With the news breaking that U.S. Men’s National Team star and Tottenham Hotspur striker Clint Dempsey has moved to the MLS’s Seattle Sounders, the main focus of the move is what it will do for the MLS as a whole. It’s time to look at what the move will do for the Seattle Sounders and their future in the MLS.
The Sounders sit at seventh in the Western Conference which is two places behind a berth in the MLS playoffs. They need to make it to the playoffs so they can get one of the places in the CONCACAF Champions League that is awarded to the two finalists of the MLS Cup.
Why is this a necessity? Because with Dempsey’s addition, the Sounders now have the best offense of any club in the CONCACAF region and possibly even South America (CONMEBOL). They could have a legitimate chance at winning next season.
The Seattle midfielders and forwards include Brad Evans, Eddie Johnson, Obafemi Martins, Lamar Neagle and Mauro Rosales, who have all been rather disappointing this year. Dempsey increases the offensive firepower that the Sounders possess and will bring with him a confidence that helps force the rest of the team into playing up to his level.
There may not be a team in the Western Hemisphere that boasts an offense this strong anymore.
The Sounders immediately go from a disappointment in 2013 to the favorites to win the MLS Cup. Seattle could turn Dempsey’s arrival into wins for years down the road.
The rest of the MLS now has to start bringing in players of higher caliber to compete with Seattle, the Los Angeles Galaxy and other powerhouse, superstar studded teams. It doesn’t matter if Seattle continues to disappoint after such high expectations to begin the season; by bringing in Dempsey, they force the MLS to increase its already increasing talent level even faster.
Seattle made its big move; it’s time for the rest of the MLS to make theirs.
Taylor Sturm is an SEC Basketball Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS or add him to your network on Google.
