USL Best: Ball Winning Playmakers

This is a look at USL Championship midfield players that are good defensively as well as strong in the attack. I realize that this is being very specific, as opposed to just looking at "best passer" or "most goals," but ball-winning / defensively active midfield players are an extremely rare beast. Especially in the United States.

Usually what you see in MLS or USL are mids that are either good at winning the ball and then distribution OR attacking activity. I was looking for both here.

The Defensive categories I took into consideration (per 90):
1. Interceptions
2. Tackles Won
3. Duels Won
4. Ariel Duels Won

Attacking Activity considered (per 90):
1. Assists
2. Key Passes
3. Shots on Target
4. Non-Penalty Goals + Assists

After ranking every player in the USLC, I teased out the players with the best average rank between my Defensive and Attacking activities.

Here are the highest-rated midfield players:

Name	Age	POS	Value	Highest Level	Nationality
Eryk Williamson	22	CM	342k	MLS	United States
Carl Haworth	30	RW	285k	USLC	Canada/Wales
Wal Fall	27	CM	257k	USLC	Germany/Senegal
Leo Fernandes	28	LM	228k	MLS	Brazil
Harry Forrester	29	LW	314k	Eng. Champ	England
Kris Tyrpak	27	RW	200k	MLS	United States
Marcus Epps	25	RW	342k	MLS	United States

Name	NPG+Ap90	KPp90	SOTp90
Eryk Williamson	0.64	2.12	0.60
Carl Haworth	0.50	2.03	0.70
Wal Fall	0.25	1.47	1.00
Leo Fernandes	0.49	2.46	0.60
Harry Forrester	0.33	1.43	0.70
Kris Tyrpak	0.75	0.64	1.20
Marcus Epps	0.32	1.43	1.20

Name	Strength 1	Strength 2	Strength 3
Eryk Williamson	Assists	Key Passes	Overall Attacking
Carl Haworth	Key Passes
Wal Fall	Duels Won	Overall Defender	Good Passer
Leo Fernandes	Assists	Key Passes	Overall Defender
Harry Forrester	Duels Won	Tackles Won
Kris Tyrpak	NPG+A per 90	Shots on Target	Tackles Won
Marcus Epps	Shots on Target	Duels Won

Name	Age	POS	Notes
Eryk Williamson	22	CM	DCU Ac., Maryland, PDXII/Portland Timbers
Carl Haworth	30	RW	2012 MLS Pick, with Ottawa Fury from 13-19
Wal Fall	27	CM	10 Years in German ac./lower level teams, J. Jones cousin
Leo Fernandes	28	LM	With Phil Union '13-17, Tampa since
Harry Forrester	29	LW	A decade in England/Scotland
Kris Tyrpak	27	RW	in MLS 2014-15, USL since
Marcus Epps	25	RW	Signed with Phil in 17. NYRB loaned him to RBII / Memphis 901

ERYK WILLIAMSON is clearly at the head of the class here. His age combined with his activity in attacking has made him a player that Portland seems to like, but not want to fully commit to.

If you are looking to add a rock-solid overall midfield player, I'd inquire about Wal Fall, Harry Forrester, Kris Tyrpak. Picking up a late 20s journeyman probably isn't on the menu for most but Fall and Forrester have strong pro resumes and would hit the ground running. Even at the MLS level, they could contribute.

I'll have more on this topic soon. This was just a look at mids. Next up is Ball Winning Forwards (USL has many).

Any questions, contact me at: lwjohnson654@yahoo.com