As the 2021 USL Playoffs wrapped up, I was vocal about my man of the tournament: Eric Calvillo of title-winning Orange County. Sure, Damus brought the goals and Rakovsky anchored the team in the net, but Calvillo's contributions as the #10 in a 4-2-3-1 system were invaluable. Sitting in front of the pivot, he tracked back with aplomb and fronted a defensive core that conceded just three goals in the team's final nine games. At times, he could also press up as an aggressive second striker. More crucially, Calvillo drove buildup play from the back. He connected with teammates out wide or chose to carry the ball himself, and it revolutionized the OCSC attack.
So, to sum up, what makes the Salvadoran international so special? For me, it's that complete set of ball skills in combination with his efficient defensive contributions. Calvillo can control tempo in possession, drive rapid counters at his feet, or create in the final third. He'll put in a decent tackle as well, though you would never mistake him for a true holding player.
With that in mind, we should consider the midfield mix for the El Paso Locomotive, his new side. New manager John Hutchinson, in the tape I reviewed from his old Seattle sides, favored a high-possession, low-pace style within a 4-2-3-1. There's typically a ball-recycling pivot pair supporting a deep-seated #10; that latter role requires a player with vision who can find wingers in the channels and fullbacks on the overlap. Before the Calvillo signing and with that in mind, this is how I saw El Paso lining up:
There's a clear delineation of roles here. Richie Ryan serves as the ball-recycling, pace-tempering deep presence. Sebastian Velasquez also sits deep; here, he can thread passes or come low to carry the ball forward, but there are defensive questions to be certain. Chapa Herrera likely plays here too as a substitute. Meanwhile, Dylan Mares fits like a glove as that incisive creator in the hole, supported (and occasionally spelled) by Diego Luna.
This blend of midfield skillsets led El Paso to the top seed in the Western Conference last year. Nonetheless, Mark Lowry, using a different geometry but similarly possessive philosophy, saw his side crash in the first round of the playoffs. The opposing Oakland Roots sat deep and stifled counteracts, keeping just enough possession off long balls to addle the Locomotive. This forward holdup by Quincy Amarikwa was only successful because El Paso lacked a destroyer in front of the back line. Amarikwa and substitute Jeremy Bokila dominated in the realm of the Locomotive pivot; my takeaway was that if El Paso needed an addition in the middle, it was a true destroyer.
Where does that leave me with Calvillo and the El Paso system for next season? To put it simply, I'm skeptical on the fit. The Salvadoran’s signature skills are already covered by the Ryan/Velasquez tandem. Say you start him over Velasquez. Even if he’s a better progressor and tackler than Velasquez, you’re stuck paying Velasquez a good bit of money to sit on the bench. Start him as a holder over Ryan, and you’re misapplying Calvillo’s best traits while losing the Irishman’s positional brilliance. The ex-OCSC man would also be the third or fourth choice in the mold of a line-breaking Hutchinson #10. I love Calvillo, and I love this El Paso midfield, but this move doesn’t elevate the Locomotive come playoff time.
Louisville City had another excellent season in 2021, winning the Central Division and coming tantalizingly close to a title game appearance, and Napo Matsoso was more important in this success than he’s been given credit for. A super sub and spot starter, Matsoso covered the left back spot, provided width on both the right and left, anchored the center as a defensive midfielder, and roved box-to-box as a #8. If a great striker is a sword that can cut right through you, Matsoso is a Swiss Army knife of the highest utility.
Let's start with those central contributions, which can be seen in the ensuing highlight reel.
The work rate and industry stick out here. Matsoso is a grinder, and an intelligent one at that. He puts in a top-third rate of defensive actions in the USL thanks to smart positioning and an endless motor. You don't get a ton of creation or verve from the player in these sots, but that's okay. #7 is a safe pair of hands who can cleanlt link more potent threats together.
Of course, Matsoso is equally adept as a winger or fullback. The second set of clips bears out the Mosotho's style in those areas.
The energy and drive that define Matsoso centrally are evident at the touchline as well. I'd argue that his eye for positioning is even more effective there. The Lesotho international has a killer sense for overlapping runs, and his defensive interventions are always targeted, clean, and considerate of risk. Higher up, he still isn't an overwhelming creator, but you come away struck by how solid he is. The runs are smart, the finishes come when they need to, and he just keeps you afloat in the final third with that patience on the ball. Louisville is a constant threat every single-year, and Matsoso's unsung consistency keeps them that way.
One more quick hit. When I tweeted out my praise for Memphis' addition of Aaron Molloy, a midfielder with USL experience in Portland and Madison, I referenced the decent midfield and attacking core that Ben Pirmann's team was putting together. The omission of praise for the defense drew some ire from a certain Northern Irish central defender, so I wanted to rectify that here. Let's check out some Niall Logue defensive highlights.
Like Molloy, Logue is a League One veteran and one of the strongest endorsements of the tier-to-tier progression between divisions. You get the sense for the player's strong defensive skills above, but I also love Logue's progressive passing. He was in the 80th percentile or better in terms of pass volume, long pass volume, and forward pass rate coming from FC Tucson in 2020, and he ranked in the 99th percentile in that latter category with Memphis in 2021. For a team that tries to drive forward in a speedy, no-nonsense manner while absorbing pressure on the counter, Logue is essential. I expect big things from him again this year.