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If Osvaldo Alonso can’t Go for Seattle Sounders, Who Plays in His Place?

By Chris Blakely

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Osvaldo Alonso is a huge component for the Seattle Sounders. If he can’t play on November 23rd for the first leg of the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Galaxy, who plays in his place? Yes, I know we are still nine days away but it is something to think about. He picked up a hamstring injury in the second leg against FC Dallas and had to be subbed out in the 56th minute.

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Alonso is widely considered one of the best defensive mid-fielders in MLS, if not the best (I am a little biased). I’ve watched Alonso countless times somehow win balls that other mid-fielders never had a shot at. He also has a knack for scoring important goals in the playoffs including the one he scored in Dallas. His goal was the one that eventually got the Sounders to the next round.

Sounders Head Coach Sigi Schmid is hopeful he will be available in nine days’ time:

"“We’ll know more as we go forward each day,” Schmid told reporters following Seattle’s practice Tuesday afternoon at Starfire Soccer Complex. “Our expectation is that he’ll be able to make it back for the game in LA. We’ll go through the protocol, and obviously for the rest for this week we’re going to keep him off the field and try to get the treatment in and get him on the field next week.”"

The major question is if Alonso can’t play, will fill in for him?

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    • Micheal Azira came off the bench and played pretty well. He also got some playing time in the first leg and looked decent. During his post-game interview on Monday night, Schmid hinted that he may use Andy Rose as well. Rose has missed most of the year but when he came back, he came back on fire as he scored a first half brace against Chivas USA on September 3rd.

    Another possibility to fill in for Alonso would be Captain Brad Evans. Evans has played everywhere on the field this year. If you have Evans filling in for Alonso, one would assume both Marco Pappa and Lamar Neagle would be starting on the wings. Then who would come in for Pappa and Neagle around the 60th minute when they are gassed?

    You could bring in Kenny Cooper or Chad Barrett but then if you need to take out Clint Dempsey or Obafemi Martins, who do you have left?

    In the end, I believe there are really only two players to choose from. I will let you vote and see who you think should fill Osvaldo Alonso’s spot if he can’t recover from his hamstring injury.

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