The depth of the Sounder's 2012 roster allows Sigi Schmid tactical flexibility. Last night in
Frisco, Texas, we got a taste of just how much flexibility. Normally the Sounders play a modified
4-4-2 formation that is affectionately known as Sigi's Arrow. Last night the team lined up in a
modified 4-3-3 and by the end of the game was actually playing a formation closer to a 4-5-1 as
fatigue set in.
Brad Evans play as a right mid started a little while ago. It was due to the strong play of Andy
Rose and the benching of Fredy Montero and then just continued, except for those times when he was
used at right back or at center mid. He's even popped up at left mid for a bit. There was a theory,
one I really wanted to be true because I like fun tactical stuff and I like how Evans plays, that
he was now being used as a roving midfielder.
Sky Sports understands Liverpool is lining up a move for Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge before Friday's
transfer deadline.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has identified Sturridge as the man to replace Andy Carroll who left on
loan for West Ham on Thursday.
Sturridge provides greater attacking flexibility due to his ability to play in a wide position as
well as in a central striker role.
The past three league matches have seen Charlie Adam paired with three different midfield
partners, with each new pairing leading to a slight shift in the focus of Adam's game. From a
largely offensive effort when paired with Lucas against Manchester City through to a job as the
deepest midfielder against Queens Park Rangers, it's meant an interesting—and surprisingly
successful—progression.
Plans change, and the Chicago Fire's Marco Pappa is now a member of Eredivisie club Heerenveen
rather than waiting until after the Major League Soccer season. "This was a very difficult decision
to make, however, we feel it is the best move for the club and the player at this time," Chicago
president Javier Leon said in a press statement.
If the Chicago Fire are to reach the playoffs and go on a postseason run this season, they will
have to do so without Marco Pappa.
The Guatemalan midfielder's transfer to Dutch club Heerenveen has been expedited, and he will
leave the Fire with immediate effect. The Fire had originally planned on sending Pappa to
Heerenveen following the conclusion of the MLS season after the transfer had been agreed upon
earlier this month.
With rumors swirling about a possible return to Major League Soccer, a source close to Carlos
Bocanegra told MLSsoccer.com on Thursday that the American defender will remain in Europe, for at
least the 2012 season.
Just a few weeks ago, while Bocanegra was visiting the States to take part in MLB All-Star
festivities, Boca spoke candidly about a possible return, stating he was '100% considering a return
to MLS.
Flexibility wins games and the best way to get it is to blend energy with savvy. DC United Coach
Ben Olsen put out a nicely blended squad against Toronto and its savvy members made the exact right
adjustments to a hard working opposing side which had clogged the middle and kept the game mostly
in United's end.
Flexibility wins games and the best way to get it is to blend energy with savvy. DC United Coach
Ben Olsen put out a nicely blended squad against Toronto and its savvy members made the exact right
adjustments to a hard working opposing side which had clogged the middle and kept the game mostly
in United's end.
If there's one thing that is most surprising tactically from Seattle Sounders FC's first leg win
over Santos Laguna it is that David Estrada played quite high. We know this from sidereal's average
position maps. His average space was similar to the space of a target forward. This does not mean
he was a target forward.
The Philadelphia Union confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that Sebastien Le Toux has been traded to
Vancouver.
In return, the club receives an undisclosed amount of allocation money.
Union head coach Peter Nowak said in the announcement, "While this decision wasn't easy, we are
confident that the allocation money we receive will provide the flexibility for us to compile the
best possible roster for 2012 and beyond.
Osvaldo Alonso recently suggested some Premiership teams might be interested in acquiring his
services. Unsurprisingly, being as he is a professional soccer player, he is open to this
possibility. None of this should really come as news.
The question is: How much concern should this cause us as Seattle Sounders fans, who clearly
want our team to have as many highly talented players as is possible?
Sporting KC has done well so far this offseason. (Getty Images)
Well, it is mid-December. The Christmas trees are up and the snow is falling in some places
around the country. The Re-Entry Drafts have come and gone for the 19 MLS clubs. Teams are
constantly making moves this offseason at times more moves than it seems like ever before.
Omar Bravo is gone. David Beckham could be gone. Nicolas Anelka isn't coming.
The Designated Player landscape in MLS is changing and evolving, and even with teams having the
flexibility to go after younger DP options or giving players like league veteran Shalrie Joseph a
DP deal, the lure of landing a big-name, marketable superstar is still prevalent.
The Chicago Fire announced on Thursday that midfielder Marco Pappa will be transferred to Dutch
side SC Heerenveen immediately as opposed to at the end of the season.
The idea that a European club would essentially wait half a season to get a player seemed a bit
farfetched at the time. We may never know if this was the plan all along or if Heerenveen made a
last-minute offer that the Men in Red couldn't turn down.
The curious case of Sebastian Grazzini and the Chicago Fire has come to a resolution.
The Fire loaned Grazzini to Argentine club Atletico de Rafaela on Friday. The terms of the deal
were not disclosed. The Fire had exercised their option on the Argentine playmaker for a second
year at the end of June after a bit of a contract dispute, which, according to the Chicago Sun
Times, was started over Grazzini misunderstanding the original terms of his deal with the club.
Interesting comments from Martin Jol regarding his use of Clint Dempsey (see Hammyend.com for
more).
Essentially he's saying that Dempsey is operating as more of a classic 10, now.
This is interesting. From our unusually lofted positions high in Johnny Haynes, Toby and I spent
a bit of time on Saturday wondering where everyone was supposed to be playing.
Interesting comments from Martin Jol regarding his use of Clint Dempsey (see Hammyend.com for
more).
Essentially he's saying that Dempsey is operating as more of a classic 10, now.
This is interesting. From our unusually lofted positions high in Johnny Haynes, Toby and I spent
a bit of time on Saturday wondering where everyone was supposed to be playing.
Flexibility wins games and the best way to get it is to blend energy with savvy. DC United Coach
Ben Olsen put out a nicely blended squad against Toronto and its savvy members made the exact right
adjustments to a hard working opposing side which had clogged the middle and kept the game mostly
in United's end.
Flexibility wins games and the best way to get it is to blend energy with savvy. DC United Coach
Ben Olsen put out a nicely blended squad against Toronto and its savvy members made the exact right
adjustments to a hard working opposing side which had clogged the middle and kept the game mostly
in United's end.
While I'm relatively certain that most dedicated followers of MLS will know what United are
getting with the likes of Maicon Santos and Danny Cruz, there's still an element of mystery
surrounding the acquisitions from the mid-tier Euro-leagues. Most of us see precious little from
Swiss or Austrian clubs outside of perhaps the odd Europa League highlight.
Adrian Hanauer's international roster slot math gets easier today as two of Seattle Sounders
FC's Designated Players receive their U.S. Green Cards per team release. This grants them legal
permanent residency status in the United States and also means that per MLS rules they no longer
count as "internationals.
One of the issues with depth charts and roster math is how to place players who can fill many
roles. With Adam Johansson in Qatar for the opening of training camp, Seattle Sounders coach Sigi
Schmid gets to test a bunch of different options at the right back role. One thing quickly clear
when asked was who the leader in that role is:
Obviously Zach Scott is somebody who can play there.
Every single agent should say that their player, particularly one of Alvaro Fernandez' quality,
is interested in playing for Palermo, a team in a better league for more money. That Fernandez'
agent did so is not a surprise. Palermo is a mid-table team in Serie A this season already on its
third coach.
It has been a near foregone conclusion ever since he was first loaned out several months ago,
but Miguel Montano officially signed with the Montreal Impact on Wednesday. The Seattle Sounders
did not receive compensation for Montano, but GM Adrian Hanauer noted that his loan last year gave
the team the flexibility to sign Sammy Ochoa.
The first component of any extended camp with the National Team is a fitness evaluation. Typically
they consist of two elements: a medical (or physical, as we commonly call it), and testing.
The testing portion is broken up into three areas, and is designed to measure speed, strength and
flexibility, and aerobic capacity.
Random thoughts as I head out to LA Galaxy training today
* If David Junior Lopes works out, he could really give the Galaxy some flexibility. Part of the
problem for the Galaxy is that certain players have to play in certain positions. Last year, Sean
Franklin was able to play in the midfield sometimes while AJ De La Garza could play in middle, out
wide or take a breather for a game or two.
The New England Revolution have announced today, via press release, that they have put pen to
paper and signed Swedish forward Bjorn Runstrom. Runstrom, who trialed with the Revolution in
Arizona during the preseason and scored one goal in three appearances, will be added to the roster
pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and his International Transfer Certificate.
Sporting Kansas City's week of wheeling and dealing has ended with an exclamation point.
The club acquired Bobby Convey from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for an international
roster slot.Â
Convey, who did not have his contract option picked up by San Jose after this past season, was
part of the initial list of players available in the MLS Re-Entry Draft, but that is no longer the
case after Sporting KC stepped up to trade for the veteran left winger.
