Timbers rivalry aside, some Sounders playing for jobs

The Seattle Sounders meet the Portland Timbers in a Tucson Desert Friendly at 6 p.m. Saturday. Here’s a preview from today’s paper. The game will be streamed live on SoundersFC.com.

However, at this time of year there’s more at stake for some players than the rivalry -- even this rivalry. The Sounders cut three players on Friday, and that’s a reminder to anyone who needs it that a dozen or more players in camp are playing for their jobs.

“Guys are always competing for positions,” coach Sigi Schmid said. “If you’re not competing for a place on the roster, you’re competing for a place in the 18 or you’re competing for a place to get onto the starting 11. So you’re always competing, so from that standpoint it doesn’t really change. Our (thinking was) once we came to a decision that we gave them early enough information so that maybe they have a possibility to catch on with another team and move on to another team.”

On deciding the final composition of the roster: Midfielders are the most versative group. A lot of time if you’re going to hold an excess, you try to hold an excess of midfielders because a lot of times a midfielder can play in the back or whatever. But we also look at our team and we say OK, who can play in different positions? Can one of our forwards really play midfield if we need it? Can one of our midfielders play in the back if we need it? And that’s going to determine that final breakdown between is it nine defenders and eight midfielders and eight forwards? That might shift around by one or two in either direction.

Finally, another body is expected in camp today: homegrown forward Jordan Morris, back from duty in California with the U.S. national team.

This story was originally published February 6, 2016 at 8:56 AM with the headline "Timbers rivalry aside, some Sounders playing for jobs."