Sounders' Hanauer has no regrets about letting Le Toux go
DON RUIZ; Staff writer
Forward Sebastien Le Toux had a goal and an assist in Philadelphia’s 3-2 win at Houston on Saturday.
Within a span of 24 minutes, the former Seattle Sounders player figured in as many goals as his ex-teammates have managed in their past six league games.
And that raises this question: Did the Sounders err in making Le Toux available in the expansion draft?
“The thing is that we were going to be disappointed, and someone on our team was going to perform well in Philadelphia, no matter what,” general manager Adrian Hanauer said Monday. “We had, and continue to have, a deep squad. There were other guys on the list that we had to leave unprotected that also could be performing extremely well in Philadelphia.”
However, Le Toux’s departure seems particularly haunting because of the Sounders’ offensive woes this season.
Seattle has nine goals, second-fewest in Major League Soccer. No other MLS team that has played 11 games has fewer than 13 goals.
While Sounders FC has endured five shutouts, Le Toux has five goals and two assists for his new team. That total puts him two ahead of Sounders co-leaders Steve Zakuani and Fredy Montero.
“I think it would be disingenuous to say we couldn’t use (five) goals and a couple of assists,” Hanauer said. “That said, we certainly didn’t anticipate some of the injuries we’ve had. … We can’t … dwell on that decision.”
Risking Le Toux on the expansion list was particularly controversial because he was a fan favorite as the original player signed by Sounders FC. Over the prior two seasons, he scored 24 goals for the USL Sounders and won the 2007 league MVP award.
“We’re happy for Sebastien,” Hanauer said. “… (Former Sounder) Stephen King played for D.C. the other day in their win. It says something that we have quality players, quality individuals, in the organization. We’d love to hang onto all of them, but it’s just not in the cards.”
ADDED TIME
CD Metapn of El Salvador will meet the Sounders’ in the CONCACAF Champions League opener July 27, 28 or 29 at Qwest Field. … Coach Sigi Schmid said he does not expect forward Nate Jaqua (abdomen) or midfielder Peter Vagenas (quadriceps) to be ready for league play until after the World Cup.
