MLS Expansion Draft 2011: Projected Seattle Sounders Protected List

Thinking like Sigi Schmid can be hard. The Seattle Sounders coach values players differently than even the most savvy fans and followers of the team. But all agree that there are eight players that are near locks, with James Riley being the last one in that top eight. The tough decisions come down to a group of five players all basically the same age. Brad Evans and Erik Friberg are two central midfielders who offer similar skillsets, at basically the same price. Evans has an injury history that is building while Friberg takes an international slot. The other three of those five are Sammy Ochoa, Lamar Neagle and Mike Fucito. All provide goals, are cheap, and entering their peak years.

At Sounder at Heart the Protectinator (a crowd sourced expansion list) generally picks the goal scorers and leaves both central midfielders available. But Sigi likes having a connecting midfielder, his Sounders' success can be linked to the use of Evans, Friberg, Nathan Sturgis and Peter Vagenas. Losing one of those two forces an adjustment in midfield usage patterns and possibly forces DP winger Alvaro Fernandez into a central rather than scoring role. If Seattle loses one of the three young scorers they have plenty of options to fill in those needs. The Seattle side is sure to lose a player, so their expansion draft protected list may be a portent into their off-season plans more than who they value most.

Projected Sounders protection list: Steve Zakuani, Fredy Montero, Alvaro Fernandez, Mauro Rosales, Osvaldo Alonso, James Riley, Brad Evans, Jeff Parke, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Sammy Ochoa, Erik Friberg. Automatically protected: Michael Tetteh.