There are twenty-seven teams in the USL, I've ranked them all, 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 new site covering American soccer set to launch this week where I'll be contributing on all things USL.
The Fan Experience podcast, where I'll be joining this week to break down the PHX-LAG match in detail.
But without further ado...
Title Contenders
1.) LOUISVILLE: How dominant was Louisville against Pittsburgh? I had a 1.9-0.8 xG margin, but location-centric models were harsher still. They went in and just played their game; Danny Cruz didn't need to innovate because this team's system is just that good. Corben Bone put on a masterclass of positioning. His wide movement in the press cut off central development, and his swapping with Mushagalusa directly created the second goal. Meanwhile, you can hardly beat this team when they're settled in their block with Tyler Gibson shielding the back four. This is a title favorite, folks.
2.) SAN ANTONIO: It's a familiar refrain at this point, but San Antonio pressed and countered their way to another confident win this weekend. The fluidity of the midfield as they worked off of Collier and Dhillon hold-up in transition was my big note this week. You can plug any one of San Antonio's legion players into the middle line, and they immediately become interchanging terrors. Connor Maloney sets the tone, but damn is this team deep. Also, how cruel is it to drop a team that wins 6-0?
3.) COLORADO SPRINGS: Jeff Caldwell, huh? Oakland spent a good portion of their matchup taking it to the Switchbacks, but Caldwell (93rd GAR%) was an insanely good backstop and saved a penalty to boot. It can't always be pretty for even the best of sides, and the Switchbacks have the man in goal when things go a bit awry.
4.) SACRAMENTO: The Republic looked very strong against Las Vegas, who I'm increasingly convinced is legit. I loved seeing Zeiko Lewis get a full start, and he performed admirably in a midfield that took on much more of a "double pivot" aspect with Rodrigo Lopez putting in a spirited box-to-box shift. The diagonals from Casey and co. were a great source of offense from deep against a narrow Lights side as well.
Playoff Locks
5.) SAN DIEGO: San Diego looked positively slick late against Tampa, with Kyle Vassell and Jack Blake whirling around the pitch and completely befuddling that vaunted Rowdies defense. There were some issues early on with wide coverage via Nick Moon, but the performance was a good one. I want a settled eleven to regularly feature for ninety minutes before I assess this team for real; I strongly suspect the best version of this team integrates Guido, Blake, and Martin into the middle.
6.) PITTSBURGH: The 'Hounds got played off the pitch against Louisville, plain and simple. They were unable to penetrate down the middle and looked clueless in terms of movement in attack for the first time in ages. The defense is still largely fine. Yeah, this maybe isn't the most talented or familiar unit at the back, but it's a decent core. Still, what changes can be made when push comes to inevitably shove at the end of the year at Lynn Family Stadium? Also, another shout for mad Bob Lilley as the greatest video ever. I can't even describe why this entertains me so.
7.) DETROIT: Injuries? A wily opponent? No problem for Detroit. Yeah, New York isn't exactly a juggernaut, but a move to something like a 3-1-6 in attack put the Baby Bulls to the screws, and this team consistently knows how to activate their depth players. Michael Bryant put in a Selke-worthy performance (if ya know, ya know, fellow hockey people) and fed Francis Atuahene to win it late; that's two substitutes making the difference.
8.) PHOENIX: In a 4-2-3-1 defensive shape meant to lend an extra man in the press against Los Angeles, Phoenix absolutely bled as the Galaxy built through their pivot. Darnell King repeatedly tried to cover narrow in support, and his side was left wide open on their right. The goals poured in from there, and everything spiraled. This feels like a massive step back given how the Rising had seemingly figured out their defensive woes.
9.) MIAMI: Miami faced a truly red-hot Memphis team and pressed them to death. I'm rapidly convincing myself that Florian Valot is as important as Speedy Williams or Paco Craig in terms of system. Also, how cute is it to beat a team with two scorers who played for that team?
10.) TAMPA: The midweek loss against Memphis was troubling; this team's offense just isn't generating any danger right now. Things were marginally better against San Diego amidst good forward movement and a central start for Laurence Wyke, but defensive failures in block and against transition doomed this team in both matches. What can change? We saw experimentation with a back four a few weeks back, and I'd start there to shore up the channels and get an extra body into the center.
11.) LAS VEGAS: Las Vegas was probably outplayed in Sacramento, but they were certainly in the game. Danny Trejo is more than a flash in the pan; he's dragging defenders out, taking on players with the ball at his feet, and driving offense beyond the wonder-goals. They're not quite a playoff lock for real, but, unbelievably, I'm almost to that point when considering this Lights side, and they deserve to be a step ahead of the rabble right now.
On the Bubble
12.) BIRMINGHAM: The Legion's switch to Enzo Martinez at striker has added so much flexibility in attack, and I like the look of the 4-2-3-1ish shape that Tom Soehn adopted in recent weeks in that it keeps the solidity of a double pivot while adding an extra body and the gravity that comes along with it in attack. Prosper Kasim is the man.
13.) EL PASO: Another week, another mixed bag for El Paso. They're still a brilliant attacking side, but the high pressure can leave them stuck out all too often. The Locomotive's late dominance was heartening, at least. They really put the screw to Loudoun with a much more organized press that allowed for quicker breaks and more space for Diego Luna et al. The common denominator whenever this team makes a mid-game improvement? Bringing Eder Borelli onto the pitch.
14.) INDY: I try my damnedest to be a neutral arbiter of all things USL, so dealing with the Eleven should theoretically be challenging for me. I lived in Indy until college, when New York (go Violets!) and Phoenix (pandemic hole-up) became every bit as much of a home for me. Fandom sat on the back-burner amidst the drab Rennie days and my disconnection. In that context, this team has me fired up. I've been too mean to Indy in terms of my rankings in a weird attempt to be unbiased, but this crew is legit. Arteaga and Pinho are a terrifying tandem at forward, while Alexander McQueen and Noah Powder combine like twins on the right. Justin Terrell would be in my theoretical "rookie of the year" conversation, and Elliot Panicco (96th percentile GAR in 2021, 81st in 2022) anchors the defense from goal. I need to see it against a good team, but Mark Lowry just might be pulling it off. Required viewing, y'all.
15.) MEMPHIS: Memphis is so enigmatic. The Tampa win is still a Tampa win despite the Rowdies' form, but Miami played them off the pitch for most of the ninety minutes. When this side is clicking, they're engaging their defenders as play-sparkers and working from the outside toward the middle via Jeremy Kelly. Tampa's wingbacks let that happen, whereas Miami pressed Memphis to death and didn't let those moves develop.
16.) ORANGE COUNTY: Week two of the rekindled back four was a hell of a lot better than week one. The central midfield was shiftier and harder-closing, and Mikko Kuningas struck a perfect balance between providing width and pinching inside. I don't shut up about Sean Okoli, and that's not changing here. He activates Cubo Torres with his gravity, and he plays a complete game as a presser and creator.
17.) NEW MEXICO: New Mexico had a bye week in the league, but they also haven't won a game since March 19th. They can rebound, but I need to see a bit of form and non-Brett danger.
18.) LOS ANGELES: Now that was a performance from Los Angeles against Phoenix. The back three has been revelatory in possession, letting the Galaxy overload the middle while turning into a back four via right-back shifting from Owen Lambe in the defensive phase. Cameron Dunbar and Michael Salazar have been pure dynamite up top too. This team is pure fun.
19.) TULSA: Tulsa had a bye in the league but drops relative to some hot competition. Much like New Mexico, they need to prove that they can recapture some early-season form.
20.) OAKLAND: Even with a dominant performance for a lot of the Switchbacks game, the Roots couldn't quite connect to get the three points. Darek Formella really put in a breakout showing, something I've been waiting for amidst highlights from Mfeka and Dennis in similar roles. The transition defending, especially from Tarek Morad, was excellent as well. Still, something comes up every week, and this time it was Jeff Caldwell in goal.
21.) RIO GRANDE VALLEY: Frank Lopez has turned into a hold-up anchor for a side that desperately lacks central creativity. His presence helps bring the wingbacks into the fold and spark moments of excitement. That said, this team is toothless outside of one or two guys, doesn't have a reliable lineup, and constantly errs in defense. It's close but no cigar.
Down Bad
22.) CHARLESTON: They've got the spirit in Charleston, huh? The long-obsessed, hard-pressing diamond attack is fun and feisty but just lacks any real cohesion, and it leaves the Battery open to allow goals at least once or twice a match.
23.) NEW YORK: I genuinely like the back three for New York in that it activates wide attacking from Jason Pendant (70th+ GAR%), but there are still kinks to work out. There's an odd tendency for the MLS affiliates to press rather recklessly, and the pairing of that sloppiness with high fullbacks spells doom much too often. Still, this team is chippy.
24.) HARTFORD: The additions Hartford made in Corey Hertzog and Ariel Martinez combine with an already-decent on-paper roster to seem decent, but the rubber just never hits the road. I'm willing to give it a few weeks, but at what point does Harry Watling's leash start to shorten?
25.) LOUDOUN: Loudoun moved into a back four for the first time in recent memory against El Paso, varied the height of their wingers to stifle the Locomotive's style of buildup, and counterattacked brilliantly for about sixty minutes. This looked like the team that got off to a rip-roaring undefeated start, and Sami Guediri was back in form. Can it continue? The late stages against El Paso say no, as Loudoun once again lost all semblances of a cogent defensive system.
26.) ATLANTA: Bye week in Atlanta, and they hold on to non-basement status by a thread. If Hartford didn't make some signings, they'd have dropped below their Peach State peers.
27.) MONTEREY: The San Antonio game was, uh, bad once again. Chase Boone could hardly get a foothold against the host side's aggression, and the defense was a calamity against a fluid foe. I get that San Antonio is weird and interchange-y in transition, but Monterey's defense is guiltier of ball-watching and mindlessly man-marking without concern for shape more so than any unit I can recall for years in the USL.
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