https://twitter.com/SoccerInsider/status/228977882280628224 I don't think Seattle is done yet. Perhaps replacement for flaco position as winger?
Mario is almost 23 yo and at London Olympics at this moment. He is not proven player but might surprise, who knows?!
Olympic competition in this sport does not prove anything! And this is 2nd Olympics for him.! His time in Belgium was not good so he got to go. We'll see but I am not optimistic about this player.
This is a surprise, a lot of teams were impressed with El Zurdo during the Olympic game against Morocco and the games prior to them. Werder Bremen was one of those teams. He has what it takes to contribute right away.. a mean left foot. An expert set-piece taker.
I actually watched Honduras vs Morocco, and when I saw "Martinez MF Honduras" I could picture exactly the guy they were talking about... he got a lot of camera time. I don't recall his play specifically since I was watching for Najar, Espinoza and Bengson... but Honduras style reminded me a lot of the Sounders at times, especially the MF. So I am in favor of this... if it happens(ed)
Ok, I'm not sure if the deal for this kid is on or not, but for those curious-- here's a full-game video of the Honduras v Morocco Olympic game that just happened: http://www.wawsport.com/full-match/honduras-2-2-morocco-full-match-video_d74627d36.html ... (not in english) (Super good game to watch, btw, all 90 minutes. Both teams attacking all the way.) To sum up-- he plays an almost identical role for Honduras as Montero plays for us... (complete with 5 minute duration disappearing cloak). I would say the only difference I see between this kid and Montero (besides being left-footed) is that if Martinez doesn't like his entry pass, he'll just play it back immediately, vs Montero will take extra touches and try to face goal. I would say Martinez completed 90+% of passes and gave away possession extremely rarely. Anyway he wore #7, the interesting plays are at 8' mark, 18:30, 19:45, then a nice little doop-de-doo at 26:40 to create an attack... Then at 29:00 he drops all the way back into defense to launch a sick ball through to Espinoza... when Espy gets fouled he barely misses top corner on the free kick... Had exactly the kind of 35-yard hit you'd expect Montero to take at 37:35... He chipped the ball in at 40:20 that led to Honduras' best chance to that point. In the 2nd half, he went out to RW, and didn't do much... his few rare touches/passes/dribbles/runs were very good. Oh yeah, and he got a guy sent off. And I'm pretty sure he never used his right foot... ever. Except to trip a guy once. He eclipses Marc Burch for being the Most Left-Footed Man in the World. Oh yeah... check out 81:50
Have the Sounders ever announced a signing over the weekend? So they will likely just announce it Monday morning if they finalized it in time?
Very good player! The only doubt was whether the signing actually took place before the deadline. My opinion is that he can start immediately at LW and also fill in for Montero at the free-roaming, withdrawn striker role. I hope this deal is announced as true by the Sounders soon, because from what I've seen in the Olympics, Mario Martinez is high quality and fits a role this team needs (left footed attacking midfielder). I also point out-- if this signing goes through and he starts LW, our attacking six look like this: ----------USA--------- -----------SA----------- SA-------EUR------SA -----------CA---------- which just has a pleasing shape to it when you consider the qualities that the different regions of the world bring to the game.
I can't wait to see martinez alonso tiffert and rosales starting at the same time. I just can picture how much space they'll get.
I think the competition would help make Caskey better. Only issue with competition with Fernandez that he for some point minus the injury wasn't any better.
Don't hate on Caskey... he's one of those guys that will run around and grind out those early season points. Do the thankless jobs, chase the ball down in the 80th minute down a goal. He's a more skilled player than the Estrada... BUT, he's also not a guy that will win an MLS Cup. I like the Martinez kid in that respect.