Jaqua getting time in Seattle midfield
Move in lineup gives Sounders FC another offensive threat
"It's definitely an adjustment because since I haven't played there in a while, but it's something I played a little earlier in my career with Chicago and L.A.," Jaqua said. "It's a different type of role, but you're facing the field a little bit more so it's a little bit easier than playing with your back to goal."
Jaqua's size (6-foot-4, 205 lbs.) makes him a prototypical target forward, someone the team can use as an outlet to hold the ball when they are in trouble. But in actual fact, the much smaller Fredy Montero has performed admirably in similar situations, using his superb balance and physical awareness to shield defenders.
Montero's ability to hold the ball frees Jaqua up to play in midfield, where he made a name for himself with the Chicago Fire. After playing sparingly early in his career, Jaqua's fortunes soon improved when he moved to right midfield, earning the Oregon native an MLS All-Star berth in 2006. In the previous season, despite losing 13 games to injury, Jaqua posted seven goals in his breakout season.
The right midfield spot has been a revolving door, with Sanna Nyassi, Roger Levesque, Freddie Ljungberg, Sebastien Le Toux and Brad Evans all earning starts there. Jaqua's versatility allows Seattle coach Sigi Schmid another offensive threat on the field as Sounders FC look to find the scoring touch to complement its stingy defense.
According to Schmid, it was actually Jaqua who initiated the conversation about the move to midfield.
"He came up to me and asked if he should think about playing wide right a little bit more," Schmid said. "I said that you will probably play wide right a little bit more. And he says 'OK, I just wanted to set it in my mind.'"
If Seattle is to regain the scoring touch it showed earlier in the season, Jaqua would figure to be a crucial component. Occasionally, he has been sublime -- his volley off a Freddie Ljungberg pass against the Columbus Crew earned Goal of the Week honors, giving fans a glimpse of his potential. Seattle managed to earn an away win in the return fixture with Jaqua serving a yellow card suspension, but the University of Portland graduate should figure in the lineup again as Seattle travels to Kansas City this weekend.
By himself, Jaqua has posted seven goals and seven assists. Those are not insignificant numbers for a striker, but the frequency of his miscues in front of the net have some believing he could have doubled his production. At times his work rate is astonishing, fighting through fatigue in matches where Montero has long since been on the bench. At other times, though, he appears a step off the pace and has had a minimal impact.
In either case, Jaqua has been one of the most reliable field players for Seattle and is among the team leaders in minutes played.
When Seattle scored seven goals in its first three games, Jaqua was in the thick of the action. With the playoff race closing in, only time will tell if the Jaqua-at-midfield experiment holds the key to unlocking the scoring potential Seattle showed earlier in the season.
"Nate's going to want to see the team succeed and he is going to want to do what is best for the team," Schmid said.
Andrew Winner is a contributor to MLSnet.com
