On Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. PST, the Union will select 10 players to form the core of their new team. The rules are the same — each team may protect 11 players, excluding Generation Adidas members (of which the Sounders have none). A list of all unprotected players posted by the intrepid Jose Miguel Romero can be found here.

Last year, I paid little attention to the salary figures of the players, to my detriment. A list of 2009 player salaries, released by the Players Union, can be found here.

Without further ado, here is a photo of some hot soccer babes.

Chivas USA: Marcelo Saragosa (2009 Base Salary: $120k)

Every squad needs a solid defensive midfielder and Saragosa fits the bill here. The Brazilian has kicked the injury problems that threatened to derail his career, starting 15 games between FC Dallas and Chivas USA last season. The best man at his wedding was Kaká.

Striker Chikwudi Chijindu would be a more frugal option.

Chicago Fire: Chris Rolfe ($95.5 k)

Mr. Rolfe, the young, talented attacker, is making nearly 100k/year. It’s a hefty figure, but as the salary budget is expected to increase dramatically in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (which is being worked out now), that could be less of a hit than in previous years.

Rolfe’s a creative, fast striker who managed six goals in 20 starts last season. The addition of Brian McBride displaced Rolfe to the bench more often than he would have hoped, but the 26-year old was still a key cog in the Fire’s 2009 campaign.

BOOOIIIIOIOIOIOINNNNGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Columbus Crew: Frankie Hejduk ($150k)

Interestingly, the Crew left both marking backs uncovered (Hejduk and Gino Padula). Perhaps gambling on the Union not selecting Hejduk because of his hefty salary ($150k), the veteran would be an excellent tone-setter and leader in the Union locker room.

A possible Hejduk exit could be the first move in a massive shakeup in Ohio. Rumor has it the Crew’s two star players, Robbie Rogers and Guillermo Barros Schelotto, had a falling out with head coach Robert Warzycha. Cutting these two players loose, plus Hejduk, would leave Columbus with bushels of cash to “rebuild” the team that won the Supporter’s Shield for the second consecutive year.

Colorado Rapids: Preston Burpo ($57.8k)

Lots of intriguing options here (Jacob Peterson, UW Graduate Ty Harden among them), but I’ll go with Preston Burpo. A starter-quality goalkeeper, the former Sounder started 11 games in place of #1 Matt Pickens. Seattle did not select a goalkeeper in last year’s Expansion Draft, but I expect that to change with Philadelphia (unless they somehow manage to woo Brad Friedel or Marcus Hahnemann back to the United States).

FC Dallas: none

D.C. United: Ange N’Silu ($65k)

A hunch — I liked what I saw from him. N’Silu is a promising young Congolese attacker who saw limited minutes last year.

Houston Dynamo: Mike Chabala ($34k)

Houston general manager Oliver Luck left plenty of starters on this list, figuring that high salary figures (most north of $150,k) would scare the Union away. Chabala’s more modest number ($34k) seems more reasonable for a defender who started down the stretch for the Dynamo.

Kansas City: Matt Besler ($36k)

A cheap young rookie defender – some had him on the rookie best XI. Started 26 games for the Wizards in 2008.

LA Galaxy: none

New England: Wells Thompson ($34.6k)

When Seattle constructed its first team, they often chose young players who could play multiple positions. Wells fits that bill.

Another value pick, Thompson was on the books for under $35k last season. Wells can play outside midfielder on either side. Fast player who can win balls can always find a spot on the field.

New York Red Bulls: none

Real Salt Lake: Ned Grabavoy ($83.6k)

I’m basing this solely on his tremendous performance in relief of Javier Morales in the MLS Cup.

Seattle Sounders FC: James Riley ($69k)

Across the league, I’ve noticed a trend of outside backs being left unprotected. The Riley exclusion raised some eyebrows around Seattle. Some are looking at Sebastien Le Toux, who never got comfortable in outside midfield and could be of value as a striker, but his six-figure salary is not palatable. Roger Levesque’s 40k is much more attractive, plus he’s also a great character guy.

from: http://www.nextseasonsports.com/2009/03/sounders-fc-nss-exclusive-column-team.html

Final Picks:

Marcelo Saragosa, M
Chris Rolfe, F
Frankie Hejduk, D
Preston Burpo, GK
Ange N’Silu, F
Mike Chabala, D
Matt Besler, D
Wells Thompson, M
Ned Grabavoy, M
James Riley, D

By position:

Goalkeeper: 1
Central Defenders: 0
Marking Backs: 4 (!)
Midfielders: 3
Strikers: 2

Total Salary: ~$745,500

Since the 1994 World Cup, the United States Men’s National Team has attempted to build itself with a succession of US born coaches. Why?

In 1990 Hungarian born coach Bob Gansler led the United States to its first World Cup since 1950. Sure the team was demolished in Italia ‘90, but just qualifying earned the ‘90 team a special place in US Soccer history.

The pressure was on in 1994 as the United States hosted the World Cup amid international concerns over the historical weakness of the US National Team and the lack of a domestic outdoor league. US Soccer turned to Serbian Bora Milutinovic to mold the US team into a competitive unit. The US won an improbable victory over a heavily favored Colombian team in the Rose Bowl and advanced to the second round, losing to Brazil despite playing much of the game with a man advantage.

The reputation of the United States as a soccer power had grown so much by this time that Colombian Andres Escobar was murdered for his own goal that cost Colombia their tournament run. The message was clear: Lose to the terrible US and it will cost you your life.

Having qualified for consecutive World Cups and advancing past the first round in 1994 apparently completely satisfied the powers that be at the US Soccer Federation. The USSF effectively stated, “Thanks internationally experienced coaches, but we’ll take it from here.”

Enter Steve Sampson, Bruce Arena, and now Bob Bradley.

Steve Sampson presided over the horrific 1998 World Cup where the US lost to Iran and finished 32nd out of 32 teams in the competition.

In 2002 Bruce Arena enjoyed the greatest modern success of any US coach, surprising Portugal’s “Golden Generation” in a classic 3-2 victory that spawned Jack Edwards’ hilarious call at the final whistle, “MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY!!” That team exploited an absurdly favorable second round matchup against Mexico to reach the quarterfinals, an unfathomable feat.

The 2002 team honestly might have damned the US National Team from further progression through the present day. When you look back at that tournament, the US were maybe just as lucky as they were good. The US got up 3-0 on a Portugal team that clearly did not expect any sort of challenge. By the time Portugal realized they had a fight on their hands it was just too late. Portugal still battled back to come within one goal of stealing a draw. If the game had gone on ten minutes longer, they likely get that goal.

The US followed up that win with a bitterly contested 1-1 draw with host South Korea. Then the US with their tournament on the line lost 3-1 to an already eliminated Poland team and required outside help from South Korea to ensure their advancement. 4 points. That’s it.

But forget all that. US Soccer’s home grown coach strategy had been justified. The team reached the quarterfinals!

At present, US born coach Bob Bradley is at the helm of a US team that to this point has been largely listless in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. They appear to be riding reputation more than anything in less than inspiring results over the minnows of CONCACAF. And when I say minnows of CONCACAF I mean everyone except for the US and Costa Rica. Mexico is horrendous all of a sudden.

Funny thing about that reputation of US Soccer: what is it? It’s one of a team that in its best years has shown the ability to cobble together 4 points and bilk other teams’ misfortunes to sneak into the second round of the World Cup Finals. Honestly, who do we think we are?

In comparison, England recently turned to Swedish coach Sven Goran Eriksson and now Italian Fabio Capello to guide their national team in efforts to replicate their championship of 1966. Don’t you think that the venerated tradition of British soccer could produce better coaches than the United States? You would be correct. But England doesn’t want to participate. They want to win.

The US on the other hand seems content to trot out coaches whose previous biggest games were either NCAA Tournament competition or MLS playoffs. Both the NCAA and MLS have an important place in the development of the US game, but let’s get real.

Eriksson and Capello between them have coached Juventus, Real Madrid, Benfica, Milan, and Roma. When they stand on the sideline for World Cup competition they have the benefit of having coached in games of similar magnitude. When Sampson, Arena, or Bradley man the sideline for the US in World Cup competition it is the biggest game of their lives. The international coaches have the benefit of having their tactics vetted by top notch European competition. With the US coaches, they just hope whatever they have works.

In England the players can look to the coach for a steady hand and a stabilizing effect. In the US the coaches through their inexperience are just as shell shocked as the players.

What makes this extra frustrating is that personnel wise the United States have made the right moves. The team is full of young talent in the likes of Jozy Altidore, Sacha Kljestan, and Michael Bradley among many others. Wouldn’t these players benefit more from an internationally established coach with a proven record of success?

Wouldn’t an international coach provide needed pressure on domestic players such as Landon Donovan to search out tougher competition abroad or risk not making the team?

Steve Sampson enjoyed great success as an assistant at UCLA, and later at Santa Clara. Bruce Arena built by far the best reputation of the three at Virginia. Bob Bradley was an assistant at Virginia before coaching Princeton and later a handful of MLS teams. These are great coaches if you want to win in NCAA Division One. When it comes to the World Cup, we appear to be getting what we pay for.

The US still has time to salvage the 2010 World Cup with a coaching change. Bob Bradley has succeeded in integrating a new generation of US players into the national team. He has coached his son Michael Bradley into a savvy holding midfielder with international potential. That’s a fine legacy. I would however like the team to compete, and not be satisfied with just qualifying for the World Cup. To that end I believe finding an established international coach is the next step in the maturation of the US National Team.

Nothing ruins an opening night like bird carcasses strewn about the stadium. According to a source close to the team, Seattle Sounders FC has abandoned plans to have doves fly around Qwest Field on Opening Night after at least three were killed by marauding hawks.

During a dry-run of Opening Night festivities last Thursday, the soccer team released several white doves from the tunnel, which were supposed to fly around the stadium a bit before returning to their home in Auburn (or thereabouts). However, they soon found themselves in peril as three hawks dive-bombed the easy targets.

What happened after was nothing short of a symbolism-laden massacre. One hawk reportedly killed a dove, dropped the carcass into the stands, and then went back for seconds.

Thanks for the free dinner!

I still hope the club changes its mind and flies doves on Opening Night – this would be up their with the Blue Angels as the coolest thing any of us will ever see.

Last year’s competition featured a tremendous late-season surge by Hose. In the face of furious boredom, Hose updated his team just often enough to pip Hotdog for the trophy. (I think this is what happened – I don’t actually remember.)

In 2008, we also saw a number of hot babes in the competition (two, I think).

But seriously, fantasy is a great way to get to know your favorite MLS players. And since yours truly is in the MLS Experts Fantasy League, you can say you challenged a professional! Details below:

soundersfc.com

Here’s what to do – click the link below to get started:

1: Go to http://mlsfantasy.soccernet.com/

2: Click on Register and go through the registration and team selection process – it’s totally free to play

3: Once you are on your team line-up page click on Mini League and type the following information in the Join A Mini League boxes:

League Name: Hotdog & Friends
Password: ljungberg

With only four players already on the roster, the expansion players will likely fill at least 6-7 starting spots when the team takes the field next March or April. Each MLS team could only protect 11 players, meaning there are definitely some starter-caliber players out there.

I won’t act like I know all of the available players. However, as one of the 10 biggest fans of MLS nationwide, I consider myself uniquely placed to offer some educated guesses.

Learn about these players. Get to know them. You’ll be seeing a lot of them in the next year.

(Expansion Draft Rules: Seattle picks 10 players, no more than one from any team. Therefore, four teams will not have a player selected. Generation Adidas players are exempt. A full list of players and rules can be found here.)

It's like this, but for soccer (from KFFL.com)

Chivas USA
Raphael Wicky

Raphael Wicky

Although he would cost the Sounders a senior international spot, I would like to see them gamble on Swiss National Team stalwart Raphael Wicky. We need a strong defensive midfielder to play while Kenji Treschuk (yet to be officially signed) adjusts to the pace of MLS.

Wicky started regularly for Bundesliga side Hamburg SV for most of the 2000s before coming to America (by way of Switzerland’s FC Sion). With some deft maneuvering, GM Adrian Hanauer might also be able to leverage MLS rules to adjust Wicky’s contract downwards, which would free up salary budget space for additional free agents. (This would be contingent on Wicky’s full recovery from the injury that limited him last season.)

One never knows what’s in the minds of these aging senior internationals, but if he seems excited to continue his career in MLS, let’s take him.

Notes: One might be tempted to select Ante Ravoz, whose 114 goals (including 33 game-winners) rank him second in MLS history, but his age and diminished work rate run counter to Seattle’s high-pressure ethos. Jorge Flores, a young middie who won the Sueno MLS competition, is also an intriguing choice.

Chicago Fire
Brandon Prideaux

This picks makes sense for two reasons:

1. Seattle doesn’t yet have a defender on its roster. Adding the dependable Prideaux, who started 27 games for the Fire, gives them a calming presence who can slot in anywhere in the back four.
2. Prideaux has Northwest ties. The 10-year vet grew up in Renton and captained the Huskies for coach Dean Wurzberger.

Colorado Rapids
Jose Burciaga, Jr.

Perhaps the best attacking defender in the expansion draft, Burciaga Jr. can get forward with the best of them. A liability at times on defense, I still think Hanauer and Henderson will take a gamble on him. If you like high-scoring games (at both ends of the field), JBJ is your man. Fantasy gold.

Not only was he named to the MLS Best XI team in 2007, but he’s also a stand-up guy.

Jose Burciaga, Jr.

Columbus Crew
Eddie Gaven

This is your lead-pipe lock of the draft. Players like Gaven, who scored the winning goal in the Eastern Conference Finals, don’t come along every day. The Crew must be in knots about having to leave him unprotected.

In addition to a reasonable salary, Gaven just turned 22 and has played for several years on U.S. Youth National teams. Some have expected more out of Gaven in his professional career, as he was one of the youngest players to score in league history. There’s no doubt that reuniting with Sigi Schmid in Columbus was beneficial for Gaven’s career and he’s just now starting to realize his awesome potential (although injuries hampered his 2008 campaign).

I personally wouldn’t take the big name here, which is Pat Noonan. Brad Evans is a solid player who also makes very little in his current contract.

Hispanic heartthrob Duilio Davino

FC Dallas
Duilio Davino

Why not take a chance on Davino, one of the most recognizable faces in MLS’ Hispanic community? The former Mexican National Team defender gives the Sounders instant credibility with that portion of their fan base. He’s also got a couple years left and plays defense, a need position for the Sounders.

Houston Dynamo
Nate Jaqua

Rumors about Jaqua joining the Sounders have been swirling for several months. Jaqua, a versatile target forward with good speed and a nose for goal, would slot in well beside Sebastian Le Toux. After spending the last couple years as a hired gun in MLS and in Austria, Jaqua’s been rumored to favor a move nearer to his hometown of Eugene, Oregon (Jaqua also played collegiately at the University of Portland).

Craig Waibel, another defender with local ties (University of Washington), could also find his way to Seattle via free agency.

Los Angeles Galaxy
Ely Allen

Kirovski, Vagenas, and Klein have unreasonable salaries, and the Sounders don’t need another goalkeeper (Cronin), and Franchino’s on the downside of his career, so that leaves former Washington Husky Ely Allen. Hanauer would have brought the striker in to play for the USL team if he didn’t catch on with Los Angeles. As a bonus, you don’t need to worry about him tearing up the clubs – he was on the books for a shame-inducing $12,900 last season. (At least he could live with his parents again.)

Julian Valentin, who earned valuable experience this summer playing for his country in the Toulouse International Tournament, is a possibility. (He carries the added bonus of being a young defender.)

New England Revolution
Khano Smith

I’m not the biggest Khano Smith fan (far, far too inconsistent), but other people are, so I’ll list him here.

Real Salt Lake
Nathan Sturgis

RSL will regret leaving the young Clemson product unprotected – he will be snapped up in a heartbeat. 

Also of note: Local product and Maple Valley kid Nik Besagno, burdened by the unreasonable expectation of being the first pick in RSL’s history at age 16, looks headed for greener pastures. I doubt it will be in Seattle – he played with the USL Sounders on loan in 2008 and did not impress. I do hope he catches on somewhere, though.

Toronto FC
Johann Smith

This speedy striker has already traveled the world and boasts EPL experience with Bolton Wanderers. Signed as a free agent in August, Smith only played a handful of games for TFC.

A player like Smith ties in nicely with the club’s attaching mentality. I see him ideally suited as a second-half substitute, where his speed can pose problems for the opponent’s tiring defense. Can also start.

Young Hunter Freeman would also fit well.

Johann Smith