What should we takeaway the from Sounders’ end-off-season press conference.

For the last time this season Brian Schmetzer and Craig Waibel talk about their goals for the upcoming season, reviewing the 2024 season participation in the Club World Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup and more. Of course they emphasized how they wanted to improve on their 2024 performance even with multiple high-profile and important competitions on the schedule for 2025. Which makes this offseason and upcoming transfer window more important than ever. And they 1st addressed the Obed Vargas transfer.

There's been tons of speculation over Obed Vargas and his future with the Sounders. Due to a lot of the injuries to the likes of Joao Paulo the young man has seen a lot more playing time than most expected this season and he's impressed fans in that time. And with Joao Paulo going it only made fans want to see Vargas stay with the Sounders even more. And on that front the duo had excellent news. Because Craig Waibal said: “We’re not interested in moving Obed this winter,” assured Waibel. Which is the smart move. While he's valuable now sure, with more playing time he could have a true breakout season either 2025 or 2026 and when he does we could move him to Europe for that much more money. So waiting 1 or 2 years before we inevitably move on is the smart move! Especially since more Mexico caps and a chance to play in an official FIFA competition against Botafogo, Atletico Madrid and PSG are certainly going to raise the minimum acceptable fee.

The next thing they addressed was another thing on a lot of the fans which was out struggles in a attack last season. With many fans noting Jordan Morris's struggles with finishing last season. And their approach is to think of positions later and find players now who can help find and finish those goals so we can go all the way next year. Hence why we're looking into FC Dallas players Jesus Ferreira and Paul Arriola to bring into the squad next season. Something interesting despite recently trading 2 of our foreign player slots to the new San Diego FC for 250k and all the players we've either brought in or have been linked to in rumors being all American. Waibel made it clear that they have the transfer budget and interest to bring in a foreign player this window. Depending on where contract negotiations go with current players, where and how that budget can be spent may vary, but at the very least it does seem like a U-22 foreign player could be brought in.

The last key thing to address is the tactics the Sounders will use heading into next season. The lack of caring about positions I mentioned earlier is a intentional part of their strategy. As Schmetzer says that positional flexibility is a key part for his tactics next year. Allowing them to more easily throw opponents different looks, and also to foster competition throughout the lineup that allows for rotation as the team deals with a packed calendar. That ability to play in multiple positions and provide the Sounders with a variety of different looks can be seen in both Ferreira and Arriola as transfer targets. The 3-5-2 we used against LA Galaxy both ex-FC Dallas player we bought and the 2 new defenders we brought in are very suited to this tatic and could provide that depth flexibility we need for the season ahead. Travian Sousa, who has been with Tacoma Defiance since 2022, is a left-sided player who has primarily played as a left back/left wingback or left winger, but could also play as a left-sided center back in a 3-5-2 if necessary. He would likely be a more attacking alternative to Nouhou on the left. The other player signed is Leo Burney, Burney is a CB who joins the Sounders having climbed the full Sounders Academy ladder before joining the University of Pennsylvania. While there he was a four-time first-team All-Ivy League selection and two-time Ivy League Defender of the Year. He also played three seasons with Ballard FC.

And the best news the Sounders is nearing agreement to resign Rusnák to a multi-year DP contract. Meaning the Serbian playmaker will stay with the Sounders and continue to provide us with great playmaking and entertaining skills for years to come. Thanks a bunch for reading!