Seattle players are vets of playoff scene
Sounders FC roster has 65 games of postseason experience
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Of Sigi Schmid's probable starting XI, 10 players have had experience in big games, whether those games came in South America, Europe, or even the USL, with rookie Steve Zakuani the lone exception.
"Obviously there are veteran guys on this team who have been through the playoffs before and guys who have played in important games in Europe," Schmid said. "They will be able to share those situations and those memories and the preparation they go through."
That number could drop to nine, or possibly eight, however, should veteran goalkeeper Kasey Keller or Fredy Montero be unable to play on Thursday night. Keller was seen limping off the practice field Tuesday with an apparent ankle injury. Schmid said he believed his veteran netminder should be "ready to go" on Thursday night.
"His ankle is just a little bit sore so we sent him in early," Schmid said. "That was his situation today."
Montero missed practice with a mild illness, so the club wanted to keep him away from the team as a precaution. Even without those two, Seattle still has a lot of experience to lean on.
When building the team through the expansion draft, Seattle chose mostly young players with potential to be key starters. But they also chose Pete Vagenas, a veteran who captained the Los Angeles Galaxy to the double in 2005. Soon after, they made a deal to acquire Tyrone Marshall to anchor the back line.
Between Marshall and Vagenas, there are 40 games worth of postseason experience. Add in Nate Jaqua (14 playoff games), James Riley (7), and Brad Evans (4) and there are 65 games worth of playoff soccer. Patrick Ianni came from Houston, where the Dynamo won two championships. The foreign-based players, including Freddie Ljungberg, Keller, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Montero, have also played in monumental matches in other countries. Left back Leo Gonzalez has World Cup experience.
Even Osvaldo Alonso, the influential defensive midfielder, led the USL's Charleston Battery to the final of the 2008 U.S. Open Cup -- while substitutes Sebastien Le Toux and Roger Levesque are also battle-tested at the USL level.
Add in the winningest coach in postseason history in Schmid and that should allay any fears of Seattle being underprepared for the intensity of Thursday night's match. Now that Sounders FC have achieved their stated goal of making the playoffs, they know anything can happen.
"It's totally open from here on out. It's a totally different ballgame," said Evans, who won an MLS Cup last season with Columbus. "You don't want that feeling in two weeks of coming back in here and having a workout. You still want to be playing for something, so you have to leave it all out on the line and then get your rest later."
In the end, Schmid expects his veteran players to impart the magnitude of being in the playoffs to the younger players. Vagenas said earlier in the year that being in the playoffs and playing for trophies does not happen every year and he attempted to help the younger players appreciate the situation they are in.
Schmid took a moment on Monday to talk to the team about the gravity of the occasion, noting that seven other teams were packing their bags that day. Even though driving rain forced most of the team indoors, Schmid still believed it was a wonderful day.
"Today when we watched video we talked a little bit about it and also about the uniqueness of the opportunity," Schmid said. "Sometimes young players think this happens every year and you don't know this is the year.
"This group is unique this year and this is their chance to make it happen for themselves. It won't be the same group next year."
Andrew Winner is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
