Player Profile: Andy Rose

The Seattle Sounders missed out on selecting Andy Rose in the 2012 Supplemental Draft. Requiring an International slot, he slipped into the Supplemental Rounds and the Sounders gambled he would still be available for their pick. Instead he was selected by RSL. But the Sounders quickly traded the rights to Leone Cruz in exchange for Rose and by the end of the day, Andy Rose was a Sounder. It was the only hiccup in Rose’s rookie season.

Rose turned heads in training camp when he put up some of the top fitness numbers on the team. His fitness and professional approach endeared him with the coaches and when injuries began to hammer the squad, Rose earned his chance. He made his MLS debut in a start against Philadelphia on May 5, 2012. By the end of the season he had played in 34 games across all competitions, notching four goals and five assists in those games.

He started 11 MLS games. On a team with deep options in the midfield, Rose’s rookie season stands out as a significant achievement and bodes well for his future.

Skills on offense: Skills on Offense: Andy Rose isn’t a flashy player. His offensive skills won’t light the pitch on fire. His height and size make him a target in the box on set pieces and he showed signs that this part of his game is likely to grow with time. His biggest asset on offense is his ability to play simply. He doesn’t try to get cute. Simple passes and positional awareness are going to be the keys to his success. He’s more of a Box to Box mid than an Attacking Mid.

Skills on defense: He got a bit overzealous on defense in his first game and was lucky not to get sent off. But he quickly calmed down and played the remainder of the season as a steady option for the team in the center of the pitch. He closed down opponents well and played within himself, limiting the mistakes that plague any rookie player. His stability gave Sigi the option to use his veterans elsewhere, particularly Evans.

Best Case in 2013: Andy Rose’s second season with the team is likely to look like his inaugural season. He is a key element of the Sounder’s vaunted midfield depth and he should see plenty of playing time off the bench with occasional starts if necessary. If the team moves a key midfield veteran in the offseason, Rose will see more time. But honing his craft by studying how Tiffert, Evans and Alonso play the game will serve him and the Sounders well. Ideally he will learn how to make late runs into the box and become more effective on set plays.