MLS Flavors of the week: 2019 Edition

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by Sombrerito, Dec 20, 2018.

  1. 50/50 Ball

    50/50 Ball Member+

    Sep 6, 2006
    USA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    edcrocker, RalleeMonkey and Winoman repped this.
  2. 50/50 Ball

    50/50 Ball Member+

    Sep 6, 2006
    USA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Dr.Phil repped this.
  3. thedukeofsoccer

    thedukeofsoccer Member+

    Jul 11, 2004
    Wussconsin
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's interesting both systems are championing Roldan for duels/possession won. I think that's partially because it's a volume stat and Roldan is an ironman. Also, it conflates headers with wins on the ground.

    Roldan has been a sub-par ball-winner on the ground for the NT and from the eye test that's translated from being mediocre in that area for his club team as well, after it was previously a strength. Total tackles and interceptions per 90 Roldan is really far down the list, over twice as low of an average the elites in the dept, per WhoScored's tallies.

    Whereas aerially he rates as pretty good. 1.4 won per game, as opposed to 0.9 lost.

    He needs to dial back up his ground winning to near 2016-2018 levels w/ club and country if he's going to be a regular 8 for the latter. He's more a pretty good not great offensive option there now, as that's where still posting a solid rating overall comes from. But #1 priority for the 8 w/ the NT is ball winning/coverage, imo.

    He's been productive and rated well as a winger this season, and his two best competitive games as a national teamer, v. Mexico and Jamaica, were at the position, even though he's not a traditional creator.

    So I think he's worthy of a roster spot ATM, but as a utility, situational, emergency option, until at least old attributes return, if they are still there.
     
    50/50 Ball and largegarlic repped this.
  4. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
  5. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    50/50 Ball and butters59 repped this.
  6. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
  7. Excellency

    Excellency Member+

    LA Galaxy
    United States
    Nov 4, 2011
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Roldan is playing the game Egg wants.
     
  8. thedukeofsoccer

    thedukeofsoccer Member+

    Jul 11, 2004
    Wussconsin
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Is he playing the game Schmetzer wanted, and did he want a different style the previous few seasons?

    Gregg asking his 8's to cover the responsibilities of 2 positions is a mitigating factor, but still doesn't explain some of the issues, and it's also an excuse for Wes then.
     
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  9. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
  10. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    The second one I posted -- the dynamic table -- is updated through 10/6.
     
    butters59 repped this.
  11. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    US-Eligible WS Team of the Week 31(Oct 2-Oct 8)

    -----------------Ramirez(9.0)MOTM------Sapong(7.9)3rd----
    --------------------Ferreira(8.6)3rd------Arriola(7.4)4th---
    ------------------Nagbe(7.8)3rd---------Servania(8.1)6th----
    ----Villafana(7.4)5th---------------------------------------Blackmon(8.2)3rd
    -----------------Hedges(8.2)5th--------OGonzalez(7.5)2nd----
    --------------------------------Rimando(8.1)2nd--------

    Team of the Week: Ramirez Ferreira Blackmon Hedges
    U23-eligible Team of the Week: Ferreira Servania Glad

    GK: Turner(7.2)1st SJohnson(7.1)4th JGonzalez(7.1)10th Miller(7.0)5th Clark(7.0)7th
    LB: Toia(7.4)4th Hollingshead(7.3)9th Gasper(7.0)4th Morrow(7.0)7th
    CB: Hagglund(7.4)2nd Opara(7.3)2nd Birnbaum(7.3)5th Farrell(7.0)2nd Glad(7.0)7th
    RB: Canouse(7.4)3rd Rosenberry(7.0)3rd
    LM: Baird(7.2)6th CM: Bronico(7.0)8th Kljestan(7.1)4th McCarty(7.0)7th
    AM: Delgado(7.3)3rd FW: Rodriguez(7.0)5th
     
  12. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
    Thanks. Great data. How come the most important G+A isn't there? Or I just missed it?
     
  13. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    There's xG+xA but no G+A. You can write and ask them. :)

    Or download it and add the G and A columns!
     
  14. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
    This is really strange, as everyone knows what G+A means and, actually xG+xA means nothing, as positive xG is overachieving and positive xA is underachieving!
     
  15. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Lost in all of the hullabaloo about Paxton Pomykal's contract extension was the news that young USMNT centerback Miles Robinson also signed a contract extension yesterday. The deal reportedly takes him thru the 2023 season.
     
    Eleven Bravo repped this.
  16. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    Almost no players have looked effective under Berhalter.

    Ramirez is making a nice impression in Houston. Too bad consistency has been such an issue with this guy.

    Sapong had 7 goals in his 11 starts at striker.

    Ferreira has had a strong finish to the regular season. Looking forward to seeing him and the FCD players in the playoffs.

    Servania. Since coming back from from the World Cup, he has locked down a starting spot. Wonder if Tab regrets starting Durkin over him in the Quarters.

    Arriola looks to have solidified his spot at a-mid. Has been strongest when played centrally or on the right. Naturally, Berhalter plays him on the left.

    Rimando: going out on top.

    Delgado, playing the 8/10 role, has had strong finish to the season.

    Canouse continues to snack on opposition left-mids. Joe Gyau was this weak's victim.
     
    RalleeMonkey repped this.
  17. Eleven Bravo

    Eleven Bravo Member+

    Atlanta United
    United States
    Jul 3, 2004
    SC
    Club:
    Atlanta Silverbacks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I’ve watched Miles a lot this season, and in truth, he’s a bit overhyped. He’s quick, he’s mobile, he’s decent in the air, he can make highlight reel tackles, and he can pass okay out of the back, but his positioning is absolutely garbage. He’s routinely caught out of position. Maybe this gets better with experience. And I can say, I’m glad to have him as an Atlanta player, but I don’t see where he’s ready for that next level and I think the international stage is too big for him, at least at the moment.
     
  18. Pegasus

    Pegasus Member+

    Apr 20, 1999
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Maybe we're drawing the wrong conclusions. Perhaps Roldan is exactly the same player but the league gets a little better every year so what stood out 3-4 years ago is now average.
     
  19. thedukeofsoccer

    thedukeofsoccer Member+

    Jul 11, 2004
    Wussconsin
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #2669 thedukeofsoccer, Oct 10, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2019
    We're talking 2 seasons ago where he led MLS in tackles won, and last season he had a significantly better ball-winning rate at a position worse for it. So while I think the league gets better rapidly, it's not nearly to that magical of a degree, and I notice an opponent independent dip in his mobility + tenacity. Internationally he has his issues w/ the Guyanans of the fb world.

    BTW, in terms of his creativity he's gotten better, so if the league improved so much, shouldn't he have taken a hit in that area too? He still rates well overall, mostly compensating from offensive fortification.
     
  20. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    Roldan was only 76th in minutes played, so his ball-winning was not based on having played more minutes than everyone else.

    The number of tackles a player makes is contextual, depending on game states and a team's playing style, in addition to ability.

    Most of the US, including Steffen, Pulisic, and McKennie, have looked mediocre under Berhalter.

     
  21. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    #2671 IndividualEleven, Oct 10, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2019
    And if a mid is reading the game better he will get to the ball earlier and thus need fewer tackles.

    Opta definition of Duel:
    A duel is an 50-50 contest between two players of opposing sides in the match. For every Duel Won there is a corresponding Duel Lost depending on the outcome of the Duel.

    Winning duels is a core part of 'ball winning'. Tackling is another component. Roldan is one the leading ball winners in the league.
     
  22. RalleeMonkey

    RalleeMonkey Member+

    Aug 30, 2004
    here
    #2672 RalleeMonkey, Oct 10, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2019
    I'd like to see Corona get a look in. And, Sapong.

    Oh, and more than that, it sure seems like Villafana would fit the EGG's "Attacking-fullback" role.
     
  23. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Made me chuckle...………..
     
    OWN(yewu)ED, 50/50 Ball and RalleeMonkey repped this.
  24. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    #2674 IndividualEleven, Oct 10, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2019
    WS US-eligible MLS Team of the Year
    Minimum of 10 starts at the position
    Player_WS avg for the position(rank at the position/total number of players at the position)
    Example: Lletget averaged 7.1 at CM. Of the 45 players who had at least 10 starts at CM, Lletget had the 8th highest CM average)


    ---------------Altidore_7.3(6/35)-----Sapong_7.3(7/35)-------
    ----------------------------Pomykal_7.3(6/20)
    -------------Lletget_7.1(8/45)-----------Nagbe_7.1(10/45)-----
    -----------------------------Roldan_7.1(5/35)----------
    -----Hollingshead_7.3(1/29)------------------------Herrera_7.0(5/28)-----
    ---------------Robinson_7.1(4/72)-----Opara_7.1(2/72)-----
    ------------------------------Turner_7.1(2/28)-----------
     
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  25. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    Altidore has always been a top MLS forward.

    Sapong was excellent in the Portugal match. He is now back to his best as a striker. I like the emerging talent at forward, but Sapong could still use a few caps.

    Nagbe. Strongest season in some years. It's a contract year for him. Let's see how he does once he gets a new deal. Will he be interested in the NT, then? Will we interested in him?

    Pomykal: hit a bit of a wall, but had strong season. His new contract means he'll be available for Olympic Qualifying.

    Lletget: versatile and strong, prime-age performer at MLS level. Looks to be solid Concacaf mid.

    Roldan: continues go from strength to strength. Put up big numbers in ball winning and passing.

    Hollingshead: passing went from weakness to a strength. Outstanding on both sides of the ball. Has the size, athleticism, and ball skills to play LB the way 3G wants it played. No idea why he hasn't been called up.

    Herrera: standout season for RSL. Looks to be strong on both sides of the ball. Can also play LB. Should feature in Olympic qualifying.

    Opara: the best generally fit CB in the pool. Was the best player in his one recent cap. But age and league profile will probably limit his NT outlook.

    Robinson: monster first season as a starter. Monster physical tools with multiple player citing his 1v1 defending. If the only weakness, folks are harping is positioning then the future should be bright for him. Should be a starter in Olympic Qualifying.
     
    edcrocker, dlokteff, Mahtzo1 and 2 others repped this.

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