World Laziest Blogger reveals his love for the two newest Sounders.

Credit: Chris Coulter and GoSounders.com

I started this blog not so much as a typical Sounders blog, that gave game reviews and news/notes, but more of being a Sounders fan so far away from Seattle. Sure, sometimes game reviews sneak in, and since nobody reads this damn thing anyway, sometimes its the easiest story to write.

So today, I've broken my silence to discuss two very exciting moments in Sounder history: The debuts of Blaise Nkufo and Alvaro Fernandez, and the clubs Champions League debut.

Other signings may have caught more regional and even worldwide attention for MLS than Nkufo and Fernandez, but in my mind the Sounders have hit back to back home runs. Nkufo is a typical designated player signing for the league age-wise at 35, but there isn't another player in MLS that offers as much as the Senegalese-born Swiss international. The big man (6'2) is perhaps already the best in the league at hold up play and compliments Fredy Montero perfectly. He also has an eye for goal, with his 114 goals for FC Twente the most in club history. He's played for numerous clubs in Europe and even the Middle East at all different levels, but his best performance came at the Dutch club. Nkufo captained them to their first ever league title in his final season there (09-10).

Fernandez is the atypical MLS designated player signing when it comes to age at just 24. This signing represents a massive coup not just for Seattle but the league itself due to that very fact. Getting a young international player to come to MLS is hopefully the beginning of a trend for the league. The midfielder featured four times for Uruguay in this years World Cup, a team that reached the semifinals, and has already put himself in Sounders lore, scoring the goal that clinched Seattle's place in the Champions League group stage.

Since these two players have joined the rave green, and Freddie Ljungberg has departed for Chicago, we've seen another young international player set the league on fire in the Colombian Montero. Fredy had a lengthy points streak snapped in the Sounders last league match, a game he picked up a slight injury in.

All this good news leads me to a crowning achievement in the club's history, be it MLS, USL, or NASL. The CONCACAF Champions League since being revamped a couple of years ago, has gained more respect internationally that its predecessor the Champions Cup. The Sounders may have dropped there first group game, 2-1 away at Honduran champions Marathon, but playing in the event in just the second year of being in MLS is a big deal. Let's hope its the first of many appearances.

Until next time....

(whenever that may be)

Go Sounders!

(next match: vs Monterrey (MEX) in Champions League group play)