Everyone else, including Fredy Montero, was present for the start of camp today at Starfire. He faces a fine from the team, coach Sigi Schmid said, and it is NOT OK that the designated player is not with his team. "He's looking at options in Europe and as a club, we've talked and we've considered those options. As of yet, nothing has really happened so we expect him here. Exactly when the date is that he's going to be here, I'm not exactly sure." Schmid said Ljungberg's absence and any penalty from that will be handled internally as a club.
In the interim, his team started practice without him. Captain Kasey Keller was not pleased Ljungberg was not with the rest of the group.
"I don't know the full story. I don't know what's going on," Keller said. "In my opinion, when you're under contract and you're supposed to be somewhere, then you're there."
Keller was asked if he wants Ljungberg to be part of the team.
"I want the players at this team who want to be here," Keller said. "If Freddie wants to be here and wants to be fully committed, then sure. If he doesn't, then it's more of a distraction than a benefit. I'd much rather have a guy with less talent who truly wants to be here then a guy with great talent who doesn't."
General manager Adrian Hanauer said Ljungberg is under contract and the club is speaking to his representation each day.
"We knew he wasn't going to be here today," Hanauer said. "We're talking daily. The transfer window closes Jan. 31 in Europe and we expect this issue to be settled the next few days.
"Quite frankly we're extremely hopeful and optimistic that Freddie will be here very soon. I can't expound upon that in too much detail."
As for Freddie, he posted on his own site that he is busy snowboarding and training in Sweden at the Åre ski resort. He wrote "I have not made any final decision about the spring as a lot depends on the outcome of the new CBA and lockout threat in MLS." I understand that his contract must have some type of clause that if a strike were to occur, he would be released from Seattle. I hope someone can enlighten me as I am not a contract attorney, how can he sign a 2 year deal and simply not choose to honor the second year? Before the talks of the MLS lockout even started he was on the fence as whether or not to return. Is his name not signed on the bottom of the contract? Why even have contracts if they essentially mean nothing? I thought Freddie might be able to leave Sounders FC for another club if players are allowed, through intervention by FIFA, to become free agents in the event of a lockout... I have been and always will be a huge fan, but this is disappointing. I bet if he were at Arsenal instead of the Sounders he wouldn't be pulling this...
