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.
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The Fan Experience podcast, where I'll be recapping the Phoenix-Hartford game and commenting on all the news of the week.
But without further ado...
Title Contenders
1.) SAN ANTONIO: San Antonio just knows how to win, whether it's pretty or not. Mitchell Taintor embodies that style. He's an absolute rock in the back three, vital to how this side controls opposing attacks. At the other end, he's a huge set piece threat and astute operator in the box; four goals speak to that ability. Rio Grande Valley is top-three in shot suppression and shouldn't be taken lightly, so going to their home stadium and getting a nice win in an emotional Texas derby means a lot to me.
Justin Dhillon, is so, so good, by the way. He's in the 97th percentile for Goals Above Replacement and the top third in xG and xA amongst forwards to boot. The stats don't tell the whole story. Watch back that first goal from Saturday. He's streaking down the heart of the RGV defense in transition, making a perfect run. #11 just keeps probing from there, forcing defenders to track his every step. This frees a cross and a header on, and Dhillon hammers home.
Fast forward to the 8 7th minute. San Antonio breaks through Shannon Gomez with a one-goal edge, needing just a single tally to put the game away. Dhillon again cuts down the middle, using his physical presence to hold off the Toro at his back. Gomez plays in, and #11 takes a deft touch that moves him a step wide and catches the goalie by surprise. The finish isn't the cleanest, but it's enough for the game-sealing brace. Classic Dhillon; he's brilliant.
2.) LOUISVILLE: Frankly, Louisville was unlucky not to advance against Nashville. They imposed their style and enjoyed a bright central-midfield turn from Jorge Gonzalez, but soccer is like that. Cameron Lancaster's return is huge, and he was a menace in earning a brace against Tulsa. Manny Perez stood out as a halftime sub there. Oscar Jimenez was sharp enough, but Perez has a step more pace and shows much more positional panache than his predecessor on the right.
3.) MEMPHIS: Louisville, with games in hand, passed up Memphis for the Eastern Conference lead, but this team shouldn't fret. I mentioned last week that they're elite in terms of xG and underlying numbers. Stylistically, I love how ground-based their attack is. They only go long about 11% of the time; Charleston, for example, more than doubles that rate. It starts with Niall Logue's control in defense, funnels through the technical central midfield of Molloy, Kissiedou, et al, and extends through a striker in Philip Goodrum that could serve as a tricky winger. Memphis wasn't route one last year, but they leaned direct through Kyle Murphy and Mark Segbers; this side is more reflective of Ben Pirmann's principles.
4.) TAMPA: No match for the Rowdies this weekend, so let's get some random notes in!
I love the addition of Thomas Vancaeyezeele add. He hasn't found a consistent home in a few years, but he's a legitimate all-league centerback whose best asset is his confidence on the ball. That latter phrase describes the Tampa mold of centerback exactly.
Jake LaCava is in the 95th percentile for xG and the 80th for xA; he's been revelatory. I'm curious to see if we get a full signing at season's end.
The Rowdies overall rank 4th in xG differential. I know there was a bad stretch featuring some defensive woes and out-of-character Guenzatti mediocrity, but this team is legit.
5.) EL PASO: Sebastian Velasquez rocks, but his injury, in a twisted manner, clarified the midfield rotation for El Paso in a manner that led to Eric Calvillo settling wonderfully. I was effusive about the midfielder during Orange County's playoff run; I told anyone who would listen that he was my MVP of the playoffs. He's proving why for my taste. It's the box-to-box impact he brings that I just adore. Elsewhere, Evan Newton is fixed, y'all. Anyone who doubted (so, uh, the entire Locomotive home crowd?) should learn patience.
6.) PITTSBURGH: When Bob Lilley's crew announced a lineup with Dane Kelly and Russell Cicerone starting, I was chuffed. Enter South Beach storms. That said, the Riverhounds recognize that they're a bit off the pace right now amidst a competitive top four or five in the East, and they were ready to adjust accordingly. Follow that up with a…fine performance and nothing more? At some point, I need a statement from Pittsburgh. This attack is as stacked as anything, but they never dominate. I see this team as top two or three in the conference by squad alone, but it just doesn't seem to click to perfection. That said, you’ll also note that I moved the ‘Hounds up to title contention.
7.) COLORADO SPRINGS: It feels like it's been a lifetime since we'd last seen the Switchbacks in action, and they had a tough matchup in the form of a shapely, streaking Monterey side. You got moments from Ngalina, Johnson, and Barry, but the midfield and back line were lapse-ridden and couldn't quite penetrate through the ascendant expansion crew. I blame rust, frankly, but this team hasn't quite clicked since mid-April or so. Consider:
April 30th: 3-0 win at Oakland; outshot 12-10.
May 5th: 3-2 win versus Rio Grande Valley; outshot 16-6.
May 28th: 4-2 loss at Monterey; 4-4 parity for shots on goal.
The COVID break was unfortunate, but there's a sense that lagging performances are finally catching up in my mind. I'm interested to see if and when Colorado Springs regains title form.
Playoff Locks
8.) DETROIT: Bye week for Detroit, who's been busy with a tight schedule for a few weeks now. As with some other top-end Eastern sides, let's hit it with the random statistics and notes:
I noted it on Twitter, but Antoine Hoppenot just became the fourth player in USL history (third active) to hit 35 goals and assists in his career. Huge credit to everyone at the club for adding Hoppenot. He's a veteran leader and proven go-getter at this level. I frankly didn't love a lot of the USL guys that came in, but Hoppenot was the sort of signing that made me think Detroit would be competitive. They've been that and more, and players like Deklan Wynne have been super impressive, so what do I know?
Nate Steinwascher slotted into my way-too-early Team of the Year, and that impact is symbolized by his 94th percentile Goals Saved Above Average by my data. There are 'keepers with a better statistical profile, but Steinwascher is more important to his team's style.
9.) PHOENIX: I'm not even going to pretend like Tuesday night happened for Phoenix. Darnell King was the only nailed starter to play, and he was at left back rather than his typical right back spot. Ugly, but irrelevant. A healthy Musa-Farrell centerback pairing returned against Hartford, allowing Kevon Lambert to return to the midfield. Perversely, the stability in possession and final-third assurance wrought by Lambert in that spot led to Phoenix being caught out. They'd push up, Hartford would grind their way to a defensive stop, and the break would be on for Prince Saydee. Still, the Rising trusted in that on-ball dominance, and Greg Hurst paired with Santi Moar and Marcus Epps to prove why this team is a threat.
10.) SACRAMENTO: Sacramento sat in deep during their midweek Open Cup game against San Jose, striking with ferocity on the break. The defensive performance from the Desmond-Donovan-Casey trio couldn't have been better; the Earthquakes didn't get any good looks at goal. The squad at the weekend was rotated, but it still took the brunt of the action to Oakland. Things changed later on as Johnsen and Formella stepped up, illustrating how the Republic just can't quite assert themselves in the league. My gut says title contender, but the performances are a shade short.
11.) SAN DIEGO: The late collapse against Los Angeles confirms my fears that this team doesn't quite have it together at the back. After a strong start to the year, Koke Vegas is in the 15th percentile for Goals Saved Above Average in net. The fairly constant rotation at the centerback spots is harmful, and the tried-and-true method of blindly throwing on an extra defender with a lead failed spectacularly. You ruin the spacing and familiarity wrought over a season and the last ninety minutes, yet teams constantly fall back to the gambit. For all of that, Kyle Vassell was still immense, and I thought Grant Stoneman was great initiating from the back. San Diego still has title upside.
On the first goal: boy, was that a beauty. Start from the throw-in. Guido camps in the half space to draw the defense up, and Vassell scoots behind him. #9 beats the defender in a one-on-one, drawing the Galaxy over while they're already occupied by far-post Moshobane and Conway runs. There's a huge gap at the top of the box that Charlie Adams can't help but fill, and Vassell finds him to make it 1-0.
12.) MIAMI: I was tempted to drop Miami for their weather, but I'm not that cruel. I love how flexible this team is between true back-three and back-four systems, and it all starts with Aedan Stanley. He's brilliant as a play-progressing centerback or a stout, heady wingback; he's an Anthony Pulis player at heart, and you see why week in and week out.
13.) NEW MEXICO: New Mexico deserves credit for blowing the doors off of Phoenix Rising, Jr. at the midweek, but it's not that telling of a win. Cristian Nava's performance, however, was something else. I took some ribbing on Twitter for comparing Nava to Diego Luna, but #45 showed that same eye for space, dribbling verve, and sharp technique that so defines El Paso's superstar teen. What's more, Nava was sharp tracking back and contributing in the press. Against Indy, Justin Portillo stood out as a holding midfielder. Yeah, the bar-down stunner was great and indicative of his efficacy as a late-running threat, but his patience and control in front of the defense are crucial. Great week for New Mexico.
On the Bubble
14.) INDY: The Elliot Panicco loan recall stunk, and I spent a few days concerned about Tim Trilk's viability. Fast forward half a week, and steady MLS and USL veteran Bryan Meredith is in the goalkeepers' room, and Trilk has a steady match against New Mexico under him. The back-pass own goal wasn't Trilk's fault. Elsewhere in that game, I somehow found myself doubting the entrance of Solomon Asante?! I know he can be an impact player, but he came on for Noah Powder, a player in the top third for xA and xG this year. I was proven to be a fool. Asante needs the minutes, and he looked super sharp. He slotted in on the right this week, stretching New Mexico's back three and running well off of Alexander McQueen.
15.) MONTEREY: Chase Boone is such a find, and Adrian Rebollar is slowly reaching that level of impact for Frank Yallop and company. Those two are so fluid, and Boone's powerful dribbling and movement proved themselves to be the real deal yet again against Colorado Springs. Meanwhile, James Murphy and Mobi Fehr have totally figured it out in the middle. Their rotation in defense is brilliant, holding up foes at the halfway line. So often, that goads the opposition out and lets Monterey break through forward hold-up; enter Sam Gleadle. There's a formula here, but it's effective.
At the same time, the offensive style has a mirage feeling to it. In the Louisville and Colorado Springs wins, Monterey scored six goals on seven shots on target. That's, uh, insane. Christian Volesky also got just one shot off against the Switchbacks. Low-shot football doesn't mean that you can't score goals; just look at San Antonio. That said, this team isn't as good as the one I have #1 in these rankings.
16.) RIO GRANDE VALLEY: Say what you will about points and results, but this Rio Grande Valley side is just a total pest to play against. Wahab Ackwei is an astute and efficient defender, and he glows up with Erik Pimentel alongside. I prefer this squad in a 4-3-3 versus a back three as well; I'm a broken record, but Ruiz-Lopez-Borczak rocks. Against San Antonio, you saw the wingers of that trio variously drop in to solidify, bolstering a block defense that already stifled the opponent's fierce transition.
17.) ORANGE COUNTY: Michael Orozco is really darn good, y'all. He's obviously a leader and mentor, but he organizes the back three stupendously, and he still has enough mobility to push into the midfield and close with abandon. This iteration of Orange County is so much more aggressive than their title-winning predecessor in that sense. Alongside Orozco, the Villanueva-Richards wingback pair has been bright; their defensive intelligence should be remarked upon.
18.) BIRMINGHAM: The Legion might not be that good, but they have those moments. I still trust the roster, even with the weird Thomas Vancaeyezeele sale, but the New York match was a doubling-down on the usual missteps against a poor side. You get moments where Enzo Martinez and Juan Agudelo fit like a glove up top; at other times, the attackers add nothing. You have Jonathan Dean dominate for the whole second half; still, he's largely at fault on the opening goal. There's something here that prevents me from losing my trust, and I'd put money on the Legion making the postseason, but that position somehow feels dumb.
19.) LAS VEGAS: Las Vegas looked positively diamond-y against El Paso, with Alvaro Quezada spearheading the midfield shape. This team is just rampant when they can close hard in the middle and push with alacrity on the break. The Locomotive game was interesting because the Lights didn't have Danny Trejo or Cal Jennings but still looked strong generating looks; Enrique Duran should be a coach-of-the-year finalist if such a system-centric unit slides into the postseason.
20.) OAKLAND: The Republic put the screws to the Roots at times, even with a rotated squad, but bright moments still abounded in the East Bay. For one, I'm digging the back three right now, and boy was it nice to see Paul Blanchette in goal. A pure flashback to late 2021 - real halcyon days. I mentioned it last week, but Johnsen is a real box-to-box difference-maker in the middle. Ahead of him, Darek Formella was huge in a revenge game against Sacramento. He was astute popping into the pockets vacated by the visiting side's offensive-minded fullbacks.
21.) LOS ANGELES: Playing Los Angeles in their own empty arena is no easy feat, and San Diego proved as much on Saturday. Kudos to Yoann Damet for sticking with the back three-back four, state-dependent shape and matching the Loyal one-for-one in doing so. Owen Lambe, as always, excelled as the right back in that context, and he got forward with abandon late in the game to challenge an ever-deeper Loyal team. Pair that upfield pressure with Liam Doyle quarterbacking and shaky team defense, and you've got a stolen point for the Galaxy.
Down Bad
22.) HARTFORD: Against Phoenix, Hartford made a concerted effort to work direct into the channels against a Rising side that struggles in those very areas. Sitting in a back three with new man Logan Gdula and star Joel Johnson bombing up the flanks, that wasn't a bad idea. The biggest difference-maker of all in that context, however, was Prince Saydee. Against his former side, #7 was electric getting in behind in transition. Because Phoenix, Hartford couldn’t hold on, but I’m just left wondering if this could’ve been a playoff side had this been the day-one roster.
23.) TULSA: Tulsa, to their credit, tried to switch things up and adopted a back-three formation on the road at Louisville. They were roundly outplayed, but I liked the idea. Still, the personnel choices were questionable from Michael Nsien. I don't love Abuchi Obinwa, and everything wonderful about Jorge Corrales is waste in a central defensive role. Ronald Rodriguez, an international-caliber defender, got on during the match; why are you keeping him on the bench and kneecaping one of the league's best attacking fullbacks in Corrales?
There's a nascent #NsienOut movement among Tulsa supporters, and I'm not wholly opposed. I know this side made the playoffs last year, but they added splendidly at their positions of need (defensive midfielder, centerback, true #9) and still can't get it done. Interesting times in Oklahoma.
24.) ATLANTA: Atlanta had some real moments of brightness against Orange County, and the defensive coverage they got down the right from the Centeno-McFadden dyad impressed. When the press is working and that sort of rotation occurs, you can buy Atlanta as a decent side, especially with players like Robbie Mertz driving transition single-handedly against midfield trios. Nonetheless, sloppiness so often prevails, and Jackson Conway is too up-and-down and innately winger-y at striker to guarantee goals. Such is life for an affiliate club with half a roster's worth of teenagers.
25.) CHARLESTON: Man, is it nice to have AJ Paterson back or what? I've got nothing against Brett St. Martin or whoever else held down the spot, but Paterson combines crossing, unassailable tracking, and fan-favorite status to be such a crucial piece. Charleston was as aggressive as ever in their press and tried to be a shade more controlled in possession against Loudoun to my eye. Also, shout out to Joe Kuzminsky for the commanding lead in the Goalkeeper Golden Boot race.
26.) NEW YORK: I know that the Baby Bulls are a high-pressing, high-line team by organizational edict, and the style garnered good results against sides like Tampa, but this team just doesn't have the discipline to pull it off. Every match sees the centerbacks misalign and leave a foe onside for a dumb concession. That said, I love this team's fullback play. Gary Lewis lets O'vonte Mullings and company go hog wild, and it stretches foes when the system isn't busy bleeding at back.
27.) LOUDOUN: Michael Gamble was immense in the midfield pivot for Loudoun, linking lines in a way that this team has been missing. I came into the year assuming Teddy Ku-DiPietro would be a stalwart in the middle, and he was early on. DC United came calling, and Gamble got a few looks but not enough to fit in comfortably. This team is reliant on such a play-driver to keep possession and stay out of defensive transition; without that player, they're endlessly susceptible to counterattacking. Loudoun is down for the count in the playoff race, but seeing players like Gamble or Jacob Greene break out is still a blast.
That's all, folks. Share this far and wide, submit questions on Backheeled, and read whatever random pieces I put out. Cheers.
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