For the first time in 2012, it's a Sounders FC game day.

Sure it's just a preseason training game -- vs. Vancouver at 3 p.m. in Arizona -- but it has meaning nonetheless. With one of the more important games of the year coming up in four weeks (the home leg of a CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal against top Mexican team Santos Laguna), preparation is in full force.

I'm not sure what the parameters of the training game will be -- e.g. the length of the match, number of periods -- but expect Seattle to field a strong lineup that should look a lot like the starting group on March 7.

UPDATE 2:02 p.m.: The Sounders say the training game will consist on two 45-minute periods and an addition 30-minute period.

There will be a live blog on SoundersFC.com with updates and I'll try to relay some important stuff on Twitter before posting a recap here.

Until then, here are some links:

--- Former camp trialist and academy alum Darwin Jones was announced as a member of UW's latest recruiting class. Four academy products -- also Michael Gallagher, Ian Lange and Dominique Dismuke -- are included in the class.

--- Portland announced a few minor moves today involving the exchange of international roster slots, allocation and draft picks with D.C. United and Montreal. Timbers owner Merritt Paulson explained on Twitter that part of the moves were made with assurances that the Impact wouldn't take a Portland player in the expansion draft.

--- Goalkeeper Ryan Meara has signed with New York and it looks like the Red Bulls will have another announcement soon with trialist Victor Palsson tweeting that he's signed.

--- While we're all atwitter with Twitter, L.A. Galaxy midfielder Chris Birchall used the social medium to announce he won't be back in 2012.

--- Sounds like D.C. United is close to a lease agreement with RFK Stadium. Here are some more notes on the team, including an update on DeRo contract negotiations.

--- The league website has an update on former Sounder Pat Noonan, who's currently in camp with the L.A. Galaxy.

--- It looks like No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wenger will be going back to school and rejoining Montreal full-time in May. Here's a good look at the Generation adidas program and ESPN.com has a profile on Sporting Kansas City forward CJ Sapong.

--- Did you know David Beckham was red carded at a youth soccer match recently?

--- Here's a fascinating extract from the book: "Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World." It details the process of the club acquiring Leo Messi, and not all Barcelona officials were excited about the young prospect.

--- Lastly, the latest from Soccer AM's "Showboat" series is pretty good: