Player Profile: Eddie Johnson

The story of Eddie Johnson is long. It is told in many places. It is also a story of character development in the literary sense. He rose, he fell, he rose again to greater heights. Is he at the climax? Maybe not, but this is the best Eddie Johnson ever.

In his revival Johnson worked his way back to the United States National Team, became a different type of player and put in the training ground work he once was reported to lack. There were still reports of locker room squabbles. His twitter account can be a retweet fest of those that adore him or want him on their team in England, but the fact of the matter is, on the field Johnson had one of the best single seasons of any MLS Sounder in this short history.

Skills on offense: EJ 2.0 is a target man that still has fancy foot skills. He does a vast majority of his work inside the penalty area getting as close to the net as possible. He can leap out of the building (to borrow from basketball talk), and is still both quick and fast. He also has the strength to body with the largest of centerbacks. His passing is more than adequate and can even be creative in tight spaces. In fact his passing and speed were good enough that he played at the left wing for the USA.

Skills on defense: He's fast and strong, but not a tackler. It just isn't part of his game. If there is low hanging fruit to improve in his current skill-set it would be defending set-pieces. But, like many classic target forwards defense is far from a strong point.

Best Case 2013: EJ just needs minor improvements and he should be the starter for the USMNT and again an All Star.