Player Profiles: Sodade, Tetteh and Steres

These first player profiles are the briefest offered as there is little data upon which to judge their talents. The profile is a mix of biographical data, statistics and scouting report based on what was seen over the past 12 months. Each of these players are young, likely have futures in American pro soccer, but have holes in their game that will need playing time to develop.

Player Name: Babayele Sodade
National Affiliation: Canada
Age: 22 Years Pro: 1 Years Sounder: 1
Position: Forward Role: Target Forward
Community Rank: 34

MLS (Playoff) Stats: 0 (0)
Non-League Stats: 0
Reserve League Stats: 0

Sounders fans only saw Sodade in the Red and White of Canada during their attempt to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics. He tore his ACL in the Olympic Qualifying match when Canada beat the United States. He is expected to be at full health for 2013.

Skills on offense: He's known as the man who broke the vertical test at the MLS Combine. That may sum up his skill set. Extraordinarily athletic Sodade healthy can play the target forward role like EJ does. He's faster, stronger, taller and a better leaper than the opposition. His touch needs work and finishing from distance may be an issue.

Skills on defense: A best case scenario is that he harries a backline once in a while.

Best Case 2013: Step one is to get back to full health. Step two is to apply what he learned from Johnson about how to slip the line and take shots from inside the six. He could become a fringe rotational player.

Player Name: Michael Tetteh
National Affiliation: Ghana
Age: 23 Years Pro: 2 Years Sounder: 2
Position: Mid/Def Role: Left Back, Left Mid
Community Rank: 33

MLS (Playoff) Stats: 0 (0)
Non-League Stats: 0
Reserve League Stats: 2 Starts, 1 Sub for 216 Minutes | 0 Goals, 0 Assists

Tetteh was again loaned down to the lower division after having minor injuries affect his playing time with the first team. His option was declined and is unlikely to be on the team in 2013.

Skills on offense: A speedy player with decent short passing skills. Sometimes tries to push beyond his skillset and dribble through too tight of traffic. Not the crosser expected from a modern left back.

Skills on defense: His biggest difficulty in transitioning to the pro game are his struggles on defense. At left back he needs to be better at both on-ball and positional defense. If he makes the full-time transition to a midfielder he may be good enough at both. His speed does help him recover from mistakes.

Best Case 2013: A contract in a lower division where he can play and develop, probably as a left midfielder playing in the Zakuani mold.

Player Name: Daniel Steres
National Affiliation: United States
Age: 22 Years Pro: 1 Years Sounder: 1
Position: Defender Role: Centerback
Community Rank: 32

MLS (Playoff) Stats: 0 (0)
Non-League Stats: 0
Reserve League Stats: 7 Starts for 620 minutes | 0 Goals, 0 Assists

Acquired off of waivers from Chivas USA the former Pac-10 player did not play a first team competitive minute. He was often used in eleven v eleven drills in practice. He is not expected to be with the Sounders in 2013.

Skills on offense: Steres' short passing is adequate and does not often launch balls at distance. He is not a threat on set-pieces.

Skills on defense: Better at occupying space than at on-man defense. Was a leader of the line in college, but still raw at the professional level. No major holes, but not significant standout skill.

Best Case 2013: Should be a starter at lower level pro US leagues to get competitive experience.