MLS - Top Early Season Performers
Jeff Larentowicz & Jordan Carlisle
With the help of our unique Incognito player data, MPS Data’s US Lead and 16-year MLS veteran Jeff Larentowicz has picked out some of the standout performers from the early rounds of MLS 2022 action.
Several household names have started well, including USA regular Walker Zimmerman and last year’s league MVP Carles Gil, who boast strong defensive and attacking scores respectively, despite the struggles of their clubs.?
However, Jeff has opted to highlight four relatively lesser-known players who have caught his eye.?
A score higher than 60 in any category indicates that the player is performing above the MLS average for his position in that category.?
Wyatt Omsberg – Centre-Back (Chicago Fire)?
Omsberg only made nine starts across the entirety of the 2021 season, but he’s been on the pitch for every minute of the Fire’s first five matches in 2022.?
The undefeated Eastern Conference side have only conceded one goal to date and the 26-year-old has been key to that frugality, excelling in many of our categories that indicate top central defensive play.?
Omsberg’s Defensive Off Ball Intelligence and Clearance ratings of 67.6 and 67.1 are among the best in the MLS, while he also scores highly for Challenges (65.4) and Pressure (64.3).?
He may be a Supplemental Roster Player, but he’s been a standout performer and a breath of fresh air so far for the team from the windy city.?
Kai Wagner – Left-Back (Philadelphia Union)?
Wagner joined Philadelphia Union in 2019 from Würzburger Kickers in his native Germany and now very much looks at home in the league.?
In a high-flying Union side that isn’t afraid to play vertically, the 25-year-old’s ability to make quality long-range passes has been key so far this season.?
His outstanding Set Piece rating of 69.3 supplements his slightly above average Cross score of 60.3 and he’s a good example of a strong outside back playing in a system that relies on quality from wide areas.?
Wagner is no slouch defensively either, scoring comfortably above average for Challenges (63.4) and Aerial (62.6).
If he maintains his current form for the duration of the campaign, he could help the early-season Eastern Conference pacesetters go all the way.
领英推荐
Pedro Santos – Left-Back (Columbus Crew)
Santos has made a seemingly permanent switch from winger to full-back this season after a handful of appearances at left-back in 2021 and has taken to his new role impressively.?
Teething problems with positioning and defensive instincts may have been expected by the Columbus Crew coaching staff but a high Defensive Off Ball Intelligence score of 65.1 shows that the Portuguese is excelling rather than struggling.
His additional defensive responsibilities haven’t stopped him from contributing in attack, either.?
Santos has linked up effectively with Derrick Etienne Jnr along Columbus’ left side, with good decision-making and execution leading to strong On Ball Intelligence and Attacking Pass scores of 65.3 and 66.3 respectively.?
The positional switch has come relatively late in the ex-Braga and Vitória Setubal player’s career, as he turns 34 later this month, but it looks like a masterstroke from The Crew head coach Caleb Porter.?
Brandon Servania – Centre Midfield (FC Dallas)?
In a team brimming with talent, Servania has stood out during the opening weeks of the season for his quality on both sides of the ball.?
He leads the midfield in positive defensive pressure contributions - particularly relevant given the importance that FC Dallas place on pressing from the front - and he boasts an excellent Defensive Off Ball Intelligence score of 64.9.
The 23-year-old, who was one of six Dallas players to train with Bayern Munich in early 2021, also offers a lot to head coach Nico Estevez offensively from his primary role on the left of a midfield three.
Servania is the team’s main corner taker and has a Cross score of 64.2, while his Dribble (63.6) and Shot (64.6) ratings are also well above average.?
Dallas have made a promising start in the Western Conference after a disappointing 2021 campaign and the one-cap USA international is key to their hopes of kicking on over the coming months.
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