Tactics and Trends: Lodeiro’s mighty midfield

Nicolas Lodeiro is without question one of the Seattle Sounders most important players. Since making his debut in the summer of 2016, he’s led the team to an MLS Cup, a Western Conference Championship, and an MLS record for most consecutive matches won in regulation during a single season. Along the way, he’s notched 19 goals and 32 assists in 71 matches—not bad for a player who may be even more important in build up play than he is in delivering the final product.

But while the Uruguayan playmaker has produced fairly consistently with the rave green, never going more than five matches without a goal or an assist, the team as a whole hasn’t always clicked with him in the line-up. Early…