Sounders appear to have big plans for Joevin Jones

Seattle Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid praised new signing Joevin Jones for his pace and ability to go forward, specifically highlighting the player's ability to play as a left winger if needed. "We want our outside backs to get forward, and he's somebody who can add that to our game."

Seattle's need for a starting left back has been painfully apparent in the last year, from Leo Gonzalez's form decline and eventual release, to the lack of a strong showing from the young Dylan Remick. This is what led to the club's trade of a first round draft pick to the Chicago Fire in exchange for Jones, a one-year veteran of MLS and Trinidad and Tobago international. On the roles of fullbacks in the modern game, Schmid said "they're players who see more of the ball, sometimes your initial buildup from the back is through them. They're instrumental in their team's ability to maintain possession."

Schmid admitted that the trade was an important one for the club, because they went into the offseason knowing that a left back would need to be signed. Where does that leave Remick?

"In the last two seasons, Dylan has had some good moments and then some moments where it hasn't been as good," Schmid said. "I think Dylan is stronger as a result of having gone through those experiences, but we wanted one more left-footed guy at left back and so that's what we were looking for and why we were able to acquire Joevin and fill that hole."

Having only moved to MLS last year, Jones has just one year of experience in the league, but Schmid and the Sounders believe they saw enough of him to know that he was worth the effort. "His adjustment to MLS was good, considering that the first year is always more difficult in terms of travel and everything else you go through. I talked to Frank Yallop, his old coach at Chicago and had conversations with people who knew him in Trinidad and everyone is positive about what he can do."