Preseason training camp for Sounders FC commences tomorrow at Starfire Sports. While the club’s roster is sure to change between now and the season opener in March, it’s never too early to take a look at who will be playing each position for the Rave Green.
Save for DeAndre Yedlin, the Sounders retained every starter from the squad that won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and Supporters’ Shield in 2014. Seattle has also added several new players through the MLS SuperDraft and offseason acquisitions.
Here is a Sounders FC positional breakdown heading into training camp.
Forwards
Added: Victor Mansaray, Darwin Jones, Andy Craven, Andy Bevin
Lost: Sean Okoli, Tristan Bowen
Get ready for another season of the Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins show. Last year, the duo of All-Star forwards was a main reason the Sounders were one of the most exciting teams to watch in MLS. Together they would often take on a group of three or four defenders and find ways to create goal-scoring opportunities. Martins was the runner-up for 2014 Volkswagen MLS MVP after scoring 17 times and assisting on 13 goals, while Dempsey finished the regular season with 15 goals and 10 assists. Not bad for their first full season playing together.
Kenny Cooper and Chad Barrett were also vital to the team’s success in 2014, and both will be back this season. After suffering a torn ACL and missing all of last year, Kevin Parsemain looks to bounce back and earn playing time for the Rave Green. Homegrown signings Mansaray and Jones, as well as draftees Craven and Bevin, could give them even more depth at the position.
Midfielders
Added: Cristian Roldan
Lost: None
Another position that will look very similar in 2015, the central midfield has an array of veterans who have played in meaningful games for Sounders FC. The key cog of the group will once again be Osvaldo Alonso, the perennial All-Star who returns for his seventh season in Seattle. Also playing in the middle of the pitch will be Gonzalo Pineda, Andy Rose, Micheal Azira, Aaron Long and first-round SuperDraft pick Roldan.
Outside midfielders were responsible for a good portion of Seattle’s goals in 2014. Between Brad Evans, Lamar Neagle and Marco Pappa, the Sounders often had more than enough options at the position. Those three players and 21-year-old Aaron Kovar are all back for the 2015 season.
Defenders
Added: Tyrone Mears, Oniel Fisher
Lost: DeAndre Yedlin, Jalil Anibaba, Djimi Traore, Onyekachi Apam
The backline is likely where Seattle will look the most different compared to last season. Yedlin’s departure leaves an opening at right back, and the club also lost two contributors at centerback in Traore and Anibaba. Zach Scott, the 34-year-old who was the starter for most of last year, had foot surgery in the offseason.
Knowing all of those things, last month the Sounders went out and signed Mears, a veteran right and central defender who played many seasons in England. A week ago they drafted Fisher, who mainly played in the midfield at New Mexico but showed at the MLS Player Combine that outside back could be his natural position. On the left side, Seattle returns veteran Leo Gonzalez and 23-year-old Dylan Remick. Evans is also a candidate at outside back having played there extensively for the U.S. National Team. In the middle, the Rave Green can count on 2014 MLS Defender of the Year Chad Marshall, and young defenders Damion Lowe and Jimmy Ockford are additional options.
Goalkeepers
Added: Troy Perkins, Tyler Miller, Charlie Lyon
Lost: Marcus Hahnemann, Josh Ford
Sigi Schmid’s club didn’t acquire three goalkeepers this offseason to replace Stefan Frei. In his first year with Seattle, Frei manned the net for every regular-season match and finished with career highs in shutouts and victories. His stellar goalkeeping led the Rave Green to their first Supporters’ Shield.
However, Sounders FC needed to add some depth at the position after Hahnemann retired and Ford was selected in the Expansion Draft by Orlando City SC. In Perkins, the club picked up a proven MLS veteran who is in the league’s all-time top 10 in wins, saves and shutouts. Perkins could be crucial to the Rave Green during a 2015 season that includes Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League matches.
*Denotes unsigned SuperDraft pick
