Sounders FC hopes to add offense to roster next season

The thrill ride Sounders FC provided in its inaugural season ended with Sunday's 1-0 overtime loss to the Houston Dynamo in the Major League Soccer playoffs.

Now what?

The team's first true offseason won't be a long one. Training camp is scheduled to begin toward the end of January. Before that comes the MLS expansion draft Nov. 25 — in which the Philadelphia Union will have the opportunity to select an unprotected Sounders FC player — and the college and Generation Adidas SuperDraft in January 2010.

In the immediate future, team decision-makers will meet to evaluate players from this season and pinpoint where the most help is needed. That is an easy determination for majority owner Joe Roth: Find another scorer for a team that struggled to score goals for long stretches.

"I'd like to return the team," Roth said. "Our defense is as good as any in the league and we have the perfect goalie. ... I would like to see us in the offseason find someone with firepower, someone to take the heat off [Fredy] Montero."

Roth's point is a valid one. Sounders FC got 21 of its total of 38 regular-season goals from two players — Montero and Nate Jaqua. No one else had more than four goals, and when Montero and Jaqua weren't scoring, or were missing their chances, the team lacked a finishing type of player that many other MLS teams have.

Sounders general manager Adrian Hanauer said the club feels it is in "good shape" as far as who it knows will be back with the Rave Green next season, but said there could be a tweaking of the roster. Also, there is always the chance any current player can be loaned out or sold to another team.

"If we sell any of our players or loan them, it's only because it's going to make our team better, ultimately," Hanauer said.

The front office won't get in the way of any player who wants to leave Sounders FC, but only if it benefits the club overall, he added.

Among the key players, goalkeeper Kasey Keller, midfielder and designated player Freddie Ljungberg, Montero, defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and defender Leo Gonzalez are all either under contract to the league — which signs players on behalf of teams — or can have their option for a second year picked up. All have indicated they would like to be back in Seattle next year.

"I like the management, Adrian, the coaching staff, my teammates, and above all the respect and support from the stadium and our supporters," said Gonzalez, who has another year under contract with MLS. "I would like to return."

Montero said he isn't sure what will happen, but his contract with MLS is up on Dec. 31.

"I'm happy with what was shown here, happy with the support from all the fans, all of the people that make up this team. ... If it's in my hands, I'd like to stay, and I'll decide to stay, because I like this team."

Hanauer said the process of making sure the team's core is retained began six months ago. Most of the players, in fact, are signed to contracts beyond next season.

"It's always been about building a team long term, trying to build a dynasty," Hanauer said. "If we're doing our jobs right, we're making good decisions throughout the year and sort of laying the foundation for being able to retain the players we want to retain."

Then there is the question of which 11 players to protect from being taken by Philadelphia. That figures to be as much of the starting lineup as possible. Team chemistry was good, and continuity is something coach Sigi Schmid has mentioned when talking about what is important to MLS championship teams.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com