:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66669015/usa_today_13560454.0.jpg)
On Monday, April 13th, in the first part of this article, copies of the heat maps for Real Salt Lake’s defensive midfielders during the 2019 season opener against Houston Dynamo (Kyle Beckerman and Everton Luiz) and the 2020 season opener against Orlando City SC (Nick Besler and Justin Portillo) were displayed. Those heat maps were not identified by name, but each was given a letter (A, B, C, D). Based upon those heat maps, we requested each of you to establish a depth chart for the defensive midfield on RSL.
Your votes put heat map C as #1 on the depth chart with 58% of the vote, B as #2 with 42%, D as #3 with 44%, and finally A as #4 with 54%.
Today we are adding a compilation of the individual statistics reported for each of these four performances. The letter used to identify each of the players in the table below is identical to the letter used with the heat map. In other words, heat map A and statistics column A both refer to the same player. The statistics have been compiled from the SofaScore and WhoScored websites.
Players B and D committed 3 fouls apiece while the other two had only one each. Players B and C also received a yellow card apiece. Player B had more than double the number of ground challenges than the other 3 players, but also the least success by percentage.
Player D was the only one to have a successful dribble and also the fewest dribbles past him. Player B was dribbled past three times as frequently as the other three players.
Player A and D have more clearances and interceptions while Players B and C have more successful long balls.
Player A has the highest average rating on the two sites followed by player D, player C and then finally player B.
Untitled
| Stat | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stat | A | B | C | D |
| SofaScoreRating | 6.8 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 6.8 |
| WhoScored Rating | 7.09 | 6.50 | 6.34 | 6.79 |
| MinutesPlayed | 90 | 90 | 90 | 79 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Assists | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shots | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| ShotsOnTarget | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ShotsOffTarget | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| ShotsBlocked | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Touches | 61 | 46 | 67 | 52 |
| UnstableTouches | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Dispossessed | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Passes | 44 | 30 | 53 | 38 |
| AccuratePasses | 37 | 24 | 46 | 29 |
| AccuratePasses% | 84.1% | 80.0% | 86.8% | 76.3% |
| KeyPasses | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Crosses | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| AccurateCrosses | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| LongBalls | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| AccurateLongBalls | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| ThroughBall | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AccurateThroughBall | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DribblesAttempted | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| DribblesSuccessful | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| GroundDuels | 8 | 18 | 6 | 6 |
| GroundDuelsWon | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| AerialDuels | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| AerialDuelsWon | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| PossessionLost | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 |
| FoulsCommited | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| WasFouled | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Clearances | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Blocked shots | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Tackles | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Dribbled past | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| Key Events | YC | YC |
Once again please create a depth chart of these four players based upon both the heat maps from the first part of this article and the statistics in this second part. Also please indicate if you depth chart changed between the first article and this second article.
Poll
Which player would be #1 on your depth chart?
This poll is closed
-
36%
Player A
(4 votes) -
0%
Player B
(0 votes) -
63%
Player C
(7 votes) -
0%
Player D
(0 votes)
Poll
Which player would be #2 on your depth chart?
This poll is closed
-
54%
Player A
(6 votes) -
18%
Player B
(2 votes) -
27%
Player C
(3 votes) -
0%
Player D
(0 votes)
Poll
Which player would be #3 on your depth chart?
This poll is closed
-
9%
Player A
(1 vote) -
36%
Player B
(4 votes) -
9%
Player C
(1 vote) -
45%
Player D
(5 votes)
Poll
Which player would be #4 on your depth chart?
This poll is closed
-
0%
Player A
(0 votes) -
45%
Player B
(5 votes) -
0%
Player C
(0 votes) -
54%
Player D
(6 votes)
Poll
Did your depth chart change from heat maps to stats?
These polls will close on Monday, April 20th at 12 Noon Mountain Daylight Time. Once they close we will be back with the final depth chart and an examination of our three basic questions.
Are the top starters within the squad playing better in 2020 than they did in 2019? As a team plagued with frequent soft tissue injuries, has the depth off the bench improved in 2020 over the depth in 2019? Are the youngsters signed by RSL as the future of the team receiving playing time and stepping up when needed?