There are twenty-seven teams in the USL, they're all ranked here, and I have no creativity: thus, a column name was born. These are my mostly-weekly power rankings featuring write-ups and snide remarks on whichever clubs capture my sprit. If you want more, make sure to check out:
The USL Show, as always. We're live on Tuesdays at 9:00 Eastern and in your podcast queues shortly thereafter. The USL Tactics Show is there as well.
Backheeled, a site covering American soccer where I contribute on all things USL. Subscribe to the Weekly Recap, and submit questions for my Wednesday Q&A.
But without further ado...
Title Contenders
1.) SAN ANTONIO: With Carter Manley, Jordy Delem, Elliot Collier, and Justin Dhillon out, San Antonio gave Santiago Patino a start amidst an injury-riddled season, and the midfield took on a new aspect as well. The side initially struggled to get a foothold against the pristine Colorado Springs system, lacking direct counter outlets and offensive chemistry. As always, looks came from pressure and direct countering, and a goal against the run of play changed the game. It's all very San Antonio, isn't it? Ride things out through Taintor and that defense, nab a goal, and get a result.
I'm working toward my midseason Team of the Year, and it's borderline crazy how many San Antonio players have a shout. One name that hasn't received enough national recognition: Connor Maloney. He ranks in the 96th percentile for value-added by Goals Above Replacement (GAR), but his versatility, energy, and technique are every bit as crucial for his team.
2.) COLORADO SPRINGS: The Switchbacks immediately noted San Antonio's defensive approach in Friday's titanic matchup and attacked the weakness without a second thought. San Antonio's back three shifted to one flank to almost man mark Michee Ngalina and Malik Johnson. Thus, Colorado Springs planted Elvis Amoh and Hadji Barry on the weaker side and had them swap positions regularly to confuse the visitors. Pair that with clever Cam Lindley and Zach Zandi diagonal runs against the tilted defense, and you see why this team is lethal at exploiting the smallest flaws. Still, as with that semi-dry stretch in April, the Switchbacks couldn't quite convert early dominance into goals, and San Antonio clawed back in to assert a measure of control. This team was never going to be invincible, and the good moments still mean a lot, but the game seemed to indicate a duopoly at the top rather than ascendancy from either San Antonio or Colorado Springs.
3.) SACRAMENTO: Tuesday's Open Cup victory in Carson against the Galaxy was delightful. Mark Briggs stuck with his best defensive eleven and knew that Los Angeles lacked the offensive pace and incision to break down the Republic. The team wisely targeted Douglas Martinez in transition, as the opposition pushed their midfield and defensive lines up the pitch with the ball. Pair that smart beginning with Duke Lacroix's late entrance to stretch the Galaxy out, and you've got yourself a Cupset.
Zeiko Lewis and Nick Ross started a weekend rematch against Monterey in order to give Rodrigo Lopez a well-earned rest, but the Republic looked like they celebrated a bit too hard after the Galaxy game. The centerback trio made some wholly uncharacteristic mistakes, and the rebalanced midfield was bullied by Monterey, leading to numerous counter chances. Credit Briggs for adjusting. Maalique Foster snapped as a late substitute, using his pace and power to beat the rival side through the channels. Sometimes you just win ugly.
4.) TAMPA: Neill Collins took a novel approach away at Pittsburgh, pushing Sebastian Dalgaard (92nd percentile xG but 4th percentile defensive actions) high up the flank to address Alex Dixon. On the other side, Laurence Wyke served as Dalgaard's deeper-seated peer. The unbalanced gambit let Pittsburgh in behind on Wyke's flank thanks to unfamiliarity and resultantly bad spacing, but those moments didn't end up mattering. More importantly, the tactic challenged the opposing back three and let Leo Fernandes absolutely feast. With Dalgaard up, Tampa had a constant four-on-three edge, even as the 'Hounds half-heartedly tweaked their look. It's fun to see the continued innovation within this Rowdies side, and adding strategic weapons into the arsenal can only be productive come playoff time.
5.) LOUISVILLE: I've been impressed with the resilience from Louisville as of late amidst injuries, absences, and experimentation. Wes Charpie has performed admirably at right back, and I like what Ray Serrano gives you on that flank. While you'd prefer a healthy Manny Perez (80th percentile GAR, 85th percentile xA) and Charpie lacks a touch of pace, the bandage has held up. The system generally has done with same even with the fresh faces, and Danny Cruz has game-planned around the switches, as he did by adopting a double pivot of Tyler Gibson and Niall McCabe at Hartford. The Connecticut side feasts off of central creation, so adding more steel forced the opposition to constantly look long. It's that sort of measured innovation that constantly sets Louisville apart.
Playoff Locks
6.) BIRMINGHAM: How awesome was the Marlon-Jonathan Dean combination on the right in Albuquerque? Both players were smart enough to leverage space behind New Mexico's fullback with aplomb, varying over- and underlaps to buy space and create one-on-ones. Birmingham's offense has been way better in recent weeks because of dynamics like that and because their improved defense wins possession in more dangerous areas. They defended New Mexico in a flatter 4-4-2 with lower-seated wingers to counter high fullback play, illustrating the intelligence of Tommy Soehn yet again.
More and more, this team feels like a contender to me. I'm in love with the defense, and they've proven in recent weeks that they can hang with the big boys. The Louisville match will say a lot.
7.) MEMPHIS: Memphis took care of business midweek, and the new-look midfield was firing on all cylinders. Tulsa is a mess, but Lucas Turci was delightful again, this time operating as more of a number ten. His passing and movement are really smart. Sillily, I mentally invoke Stanley Tucci every time I hear Turci's (tur-CHEE) name. Leston Paul getting back into the squad was bigger yet. He's such a nice destroyer, and he makes things tick as a ball recycler alongside Aaron Molloy. The numbers don't rate the Trinidadian, but he's immense.
The Detroit game was a different challenge against a wholly more coherent side, one that targeted the Tennesseans with direct passing to establish a territorial monopoly in the Memphis half. Paul proved huge in stemming the tide and launching 901 FC into counters; his return is seriously big for Ben Pirmann's unit. This team leads the East for a reason, and I think they might just be in a title triad with Tampa and Louisville come season's end.
8.) EL PASO: New York has a penchant for playing teams tight by creating errors through their breakneck pressure, but the Locomotive had none of it. Richie Ryan had a masterful game destroying everything on the break, and Nick Hinds was hugely impactful popping up and down the left flank to beat the Baby Bulls. This felt like the balanced sort of midfield dominance you'd see with a Luna-powered corps of months past rather than an unfamiliar Velasquez-Calvillo-Ryan trio. Look at those names, though. There might not be a more talented group in the entire league, and that's not even including Dylan Mares.
I somehow convinced myself that El Paso might be in trouble amidst a bit of unexpected midseason turnover, but this team is rolling in the high-octane Hutchinson 4-3-3. How fun and telling is the July 9th Colorado Springs game going to be?
9.) SAN DIEGO: To say that San Diego ran rampant against Indy would be underselling it. The Eleven moved to a new defensive shape to try and counteract the Loyal's possessive 3-5-2ish system, and Landon Donovan's unit feasted. Their central defenders split wider than usual on the ball to accommodate low-placed midfielders, two choices that repeatedly granted two-on-one edges against Indy's wingers. Guido, Amang, and Vassell – finally, something like a first-choice attack – interchanged and drifted at will to get beyond Indy's undermanned pivot. The side's pace and technique didn't give the Eleven an inch to breathe, and San Diego quietly is one of eight teems in the black in terms of xG created and allowed over the whole year.
10.) NEW MEXICO: When New Mexico got looks against Birmingham, it came through iterative sequences of midfielders dropping low to overload the Legion press. Sam Hamilton would split into the half space next to the centerbacks, letting Chris Wehan move into Hamilton’s base position, and so on until the side can pass through their foe. Still, that sort of interchange-laden beauty was a rarity. New Mexico, a team that succeeds by building from the flanks then moving inside or by simply going direct, could do neither against Birmingham's compact shape.
I've bought into what Zach Prince is selling, but this was a wakeup call for sure, especially considering this team's middling xG numbers. New Mexico arguably doesn't play an elite opponent until August, and they likely run up their points total between now and then. Still, they're essentially identical to second-to-last Orange County by the advanced stats, and that's a warning side no matter how good Chris Wehan looks.
11.) DETROIT: Going into a tough away match at Memphis, Detroit took a very positive approach and expressly sought to win the territorial battle against a team that can pick you apart if given enough time. Pato Botello regularly dropped deep to contest goal kicks and assert Detroit's steel, which worked well to my eyes. Direct passing from Nate Steinwascher and Devon Amoo-Mensah continuously put play into the Memphis half, and dogged pursuit of second balls along with spirited counterpressure kept it there. 901 FC is good enough to find their spells of dominance, and they beat the vistors for a reason, but I liked the Detroit style. The thin squad showed a bit here; subs like Atuahene and Tanyi looked off the pace.
On the Bubble
12.) LAS VEGAS: The fun thing about this Lights side is that literally every one of their midfielders can charge into your half and wreak havoc. Daniel Trejo is the poster boy for that, but Alvaro Quezada, Daniel Crisostomo, Daron Iskendarian, and, like, everyone else has a bit of spunk. It's invaluable for Las Vegas' counter-centric offense. Cal Jennings makes it all possible. He has a perfect, preternatural sense for hugging the back shoulder of the defense to open space or coming low to make himself an outlet when a charge loses steam.
13.) RIO GRANDE VALLEY: It's an off week for the Toros, and they have to be feeling good. They're in the thick of the playoff mix and really have found form amidst a hard-pressing system that's a joy to watch. The hard-tackling side is near-top in the USL for tackling, and they suppress shots with the best of 'em. Some of the early dynamism of the Frank Lopez-Dylan Borczak combo has subsided, but great fullback play and Emilio Ycaza (76th percentile xA) have proven to be enough. The next few weeks will be crucial between back-to-back challenges against New Mexico and a bubble battle with Las Vegas, but I've overcome my skepticism about this club's bonafides.
14.) LOS ANGELES: Galaxy II traveled cross-country to South Beach and jumped down Miami's collective throat in an impressive showing. This teams attacks like a playoff contender for my taste, they’re endlessly technical and know exactly how to leverage long balls against teams like Miami or more patient, ground-based sequences versus more compact foes like Monterey. Hamza Barry is so impressive in the center of the park, just to highlight someone I've been needlessly mum on. He embodies the progressivity and skill so valued in the squad.
If you haven't noticed, Preston Judd is on fire. He nabbed one in Miami after last week's hat trick. He's in the 79th percentile for GAR despite surprisingly low xG and xG per shot numbers, but that speaks to his finishing more than anything else.
15.) OAKLAND: Joseph Nane put on a masterclass against the visitors from the Peach State, controlling the midfield with timely tackling and no-nonsense ball progression. His side did a great job of pressing and counterpressing Atlanta to take advantage of their use of a somewhat unfamiliar back three, and it paid off with numerous chances. The culmination came on the opening goal, a shining example of final-third dominance dictated by Mikael Johnsen; he was rewarded with the score itself. As always seems to be the case, Oakland conceded off of pivot weakness and defensive overreaction stemming from it. You can't teach an old dog new tricks, and this team always plays into the same mistakes but comes out with insane late results.
16.) INDY: Eleven Park, Indy's stadium project, finally announced the purchase of a site. I have it on good word that the team acquired the land more than a year ago, so the timing is interesting, but I couldn't be more chuffed overall. I love the Mike, but the track and lack of team ownership weren't sustainable for the long-term future. On a related note, I'm a bit irked by the immediate MLS discourse that arises whenever a USL side gets a stadium going. If the broader soccer ecosystem in this country is going to solidify itself, then projects like this outside of the first tier have to become more common. The USL is a great place to have a team, and MLS is crowded in the Midwest already.
Against San Diego, Mark Lowry moved the Eleven into a 4-2-3-1 to better address the Loyal's back-three buildout look. The shape struggled mightily to maintain integrity against Kyle Vassell's drops from striker and Alejandro Guido's everywhere-at-once brilliance, leaving open passing lanes all over. I still don't love the back line here, if we're honest. I think Neveal Hackshaw and Jared Timmer have looked a step slow in 2022, and the San Diego opener illustrated how communication issues wrack the unit. Goalkeeping is a huge question mark at this point too. I've got an X Files "want-to-believe" mentality towards this team, and I still think they're better than Miami, but the Eleven have problems to solve.
17.) MIAMI: The Joaquin Rivas move couldn't be a bigger win for Miami. I like Sean McFarlane a lot on the right, but Mark Segbers has that spot locked down, and Luca Antonelli or Othello Bah can cover in a pinch. Rivas, meanwhile, might be the high-gravity, prodigiously skillful piece this team needs to complete the puzzle in attack. I've been critical of Miami's ability to build out through their midfield, but the attention Rivas requires as a channel-running transition threat can open up those avenues. In settled possession, the Salvadoran is one of the smartest late-arriving poachers that you'll find in a USL attacking line, and he's generated 75th percentile or so xG in the last two non-COVID seasons. He's a high-level crosser as well, combining with that goal threat (nine tallies since 2021) to make a perfect wing mate for a central Kyle Murphy.
He went right into the lineup against Los Angeles, doing really well to stretch the Galaxy's three-cum-four back line. Still, the defense was really poor, and the issues began with the Speedy Williams and Florian Valot pair in the pivot. Those two both stayed too high and left space between the midfield and defensive lines. This let Los Angeles push their speedy wingers into the channels beyond the defense, and suddenly it was 2-0 to the guests. There are still things this Miami team needs to sort out.
18.) PITTSBURGH: Pittsburgh looked more engaged early against a fiercely good Rowdies team, and a lot of it came down to their motion off the ball. Alex Dixon regularly dove central, and Danny Griffin was wonderful serving as a proxy winger on the opening strike. This time, however, the defense was the culprit for the 'Hounds. That second goal for the opposition says everything. Watch it back; two centerbacks fail to track the Tampa forward, Kevin Silva is caught in no-man's land, and it's a concession.
This team is going to right the ship without a doubt, but they're in an honest-to-God funk. Fun fact: Pittsburgh is still fourth in xG differential by my calculations! I think that says more than the weird losses and a fair defeat to a dominant Rowdies team.
Down Bad
19.) HARTFORD: Conor McGlynn is so deeply underrated as the metronomic heart of Hartford in possession. He's in the 85th percentile or better for pass completions and defensive actions per 90, and the sense of safety he gives you constantly draws opponents out and lets Hartford look long into space. The side completely held their own against Louisville, and I'm still ruing that this roster didn't come together until Hartford was off to a dismal start.
Family needs across the Atlantic necessitated the resignation of Harry Watling hours after the Louisville defeat, which is a bit of a shame for both sides. I frankly didn't fancy Watling as a tactician, but his development resume in England was something to behold, and I wish him the best. It'll be fascinating to see if Hartford fancies another European manager or goes closer to home for the long run.
20.) ORANGE COUNTY: Orange County made the brave and defensible decision to bench 2021 hero Patrick Rakovsky in net, and it really was needed given his shocking profile by the numbers this year. His replacement immediately let a shot dribble through the five hole, but the issue - stop me if you've heard this before - started with invisible midfield coverage. Orange County fired back quickly enough, and teenager Korede Osundina got his first-ever assist in the process. He's one to watch for the rest of this season and for the foreseeable future, and he powered a width-centric win for the defending champions. Loudoun is Loudoun, but this was the best Orange County's attack has seemed in months.
21.) PHOENIX: Truly down bad in terms of form, Phoenix inserted Richmond Antwi at striker in a pair with Marcus Epps. Santi Moar slid into a wingback role, and Rick Schantz changed systems yet again to adopt a 5-3-2. I didn't hate the shape change, but at what point does the unending heterogeneity become a hindrance? You can't expect a struggling side to improve when you change their roles and teammates every week; comfort at back and patterns in attack can't develop.
The midfield was very intentionally organized as two holders and one creator, but the trio was isolated given the depth of Phoenix's wingbacks and gave Las Vegas all the time in the world. It's a difficult balance for Rick Schantz in that regard. His fullbacks have been reckless and mistake prone when allowed to room, but push them too deep as a reaction and you suddenly have other mistakes crop up. What a wicked game of whack-a-mole. Still, the midfield looked wholly disinterested at times, worsening the numeric disadvantage by failing to close down with any sort of fire.
A second-half return to something like last week's 4-4-2 let Greg Hurst get under the Las Vegas pivot and activated wing attacking by liberating the fullbacks, and Santi Moar finally got his goal. Defensively, the shape became a 4-2-3-1 with Hurst as the play-clogging number ten, but it still bled a goal with more back-line miscommunication. It's almost comical, and I think it has to be Schantz out at this point. The locker room is gone, or at least going. Phoenix's roster is good enough to make this a Chaplow-in-Orange-County situation. This is unfair to Schantz, and I own that, but yeah.
22.) MONTEREY: After a bit of a break, Monterey looked fresh and fiery against a red-hot Republic side. Adrian Rebollar is so, so fierce as a presser and sneaky creator in the forward line, and Chris Cortez was nice in one of his first extended stints. Monterey proved tireless in closing on Sacramento's center, breaking out into the wide areas from there beyond the opposing wingbacks. Late on, that precise organization melted into a puddle of sloppiness. Maalique Foster, a speedy forward substitute, ripped between the club's centerbacks and fullbacks, creating havoc and getting a brace. Poor Monterey just can't catch a break with injuries and mistakes.
23.) LOUDOUN: Abdellatif Aboukoura threaded one of the most gorgeous assists you can imagine just second into Loudoun's away match at Orange County, but the play started with a delightful Jalen Robinson outlet pass. I love how Loudoun has been able to settle new faces like that pair and return to their highly direct 3-4-3. Orange County found success against the Virginians with sweeping diagonal balls and flank-centric offense beyond the wingbacks, which has always been this team's fatal flaw. Still, you can take those lumps when the very same wingbacks and wingers look so bright going the other way and the whole point of your team's existence is skill development.
24.) TULSA: If I love the Joaquin Rivas move for Miami, I don't get it at all for Tulsa. Rivas has three goals this year for Tulsa, and he's vital despite the international absences. The attack is still potent with Da Costa, Suarez, Williams, and company, but Rivas is a difference-maker. Sean McFarlane shouldn't be slept on as a perfectly legitimate right back, but he doesn't make a ton of sense with Tulsa's roster. Bradley Bourgeois is a high-end starter at that spot, so is one of the two going to slide into the midfield?
Tulsa didn't change up their tactics whatsoever in getting smacked by Memphis, and their attack was utterly idealess. Nemanja Vukovic, longtime USL left back extraordinaire, was rocking a nice chain on the sidelines as an assistant at least? The Charleston game was a lot more solid in terms of performance, and Ronald Rodriguez proved an instant salve for a struggling defense. Rodrigo Da Costa also seemed more comfortable, roaming and roving to wreak havoc.
25.) CHARLESTON: The Charleston press has been a true delight as of late, but its weaknesses came to the forefront on Tulsa's opening goal. The front line wasn't aligned, and the Battery closed too hard against a forward drop. A few cross-line passes later, and you've got the centerbacks in a pickle through no fault of their own. I've loved this team's organization lately, but there are moments where you can see the cracks.
26.) ATLANTA: Atlanta decided to match the Oakland Roots with a return to a back three, a system that found joy when David Mejia, Nelson Orji, and Jackson Conway could link on the left side. Get those three clicking, and you suddenly have a route to beat the Roots beyond an advanced Memo Diaz on the right. Mostly, that gambit could never develop. Atlanta lacks the poise to bear the weight of a good press outside of Robbie Mertz, meaning that composed attacking was never consistently on the cards. Such is life, I suppose, and the genuinely titanic travel distance couldn't have helped.
27.) NEW YORK: The race for dead last in these rankings is always hotly contested, but New York outdid themselves in pursing that vaunted title this week. I don't remember the last time I saw a team get so thoroughly outclassed in the USL. Yeah, Worth and Castellano were new-ish starters in the midfield against an insanely experienced and technical opposition, but the press was an order of a magnitude less coherent than normal. Jordan Adebayo-Smith and Jeremy Rafanello were frisky, but they couldn't buy an inch of space. Brutal.
Comments