When Sigi Schmid said Saturday, "there are a couple guys I'm concerned about a little bit that I don't think came back as fit as I would have liked," some alarm bells went off in with in the Seattle Sounders fanbase. The question asked concerned how the team needed to change training in light of the CONCACAF Champions League series against Santos Laguna that starts a week and a half prior to League play.

Long rumored Trinidad & Tobago U-20 national and Port of Spain Defence Force FC player Cordell Cato is no longer rumor, nor trialist, but has in fact signed with Seattle Sounders FC. Cato continues the expansion of Seattle's international roster slots, forcing even more competition.

"Cordell provides us speed and versatility as he can play on the flank and up front," said Sigi Schmid, Sounders FC head coach via press release.

In the second round of the MLS SuperDraft the Seattle Sounders went for an athletic goal scoring forward in UAB's Babayele Sodade. Standing 6'3 and 195 Sodade's test for the vertical at the Combine went higher than they were prepared to measure. A dual citizen of the USA and Canada he trained with the Canadian Olympic team in 2010 and is competing for a roster spot while they attempt to qualify for London 2012.

Sigi Schmid refers to his central midfielders as the engine room. Whether these players are glamorous playmakers, defensive stalwarts or a box-to-box man who gets ignored or pilloried by fans these are players who make or break seasons. For Seattle Sounders FC the center includes a player who many will claim is their best, the Honey Badger.

As Sigi Schmid said several times today, "there is no replacing Kasey Keller." Instead Michael Gspurning is just the Seattle Soundersnext keeper. The Austrian Keeper is younger, taller and offers something that Keller didn't have. While he will need to make the saves and learn to command the backline as well as Keller did Gspurning offers a new passing option in the back.

Sigi Schmid With Far Reaching Interview With Select Reporters

Topics include;
* season review
* nature of lockerroom
* individual coaching review (note Joachim Thomassen is likely the LB referenced. 23 years old. 90% available minutes played. 2 goals, 2 assists in Norway)
* goalkeeping philosophy
* replacing the keeper (including a near trade for keeper from MLS)
* building expansion protected list
* young players that need to step up
* gunning for Supporters Shield and MLS Cup if not more

If there is one thing learned in 2011 it is that the Seattle Sounders staff knows how to find and utilize midfielders. From a defensive midfielder who grew into more, to MVP quality play from a minimum salary player who bought into the phrase "trust us" the team is stacked with talent in central third.

Swedish midfielder Erik Friberg's option will be picked up by the Seattle Sounders. Earlier reports out of Sweden indicated that Friberg and the team extended the contract, more accurately there is an option that the team holds. Today, during a post-season interview with Adrian Hanauer he said the following about the option;

We like Erik.

Sigi Schmid feels the current state of Major League Soccer is very strong and is confident that the momentum is starting to shift the way of American players.
The Seattle Sounders coach has been involved with the North American domestic league since the late 1990s and has seen a vast improvement over the past decade or so and he says that things are heading in the right direction with a 19th franchise coming in next season among other factors.

Yes, I know it's been a week since I wrote. Sorry, school comes first. Here's something to tide you lovely people over till I can write a proper article. Keep in mind that my offer to help contribute to the MLS offside stands, and that if you're interested you should email me at kaufmb@d-e.

Specifically, David Beckham is in the running for Comeback Player of the Year, GM and Coach Bruce Arena is seeking a second Coach of the Year honor in three years, while Omar Gonzlaes, is up for Defender of the Year. Gonzales has been voted Galaxy Defender of the Year two times in a row.

Also of note: longtime South Bay resident Sigi Schmid of the Seattle Sounders is another Coach of the Year finalist, while former Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman of FC Dallas is also up for Goalkeeper of the Year.

LA and Seattle had two of the top midfields in 2011. (Getty Images)

It has been a couple weeks since I revisited my 2011 positional rankings. I got caught up in the 2011 Expansion Draft lists something I will likely continue on today.

Today, we're looking back at the midfielder rankings.

At least while at the helm of the Seattle Sounders.

I know Sigi Schmid would like nothing better than return to the area where he grew up and coached his hometown Galaxy and play his old club come November at MLS Cup in Carson. But first he needs to win an actual postseason game or two.

It's strange to think that a coach with as many wins and as much experience as Schmid has never won a playoff game in three seasons in Seattle, let alone a series, but it's true.

The Seattle Sounders have been Major League Soccer's best team in the final 15 minutes. They have outscored their opponents 15-4 over that time, with no other team score more often nor allowing so few goals. The 11-goal difference is four better than any other team. But we already knew that, thanks to the reporting of Matt Gaschk.

The biggest lineup news is that Mauro Rosales will not travel for the match at Real Salt Lake. That basically assures that the Seattle Sounders will have Lamar Neagle on the left and Alvaro Fernandez on the right. That move will of course shift the substitution plan a bit. Something that is already adjusted because of the higher elevation in Sandy, Utah.

Today's game against Chivas USA (live at 7:30 p.m. on KWHY and delayed at 10:30 p.m. on FSN) could be the first of three visits the Seattle Sounders hope to make to Carson over the next few weeks.

Curiously the Sounders have never beaten Chivas USA and there's no better time to do so in what is a meaningless game for their opponents, but a crucial let's get comfortable tune-up for Seattle.

Now that a result isn't necessary tonight, the lineup is a lot more in question. What we know is that Kasey Keller will start on a day celebrating he and the fans. We also know that Jeff Parke is out and Mauro Rosales will be in the 18. Considering that the Seattle Sounders really like winning in front of home crowds the thought here is that Sigi Schmid will be starting a close to Ideal XI, but that Rosales only gets a second half run.

Since not many were able to go to the Seattle Sounders Reserves win over the San Jose Earthquakes I thought to expand a bit on the live blog and collate some comments made there and other thoughts I had on the lesser seen players. Now, since Sigi Schmid uses a lot of player rotation there were two subsets of players - the seen and unseen.

Sigi Schmid may do as much to earn his paycheck in the next couple of weeks of relatively unimportant games as he did during the Seattle Sounders' hectic run of critical league games, cup finals, and CCL group stage matches. The task during that difficult (and almost perfect) autumn run was to keep up the winning while rotating through a deep roster to keep everyone as healthy and fit as possible.

Sigi Schmid has found success at every stage of his coaching career, from the collegiate ranks through the US National Team and in Major League Soccer.
Seth Vertelney of Goal.com writes of how Schmid has built a consistent power with Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer.
After his team had taken care of business by winning its third consecutive U.

The most intriguing thing is that both teams number 10s are gameday decisions. Neither Seattle Sounders winger Mauro Rosales nor center attacking mid Sebastian Grazzini of the Chicago Fire played in their last match due to injuries. Both though are on a path that could have them making a return to the starting XI for the Cup Final.

Seattle's Mauro Rosales and James Riley questionable for USOC Final

Seattle's offense has continued to churn out quality despite missing Mauro Rosales since September 17th. However, Seattle has conceded at least one goal every game since James Riley went down at right back.

The seven-year veteran [Riley], who appeared chipper at Sunday's practice session, is also one of the few Sounders without an established backup.

With an expected attendance right about even with MLS league play of 35,000 for the US Open Cup Final against the Chicago Fire on Tuesday night, it is apparent that Seattle and the team have a connection to this tournament that most teams in MLS do not have. It isn't just about the ticket sales, but in the types of lineups that Sigi Schmid has field in the MLS era.

When the Revolution step onto the pitch on Saturday night, they'll have two objectives: avoid another embarrassment and, if successful, steal three points in the process.

Both will be easier said than done, of course. With the high-octane Seattle Sounders in town, the Revs will have their hands full against one of the most well-balanced clubs in the league.

Saw this quote from Sigi Schmid in regards to Colorado Rapids manager Gary Smith staying at home this past week for the Rapids CCL trip to Honduras. Can't say I disagree with this either. Even though the Rapids won their game, the head coach should have made the trip. It will be interesting to see if any excuse from Smith finally comes out this weekend.

When CS Herediano beat the Seattle Sounders on Tuesday night it was not because they dominated play. It was because the team in Electricity acted more like a car battery that was low on charge and couldn't push the starter over. There were only a handful of opportunities for either side and the Costa Rican team's keeper had a brilliant save or two that took a game from a possible draw to a 1-nil win.

With a game against CS Herediano that can nearly lock-up entry into the knockout round of the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday and a Saturday game against the Vancouver Whitecaps that can assure the MLS Cup Playoffs things were generally upbeat at Starfire for the Seattle Sounders. There are still individual players who are carrying injuries and others recovering from injuries/fitness that will change how Sigi Schmid manages his gameday lineups.

If there is one voice in American soccer concerning concussions, it is Taylor Twellman. It is a voice that he understands grates on players and fans at times, but one that he will not stop using. He is currently moving from his personal Twitter and media crusade to raise awareness to the creation of a clearinghouse website for concussion related information, data and resources at ThinkTaylor.

There's been a ton written lately about the Seattle Sounders FC offense lately. A look at goal scoring from forwards, due to the lack of scoring by Fredy Montero lately, and the look at the shift of Montero back to more of a trequartista. Both really look at the lack of the "other" forward scoring, as much as they do Montero, but in different ways.

The Columbus Crew have yet to beat the Seattle Sounders in these brief years in MLS. That does not matter though. That is statistics as trivia. It has little relevance to the match on hand. The match on hand features a depleted side from central Ohio and a fully strength, generally rested side from Western Washington.

It might not be the big-name player everyone was hoping to get, but the Seattle Sounders have added at least one new player before the Sept. 15 MLS roster deadline. The Sounders traded a third-round pick in the 2012 draft to move into the Chicago Fire's No. 4 spot in the Allocation Order and picked Sammy Ochoa, who was here on trial earlier this year and played for Sigi Schmid on the U.

The Seattle Sounders FC have landed a new striker to help out with their big schedule. The club has signed striker Sammy Ochoa via the allocation system today.

Ochoa was recently with Tecos in Mexico and signed with the league earlier this week. The former U-20 national team member played under Sigi Schmid and was even with the club during the summer training.

The last team that Sigi Schmid won the MLS Cup comes to town again on Saturday. The Columbus Crew finally look a lot different than they did in that era, and there could be as few as four players on the pitch that he coached before leaving for the Seattle Sounders. Current coach Robert Warzycha has managed to both rebuild and win (1st in East, 4th overall by PPM).

The Seattle Sounders are in a packed schedule with three games, in three tournaments, in two countries, in three stadiums in just eight short days. With another game of poor weather (Forecast for 96 degrees and thunderstorms), Sigi Schmid seems likely to put forward a cynical lineup gunning for a 1-0 or 1-1 match.

We know that some of the regular Seattle Sounders did not make the trip to Monterrey, Mexico for tonight's CONCACAF Champions League match. Mauro Rosales, Fredy Montero, Kasey Keller and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado all, apparently, headed back to Seattle to prepare for Saturday's game against the Columbus Crew.

In their short MLS lives the Seattle Sounders have not succeeded in Texas (no wins yet), and the latest chance at changing that bit of history is Saturday's match against FC Dallas. The Toros set their own history Tuesday evening when they became the first MLS team to beat a Mexican team in competition on Mexican soil.

Kevin Stott pointed to the spot before pointing upfield in a sweeping motion.

Although the fans will probably remember Referee Kevin Stott's no calls on penalty kicks, or Alvaro Fernandez's missed penalty kick, this game will go down as a wasted opportunity for Sounders to level the series with Chivas while they rebuild the roster.

Kevin Stott pointed to the spot before pointing upfield in a sweeping motion.

Although the fans will probably remember Referee Kevin Stott's no calls on penalty kicks, or Alvaro Fernandez's missed penalty kick, this game will go down as a wasted opportunity for Sounders to level the series with Chivas while they rebuild the roster.

Although the fans will probably remember Referee Kevin Stott's no calls on penalty kicks, or Alvaro Fernandez's missed penalty kick, this game will go down as a wasted opportunity for Sounders to level the series with Chivas while they rebuild the roster. Sounders seemed to have control of the possession through the midfield with Osvaldo Alonso, Erik Friberg and Mauro Rosales for much of the game.

Fredy Montero and Seattle take on Chivas USA this weekend. (Getty Images)

It is nearly time for another packed weekend in Major League Soccer. Week 22 is on the book and not everyone is involved this weekend. Both LA and Kansas City were scheduled originally to play this weekend but that game was moved to Labor Day (not sure about the reasoning behind the move).