understanding MLS part 1 of 4, allocation $
one of the things that is baffling to me, and many of you, is the inner rules of MLS. we know why these rules and systems are being used as they are doing all they can to not go the way of NASL. well ok, it isn’t just for that, but you can look at most of the complex inner workings of how this business was set up underneath the ”let’s not do another NASL” umbrella.
but i am not too proud to say that they are F’ing confusing and i know that i am not alone in this opinion. many of them are unlike any other sport, many of them aren’t published (or at least not up to date) and i can say with confidence, that most fans cannot explain them to another fan. for a while, i hung my head down in shame, not able to look another fan in the eye…. what if he asked me what i though of our use of our allocation money in order to secure montero??? what would i say? but then, about a month ago, i sat in a room with Joe Roth and Drew Carey and they too were asking for clarification from Adrian… so, if the owners don’t always know, well, you and i can be forgiven as well. Read more
2009 Sounders Season Timeline
Laurie on theOffside came across a pretty neat-o Season Timeline for last year’s Sounders. If you need to pass your Tuesday away, have at it.
All the highlights from the entire season at your finger tips.
Freddie’s First Day
Sounders FC Designated Player, Freddie Ljungberg, was at his first practice of the year this morning.
- Jose Romero notes that Sigi is “happy to have that chapter behind us” and that if there is any penalty for the Swede’s absence, it will be handled internally. Schmid also plans for Ljungberg to become more of a scorer this season.
- Don Ruiz has 5 Quick Notes from Fred10’s Return. According to Freddie, he “really, really likes it in Seattle.”
What’s Fredy’s Status?
Jose Romero made a passing note in his article yesterday about the MLS Cup being awarded to Qwest Field.
Sounders FC forward Fredy Montero has left the team to travel to South America, where he is sorting out personal contract issues with his agents. Montero will not play in Thursday’s exhibition finale but is expected to return to Seattle on Friday.
Simple. Straight forward. He’s gone. He’ll be back. Right?
Well, ESPN writer Ives Galarcep who is tuned in to the American Soccer Scene wrote this Where in the World is Fredy Montero article with hints that things are bigger than they appear. And not with a positive spin for Sounders FC fans. Read more
Reports from Training Camp
News
- Sounders FC Training Camp Glance: Day 3 [Seattle Times]
- Keller, Jaqua shine in first intrasquad scrimmage [The Olympian]
Photos
Marketing & Advertising Gets Going
There were two pieces of PR Releases that came out in the past 12 hours regarding Sounder FC’s Advertising and Marketing (with a third scouting related issue).
First, on the Advertising side, the club has inked a deal with Wexley School for Girls to “create an integrated advertising campaign that covers TV, print, radio and web, with a focus on building a fan base using grass roots and social media tactics.” If you’ve driven down 5th Avenue in Belltown you have probably seen their offices and wondered about the “school”. The owners (“headmasters”) Cal McAllister and Ian Cohen were named two of the city’s Most Influential People by Seattle Magazine. Read more
Monday Morning Ljungberg Link List
The World is noting that Seattle Sounders FC will be signing former Swedish National Team captain and Arsenal player, Freddie Ljungberg.
- The Swedish Paper Expressen is noting that Ljungberg will make $20m SEK ($2.52m USD)
- Former Hammer Ljungberg set to sign for Seattle [ESPN]
- Sounders FC ready to sign Freddie Ljungberg [Seattle Times]
- Report: Seattle to announce Ljungberg signing next week [Soccer by Ives]
- Ljungberg: Latest MLS Recruit [Goal.com]
And a GoSounders.com first… Freddie Ljungberg Desktop
Freddie Ljungberg 1600 x 1200
Sounders Headed to Argentina
In Matt Gaschk’s article in the PI, he notes that Chris Eylander, Josh Gardner, Kevin Sakuda, and Kenji Treschuk all are “most likely to join Le Toux, midfielder Sanna Nyassi and goalkeeper Kasey Keller with the MLS club…”
Then followed up with, “Hanauer indicated the club isn’t likely to sign more players until after the USL Sounders return from an October trip to Argentina.”
Hat tip to GOALSeattle.com who was up before the break of dawn to post this too.
Thursday Morning Link Round-up
- Current Sounders Have Eyes on MLS Moves [Seattle Times] talks about how some USL Sounders are trying to get a contract with Sounders FC or an invite to Camp
- Speed and the International Game [Seattle MLS] takes an interesting look on how speed is lacking in MLS and how possessing a speed demon can help Sounders FC
Ives Casts His Odds on the Sounders FC Coach
In Ives Garcep’s newest column, he gives the following odds on who will be named coach for Sounders FC.
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Sigi Schmid-5:1
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Paul Mariner- 10:1
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Brian Schmetzer- 12:1
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Fernando Clavijo-30:1
What do YOU think?
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Next / Last Match
Next- San Jose [Tickets]
Saturday 7/31 | 7p
Last- Metapan (CCL): W, 1-0
Next Home Match Houston Dynamo | Aug 8th [Tickets]
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