Seattle Sounders Decline Options on Eight Players
Well, the day has finally come. We learned today a few of the players that will not remain with the Seattle Sounders for the 2015 MLS season. There are currently 23 players that remain on the roster.
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Here is a list of the eight players that are no longer Sounders–Josh Ford, Marcus Hahnemann, Onyekachi Apam, Djimi Traore, Tristan Bowen, Sean Okoli, Cam Weaver and Eriq Zavaleta. Additionally, defender Jalil Anibaba is out of contract. A few of these selections surprise me.
The two that surprise me the most are Okoli and Zavaleta. Okoli, a homegrown player, didn’t get much playing time with the first team this year. However, in his first career MLS match, he sent in the cross that beat defending MLS Cup Champion, Sporting KC. After that first match you hardly ever saw him on the pitch unless you went and watch a reserve match. I saw a lot of potential in Okoli and want to wish him luck in his future endeavors.
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Zavaleta was a draft pick selected two years ago by the Sounders. He did not see that much action in his first year with the club. For the 2014 MLS season, Zavaleta was sent on loan to Chivas USA and played mostly center-back. I liked the idea of him getting a full season of playing time at that position as the Sounders have lacked depth at that position the last few years.
I guess the declining of Ford’s contract could be seen as a little surprising as well. With him being declined, the Sounders only now have on goalkeeper on the roster, Stefan Frei. Maybe the Sounders will now try to bring in Timo Hildebrand as a back-up for Frei.
I knew that Traore would not be back as he announced his retirement prior the second leg of the Western Conference Finals. Hahnemann apparently announced his retirement last night on Instagram. Also he is 43, so there is no real big surprise there.
Take a look at how the roster looks now just a few days before the expansion draft.
Goalkeepers (1): Stefan Frei
Defenders (7): Leo Gonzalez, Damion Lowe, Chad Marshall, Jimmy Ockford, Dylan Remick, Zach Scott, DeAndre Yedlin
Midfielders (9): Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Aaron Kovar, Lamar Neagle, Andy Rose, Micheal Azira, Marco Pappa, Gonzalo Pineda, Aaron Long
Forwards (6): Chad Barrett, Kenny Cooper, Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins, Kevin Parsemain, Victor Mansaray
What do you think about the moves? Let us know in the comments.