MLS
MLS 2022 — American U21 Impact Rankings — Week 12
Trending Up
- Aidan Morris is becoming more of an important piece to the Columbus Crew midfield
- Tayvon Gray’s steady play has brought him back into the top 10.
- Cameron Harper enters the top 25 after a very good first performance of the season for NYRB
Trending Down
- While he hasn’t moved off of the #1 spot, Gaga’s performance has taken a dip in the last few weeks.
- Injuries have George Campbell, Caleb Wiley, Caden Clark, Adam Armour dropping in the list
#1 | GK, Gaga Slonina, Chicago Fire (2004)
Previous Ranking: 1
990 minutes
GA/90: 1.18
PSxG +/-: +0.5
Gaga is still in the middle of a streak of poor form. He’s allowed multiple goals in four straight matches and his underlying numbers are trending in the wrong direction. Gaga is young, these ebbs and flows are going to happen. Not a major reason for concern.
#2 | CM, Ben Bender, Charlotte FC (2001)
Previous Ranking: 2
769 Minutes
Goals: 1
xGoals: 1.3
Assists: 3
xAssists: 1.6
G+A/90: 0.45
Ben has been back in the starting lineup the last two weeks and while he hasn’t had a goal contribution he still has the best offensive production of any American U21 player in MLS.
#3 | LB, John Tolkin, New York Red Bulls (2002)
Previous Ranking: 4
990 minutes
Goals: 0
xGoals: 0.6
Assists: 0
xAssists: 0.5
G+A/90: 0.0
John Tolkin has played every minute for the Red Bulls this season and continues to be one of the best players on one of the better performing teams in the Easern Conference. John is trending in a way that could lead him to the top of this list in the near future.
#4 | RB, Nathan Harriel, Philadelphia Union (2001)
Previous Ranking: 5
892 Minutes
Goals: 0
xGoals: 0.2
Assists: 1
xAssists: 0.3
G+A/90: 0.10
For the first time in nine matches Nathan did not go the full 90 for the Union at right-back.
#5 | CM, Leon Flach, Philadelphia Union (2001)
Previous Ranking: 8
897 minutes
Goals: 0
xGoals: 0.2
Assists: 1
xAssists: 0.2
G+A/90: 0.10
Leon, much like Nathan Harriel is one of the more unsung performers on a good Philadelphia Union team.
#6 | WING, Cade Cowell, San Jose Earthquakes (2003)
Previous Ranking: 3
587 minutes
Goals: 1
xGoals: 0.5
Assists: 2
xAssists: 0.2
G+A/90: 0.46
Cade has been inconsistent in his young career, but he has always had a go GA/90 and it’s perplexing why he isn’t a consistent starter for San Jose at this point. He played well against Vancouver and had a nice assist.
#7 | CB, George Campbell, Atlanta United FC (2001)
Previous Ranking: 7
558 minutes
Goals: 0
xGoals: 0.1
Assists: 0
xAssists: 0.3
G+A/90: 0.0
George has been out the last few weeks with injury.
#8 | WING, Brian Gutierrez, Chicago Fire (2003)
Previous Ranking: 9
446 Minutes
Goals: 0
xGoals: 0.4
1 Assist
xAssists: 0.9
G+A/90: 0.21
Brian came off the bench in long sub appearances the last two matches. He hasn’t been quite as dangerous in recent weeks but should continue to be a major part of the Chicago attack.
#9 | RB, Tayvon Gray, New York City FC (2002)
Previous Ranking: 14
470 minutes
Goals: 0
xGoals: 0.1
Assists: 0
xAssists: 0.5
G+A/90: 0.0
Tayvon was not in the squad this past weekend after having one of his better performances all year where he had the most touches of any match all season.
#10 | DM, Obed Vargas, Seattle Sounders (2005)
Previous Ranking: 12
548 minutes
Goals: 0
xGoals: 0.2
Assists: 0
xAssists: 0.3
G+A/90: 0.0
Obed has started the last two matches and will likely get a lot of minutes this year with Joao Paulo out for the season. Obed was his usual solid self in midfield. I am looking for him to get a little more involved offensively.
#11 | RB/CM, Cameron Duke, Sporting Kansas City (2001)
Previous Ranking: 11
464 Minutes
Goals: 0
xGoals: 0.5
Assists: 1
xAssists: 0.2
G+A/90: 0.19
With Graham Zusi out with injury, Cameron has started at RB the last two matches, both of which KC have really struggled.
#12 | DM, Sebastian Berhalter, Vancouver Whitecaps (2001)
Previous Ranking: 13
578 Minutes
Goals: 0
xGoals: 0.1
Assists: 0
xAssists: 0.2
G+A/90: 0.0
Sebastian started in midfield the last two weeks for the struggling Vancouver Whitecaps.
#13 | LB, Caleb Wiley, Atlanta United (2004)
Previous Ranking: 6
201 Minutes
Goals: 1
xGoals: 0.5
Assists: 0
xAssists: 1.1
G+A/90: 0.45
Caleb has been out with an injury for the last few weeks.
#14 | CM, Bryce Duke, Inter Miami (2001)
Previous Ranking: 10
298 Minutes
Goals: 1
xGoals: 0.9
Assists: 0
xAssists: 0.2
G+A/90: 0.30
Bryce has started the last two matches and looks to have solidified a big role in Miami’s midfield. He created some changes the last two weeks and was successful on 3 of his 4 dribble attempts last week vs DC.
#15 | WING, Damián Rivera, New England Revs (2002)
Previous Ranking: 15
178 minutes
Goals: 1
xGoals: 0.3
Assists: 0
xAssists: 0.1
G+A/90: 0.51
After starting two weekends ago, Damian did not see any time off the bench this last weekend against Atlanta.
#16 | CM, Aidan Morris, Columbus Crew (2001)
Previous Ranking: 24
294 minutes
Goals: 0
xGoals: 0.1
Assists: 0
xAssists: 0
G+A/90: 0.0
Aidan has started three matches in a row where Columbus was starting to play better and was unbeaten during that time. Curiously he was an unused sub this past weekend and Columbus lost. I am not saying he is the key, but his defensive ability and range seem to help the lineup.
#17 | CB, Jaziel Orozco, Real Salt Lake (2004)
Previous Ranking: 16
315 Minutes
Goals: 0
xGoals: 0.1
xAssists: 0
Assists: 0
G+A/90: 0.0
FotMob Rating: 6.3
Jaziel has not seen the pitch since the starting center-backs have been back healthy.
#18 | RB, Andres Jasson, New York City FC (2002)
Previous Ranking: 17
231 Minutes
Goals: 0
xGoals: 0.1
Assists: 1
xAssists: 0.2
G+A/90: 0.39
Andres received his first MLS action in almost two months in an 11 minute appearance off the bench.
#19 | WING/AM, Griffin Yow, DC United (2002)
Previous Ranking: 21
226 minutes
Goals: 0
xGoals: 0.4
Assists: 0
xAssists: 0.3
G+A/90: 0.0
Griffin received 14 minutes off the bench in week 11, but did not come off the bench in week 12.
#20 | WING, Matko Miljevic, CF Montreal (2001)
Previous Ranking: 22
217 Minutes
Goals: 0
xGoals: 0.3
Assists: 0
xAssists: 0.3
G+A/90: 0.0
Matko created a nice change in week 11 and made an appearance in week 12.
#21 | AM, Tyler Wolff, Atlanta United FC (2003)
Previous Ranking: 20
253 minutes
Goals: 0
xGoals: 0.3
Assists: 0
xAssists: 0.2
G+A/90: 0.0
Tyler has not played since early April.
#22 | LB, Noah Allen, Inter Miami (2004)
Previous Ranking: 23
316 Minutes
Goals: 0
xGoals: 0.1
Assists: 0
xAssists: 0
G+A/90: 0.0
Noah has not played since April 24th.
#23 | LWB, Adam Armour, Charlotte FC (2002)
Previous Ranking: 18
85 minutes
Goals: 1
xGoals: 0.3
Assists: 0
xAssists: 0.3
G+A/90: 1.06
Adam is out with a season ending injury and is slowly dropping off of the list.
#24 | CM, Caden Clark, New York Red Bulls (2003)
Previous Ranking: 19
94 minutes
Goals: 0
xGoals: 0.2
Assists: 1
xAssists: 0.8
G+A/90: 0.96
Caden has not played since March 13th after injuring himself at U20 YNT camp.
#25 | WING, Cameron Harper, NYRB (2001)
45 Minutes
Goals: 0
xGoals: 0.0
Assists: 1
xAssists: 0.7
G+A/90: 2.00
Cameron Harper is back from injury and received a long run out in his first action last weekend. He recorded an assist and a shot on target and looks like he might be a key sub for NYRB.
Go to 4:30 in to see the assist:
Dropped from the list: Jackson Conway