Expect more on plans for Saturday and the #9

At least if the latest FIFA rankings are a guide. USA earned a few more points, but remains at 11. The Red, White and Blue still have a chance at cracking into the top 8 by December, but it would take more failures from France and Portugal, a win at Denmark, and probably another solid friendly against a top team.

With Croatia out, and the UEFA playoffs with several teams around the USA in quality (by these rankings which are a primary component for seeding) there is still a chance. Americans are used to hanging onto small chances and watching them work, but in this case it seems very likely that the US Men will not be a seeded team and instead will see the luck of the draw determine the strength of the group.

Highlights
USA - 11
Mexico - 18 (6^)
Cameroon (14) and Ivory Coast (19) both in the top 20
Argentina has righted their ship to get to 6th (^2)
Asia sees their leader fall 10 spots to 24

Like many fans around the nation, Sounders Fans will be raising the number 9 in support. Tonight at viewing parties (including the George & Dragon Fundraiser with Sigi and Chris Henderson) during the 9th minute, as well as at the final home match v FC Dallas.

The idea originated with the ECS, but they do not want this to be just a supporters thing and have asked help from other SGs, the Alliance Council, bloggers and the front office to spread the word.

You can find a nice 8.5X11 #9 here, or make your own.

Charlie has a connection with Sounders FC Player Mike Fucito, who I asked for his thoughts on the incident and the fans plan to support Charlie.

... As you know I had the pleasure of playing with Charlie since I was about 11 or 12 years old. We played on the same club team and eventually went to the same boarding school. We were even close to going to BC together.

He is an amazing player, probably one of the best that I have ever had the chance of playing with. He is a very gifted individual. He is blessed with loads of talent. If anyone can recover from this, it is Charlie. He is a strong willed person and will do everything he can to come back better than ever. He has proven that before after he underwent serious knee surgery in college and was a first team all-american the following season at BC. I wish him only the best in his recovery. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family. I know all of us will miss watching him play during his time out.

The Council has a conference call this evening and I know many of us will be pushing the idea for even more support from fans, supporters, media and the team.

Sounders thoughts and prayers out to Charlie Davies, US MNT Forward. Charlie granted me a few moments of his time back when the National Team was training at Starfire prior to the Gold Cup.

Last night he was in a car accident, and today in surgery. ESPN has information, also Steven Goff at the WaPost. Here I will just say - get well Charlie there will be thoughts and prayers for you from Seattle, and around the USA and the world.

What struck me about this piece, a must read for any Sounders fan, is that currently Sounders are only using half of Dunga's tactics, but the descriptions of their play while grander in skill, seem similar in style.

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While most MLS blogs that touch on the topic of how the World Cup Qualifiers will effect league play, considering that a dozen players will be missing matches, I will not. We know the problems, and the reasons for this. Quite simply it is because our nation likes soccer on the weekends and so does FIFA.

For me there is an intriguing storyline forming, particularly considering my past as an Arabic linguist. At one point it was possible that more than five or more Arab nations would make the World Cup in South Africa, but as Qatar , UAE and Bahrain falter the only hope out of the Asian-Arab nations lies in Saudi Arabia (currently locked at nil-nil v Iran on FSC.

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The United States has made the Hexagonal Round of World Cup Qualifying and quite simply has to be a top 3 team, a 4th place finish and a play-in round would be completely unacceptable. On Feb 11th the USA faces CONCACAF rival Mexico in Columbus. Unless you were very lucky you won't be at that game. Instead you must watch on TV.

I can't really think of a better way to watch a must win than with dozens, if not hundreds, of my fellow Sounders FC fans. The ECS is hosting a double that night with viewing parties at Fuel and McCoy's down in Pioneer Square. It has been ages since Mexico won on US soil, so rather than watch history, watch victory.

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