Team Focus: Attacking onus on Dempsey in New Look Sounders midfield

When the Seattle Sounders signed Clint Dempsey for a league-record fee they made a very clear statement of intent. The league’s biggest club now had the league’s biggest player and only the league’s biggest prize will validate the season. Anything short of winning the MLS Cup will be regarded as failure for head coach Sigi Schmid.

At first Dempsey energized the franchise. The Sounders embarked on a seven game unbeaten streak, rising to the top of the Western Conference and putting their name in the hat for the Supporters’ Shield.

However, Dempsey’s influence during this run was merely psychological. In fact, the US international started just three of those seven games; with Dempsey in the side Seattle looked unbalanced and unsure of their sporting identity.

But after a truly atrocious run of form that saw Schmid’s side lose four successive league games, including crushing 5-1 and 4-1 defeats to the Colorado Rapids and the Vancouver Whitecaps respectively, the Sounders have found their stride again.

Last week’s 1-1 draw with defending champions the Los Angeles Galaxy represented a significant improvement from the Sounders but Wednesday’s straightforward 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids, securing their place in the West semi-finals, offered a glimpse of how Seattle are adapting to life with Dempsey.

Dempsey was bought for a record fee as a talisman, but despite his initial influence on the aforementioned recent unbeaten run, ‘Deuce’ had yet to prove his worth on the field. However, against the Rapids he came to the fore.

He thrived in the midfield diamond formation, supported by grafters Adam Moffat, Osvaldo Alonso and Brad Evans.

By using a narrow midfield four to control and dictate the pace of the contest against the Rapids the Sounders required energy and willingness from their fullbacks to provide width. The system gave Dempsey more control through the middle, allowing him to pick up his first assist as a Seattle player.

Of course, Dempsey will come up against a higher level of opposition on Saturday and Timbers coach Caleb Porter will likely brief midfielders Will Johnson and Diego Chara on how to deal with the former Spurs and Fulham star. Dempsey won’t be afforded the same time and space against a more organised and efficient side like Portland.

The loss of Obafemi Martins to injury has had an impact on the Sounders’ potency in front of goal, with Dempsey’s thus far failing to pick up the Nigerian’s slack.

With Martins in the side Seattle boast a win percentage of 52.9% compared to just 38.9% without the former Newcastle striker in the team. His presence has a direct effect on the Sounders’ goal tally, with Seattle scoring an average of just 1.11 goals per game without him, compared to 1.41 with him.

However, Schmid had to make do without Martins for the game against Colorado but with Eddie Johnson returning to the team the Sounders retained an attacking threat. Seattle produced 14 attempts on the Rapids goal, with four of those on target (giving them a 50% on-target conversion rate).

Though it was in defence where the biggest improvement can be noted against the Rapids. The Sounders allow an average of 13 shots on goal per season, but on Wednesday they only conceded seven. The new-look midfield was a factor.

The Sounders’ modest resurgence has coincided with the integration of new signing Adam Moffat into the midfield. The decision to trade Servando Carrasco for the Scotsman (and a trade pick) was initially scrutinised by outsiders but Moffat, alongside Osvaldo Alonso, has since provided a sturdy platform for the team’s attacking talent.

Moffat’s capacity to break up opposition attacks and recycle possession is reflected in his statistics, averaging 1.3 tackles per game as well as 1.5 interceptions per game for the season. With Alonso as his midfield partner the Sounders have a central duo to match that of the Timbers’.

Teething problems are still evident, with Seattle failing to find the net in two of their last four games with Dempsey in the team. But Schmid might finally have found a system that makes best use of the exceptional talent he has within his roster.

Dempsey and Seattle face the Portland Timbers in the most important Cascadia derby in MLS history on Saturday and while their walk to the MLS Cup might resemble more of a stagger than a swagger, for the time-being the Sounders are at least moving in the right direction.