Well, while that was just a short time ago, now things are very different.
In reading Jose Romero's Q&A with Nate Sturgis today I read some disturbing news.
Midfielder Freddie Ljungberg is in Sweden rehabilitating from hip surgery, and he and midfielder Peter Vagenas are on track with their recoveries to take the field for Seattle in the first two weeks of April. Sounders FC could place both on the disabled list when the season starts, but that would force them to miss the league minimum of six games, which would take them to the end of April before they could be eligible to play in a game.
Schmid, on Ljungberg's rehab: "With us having gone down to Ventura and now going to Argentina, those are not places that would have been optimal for him to continue his rehab. By him staying right now in Sweden and continuing to work on a daily basis, he has all the stuff he needs... So then when he comes and joins us after we come back from Argentina he will be at a stage where he can do all the stuff on the field."
Emphasis my own
It was so shocking considering that we were once told he'd be ready for the Opener, and now it could be Game Four hosting the Wizards, so I emailed Jose, and like the true pro he is. He responded with "that's what Sigi said."
Now, I might be joining Mati Bishop in the worried crowd.
I guess the good news is that there is a disabled list in MLS.
Thoughts?