Training games give little concern to Sounders coach
TUKWILA, Wash. – Bundled up in a winter jacket, gloves and a stocking cap, Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid was asked about his team’s goals for a preseason training trip to Florida.
The opening to Schmid’s answer was clearly understandable after the chilly Thursday practice: “To get a little warmer, that’s the first part of the plan,” he said with a laugh.
The rest of the response took a more serious tenor, as Seattle’s MLS season opener is less than a month away. Conditioning and fitness is no longer the main concern. It’s time to get game ready.
“Fitness is always a part of the component in preseason, but now the fitness is a lot more about just getting fitness in games, and playing,” Schmid said.
Sounders FC took off Friday for Bradenton, Fla. – where temperatures are expected to be in the high 70s – and will train at the IMG Soccer Academy for a week before returning to Seattle on Feb. 27.
The team will play four training games on the trip, first against FC Dallas at 12:30 p.m. Monday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando and then against Houston at 8 a.m. Tuesday at the same location.
Later, Seattle plays in Bradenton against the University of Central Florida (Thursday) and the Chicago Fire (Saturday).
After previous training games, Schmid had expressed his displeasure in the performance of the team’s first unit, but that isn’t much of a concern right now. Preseason form is hardly an indicator of success, he said, much like spring training in baseball.
“It used to be when I first came into the league they always had a preseason down in Florida and you had all the teams down there and whoever won that preseason tournament always got thrashed in the league,” Schmid said.
“It doesn’t matter what we do right now. The results that matter begin on March 15.”
Five on national TV
Sounders FC will have five national TV broadcasts this season on the FOX Soccer Channel, which agreed Friday to extend a partnership with MLS for a year. Those games are at home against Houston (moved up a day to March 25), both games against Colorado (April 22 and July 16), at home against Vancouver (June 11) and the home finale against San Jose (Oct. 15).
Kickoff for the Oct. 15 game versus the Earthquakes has been moved back to 7:30 p.m. from 7 p.m.
Seattle also is scheduled to have five games on the ESPN network in 2011.
Notes
Schmid said midfielders Alvaro Fernandez, Erik Friberg and Brad Evans and defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado could all surprise as breakout players in 2011. He tagged the latter two as MLS Comeback Player of the Year candidates.
• One non-contract invitee who has made a strong impression so far in training camp is forward/midfielder Lamar Neagle. Schmid said the Tacoma native, who was a developmental player with the team in 2009, benefited greatly from playing at lower-division Charleston last year and is “definitely a guy we have to seriously consider for this team.”