Welcome in to Week Two of my offseason column! We've got the title game ahead, but I wanted to reflect on some early retentions and comment on a few under-hyped stars. Thanks for reading, and be sure to check out Linktree for all of my other work.
Number One: Antony Siaha, the best goalie you're sleeping on
This week, Monterey Bay FC announced that goalkeeper Antony Siaha would be coming back on a multi-year contract extension. Siaha had a cup of coffee with the San Diego Loyal in 2021, but more was in store. He and his quick-twitch 6'6" frame always felt like a source of untapped potential.
Taking over as the starting goalie for Frank Yallop's expansion side at midseason, Siaha immediately looked like an all-league player. You can see the numbers graphed above. In 17 games, Siaha allowed just one goal per 90 minutes, and his individual Goals Saved Above Average per 90 would've slotted just behind Goalkeeper of the Year Jordan Farr and just ahead of Golden Glove winner Kyle Morton.
The midseason improvements that carried Monterey to the playoff fringe relied on more than just Siaha. Sam Gleadle's ascendance as a goalscorer and the health of Kai Greene and Hugh Roberts as a defensive pair were key. Gaining chemistry and familiarity within the counter-heavy Yallop 4-4-1-1 made a difference too.
Still, the backstop provided by the Cameroonian can't be understated. In matches Siaha started, Monterey played at a 54-point pace; that total would've seen Cardinale Stadium host a first-round playoff game. With Siaha and Morey Doner, a right back, already confirmed as returnees, I'm excited to see if Monterey can carry their momentum into 2023.
Number Two: What do Memphis' early signings mean?
Wasting no time in the weeks following their playoff exit, Memphis 901 FC announced that both Aaron Molloy and Phillip Goodrum would be coming back next year. Molloy was the runner-up in the MVP vote, dominating the central midfield with league-best vision as a passer. Goodrum, meanwhile, was the runner-up in the Golden Boot race.
Both players had shown potential at other stops, but their skills came to the forefront this season with Memphis. What triggered their glow-ups? I'd point to the player development chops of Ben Pirmann.
From his work at Michigan State to his Detroit City FC days, Pirmann has always shown a deft touch in managing younger players. Goodrum is a prime example this year, one that illustrates the manager's eye as a scout in addition to his developmental talents. The ex-Atlanta United forward only got about 600 minutes in 2021, scoring four goals on a nice conversion rate as more of a deep threat. Pirmann saw more. He used Goodrum as a true #9 this year, relying on a midfielder's instinct in the press while uncovering a preternatural instinct as a poacher.
The striker's return to Memphis was predicated on a contract option being picked up, but Molloy - and this is me reading the tea leaves of a Twitter announcement only - seems like a proper re-signing. Those two, alongside fullback-turned-star-winger Jeremy Kelly, were the crown jewels of the Pirmann project; might the quick action to bring them back mean that Pirmann, in turn, is there to stay?
The public spat over Pirmann allegedly ignoring a record-setting contract extension hangs heavy when I think about the situation. For your owner to call out you and your agent in the middle of a wonderful season is bonkers. Still, time and money heal all wounds, and a return to AutoZone Park may be more likely than it was a few short months ago.
Number Three: Keko's unsung defensive brilliance
I'm a big fan of hyper-specific awards, and the NHL's Selke Trophy is my favorite entrant in that category. The Selke winner is the attacker who contributes the most at the defensive end of the ice. Hockey players take on more holistic responsibilities than their soccer brethren, but I find the concept laudable.
Last offseason, I did a Tactics Show segment on Brian Ownby's defensive contributions and soft-pitched him as my USL Selke guy for 2021. This year, I'm giving the nod to Keko from the Sacramento Republic. If you look at Keko as compared to all other forwards and attacking midfielders, he's in the 81st percentile for defensive actions and the 70th for his tackle win rate.
Still, Keko's positioning and intelligent management of space are the real crux of the argument. The Spaniard typically started on the left-forward role in a 3-4-3 press or deep-seated 5-4-1. You can see some of his impressive defensive ability in the video above.
In clip one, Keko closes high on the left to match an opposing centerback pair man-for-man. Keko's aggression stifles build, forces an eventual turnover, and sees him get into the box to play a cross. His is a two-way game.
In the next clip, Sacramento presses in a 5-2-2-1 shape in which Keko and Rodrigo Lopez stay narrow behind the striker. Here, #7 shadows the opposing midfielder, closes to the left centerback, then drops back into his own half. He's controlling danger the whole way, never taking a bad angle.
These are fairly subtle, unspectacular instances, but Keko's game is defined by smart, no-nonsense work like this every single minute he's on the pitch. Sacramento's back line and Lopez's creative brilliance - hell, he was my league MVP pick - stole the show a lot of the time for the Republic, but Keko made the system tick.
In Other News
Indy did roster things. Someone should pick up Alex McQueen, a solid #6 and right back, and Raul Aguilera, comfortable anywhere from a box-to-box role to the second striker spot.
Phoenix honed in on a stadium site literally 10 minutes from my family home. Doing that when I don't live in the Valley is a personal attack.
Fellow sickos: you think Sunday is it for the USL? Nah. Orange County SC, live on ESPN+ this Tuesday!
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