MLS Training Camp Preview: Seattle Sounders

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By JOSE M. ROMERO

PHOENIX -- The Sounders are one of the teams that trained at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Ariz., last offseason. They're repeat customers in 2011, hoping the preseason will be the springboard to a third playoff berth in three seasons of existence.

Seattle, two-time defending U.S. Open Cup champion, has largely the same cast of character in place for 2011 sprinkled with some youth. Scorer Fredy Montero, goalkeeper Kasey Keller, veteran presence Blaise N'Kufo, 2009 All-Star defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, improving wing Steve Zakuani and constants James Riley, Osvaldo Alonso and Leo Gonzalez.

Hurtado and midfielder Brad Evans, who both dealt with major injury last season, are back hoping to be important pieces for coach Sigi Schmid.

Seattle's mission in 2011? The Sounders like to talk in terms of an MLS Cup. But getting out of the first round of the playoffs has to come first. With the team's offseason moves and a deeper and younger roster, they might have the group to achieve it.

Here's a closer look at the Sounders' preseason in Arizona:

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

Length of stay:Jan. 30-Feb. 12 at Grande Sports World.

Tentative training game/scrimmage schedule:Feb. 4 vs. Vancouver, Feb. 8 vs. Real Salt Lake, Feb. 10 vs. Columbus.

Key Arrivals:M Erik Fribeg, D Danny Earls, F O'Brian White, M Michael Tetteh.

Key Departures: M Nathan Sturgis, M Sanna Nyassi, M Peter Vagenas, D Tyrone Marshall.

What to watch for: Seattle stocked up on players in the Superdraft and still has a couple of second-year draftees that need seasoning, David Estrada and Mike Seamon, so ! it will be interesting to see who emerges from the crop of youngsters. Can Hurtado and Evans rebound from their injuries? Is this the year energetic midfielder Mike Fucito becomes a starter? And how will Kasey Keller perform in his final year as a player? Injuries took their toll on the Sounders early last season, and midfielder Osvaldo Alonso's style of play lends itself to getting hurt. Alonso is the key in the midfield; he'll need to stay healthy all year.

Of note: This should be a fun preseason for the Sounders, who'll host the first Cascadia Summit featuring themselves, Vancouver and Portland in early March before the regular season starts... Sigi Schmid won the MLS Cup with Columbus in his third season as head coach. Seattle hopes for the same result in Schmid's third campaign.



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