I know a lot of Sounders fan wanted a really big splash but I think it is pretty clear that the Sounders aren't that team. Not anymore. The GM transition should have told people that. It's a very well run team with a very solid core. Everyone who thinks a more spread out pay structure in MLS will lead to a much better product should love the Sounders set up if this goes through. And they'll be good. Maybe very good.
I don’t know what makes them think Jesus isn’t a big splash. Most teams DPs aren’t smash hits, there’s a good chance they bring in a guy who doesn’t outperform Ferreira. The guy they’re replacing him with in Dallas didn’t do anything beyond Ferreira’s demonstrated ability. I hope he goes somewhere where he’s valued. Columbus may have an opening at striker soon.
Their owner has been saying this for years now. They are still spending around the same amount that they always have on their roster. The difference now is that that roster spend is the league average. Look at Philly's roster spend on salaries the past 7 years. They've spread out their spend over about 8-10 core players. They had 8 players making close to or above $1M the past 3-4 seasons. Where Philly went wrong was that hung on to a few players a season too long and didn't refresh the team. Hopefully Seattle doesn't fall into that trap. It's because they're used to the Sounders bringing in Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins, Nico Lodeiro, Raul Ruidiaz, etc. It's been a while since they've done that. They want the Sounders to bring in players from leagues outside of MLS for their DP's.
I guess it’s familiarity breeding contempt but Raul Ruidiaz didn’t have this CV at 23. The guy scored 30 goals in his only two years as a striker, while missing 5 or 6 games in 2023 to score for the USMNT at Gold Cup.
Why hasn't Poch called up "foot Mozart" Alex Muyl I certainly didn't have Timothée Chalamet dapping up Alex Muyl on Theo Von's podcast on my 2024 bingo card."Alex Muyl is a foot Mozart."pic.twitter.com/2wlzSO062X— Ben Wright (@benwright) December 17, 2024 USMNT should invite Chalamet to a game
January camp https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/usmnt-roster-prediction-who-could-make-january-2025-camp Armchair Analyst: The MLS-based guys I want to see Mauricio Pochettino take a look at in January camp.I'm really, really focused on that backline & goalkeeper.https://t.co/0HIXBxD3mK pic.twitter.com/JCVxjxQ1ne— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) December 18, 2024
I'll copy and paste my thoughts from where I posted it... Doyle weighs in: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/usmnt-roster-prediction-who-could-make-january-2025-camp GOALKEEPER (3): Matt Freese (New York City FC), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Chris Brady (Chicago Fire FC) LEFT BACK (2): John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls), Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew) CENTER BACK (6): Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Andrew Privett (Charlotte FC), Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders FC), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy) RIGHT BACK (2): Emeka Eneli (Real Salt Lake), DeAndre Yedlin (FC Cincinnati) DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD (3): James Sands (New York City FC), Edwin Cerrillo (LA Galaxy), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC) CENTRAL MIDFIELD (4): Cole Bassett (Colorado Rapids), Jake Davis (Sporting Kansas City), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union), Timothy Tillman (LAFC) ATTACKING MIDFIELD/WINGER (4): Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire FC), Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado Rapids), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union) CENTER FORWARD (2): Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC) I would probably cheat a bit younger or add a U20 camp (Reed Baker-Whiting anyone? Nimfasa Berchimas?), but aside from the obvious centerback and keeper evaluation, I think there's some intriguing "What could Poch do with someone like this" in this list. Bassett and McGlynn have completely different skillsets, but I wouldn't be shocked to see Poch bring out their game, especially Bassett. He's a much better player than he was a year ago. The non-Yedlin fullbacks are all intriguing given our struggles to find backups, and they generally have better skill sets than a lot of our prior looks, if maybe not the athleticism. Maybe they simply aren't enough defensively ... but Arfsten will surprise you offensively. Agyemang is the kind of late developer that could actually surprise. I want to see Guti and Luna with a coach who plays more 1-2.
The San Jose revolution and New England earthquakes will be interesting next season I guess maybe but probably not
Big moves for two former USMNTers... Jackson Yueill leaves the Quakes for 14th in the east Revs Nick Lima departs the Revs for the 14th in the west Quakes
I don't know why you'd bring in players who won't make any WC's. Yedlin? Jordan Morris? Mihailovic? I would think you'd want to see any player that has a chance in this or the next WC. Maybe he doesn't care about the next cycle but those are good players but older and not even a little chance out of some monumental run of injuries.
If Deandre Yedlin makes the January camp roster in the year 2025 and Dejuan Jones doesn't, what are we even doing... not even a big fan of the latter but Yedlin really??
Let me play devil’s advocate…. Would I be excited about Yedlin there? No. Just so that’s clear. But who’s the alternative? Reed Baker-Whiting? That’s the only potential upside pick and he’s not even ready for a January Camp call up really. And what position is he actually? Every other right back pick is trash. At least with Yedlin you have someone that some of the young bucks who have some promise in the midfield to talk to about what it’s like to play in the EPL and for the USMNT at the highest level. And again, since there would be NO other promising players he would be keeping off the roster.., I guess… he might be the best man to call in at his position.
Then move another player to right back. Happens all the time. No Yedlin, please. Concentrate on the possibility of helping the team in the next year and a half. Time to move on from Yedlin, he’s not going to help. Just my two cents, fwiw.
I can squint and see Quinn Sullivan grabbing that opportunity, but Harriel is a good option that’s plug and play.
--------------------------------Farrington/Agyemang--------- ---------Cowell/Miljevic--------Luna/McGlynn-------Zendejas/QSullivan ----------------------Sands/Davis-------Bassett/Cremaschi --Arfsten/Tolkin-----------------------------------------------------------Roldan/Harriel ------------------Zimmmerman/Ragen-----Robinson/Padelford---- --------------------------------Kochen/Schulte/Freese--- Didn't Morris pick up an injury in the playoffs?
I don’t see any reason to call Ream into another camp. I’d also like to see Harriel instead of Yedlin at RB. Morris is just about as fast and and maybe better in the air as compared to 2022. I don’t think he’s that far out of the picture.
I'd say Balogun, Pepi, Sargent and Wright are definitely ahead and probably Vasquez too. With maybe only two spots being # 6 seems pretty far out unless 4-5 players get injured.