This year's edition of the adidas MLS Player Combine is well underway in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and with it comes some big decisions for MLS clubs.
It's not all about a player's performance on the pitch, though. A technical staff also put a lot of weight into one-on-one meetings with potential signings.
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With less than a week remaining before the MLS SuperDraft in Baltimore, Sounders FC GM and President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey was one of a handful of decision makers who spoke with MLSsoccer.com this weekend about how he uses the limited time at the Combine to get a feel for how a player may fit in at the club.
“I ask everybody about their family, I ask everybody about mom, dad, brother, sister. I think if you’re talking about your family, that’s really basic and that informs,” Lagerwey said. “I ask them where they’re from, I mean we already know that, but having someone talk about themselves and where they’re from I think is both very interesting and very informative in terms of their world view and their cultural values, and we know our group and we can kind of see how it fits.”
Read the full interview here. The Sounders hold the No. 15 overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft as well as picks in the second, third and fourth rounds. Log onto to soundersfc.com/superdraft for complete coverage.