The Seattle Sounders officially signed Dejan Joveljic, a much-needed striker, to boost the team’s anemic attack. General Manager Craig Waible acquired the 27-year-old Serbian international from Sporting Kansas City as a designated player in exchange for $ 6 million in a cash-for-player trade.
Joveljic is a proven MLS goal scorer, something the Sounders have been lacking. Sporting KC has scored a league-low 20 goals, with Joveljic leading the league with eight goals. The Sounders are just above Sporting with 22 goals scored. Winger Paul Rothrock leads the Sounders with five league goals scored.
The Sounders have been ravaged by injuries, which have left the team in 13th place in the Western Conference with a 7-9-4 ( 25pts) record. The revolving door of starters has left head coach Brian Schmetzer and his staff scrambling for the right combination and tactic to generate a potent attack. All of the Sounders a strikers have struggled this season. There has been a lack of service into the box, and when the service was played in, there was no striker. It’s been that kind of a season to date.
WHAT WILL CHANGE?
Despite their scoring woes, the Sounders have been able to advance the ball using width. Paul Rothrock continues to terrorize defenders with his pace and quickness. Joveljic’s ability to find space in the penalty box will be the perfect complement to Rothrock, who can deliver a lethal pass into the box.
The question for the Sounders will be the right side of the attack. Jesus Ferreira and Paul Arriola are both injured. Against Cincinnati, Schmetzer started Edson Carli with Kolani Kossi-Reizini behind. Sebastian Gomez has also filled in on the right side
With Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan available for limited minutes, who will Schmetzer push up to the right wingback position? The bigger question might be how he will fill in the right flank. To have a balanced attack, the Sounders will need someone to get into the space behind the opposing defenders, which spreads the backline and creates space for Joveljic and an on-running Albert Rusnack and Cristian Roldan when healthy.
CREATIVE FLOWING
The key to the Sounders regaining their scoring touch will be free-flowing soccer with lethal execution. The free-flowing soccer will come as a result of off-ball runs, triangles for each ball carrier, and quick forward passes. The lethal execution will come from players, not overthinking shots. Decisive yes; overthinking is not an option.
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