Getty Images Eddie Johnson was always a player who needed to feel comfortable in his surroundings. He was always a tough kid on the field, which is why a lot of coaches liked him. As a target player, Johnson was willing to stand in and take the punishment.
But he needed to feel needed. Going way back to his days in Dallas, then later in Kansas City, Johnson was at his best when he felt wanted, when things around the locker room were just so. Some of that was about his age. Johnson was only 23 years old when he shipped out for England in 2008 – still a relatively young man.
(Also don’t forget that he personally nixed a $6 million move to Derby County prior to the move into West London; that one, apparently, didn’t feel right.)
The point is, Johnson is a better player when he can feel good about the situation around him. So, perhaps his goal Saturday for the Sounders is a harbinger of good things ahead, a sign that he’s feeling settled in Seattle. The former U.S. international had the game-winner as Seattle downed Chicago at windy and chilly Toyota Park, 2-1.
Even if it wasn’t the prettiest (a poacher’s goal) it was surely meaningful, one of the few Johnson has hit in top tier soccer since he struck his last strike for the Kansas City Wizards in 2007.
Cardiff City was in the second tier when he scored twice for them back in the 2008-09 season. Johnson hit five times for Aris in Greece in 2010, but never found goal in 16 matches for Preston North End in 2011.
Here are highlights from last night’s road win for the Sounders. You’ll see Johnson set up the first Sounders’ goal, and later a rare goal directly off a corner kick.
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- philneezy - Apr 29, 2012 at 5:46 PM
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It is just one goal, Steve.
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- Steve Davis - Apr 29, 2012 at 7:37 PM
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Well, you’re right … but that’s why the “Is he .. ?” and not “He’s got his groove back!” Still, it’s more than he ever scored for Fulham!
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- philneezy - Apr 29, 2012 at 7:59 PM
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But he did score a couple with Aris and Cardiff, right?
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- footballer4ever - Apr 29, 2012 at 10:47 PM
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I wish Eddie Johnson not only to get back in form with the SSFC, but i hope at one point or another he gets back into the Men’s National football team by his own merits.
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- steakknives - Apr 30, 2012 at 9:08 AM
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id like a return to the national team as well. I have a 2006 USMNT home shirt with 9 and Johnson on the back collecting dust in the closet.
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- sluggo271 - Apr 30, 2012 at 9:20 AM
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Haha, if he found his goal scoring….that can’t possibly be good for MLS! But whatever floats your boat I guess….
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- footballer4ever - Apr 30, 2012 at 10:17 AM
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@ sluggo271- Humor or sarcasm posts are not effective in the cyberworld unless you express clearly or simply you meant to post a meaningless message.
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- crossmlk - Apr 30, 2012 at 1:05 PM
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When Johnson was here in Kansas City he was purely a speed player with very little in the way of ball skills. At that point in time in MLS that was enough to be effective in the league.
What I’ve seen of him so far with Seattle (admittedly a very small sample size) he appears to have significantly better ball skills. Might be a survive or die carryover from his time in Europe. What we never saw in Kansas City was consistancy. If he can develop that in Seattle he could become an effective MLS forward.
