Perhaps the most compelling line-up battle to watch during pre-season is in central midfield. Assuming full form, João Paulo looks like a solid bet to start in the defensive midfield. But who is partnered with him and what the depth behind him is like seems to be very much in question.
It’s not for lack of options. Cristian Roldan, Albert Rusnák and Nicolás Lodeiro are all candidates for that vacancy and are potentially better XI caliber players. One way or another, though, all three players are probably starting.
Where it gets potentially more interesting – at least from a preseason storyline standpoint – is the situation behind them. Obed Vargas (17), Danny Leyva (19) and Josh Atencio (20) have proven capable of contributing positively at MLS level and need significant first-team minutes to maintain their growth, while new Homegrown signing Sota Kitahara probably outperformed MLS Next Pro, but might not be ready to skip any of those players on the depth chart.
Even with the addition of the League Cup and US Open Cup games, finding minutes for all of them will likely require some creative solutions.
“We have four really super talented [young] midfielders,” Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said this week. “There is an impasse where we have to think as a club about what to do with all these talented young players and how to get the most out of their development.
“Can some of them be borrowed? Can we sell some of them? This is a project that Craig [Waibel] have to assume. We haven’t really sold players before. We have a surplus. What are we going to do with this surplus?”
Here’s what looks like the best and most likely scenario for each player:
Atencio’s debut came in 2021, when he opened the season as a starter alongside João Paulo and ended up recording around 1,500 minutes. Big things were expected of him in 2022, but injuries have limited him to less than 800 minutes.
What does 2023 mean: Atencio has proven himself to be a capable MLS player, but his best position is still an open question. Although he is primarily played as a defensive midfielder, the idea of making him a mobile, on-the-ball defender remains attractive. There’s obviously still time to figure that out, but if a move to halfback means more playing time, I’d love to see that.
best case scenario: The Sounders switch to a three-quarter lineup that features Atencio, and by 2024, they have a base built around him and Jackson Ragen.
most likely scenario: He establishes himself as a reserve defensive midfielder, stalling for a year or two when he becomes the starter, and ends up playing 15 years as a very good MLS player.
Kitahara has played at all levels of the Sounders developmental system and has even been loaned out to Europe. Last year he struggled with some injuries but still started Wade Webber in Defiance down the stretch. He signed a contract with Homegrown at the end of last season.
What does 2023 mean: It’s not a hit or miss year for Kitahara, but he’s now 20 and definitely needs regular minutes. Spend the season on the Sounders bench or start at tacoma challenge it’s probably a waste. He needs to prove he can date grown men week in and week out.
best case scenario: Kitahara has been moving between defensive midfielder and right-back. It’s hard to imagine him breaking into the defensive midfield rotation with the Sounders, but it’s not too crazy to think he might manage to earn the reserve position at right back.
most likely scenario: I think Kitahara is the best candidate for a loan from this group. Even if it’s for a high-quality USL-Championship outfit, I think it’s useful. As long as he has competitive games every week, that’s important.
Leyva was quietly very good last season as he racked up over 1,600 minutes between the Sounders and Defiance and looks poised to make a significant step forward in 2023.
What does 2023 mean: Hard to believe that Leyva broke into the first team in 2019 and is still only 19 years old, but here we are. Leyva clearly has some elite potential, but he needs to show it on a weekly basis. Can he be a good enough defender to be number 6? Is he an elite enough passer to be higher up the field? We hope to find out.
best case scenario: Leyva will be with the United States U-20 starting next week. If he can secure a place in the Under-20 World Cup team and then impress there, it’s entirely possible he could become the first major transfer that the Sounders can take full credit for developing.
most likely scenario: Either he’ll earn the No. 1 reserve spot at Sounders or go on loan somewhere like Liga MX, hopefully after signing an extension. As long as he manages to log around 2,000 first-team minutes, I think he’s in good shape.
Last year, I’m not sure many outside the Sounders organization knew much about Vargas. In June, he was the subject of intense push and pull between the US and Mexican federations, gaining significant minutes for the CCL champions and on his way to becoming the youngest player on the US under-20 team. But a back injury cost him the last five months of the season.
What does 2023 mean: The good thing is that Vargas is still 17 and there’s no need to rush him. If he can just show that his back injury is behind him, I think the rest will probably be a bonus.
best case scenario: Based on his trajectory from a year ago, there’s no reason he can’t return to the first team rotation. If he can pull it off, there’s every reason to think he’ll be back on track for a big overseas move.
most likely scenario: He started the season with Defiance, returned to fitness, and was back in competition for first-team minutes in late spring.
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