Seattle Sounders Kickoff 2015 Preseason
photo courtesy of Seattle Sounders FC website/soundersfc.com
The Seattle Sounders start to the 2015 MLS season got started when they took the field for their first preseason practice. The Sounders will be looking to repeat as Supporters Shield winners as well as make their first ever MLS Cup appearance. It won’t be easy but the boys in Rave Green will give it their all.
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It has been almost 60 days since the Sounders took the pitch when they faced off against the Los Angeles Galaxy in leg two of the Western Conference Final. The team has changed a bit since the last time we saw them on the field. DeAndre Yedlin, Jalil Anibaba and Sean Okoli are a few names no longer with the team. Yedlin is now a Hotspur in Tottenham, Anibaba was drafted by expansion side Orlando City SC before being trade to Sporting KC and Okoli had his rights traded to the New England Revolution that allowed the Sounders to move up in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft.
There are also plenty of new faces with the team this year. Tyrone Mears, draft picks Cristian Roldan and Andy Craven. Mears is a Premier League veteran to help bring experience to a back line that struggled at times. Craven was tied for the national lead in goals last year and Roldan is a Generation Adidas product who played his college soccer at the University of Washington and fell to the Sounders with the 16th pick overall.
One notable absentee from the Sounders first preseason practice was Obafemi Martins. However, head coach Sigi Schmid put those fears to rest:
"“Everything is good with Oba,” Schmid told the media following Saturday’s session."
Martins led the Sounders in goals with 17 goals to go along with 13 assists, all career highs. Three other players that were absent from practice were Clint Dempsey, Aaron Kovar and Victor Mansaray. Dempsey is with the United States Men’s national team most likely until the final international friendly that takes place on February 8th. Kovar is currently overseas training with Sheffield Wednesday and is expected back sometime soon. Mansaray was allowed to play with the Sounders U-18 team who faced the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday.
The Sounders are now just 41 days from their season opener against the Revolution and Schmid is excited to get things started:
"“It’s always exciting on the first day because the players are anxious and they’re eager and want to show you what they can do. You can definitely sense the excitement and we wanted to make sure we got a good look at the new guys and got the work for the older guys that we wanted to.”"
Sounders Captain Brad Evans can’t wait to get started:
"“For me, this is the first time I’m here on opening day because of previous U.S. National Team January camps. You get a little bit of a different vibe. I forgot all the fans come out, it’s absolutely insane. But it’s a very quick turnaround and we start up in six weeks. It feels good though, good to see the guys. A ton of faces, especially with S2 but everyone game with a great attitude.”"
Training will resume for the Sounders on Monday, January 26th, before the team departs for its first preseason trip of the year to Southern California. At that time, the coaching staff will begin evaluations on its squad.
"“It’s good. Obviously, we’re growing as a club,” said Schmid. “That’s the biggest thing you notice today. Not only our team but now you’ve got S2 as well and the Academy has been going for a while. We are now a soccer club in the truest sense of the word. Today there were a lot of people out there, a lot of staff as well as players…but it’s good to get started, always good to get started.”"
General Manager and President Garth Lagerwey had a lot of nice things to say about the supporters coming out to watch the first practice of the preseason:
"“Never had a supporters’ group greet us on the way out to practice so that was pretty awesome. Great atmosphere. For me, still meeting the players and learning names and things like that. Early days in terms of team construction but these guys have it under control."
I am super excited to get the 2015 MLS season underway. I am really excited to see how this year’s squad turns out. The team has kept a majority of their players from last year and the team will be looking to rebound from a disappointing end to the 2014 season.
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