An Exercise in Team Building: Dismantling the Sounder’s Roster

After Seattle’s exit from the playoffs, Garth Lagerwey has given notice that serious personnel changes are possible during the offseason. Some of the candidates that people have presented are fairly obvious; the older and underperforming players are far more likely to move on than the younger, in-form players. At this moment, Lagerwey must be looking over every player on the roster and making hard decisions on their future with the Sounders. Like Lagerwey, I have decided to assess the current Sounders roster and in doing so, have identified the players who I believe should stay and those who should be leaving Seattle during the offseason.

Players to Trade, Transfer or Release

• Zach Scott: No one deserves the title, “Mr. Sounder” more than Zach Scott, after spending the last 14 seasons with the Sounders. At the age of 35, now is probably the time for Scott to retire (though I said that last year and he proved me wrong). His roster spot could be used to better effect and for his effort, Scott will probably have a position within the organization waiting for him the minute he announces his retirement.

• Leo Gonzalez: Another player who has seen better days. Having lost a few steps over the years, Gonzalez has relied more on smart positioning than his athleticism. Although he impressed in the early round of the playoffs, he picked up yet another injury and his role was admirably filled by Fisher. The time for him to leave is now while there’s two serviceable replacements.

• Chad Barrett: Probably the most clutch player on the roster, Barrett has come through multiple times when the Sounders needed him most. He still has the ability to play in MLS and his salary isn’t too much of a problem, but he is also standing in the way of Seattle’s trio of young strikers who need the playing time more than he does.

• Lamar Neagle: Seattle’s first hometown hero, Neagle has had a rather up-and-down time with the Sounders. After being traded away and then traded back to Seattle, Neagle had his two most successful seasons, netting 17 goals and 13 assists in 62 games. Unfortunately, this year has seen a turn for the worse. Not only was Neagle unable to put up numbers anywhere near his last two years, but he was consistently one of the worst players on the field. On a team that values possessing the ball, Neagle had the worst passing percentage of all regular starters, a rather atrocious 69% completed.

• Marco Pappa: While Pappa is still a solid MLS midfielder, his last season will definitely be one to forget. In what has probably been his worst season in MLS, Pappa struggled to maintain any consistency in his level of play. One match he could be invisible, another he would be the offensive catalyst and another a liability for the team. The breaking point was his midseason arrest for driving under the influence, that saw him see time in rehab and miss a few matches during his suspension. There were rumblings that the organization had had enough with Pappa and even if they let him back into the team, his play for the remainder of the season didn’t help his cause. His low salary could save him, but I think it is time both parties move on.

• Clint Dempsey: This will obviously be a big surprise to some readers. So let’s make this clear, Clint Dempsey is one of the best players in MLS. During his time with the Sounders he’s averaged nearly a goal or assist every match. Those are no doubt impressive numbers. Add that to the fact that he works well with Obafemi Martins and the idea of trading him seems ludicrous. The issue is that Dempsey turns 33 in March and will be one of the highest paid players in MLS. In his three years with Seattle he’s missed a third of all possible games due injury and national team call ups, and it’s only going to get worse as he gets older. If this was a league with larger coin purses, Dempsey would still be a valuable piece regardless of his age, but the reality is that his DP spot and his salary could be going towards a younger, more reliable player.

Players Who Should Stay Under Certain Conditions

• Chad Marshall: Marshall is definitely still a starting level center back and absolutely deserves a spot on the roster. Problems arise though, when you examine the economic side of the roster. Combined, the salaries of Torres, Evans and Marshall, account for about $1 million, most of which is counted towards the cap. That is a rather large sum of money to be spending on three center backs in MLS. Marshall, being the oldest, was simply the victim of cutting salary. If he was willing to take a pay cut, Marshall would definitely have a spot on this roster.

• Gonzalo Pineda: The Mexican international has been the Sounders’ best trialist find in the last few years, probably since Rosales. But at the age of 33, Pineda has seen better days. Teams with fast midfields have torn him to pieces and it is time to give his starting role to another player. He would be a serviceable depth player, but at his current salary and age, he is too expensive for the impact he would have on the team.

Players Who Will Have to Impress at Training Camp

• Micheal Azira: You keep him on the roster for two reasons; he is really cheap and a decent midfielder. It helps to have a guy who can step up when the midfield corps starts to run a bit thin. The added familiarity he has at right back makes him more versatile than most similar budget options. However if there’s an incoming midfielder who needs a roster spot, he is probably the first to go.

• Thomás: An obviously skilled player, who is good with his feet, Thomás ran into a few issues in his first season in MLS. If things click for him, he could be a valuable player and keeping him on the roster is a low-risk, high-reward move that Seattle needs to make.

• Aaron Kovar: Seattle’s second Home Grown Player, Kovar has shown flashes in his limited time with the Sounders but has spent most of this season with S2. Like Thomás, he will need to show considerable improvement for both the Sounders and S2, or else he will risk losing his place on the team.

• Andres Correa & Dylan Remick: Neither player had an impressive year; Correa spent most of his time injured while Remick earned the starting spot but saw it slip from his fingers. The Sounders don’t have the room for three left backs but simply picking one over the other is out of the question. Correa is still an intriguing prospect but Remick is a known commodity. With more MLS experience Remick currently has the edge. Whoever can establish themselves above the other in training camp will win the second roster spot, that is unless someone else takes it for themselves….

Definite Locks

• Obafemi Martins: As one of the best players in the league, Martins completely runs Seattle’s offense. Despite playing in only 21 matches he was able to score 15 goals with 8 assists. Losing Dempsey may hurt his performance, but Martins has shown even without Dempsey, he is to be feared by opposing defenses. If he is able to bring more of his teammates into the action, he could elevate the Sounders to the next level.

• Brad Evans: Seattle’s ultimate utility man, Evans has manned almost every position on the field. While he has never been the most athletic, or even the most gifted player on the field, he makes up for it in knowledge, leadership and work rate. While the expectation is for Evans to start at CB, the arrival of another starter or the retention of Marshall would make him the starting CM alongside Alonso.

• Stefan Frei: While Frei doesn’t have the sexiness of Martin’s goal scoring ability or the grit of Alonso’s defensive capabilities, Frei was Seattle’s most dependable and arguably their best player in 2015. His progression from the year before is night and day, as Frei has been able to make some incredible saves, all the while drastically limiting the mistakes that haunted him in 2014. Statistically, Frei has turned into one of the best keepers in the league, and is expected to repeat that feat next year.

• Osvaldo Alonso: Though he has struggled with injuries the last few years, Alonso is still a premier defensive midfielder. It would be foolish to leave him off the roster as his inclusion in the starting lineup completely changes the team’s style and make up for the better. Simply put it, until there is a player who can even come close to replicating his effect on the field, Alonso should be playing for the Sounders.

• Román Torres: The Panamanian defender had little time to show the Sounders faithful his ability on the field, but when he was able to play, it was obvious that Torres was a quality defender. There is little doubt that he will establish himself as the premier defender on the team next season.

• Cristian Roldan: One of two rookies to see extensive time throughout the season. Roldan showed a lot of composure for a rookie and appears to have a bright future of ahead of him. He is a part of the Generation Adidas program, but unlike Damion Lowe, Roldan has performed well enough to justify his spot on the team. Regardless of his status within the GA program, Roldan will still be a member of the Sounders.

• Oniel Fisher: Going into the year not much was expected of the rookie right back. His transition from S2 player to playoff starting left back was the most impressive Sounders rookie performance since Steve Zakuani. Currently the first string left back, Fisher still has a lot of untapped potential and bringing him back is a no-brainer.

• Victor Mansaray: A frequent US U-18 international the young forward fresh out of high school finally has a chance dedicate all his energy towards improving his game. The sky’s the limit on Mansaray we’ll have to wait until next year to find out more.

• Andreas Ivanschitz: Andreas had the biggest impact out of all the midseasons acquisitions with a crucial playoff goal and assist. Brought in originally for his set piece service he showed himself to be more well rounded and has earned the starting role on the left side of the midfield.

• Erik Friberg: The fan-favorite midfielder returned to the Sounders during the middle of the season and quickly cemented himself into the starting lineup. Friberg’s ability to accurately pass down the middle of the field as well as create chances separates himself from the other central midfielders and makes him the favorite to start alongside Alonso in 2016.

• Tyrone Mears: Considered by some to be the best right back in 2015, Mears led all right backs in passes completed and chances created. Although he will enter the 2016 season as one of the oldest players on the roster, he should still be able to maintain a similar level of play. His age will have to be addressed sooner rather than later though, as his intended replacement is currently starting across the field from him.

• Nelson Valdez: Seattle’s newest DP, Valdez has already shown Sounder’s fans why he was brought in; a fantastic work rate, familiarity with Martins and his ability to finish chances. Hopefully with a full offseason, Valdez will finally be able to complete a full match. Without Dempsey, Valdez is expected to start up top, but can move to the right midfield if the Sounders bring in another elite striker (or Morris).

• Andy Rose: Although he struggled to find consistent playing time in the regular season, Rose performed admirably in the postseason, helping Seattle control the midfield in the home games against the Galaxy and FC Dallas. Rose’s ability to fit into the lineup whenever called upon and provide a solid performance is a steal for the Sounders, considering his league minimum salary.

• Darwin Jones: The rookie homegrown player started off the season with a couple late sub appearances culminating in a total of 103 MLS minutes played. Jones spent most of his time with S2 where he was more productive. At this point he needs more time to prove his worth, and with a close to minimum salary there’s no reason not to bring him back.

• Andy Craven: Drafted in the third round of the MLS SuperDraft and originally signed to S2, the rookie saw his only MLS action of the year in a substitute appearance in Portland. He impressed in what little MLS time he saw and would have garnered more time were it not for an injury shortly thereafter. Craven has shown he can dominate USL teams and deserves to be called back to see if he can transfer that success to the next level.

• Troy Perkins: A solid back up keeper is something every team needs, but never wants to use. Perkins will be tremendously helpful for the Sounders during the US Open Cup and the busier periods of the year. If the Sounders still have interest in winning as many trophies as possible, fans should be more comfortable seeing Perkins in goal than a young keeper like Lyon.

• Charlie Lyon: Though he spent all of his time playing in S2, Lyon will still be a member of the senior squad. Ideally Lyon will spend the 2016 season with S2 but he will be needed on the senior roster to provide the team with an extra keeper in the event Perkins or Frei are injured.

• Damion Lowe: He hasn’t seen any time with the senior team but has done well with S2, being one of the leaders for the team. Barring a surprise graduation, Lowe will remain in the Generation Adidas program, and that is good news as he could turn out to be a solid depth player in 2016, with the ability to start in the future.

• Jimmy Ockford: At the league minimum salary and the age of 23, Ockford may have not solidified his standing within the team, but at his price point, there is no reason to ship him off anytime soon. If he improves upon his solid 2015, Ockford could be a solid depth option moving forward.

 

Now, I’ll be the first to say that this list has simplified the process and that in reality, the situation is more complicated. Players like Dempsey and Marshall will probably have to be traded or transferred, and finding someone who will take them is easier said than done. Factoring in all the intricacies of MLS roster mechanisms makes this exercise almost impossible to perfectly predict. One trade or transfer can completely alter a team’s priorities. Clubs rarely change their roster to the degree that I am proposing, and yet there is rarely an MLS roster in need of as many changes as the Sounders’ current one demands.

Perhaps I’m being overly critical of a side that barring unfortunate injuries might still be in the playoffs and maybe even Shield winners outright. But in my opinion this Sounders side isn’t set up for long term success due to an aging roster. I’m confident that these changes would allow Seattle the flexibility to re-tool their roster, compete at the highest level for the foreseeable future and finally surpass their greatest hurdles.

Do you agree with my roster assessment? Will we see Dempsey or Marshall in a Sounders kit in 2016? Tell us in the comment section below and be prepared for the next installment regarding potential targets within MLS that the Sounders could acquire.