CarlosT will be posting a story or two here and Sunday morning I may be able to finish my write-up on Vagenas and Ianni. I may not make my old deadline, but I will do what I can.

If you aren't going to the Supporters Summit you will be able to watch the Summit Proper at MLSNet.com (1PM EST/10AM PST) in its live stream tomorrow.

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There were some around the Sounders message boards and blogs that thought I underrated the USL players. At the end of the year though, none were starters. But one fell from being a starter (though likely just due to the health of other players) and another worked his way up from token nod to the past to becoming a key player on the club during the last third of the season.

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I have referred to these two as Substitutes in my tiering of Starter, Rotational, Substitute and Reserves, but honestly, Nathan Sturgis likely belongs here as well. All three are almost always on the available bench, but rarely see time. In Sanna's case he is still quite young, just entering the years where he would make or break in the US system.

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Now we start entering the realm of players with playing time. Of guys that may have value to other clubs in trade, and quite possibly seeing the guy that Philadelphia takes in the Expansion Draft later this month. This collection of players are in two sets.

The first set are two USL Sounders, and the second two players are young talents with promise, but who have lacked the playing time to showcase their reputations in competitive matches.

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As in the guys that aren't Mr Kasey Keller. Due to injuries Keller played essentially all competitive matches. Next year with the potential for a dozen more matches in the season and Kasey passing 40 in just a few days the back-up keeper will be much more important. While he does feel healthier at the end of this season than in the past, he made many statements that it was due to the nature of MLS playing basically once a week.

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On May 26th, 2009 the whole world found out that this player would be available on a free transfer:

For those of you not familiar with him, Juninho Pernambucano is probably the world's best free kick taker. Give him a free kick within 35 yards and you're facing a very dangerous situation.

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These are the young gentleman who saw time against Chelsea and Barcelona, and sparse minutes during the Open Cup, but did not see time in league play. Impressions of these players are strongest for those that have the opportunity to see practice, or have talked to those that have. As Developmental Players their small contracts don't count against the cap, but they also tend to have second jobs as well.

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Many who read this blog know me personally. They know my past, my passions and my current job. Those that don't might not understand that the reason that I will be working on arrangements for the Supporters Summit, and contacting people in the TOA, the USL and MLS concerning the drama of pro-soccer in North America is because I don't work on Veteran's Day.

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Yes, this is more on the TOA v NuRock battle. After the USL announcement that they would be expanding to Baltimore, to Detroit, to Ottawa and Edmonton on top of their previous plans of New York city and Tampa Bay the TOA responded with a formal announcement that they would be apply for 2nd tier status in the USA and 1st tier status in Canada.

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In Major League Soccer a team can control the rights to a player even if they are unsigned. Below you will see capsules of the players for which the Sounders control their rights, but who did not see much time, nor are they under contract for 2010.

These are players who for one reason or another the Sounders will not likely use for their next season, but who might have minor value to other teams in the league.

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Sure, it was a loss. It doesn't feel good. About 100 people traveled, and they are hurt just a bit more maybe. It was a performance that could not be called a good loss. Seattle Sounders FC was outplayed in nearly every aspect of the match. If not for Leo Gonzalez and Kasey Keller this could have been a 5 to nil thrashing.

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Win or Go Home

The deciding game of a two leg aggregate when the first leg ended in a tie of nil-nil. An important reminder. There is no away goal rule, so if the 90 ends in a tie we go to extra time of two 15 minute halves. From there it goes to PKs in the 5 and 5 format to start.

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Being wary of repeating oneself, I still have to think about how this team in Rave Green plays. When are they at their best, and when do they struggle? The defining moments of this season likely indicate what the needs are, and the previous four matches now against Houston can show us a few trends in how Kinnear and Schmid see the opposition.

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Well, it looks like the NuRock v TOA saga is continuing, but only a little bit, while the USL-1 meetings are being held in Beaverton, OR this week.

With the following teams certainly there - Rochester, Portland, Tampa Bay, Puerto Rico, FC New York, Cleveland and Austin.

The TOA clubs, may or may not be - Vancouver, Montreal, St Louis, Miami, Atlanta, Tampa, Carolina, Minnesota.

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Well, it looks like the NuRock v TOA saga is continuing, but only a little bit, while the USL-1 meetings are being held in Beaverton, OR this week. With the following teams certainly there - Rochester, Portland, Tampa Bay, Puerto Rico, FC New York, Cleveland and Austin. The TOA clubs, may or may not be Vancouver, [. Click to continue reading...