TUKWILA, Wash. — Pat Noonan and Taylor Graham were among those training on Wednesday as the Sounders resumed preseason preparations at the Starfire Sports Complex. After giving his team three days off, Sigi Schmid welcomed the players back on a windy day in Tukwila.
For Noonan and Graham, two veteran players fighting to make the final roster, the next two weeks will be crucial.
“It was good for Taylor and Pat to be full in training,” Schmid said. “Obviously it gives us depth to play them in games and they’ll decide how it turns out.”
“I always say that coaches don’t make decisions—players make decisions for you," Schmid added. "They’re the ones who, through their performance, put themselves on the team or play their way off the team.”
[inline_node:110141]In Arizona, Graham (pictured right) had been held out of training games. Noonan said Wednesday was his first full training session of the year as he rehabs from hip surgery.
“I’ve been working my way up to full training and game fitness,” Noonan said. “I felt good today—the three days off certainly helped.”
Nate Jaqua, who skipped the Arizona trip to continue his rehabilitation work in Seattle, also took the field as a limited participant. Jaqua is farther back than Graham and Noonan in terms of readiness, but has been building fitness and will accompany the team to Bradenton, Fla., Friday for another slate of preseason matches.
Blaise Nkufo and Mike Seamon, who have also been held out of matches this preseason, were also able to train.
After strenuous conditioning sessions in Arizona, Schmid said that the players were sharper in today’s sessions than he might have expected.
“The first day back after you’re off for 3-4 days is never the best day,” Schmid said. “Guys are a little sluggish and guys are trying to get back into the rhythm.
“It was actually pretty uplifting—guys looked sharp and quick and so forth, although a little rusty. Tomorrow should be a good day.”
Notebook
The Sounders will train Thursday before departing for the IMG Academy in Bradenton with all 33 players currently in camp. Schmid noted that the added depth will be helpful for Seattle, who will play four preseason matches in Florida including back-to-back preseason games Monday and Tuesday.
“This is the final group we are looking at to pick the final 28 or 30,” Schmid said.
The invitees and draft picks still with the team are: Bryan Meredith (GK), Josh Ford (GK), Leone Cruz (D), Servando Carrasco (M), Jonathan Prieto (M), and Lamar Neagle (F). (Seattle’s first pick in the draft, left-sided D/M Michael Tetteh, is under contract. Invitee Seedy Bah was let go at the tail end of the Arizona trip.)
The Sounders will be in Florida from Feb. 18-27.
Schmid said he believes only 15 players are “locks” to make the final roster. Schmid estimated that the earliest Jaqua could see playing time would be 2-3 weeks into the MLS season.
