In the latest episode of Hinton Unleashed, Alan Hinton talked about the controversy over the US national team’s fixture list.

Admitting to interviewer John Zielonka that the job of US team coach was not always easy, he also observed that:

“Klinsmann needs to get on with everybody for the benefit of the game.”

He cited the schedule as being at the root of the problems between MLS and US Soccer but turned from being peacemaker to critic over Sunday’s opponents.

“I thought Panama were awful. Any MLS team would have beaten them.”

He went on to talk some Sounders and comment on the relative lack of transfer movement in Seattle but he did not seem worried:

“I think it’s possible some acquisitions may be made before kick off, either from Europe, South America or even from Major League Soccer. Trades do go on within the league. … “But can the Sounders make a lot of changes with salary cap restrictions? I don’t know.”

Hinton added that it’s going to be a bumper year for MLS he said citing player overhauls in Chicago and Toronto, and ticket sales in Orlando and San Jose.

Finally he paid tribute to Steve Zakuani who appeared at Sounders training today.

“He’s a very very very fine young man. I got on particualry well with him probably because we were both wingers as player. “His book will be very interesting. I’m going to buy it. It sounds like a big seller. I wish him good luck and he’s a fine guy.”

Hinton was less impressed by fans who acted up on twitter at the news of Brian Mullan’s appointment as assistant coach in Colorado.

“I was on twitter the other day and he apparently is the new assistant coach of the Colorado Rapids. Some of the Sounders fans aren’t happy about that. but Brian Mullan is entitled to get a job. He was a good pro who had a bad tackle.”

More Sounders FC

Taylor Graham’s Puerto Rican adventure

USL rebrands but self-hype goes beyond reality and will harm not help

Sounders add young Colombian defender Andrés Correa

