Players like Kyle Beckerman and Osvaldo Alonso have made the role of holding midfielder one of the most celebrated positions on the field in recent years in MLS. But is there another rising star out there among the 2015 recruits?
Fatai Alashe, Michigan State
Fatai Alashe brings almost everything you want to the table. He’s rangy, athletic, strong, can give you something going forward and has the speed to track down basically anybody going back. The only question that has been raised in our conversations with coaches, agents and scouts is his “bite.” On the other hand, one Big Ten coach we talked to said that the reason why you don’t see many hard challenges from Alashe is because he’s smart enough to cut off passing angles, and most people who have watched him play more than a handful of times have said that when it comes time to tackle, he can be as tough as anybody.
Dan Metzger, Maryland
Metzger’s received mixed reviews this year, partly because the Red Bulls passed on signing him as a Homegrown, partly because Maryland got off to such a slow start in their first season in the Big Ten, and partly because probably his best attribute is tackling anyone who comes near him. This is not a bad attribute to have, and even coaches that say that Metzger is a “hack” admit that it is still a pain in the ass to play against him. When presented with that accusation, though, one ACC scout said, “in a word, no.” Metzger is tough enough to play in an MLS midfield, has great feet for his position and has spent the last few years distributing to one of the best offenses in college soccer.
Nick Besler, Notre Dame
There’s been some discussion as to whether or not we’d be talking about Nick Besler if he didn’t have such an illustrious pedigree, and the consensus is that the departure of Harry Shipp last season hurt the defensive midfielder’s performance. That said, Besler is not a slouch. He’s a hard-working player, a good ball-winner and can redistribute once he gets it. Most importantly, he’s smart. Given the right environment and some time to develop – and yes, Sporting Kansas City has been raised as that sort of option – he could have a long MLS career.
Aaron Simmons, UCLA
You could make the argument that Simmons doesn’t even belong on this list, because many are projecting him to be a centerback at the next level. If he has a good Combine, though, defensive midfielder might be the path of least resistance. At 6-feet and 166 pounds, he’s not going to blow you away with his size, but he’s a steady defender and smart enough that he can contribute from Day 1 on an MLS roster. Or, better yet, a USL PRO developmental team where the minutes won’t be as hard to come by.
Jean Carlos Lopez Moscoso, Youth International
I didn’t know that Jean Carlos Lopez Moscoso existed until he was invited to the MLS Combine. The Dominican Republic is not famed for its soccer-ing prowess, and his club, Moca, isn’t a power in Caribbean soccer. But, in fairness, he played pretty well yesterday, popping up around the field in dangerous positions. Is that what you want from a defensive midfielder? Eh. Discipline can be taught. He’s got enough going for him that he’s worth the No. 5 spot here.
