Seattle just landed Serbian striker Dejan Joveljić from Sporting Kansas City, and let me tell you, this guy has been a goal machine, racking up 70 all-competition goals over 5.5 seasons in MLS. He’s been among the league’s most productive strikers, period. But get this: despite bagging 18 goals last season for a truly abysmal Sporting KC team, one of the most respected advanced metrics, American Soccer Analysis’ goals added (g+), slapped him with the worst season rating in MLS history. Seriously, the worst! So, what the heck are we supposed to make of our newest Designated Player, and is he the real deal for our Sounders?
Goals, Goals, Goals… and Then THAT Stat
This is the kind of wild data clash that makes you scratch your head harder than a Seattle seagull at a fish market. On one side, you have pure, unadulterated goal production. Joveljić’s counting stats and expected goals numbers scream “fantastic striker.” He puts the ball in the net, plain and simple. We’re talking 18 goals for a team that, let’s be honest, probably shouldn’t have had 18 goals from anyone. That’s pure grit, pure skill. On the other side, you’ve got these advanced possession models, like g+ and Futi, painting a totally different picture. They make him look like a total dud, especially that “worst season ever” tag. The truth is, Joveljić isn’t the worst player in MLS history; he’s actually pretty good! This contradiction gives us a golden opportunity to figure out what’s signal and what’s just plain noise in these fancy models, and how our Sounders can best use him.
The Team Game Problem With ‘Individual’ Stats
So, what gives with these numbers? Both g+ and Futi use these complex possession-value models. They track practically every action a player makes, from passing to dribbling to tackling, and then measure how much those actions increase or decrease the team’s chances of scoring or giving up a goal. They basically see the game as a bunch of players trying to move the ball from dangerous spots to scoring zones. Super useful for evaluating entire teams, for sure. But here’s the kicker, and this is where the “noise” comes in: these models rate *individual* players. And soccer, my friends, is an intensely team-driven game. You cannot completely separate a player’s performance from their teammates. That 2025 Sporting KC squad Joveljić played for? According to goals added differential, it was among the worst in league history. It’s impossible for *any* player, even a prolific striker, to look great in a vacuum when their entire team is struggling that badly. Remember, he wasn’t always a g+ outcast either, putting up respectable numbers during his title-winning run with the LA Galaxy just the year before that rough 2025 season. We need to remember that context when we look at these deep stats.
This deep dive into the numbers isn’t just a mental exercise; it’s a crucial insight for how the Sounders should optimize our new Designated Player. Joveljić is clearly a proven goal-scorer who can produce even on a terrible team. The Sounders just need to understand *why* the advanced metrics look so wonky and then play him in a system that highlights his strengths. Get ready, Emerald City, because we just signed a striker who can score, and he’s going to light up Lumen Field. Let’s get him integrated and watch those goals fly!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Sounder at Heart.
Leave a Reply