Emergence of Cristian Roldan a key part of recent Sounders success

As most fans of Major League Soccer will tell you, the MLS SuperDraft is at its best a helpful way to find future talent and at its worst a pointless exercise in futility meant to provide the illusion of parity. It’s an attempt to Americanize soccer with a familiar event and balance the college system that doesn’t exist in any other professional-soccer-playing country in the world.

Outside of the first overall pick and a handful of rare gems, most SuperDraft players get cut or flounder on reserve teams. But in 2015, the Sounders did everything in their power to get a kid out of the University of Washington named Cristian Roldan. He was impressive in college, sure, but at the time he just seemed like another solid draft pick.

Davis: Clint Dempsey scores a pair for Sounders in epic 3-1 victory over Timbers

Roldan’s first season in Seattle was one of ups and downs, as expected. He put in some solid shifts for S2 – the Sounders’ USL team – but injuries and other setbacks expedited Roldan’s first start for the first team quite early in the season, in a road match at FC Dallas. But overall, Roldan had a fairly average 2015, doing well when called upon in his 11 starts and 14 substitute appearances for the Sounders. The young midfielder didn’t stand out, for the most part, but it was clear that Roldan was a hard worker and still a ways off realizing his potential in the MLS.

Fast forward to August 2016 and Roldan has not only shown himself to be a solid pick but an absolute steal. Former Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid started playing Roldan in a deeper midfield position on a regular basis, pairing him with Osvaldo Alonso in place of oft-injured Erik Friberg. Roldan had played in a more attacking, creative role in college (often referred to as a “No. 10”), but Schmid placed him with Alonso to help him develop more into a holding midfield role (or a “No. 6”). This is where Roldan has flourished, especially operating in a two-man midfield pivot in new head coach Brian Schmetzer’s 4-2-3-1 scheme.

Since Schmetzer’s renaissance started in Seattle, Roldan has been a sensation. In the Sounders’ 1-1 draw with Los Angeles, days after Schmetzer took over and Nicolas Lodeiro arrived, Roldan scored his team’s only goal with a thumping shot from outside the box. He’s earned two penalties for his team in the last two games. The way that Seattle now plays has allowed him to roam forward when the team pushes with numbers. In the Sounders’ 3-1 win over Portland on Sunday, Roldan also assisted Clint Dempsey’s first goal (I’m of the notion that earning a penalty should count as an assist, but let’s not get into that) and, more remarkably, scored a goal for himself. Not only was it a goal, but he scored with his head from a corner (which was flicked toward him by Brad Evans) despite being around 5 foot 7.

Prior to the last month or so of matches, there was a fairly big debate as to whether or not Friberg should return to the starting lineup when he was fit. But Roldan’s form has been far better than Friberg’s has all season, and he should be selected ahead of the veteran Swede on the depth chart. Friberg is a good player, though kind of a “master of none” in that he’s slightly above average at a lot of things on the pitch but doesn’t seem to excel in any specific position. Roldan has shown himself to be a better tackler, a better passer, more threatening in the attack with his speed and technique, and more dangerous in front of goal than Friberg.

The chemistry that’s developed between Roldan and Alonso has been key, too. Seattle’s midfield pivot needs both players to clearly understand their roles and know when to support the attack or stay back in defense. Roldan, as of late, is better at pushing forward and making late runs into the box as well as counterattacking with speed. But he’s also able to play an Alonso-like role if the latter has pushed forward or is caught out of position in some way. They’re the perfect foils for each other, and they’ve made Seattle’s midfield one of the league’s strongest in recent weeks.

Schmetzer might be making some lineup adjustments against Houston on Wednesday since the Sounders have to travel back to the Northwest for a rematch against Portland on Sunday. So Wednesday’s lineup is anyone’s guess. But I can almost guarantee that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Roldan will be on Schmetzer’s team sheet against the Timbers this weekend.

Spenser Davis also covers the Sounders for Sounder at Heart.