Analysts impressed by Sounders’ summer signings

The dust has officially settled on the summer transfer window. The Seattle Sounders ended up making four additions, but none of them were a Designated Player. While debate around these parts has been active, it appears as though outsiders are pretty impressed by what the Sounders have done during the summer.

One story at MLSsoccer.com listed TAM signings Kelvin Leerdam and Victor Rodriguez among the top 10 moves of the summer. Nick Sabetti was particularly effusive of Rodriguez, who he rated No. 3, behind only Designated Player signings Jonathan dos Santos and Carlos Vela (who won’t actually play until 2018).

A right winger who’s spent four of his last five seasons as a starter in Spain's La Liga, Rodriguez will add even more quality to the Sounders' possession phase, provide defensive tracking when they’re without the ball, and potentially some goals, too.

Matt Doyle was similar impressed, giving the Sounders’ overall window a “B+”, which ends up being tied for the third best grade he gave any team. Doyle was impressed by how much depth the team added, even if they didn’t get their No. 1 target, and seemed to consider the more overlooked trades for Lamar Neagle and Calum Mallace to be net positives.

I get why Seattle fans are bummed this team didn't add a Lodeiro-esque signing, but it's hard for me to look at this roster and say "Yeah, they're not really built to compete." They are, and there's no team in the West who are clearly superior.

Obviously, this window could have gone better and missing out on Derlis Gonzalez is going to sting, especially if this season doesn’t end with another trophy celebration. But right now, it’s worth taking a step back and recognize that we’re dealing with some very first-world problems.