, everything’s hectic. Every one’s running around trying to impress Coach Sigi Schmid. I mean you can’t ask for a better opportunity. Obviously the first day is 100 miles an hour. I’m glad it’s over so tomorrow we can settle.

(exciting on draft day?) I was excited. I mean? Seattle. Such amazing fans, an amazing city. I came up here in the Fall played against the Univeristy of Washington in Portland in the Husky Classic and when I came up I was ‘man if I could play in Seattle next year it would be a dream come true.’ I was so happy when Seattle picked me. I was smiling from ear to ear.

(reception on twitter) My phone honestly, when I heard my name called, my phone didn’t stop ringing because I had my twitter notifications email me and I had about 800 emails. I had to go in and delete, delete, delete, it took me about an hour to delete everything. It’s wonderful. It shows the fans appreciate soccer here in Seattle. You can tell with 50 consecutive sellout [sic] games. It’s amazing. I can’t complain. I will delete as many emails as I need to I don’t care.

(style of play) I’ve seen O’Brian White play and I feel like I can learn from him, learn from Fredy Montero. I feel I have a mixture of O’Brian White and Fredy Montero. I could potentially, I’m not quite that good yet, but the more and more I play with the Sounders, practice with them, learn from them I feel like I can contribute.

(Canadian Olympic team) I just got notified that I was in the 30-man preliminary roster for the Olympics. Qualification is in Nashville in April so hopefully if I make the Sounders and perform well and get the call up hopefully play in qualification against the United States.