Ahead of the Seattle Sounders’ match against the LA Galaxy at StubHub Center on Sunday (1 p.m. PT; ESPN, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360AM), SoundersFC.com caught up with ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman, who will be announcing the game alongside Adrian Healey. [NOTE: This interview has been edited for clarity.]
SOUNDERSFC.COM: Both teams have gotten off to a rather slow start in 2017. How do you think each can turn it around?
TWELLMAN: LA is in a bit of a transition period and have been hurt with injuries, but they are also a team that I find lacks a real identity because of the turnover of their roster. Joao Pedro has had a difficult time adjusting to MLS and his relationship with Jermaine Jones needs to improve to give the midfield some stability and cohesion.
Seattle looks at times like they did last year struggling to get all of their attacking pieces on the same page. Brian Schmetzer has his work cut out a bit finding what the best rotation and spots are for his attackers, in particular Jordan Morris. He played wide and had success in the playoffs while Seattle enjoyed playing off Nelson Valdez as a target forward.
SOUNDERSFC.COM: What have you made of Clint Dempsey’s return to competitive action so far, and how can he be a threat to this LA back line?
TWELLMAN: As crazy as it sounds after scoring a hat trick versus Honduras, I still think Clint is getting match fitness back because at his age people forget that the week-in and week-out grind of things along with the turf will still have an impact on his body. In saying that, versus LA it’s the surrounding pieces that I feel could really hurt LA. Remember Morris’ goal last year, and Nicolas Lodeiro’s movement could be a real handful versus Pedro and Jones.
SOUNDERSFC.COM: Lodeiro and Dempsey essentially play the same position and at times step on each other’s toes in the attack. How can Seattle maximize each’s impressive skill set and have them complement each other?
TWELLMAN: That is the No. 1 question for Schmetzer and one I brought up consistently in the playoffs that when Dempsey comes back, how will this all come together? Lodeiro has to be the focal point of the Sounders’ attack with the other pieces supplementing him going forward. If he is uncomfortable, which I think at times he has been, then the rhythm and flow to the attack won’t be what it was in the playoffs and late in the year.
SOUNDERSFC.COM: For Sunday’s match, what is the biggest key for each team to earn three points?
TWELLMAN: For LA, will Giovani dos Santos show and lead this team the way LA has hoped for since Robbie Keane’s departure? And for Seattle, can its attack be in sync and really pressure an LA backline that is very unsure of themselves at the moment?
