Sounders

Here are my preseason MLS power rankings, as part of our season preview package. Feel free to offer your thoughts in the comments section.

The U.S. men’s national team announced plans for a send-off series before this summer’s World Cup in Brazil. Here is the schedule: Date Opponent Time TV Venue May 27 Azerbaijan 7 p.m. ESPN2 Candlestick Park; San Francisco (Calif.) June 1 Turkey 11 a.m. ESPN2 Red Bull Arena; Harrison (N.J.) June 7 Nigeria 3 p.m. ESPN EverBank Field; Jacksonville (Fla.) Three games in 12 days is similar to what the U.S. will experience in Group G action…

A lot of Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid‘s interview after Thursday practice centered on Clint Dempsey, but a few other topics came up. Here is a quick transcript of some of those questions:

Former Sounders FC forward Eddie Johnson made it no secret last year he was looking for a raise — something clearly warranted from his production, even if it wasn’t going to come in Seattle. His reward came Thursday as D.C. United announced it has made Johnson a designated player. SI.com is reporting it as a…

Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid offered an impassioned defense of Clint Dempsey after practice Thursday, a response after it seems the star has come under fire recently for a less-than-productive two months with Fulham and then Wednesday with the U.S. national team against Ukraine. Asked if the Sounders are still getting the player they thought they…

The Sounders continued a string of signings Thursday by announcing the addition of Michael Azira, a midfielder/defender who has been with the team since the start of preseason. Per MLS and team policy, terms were not disclosed, but you can probably expect him to be a minimum-salary players. He apparently will not count as an international…

Update: Consider this post updated again following the signing of Michael Azira. The Sounders now have 27 of 30 roster spots filled. This post has been adjusted to include Thursday morning’s signing of fourth-round draft pick Fabio Pereira. Sounders FC moved a step closer to settling on an opening-day lineup with Wednesday’s signing of midfielder…

The Sounders made another move Thursday, signing draft pick Fabio Pereira. The 22-year-old midfielder was selected with the last pick in the MLS SuperDraft, No. 77 overall in the fourth round out of Michigan. Per MLS and team policy, terms were not disclosed, but expect him to take up a development slot on the roster. Pereira…

The U.S. women’s national team settled for a 1-1 tie with Japan in the opener of the Algarve Cup. Reign FC’s Sydney Leroux scored the opening goal in the 59th minute when she blocked the goalkeeper’s clearance into the net. Japan equalized in the 83rd minute, however, when captain Aya Miyama fired a 35-yard knuckler of…

Sounders FC has signed midfielder Gonzalo Pineda, a former Mexican international and World Cup veteran who has been in camp a few weeks. Pineda, 31, will be added to the roster upon the receipt of his P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate. Per team and MLS policy, terms were not disclosed. The 31 year old has made…