John Malkovich said it best in the movie Rounders, “pay that man his money,” regarding the question surrounding Eddie Johnson and the Seattle Sounders, making him a designated player. The Sounder’s forward time and time again has proven to be a deciding factor and crucial cog in Seattle’s attacking line. The tall American forward leads the Sounder’s scoring list with only eight goals. Although Johnson’s tally is miniscule to Montreal’s Marco di Vaio who sits on 18 goals, but Eddie has a tendency to hit his goals on the pivotal games. Saturday night in Carson California was no different for the Seattle number seven.

Saturday evening at Stub Hub was the venue many were hoping to see the duel of American soccer heroes, Landon Donovan against Clint Dempsey. Instead many saw another light, the illuminating play from Eddie Johnson soon overshadowed the lack of Landon and Clint. Johnson’s fitness is at a high point in which makes it a nuisance for a defender to muscle him off the ball as the Los Angeles Galaxy found. Another aspect to Eddie’s game has been his aerial presence on set pieces. In fact the deadlock Saturday night was broken from a corner in the 25^th minute. Eddie Johnson was able to lose his mark (Omar Gonzalez another DP player) in the box, rise up to the ball and send his header into the bottom of the near post.

As questions rise on the contract for Eddie Johnson, if it should be extended, should he become a designated player? Ej is not only a physical player, an aerial threat, but he also is intelligent on the pitch. Johnson’s knowledge of the run of play on the field and at set pieces led to his goal on Saturday night, his ability to beat an opponent to the ball in the air was proof as he was able to beat Omar Gonzalez for the Sounder’s goal. As opposed to some people here at World Football Daily, who thinks, “The sounders are soft,” there lies a player in Seattle who is far from soft. Eddie Johnson depicts the perfect match of fitness and intelligence, both home and away, and will be a massive threat to the other teams going into the coming MLS play-offs. 

 

Photography credit to Angelica Orozco