Northwest Nuggets

While the Sounders FC started training camp at Starfire, their Northwest neighbors made some moves to get themselves ready for the 2013 season.

The Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced that midfielder Barry Robson would move on from the team, opening up a Designated Player slot for the team that finished fifth in the Western Conference in 2012.  Robson had three goals and two assists in 17 matches after joining the Whitecaps in July.

Deemed a mutual split, Robson’s departure leaves Vancouver with Kenny Miller (2 goals in 13 games in 2012) as their lone DP.  At different stages of their first two seasons, the Whitecaps also had Mustapha Jarju (0 goals, 10 games) and Eric Hassli (12 goals, 44 games) occupy DP slots.

Meanwhile in Portland, the Timbers announced they had signed forward Jose Valencia, who was previously on loan from Independiente Santa Fe in Colombia, and defender Ryan Miller.  Valencia sat out the entire 2012 season with a knee injury while Miller joins after four seasons in Sweden.  The right back was drafted by Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid – then with the Columbus Crew – in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft and played two seasons in MLS before moving to Ljungskile SK in Sweden before finally landing with Halmstads BK in 2010.

Posted in Sounders FC