Who: Seattle Sounders v. Sporting Kansas City Where: Century Link Field When: Saturday, 3/8/14 12:00 pm Watch: NBCSN Alright everyone, bright and early for the home opener. So how does everyone feel about our chances this season considering the almost complete makeover? Just for fun, here's who started last season in the first game: Gspuring, EJ, Rosales, Zakuani, Rose, Evans, Mario Martinez, Leo, Yedlin, Hurtado, and Scott. Note that Alonso was suspended. How many of these guys are going to be in our starting XI Saturday...4? Anyways, good to see key guys like Martins and Pappa look fit and ready to play. Only injuries I can think of right now is Leo who may not be quite at 100% after off-season surgery and Yedlin who hurt his ankle getting hacked down in the DC United pre-season match this past weekend. Oh and it sounds like Dempsey's availability will largely depend on how much he plays in the national team game this Wednesday.
Anyone know if the Sounders train from the northend will be in service on Saturday? I can't find anything on the soundtransit website. Thanks.
My best stab at it: Martins Cooper(Neagle) Pappa Rose(Demspey) Alonso Evans Gonzalez(Remick) Traore(Anibaba) Marshall Yedlin(Remick) Frei(Hahnemann) Parenthesis for possible starters due to injuries or whatever reasons. Frei and Hahnemann got just about equal minutes in pre-season so it's practically a toss up. Sigi, as far as I know, has not tipped his hand as to who is the starter at goal and has went so far to say on a few occasions in pre-season that it's a competition.
I'm so out of it this year... Is Gonzo healthy? I know he had offseason surgery and that they expected him to be good to go for the start of the season, I'm just not sure he made it.. My guess at lineup is: -------Martins------Cooper--------- Pappa-----Evans/Alonso------Neagle Gonzalez*---Marshall/Anibaba-Yedlin -------------------Frei------------- *-Remick
And looks like there are some reports coming out of Ukraine the friendly is cancelled. If true, Dempsey may actually start on Saturday.
Fox Soccer just said it will go on as expected on their facebook page. Too bad, I was hoping Dempsey would start...
I say its kinda too earily to have a full idea on what the starting XI would be. Especially at CM and RM since it can easily change from now and saturday depending on who seattle announces signing wise.
85%+ on Leo. Remick is an option, Sigi says that you do not lose the starting job because of injury so clearly Leo is still the number 1 choice. But this is probably pretty darn close.
Looks like we may have replacement refs as i just read on twitter PRO is threating to lock out MLS refs for this weekend.
I'm sure Johansson felt he was the sure choice going into last season. One slow recovery can definitely open up the door for somebody else to come in and take your starting spot.
That is not me saying that just parroting what Sigi said. There is also a difference between losing the starting job because you are out injured vs losing it in competition. I believe what Sigi may be saying is that if you are the incumbent you will have a chance to keep it once you are recovered. Whether or not that is strictly true is handled on a case by case basis I am sure. Either way I am looking forward to Saturday immensely.
I'm sorry if you thought I was implying that it wasn't true what you said. More just saying that if Remick comes in and has some games like Yedlin did, Gonzo is going to have a hard time getting minutes.
So excited for the start of the season. Felt like a super long offseason. With Demps away, does that mean Rose in for him? I would feel better with Evans at CAM and putting Bowen or Neagle at RM. I think if we sign Parsemain he could backup Dempsey while Rose covers Ozzie.
Getting closer. Looks like Yedlin is fit, but Remick might get a start at LB for Leo. Dempsey in the 18. Prediction: 1-0 Sounders in the 90th...tradition.
Looks like Myers and Sinovic might both be out. I will say 2-1 Sounders with Pappa and Cooper on the board.
Dempsey had a loan just ended with Fullham then a midweek nat duty call up and he only been training for a team for a day.
Chadninho!!!!! I thought the SOunders played well the last 15 minutes of so of the match. Okoli looks really promising! Nice debut from him. Glad get 3 points to start the season.