Marlon Hairston (DM/RB)

• Connective player in possession. Very simple, short passing game. Clean with execution and does show some ability to play beyond first layer (line breakers, in-field passes, etc.), which should be somewhat easier at USL level, but will not be a progression hub or a source of defense unlocking play
• Very little movement with the ball at his feet. Is not the type of midfielder who will burst/stride forward when given space in front of them. Will not engage in one vs. one’s. Also limited receiving on the turn. Would benefit from midfielder(s) playing with him who are able to absorb more pressure — be comfortable taking time on ball to allow things to open up
• Reads game quite well from deep out of possession. Able to recognize passing lanes, cover ground side to side, and utilize long legs to step in and poke balls away. Profile lends itself more to being a deeper, more disciplined pivot as opposed to a chaser
• A lot of potential as a stopper in rest defense — being able to sit back and read play, cover shorter central distances and knock ball away from opponents
• Deputy ability to slot in at right back in a conservative role. Doesn’t quite have the burst/speed over distance to match up one vs. one with some wingers, would expect this to be somewhat exacerbated with a year of aging and away from the game
• Good aerial presence. Has the size and timing to go up and win balls without getting knocked off balance

Jay Chapman (CM)

• Not quite a controller or massive line-breaker in deep build-up, but definitely solid combining from pivot zones. Good understanding of when to drop in, doesn’t rush play, and can use frame to shield well in order to bide time before connecting. Rarely opens up on-ball/plays on half turn, though, particularly from right to left side of field. Can limit his ability to escape pressure in certain situations
• Massive asset in attacking transitions. Consistently bursts forward with off-ball runs up the center or half-spaces. Sometimes it can look like there’s nothing on after a ball win and his run will actually almost create the transition by allowing him to receive driving at the opposition back line. Able to carry well in space in these situations and connect well on the move. The more open a game will be, the more valuable he can be
• Off-ball movement also extends to settled possessions. Very good understanding of how hard opponents find it to guard a pass and move into space. Loves a little pass ahead into the feet of an attacker and then burst into/around zone 14. Sometimes even occupies CBs. Makes a him a nice asset for breaking down established defenses as well
• Likely want him alongside a more positionally conservative pivot — someone who can be the main central option in buildup and then operate in rest defense so you can get the value from him surging forward
• Not an elite close-down/ground-covering defender (low ball-winning volume), but definitely good enough in terms of positioning and engagement. Able to use frame well in more crowded, muscle type situations. Don’t want him being responsible for dribblers in open space though

Danny Barrera (AM/CM)

• Has the vision, ball-striking, and variety of passes in his locker to be a hub of progressive and creative distribution. Can ping long diagonals to far-side wingers, scoop balls over the back line, whip in inswinging and outswinging crosses from the half-spaces. Adds a dimension to play in the sense that opponent’s can’t simply focus on defending the immediate area of possession
• Can be a useful asset dropping into deeper pivot areas in build-up. Has the sense of positioning and decent dismarking movements to find the ball from center backs. Comfortable absorbing pressure, taking touches, and then connecting. If opponent does give him the space to turn, that long distribution gives you escape routes
• Beyond what he offers creatively in advanced areas, he brings value as someone who keeps things flowing in the attacking phase — drifting across between lines, preventing possession from getting stale, constantly arriving to provide an extra man
• Mainly out of possession, he requires support with physical presence in the midfield — both in the ability to win duels and the ability to cover ground. He is weak in the air, struggles to defend dribblers in space, and doesn’t have great recovery speed or endurance
• Offers enough in short bursts and close-outs to be useful in pressing/counterpressing in an organized side with good cover provided by deeper midfielders. Can be a decent nuisance stepping out to opposition center backs (potentially joining forward line in press) or pivots. Even if you need him to exert ~30 to 60 minutes given his age, it would be valuable
• Not built to get out and run in attacking transition. Can still provide some value with ability to spring teammates with passing, but his profile is most important as a problem-solver when the opposition is set up. Would be beneficial to give him more minutes against deeper-sitting opponents or bring him off the bench in matches where the team has gone behind

Anderson Asiedu (CM/DM)

• Clean connective player over short distances. Good execution on short passes and secure with ball on short bursts, sometimes past an initial defender. Can be trusted to receive and connect simply
• Can utilize low center of gravity and stocky frame to absorb pressure well upon receiving, but doesn’t combine this with good dismarking movements and constant repositioning that are required to be a great metronome/controller
• Frequently forces high difficulty passes into traffic but lacks the disguise or speed of execution to pull them off efficiently. Loses possession at a high rate when attempting to play vertical through lines or trying to release a teammate in behind
• Performs better out of more static situations out of possession. Definitely solid in a challenge when play is funneled to him and he can simply step in, but it can be easy for opposing midfielders to dismark from him in buildup, and he can be too easily combined around — chases ball a bit too much and doesn’t anticipate where the true danger will develop
• Requires a simplified/limited role both in and out of possession where he is responsible for small areas. Would benefit from being paired with a midfielder with more unlocking ability through distribution as well as more disciplined reading of the game defensively

Joe Schmidt (CM)

• Can operate as a primary central option and tempo setter in build-up. Smart dismarking movements, scans well, fluid on the reception, and very clean execution with short to medium range passes. Can keep deep possessions from going stale. Still limited verticality and dynamism on the ball — keeps play taking, but doesn’t stretch field
• Good understanding of receiving as the third man in build-up. When he is being marked aggressively, he will drift behind his defender and then open up forward to receive a lay-off from a more advanced player
• When the opposition is very open and/or he’s being closed down by weaker pressers, he shows the ability to occasionally burst forward through pressure on the ball
• Not a strong out-of-possession presence. Gives effort, will provide a body in the defensive third, but struggles to cover ground as a screener in front of the back line — often ends up floating between passing lanes instead of blocking one, doesn’t block off cutback receiving zone in deeper defense, pretty easy to burst past in transition. Not strong in challenges either. Should not be left as a lone pivot

Beverly Makangila (CM/CB)

• Solid presence in deeper areas out of possession. Stays switched on mentally and works to limit danger positionally — doesn’t just chase ball and react. Also has the muscle to step in or poke balls away in tighter quarters. Makes him useful for plugging up a half-space in a block, or even filling in occasionally at center back if needed. Showed decent positioning in box and ability to deal with some forwards in channels. Could be a good option for matches where a team anticipates being pinned deeper, or as someone to bring in to close out games
• Almost exclusively a retainer/connector in possession. Not a liability as he shows decent understanding of positioning in the pivot, doesn’t hide from ball, and has some ability to open up East-West. Just gives you very little in terms of problem solving or consistent progression on-ball. Shows good technique on the occasional ping out wide, but is sloppy when he tries to play vertical through lines. Will not drive through pressure either. Very much a receive and look to connect horizontal or back type of midfielder
• Value decreases the higher up the pitch a side is playing. Pretty much a nonfactor in the attacking phase. Has the discipline and some game-reading to be an asset in rest defense, but is not as suited to shuttling and closing down higher up the field
• Has a tendency to be too handsy when closing down opponents with their back to goal. Gives referees easy foul calls. Just has to learn to trust his strength and be more subtle — matters a bit more in jostling situations at center back

Ian Shaul (CM)

• Has good footwork and uses body well when receiving under pressure. Frequently looks to open up to receive on back foot, helps him set up to release the ball quickly. Able to quickly position himself between the ball and incoming pressure. Makes him effective higher up in half-spaces — receiving line-breaking passes and connecting. Speed of play and protection of the ball should allow him to scale up well in these situations
• Passing technique is very clean at different levels. Able to play crisp first-time combination passes — will help him against more experienced competition, won’t have to slow play down. Can connect over longer distances on the ground as well — shows ability to play inside to feet of forward after drifting towards touchline. Good ball-striking on corners shows potential to expand on long passing volume
• Could increase scanning frequency and variety — particularly when receiving in deeper positions against opposition press. Will sometimes check one side but not his back shoulder. Can prevent him from recognizing space where he can turn out and play to the far side upon receiving. Also limits ability to spot more expansive passes to wide or more advanced areas. Limits his ability to operate in deep build-up
• Tends to be a bit weak going into loose ball and shoulder-to-shoulder challenges. Not the biggest frame to begin with, but has issues with dangling a leg in and not engaging with enough power. Makes him limited as a ball-winner in deeper areas
• Can cover ground well out of possession. Good mobility for a center midfielder, and is willing to jump out to opposition full backs in press, help double up on opposition wingers. Has the change of direction to deal with more dribble type challenges
• Stamina is a bit of an issue at the moment. Only played 90+ minutes twice in 12 appearances in MLS Next. Can see his legs getting heavier and him covering less ground later in matches — particularly out of possession, being behind plays and unable to burst back