Training Notes: Viana a talent, Espindola the keeper, and more

Training Notes: Viana a talent, Espindola the keeper, and more

Ahoy-hoy! It's been a day and a half, hasn't it? I've got some training notes and some reading for you lot, so gobble it up. Consume! (Have you seen that film They Live directed by John Carpenter and starring Rowdy Roddy Piper? Yeah, that's what I feel like when I say things like "Consume!" I must apologize.)

Anyway, notes, right?

  • David Viana is a talent. And, what's more, it seems his paperwork's all done and he's ready to go. I don't anticipate seeing him this season — it's not the way of Kreis — but as he told me today, "never say never." (It was part of an interview — I'm not nearly cool enough to have personal conversations with the man, the myth, the legend.) At any rate, Viana operated largely by cutting inside from the left and making magic happen with his feet. (Awkward, much?)
  • Three people got banged up a little, but everyone seemed to be OK: Sebastian Velasquez went down in what seemed a scary moment, with everyone stopping play and the medics running in to help out; and Jamison Olave and Kenny Mansally collided in the air, with the big man (the one that plays central. Olave.) staying down a little longer. But he's made of stern stuff, that one.
  • Jason Kreis is a legend. That is all.
  • Will Johnson was absent, undoubtedly because he was caring for his newborn child. He's ever the consummate professional, but some days, the human in him simply has to triumph. I can't imagine he'd miss tomorrow's match, though.
  • Ned Grabavoy spent most of the session jogging around the training pitch, doing lazy (not that lazy, though) laps. That's a good sign, as he wasn't involved a week ago. He's expected to be ready for Seattle.
  • Kwame Watson-Siriboe was involved, which is encouraging. He was also involved in a to-the-side scrimmage featuring players who didn't seem likely to travel (except, I suppose, Kyle Reynish — there's no chance he doesn't travel.)
  • In what was the moment of the century, Fabian Espindola took over as goalkeeper after the training session ended, with Javier Morales and Alvaro Saborio taking shots on him. The surprising part? He did well. Like, pretty well. Not really well, but he made some fantastic stops. Who knew?