Seattle Sounders: 5 Questions for the 2017 Season

1) Can Nicolas Lodeiro challenge for MLS MVP?

Lodeiro’s impact was evident, from the first time he put on a Sounders’ jersey. He helped turn around a season which seemed all but lost, contributing four goals and eight assists in just 13 games.

Once the Rave Green were in the playoffs, the 27-year old proved his ability to turn it on when the pressure was highest. When it was all said and done, his four goals took him to the top of the franchise postseason scoring charts.

Now, questions turn to Lodeiro’s ability to perform consistently for an entire season. In the interest of speculation, if you prorate his tallies over the course of 34 games, he would have finished with 14 goals and 14 assists.

With a continuation of that type of form, you can definitely envision the Uruguayan contending for MLS MVP, although a certain Sebastian Giovinco will likely be his biggest challenger. Consider that the Italian finished the 2016 season with 32 combined goals and assists (17 & 15), in just 28 games.

Ultimately though, if Lodeiro does manage to replicate his productivity over the course of a full season, the Sounders will once again be in contention. At that point, you would be able to consider it a given, that he will have a chance to be named MVP.