Top 10 Defenders of the 2014 MLS Season
As the 2014 MLS campaign comes to a close, Bleacher Report will examine the top 10 defenders, midfielders and strikers from this season. The goalkeepers list can be found here.
In this edition, the best defenders will be analyzed based on their technique, communication skills, positioning and frequency of individual errors. All stats used are from WhoScored.com and MLSSoccer.com.
Here are the 10 best defenders of the 2014 MLS season.
Honorable Mentions
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- Raymon Gaddis
- Doneil Henry
- Steven Beitashour
- Drew Moor
- Chris Schuler
- David Horst
- Jose Goncalves
10. Justin Morrow
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Toronto FC made several moves last winter in an effort to bolster its weak squad. Left back Justin Morrow was lost in the shuffle with Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley and Gilberto, which is unfair given that he's arguably been TFC's best player this season.
Morrow has started 25 games and would have had more if not for an injury. The former San Jose Earthquakes player is easily one of the most underrated defenders in MLS. He averages just less than two tackles and 2.5 interceptions per game.
Morrow is also responsible on both ends of the pitch, which is another reason why he should be regarded as one of the top fullbacks in MLS.
9. Maurice Edu
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Maurice Edu isn't a natural center back, but the casual MLS fan wouldn't know that given how well the American has played in that position this year.
While he isn't the most impressive defender, Edu deserves to be in the top 10 because of his strong performances in the back line.
Edu has made 10 starts in the heart of the defense this season. This doesn't include the times when he's had to fill in due to injuries or for tactical reasons.
The midfielder completes about three tackles and two interceptions per match, which might be padded due to his appearances as a holding midfielder. Nonetheless, the numbers didn't go down when Edu played as a center back—that in itself is a feat.
8. Matt Hedges
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Matt Hedges has started 83 games in nearly three seasons since he was drafted by FC Dallas in 2012. The former first-round pick has rapidly improved in each campaign, but 2014 has been his best one yet.
Hedges' strengths are his concentration and anticipation. The best defenders have to be able to read the play and time their tackles. The 24-year-old ticks the box for each attribute.
Hedges is also a commanding defender thanks to his 6'4" height. He might not execute as many tackles as someone like Maurice Edu, but his interception and clearance numbers are among the best in MLS.
Dallas has conceded the third-fewest amount of goals in the Western Conference with 40. Hedges is a big reason for the consistent defense.
7. Matt Besler
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Sporting Kansas City's MLS Cup success wouldn't have transpired had their defense not been so stingy. Kansas City's 30 goals allowed was the lowest tally in MLS last year, and Matt Besler played a big role.
Fast forward to 2014, and SKC has already conceded seven more goals than their total from the previous campaign. Besler has still been solid but has slightly declined from his form in 2012 and 2013.
The World Cup, CONCACAF Champions League and travel has taken its toll on Besler. He's still a top-tier defender in MLS, but he's been exposed against the likes of D.C. United and the New England Revolution.
The recent loss of form might also come down to the added pressure of signing a designated player contract, but surely the U.S. international will bounce back.
The 27-year-old is a ball-playing defender who can cover a lot of ground. However, all of that running seems to have caught up with the former Defensive Player of the Year.
6. Andrew Farrell
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The 2013 MLS Defender of the Year, Jose Goncalves, has had a good 2014 season, but Andrew Farrell has been equally impressive.
Since his rookie season in 2013, Farrell has played 61 games for the New England Revolution. He's started in all but one match this year, playing as both a center back and right back.
Goncalves and A.J. Soares deserve a mention, but Farrell hasn't looked out of place no matter where he plays or who is starting beside him.
5. DeAndre Yedlin
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DeAndre Yedlin may be leaving Seattle for Tottenham, but he's still giving his all for his hometown team as the playoffs approach.
Yedlin, a product of the Sounders academy, has played 52 games since 2013. His performance led to a World Cup call-up and his transfer to Spurs. He's also improved in his defensive game, which was questioned earlier this season.
It's safe to say that Yedlin has gotten better since returning from the World Cup. The 21-year-old is fifth in tackles in MLS, according to WhoScored.com, and he's also 18th in interceptions. This is impressive given that he had trouble tracking back from the attacking third.
Yedlin can be a threat from anywhere on the pitch. Now that he's starting to maintain his responsibilities on both sides of the pitch, he's even more lethal than before.
4. Aurelien Collin
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Like Matt Besler, Aurelien Collin hasn't been as consistent as he was in the past. However, Collin's season can still be statistically compared to the likes of Omar Gonzalez and Chad Marshall. He isn't far off those names either.
Collin has been left for dead at times this year, but given all of the injuries to the Sporting Kansas City back line, it's understandable. The 28-year-old has played with Matt Besler, Ike Opara, Kevin Ellis and Erik Palmer-Brown. It's hard to gain chemistry with four different players.
Despite the shuffling from manager Peter Vermes, Collin has still proves that he's a top defender in MLS. Once Besler recovers, the Frenchman will also bounce back.
3. Omar Gonzalez
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Omar Gonzalez has come a long way over the last year. He started the U.S. men's national team's last two matches at the World Cup. He dominated against both Germany and Belgium, which seemingly carried into MLS.
The Los Angeles Galaxy center back is strong in the air, be it in his own third of the pitch or when he's targeted on set pieces. However, Gonzalez is also a very technical player who can play with the ball at his feet.
Gonzalez is accurate with about 83.9 percent of his passes, attempting 49 per match, according to WhoScored.com. Both numbers are very impressive considering his position.
The Galaxy are in the thick of the Supporters' Shield race and one of the top contenders for the MLS Cup. What's surprising is that their defense is the best in the league. LA has only conceded 31 goals, and Gonzalez is a key reason.
2. Bobby Boswell
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D.C. United are experiencing a dramatic turnaround. They could win the Eastern Conference just a year after finishing at the bottom of the overall table. One of the catalysts has been the defense led by Bobby Boswell.
Only the LA Galaxy (31) have conceded fewer goals than United's 34 this season. That led to the center back's call-up to the MLS All-Star Game against Bayern Munich. Boswell, Sean Franklin and Bill Hamid came on as second-half substitutes and didn't allow a goal.
The D.C. defense with Boswell has been just as stingy. He has started all 30 games and has been solid in almost every appearance. He's extremely valuable in that back line. The 31-year-old averages seven clearances per match and executes 2.4 interceptions on average.
The entire defense and goalkeeper Bill Hamid deserve a ton of credit, but Boswell's addition has been crucial to United's success this year. He's vastly underrated and deserves a lot of credit for his play this season.
1. Chad Marshall
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Chad Marshall is not only the best defender in MLS this season, but he's arguably the most valuable player for the Seattle Sounders.
The Sounders defense has experienced some issues this year, but it's nowhere near as disastrous as the end of the 2013 campaign. The only games when Seattle collapsed at the back were when Marshall was absent.
When Marshall missed time due to back spasms, the Sounders were carved open by the Galaxy in July, so the American's return was a relief to his squad. It was then that the 30-year-old proved his importance to manager Sigi Schmid's system.
Marshall isn't a flashy, ball-playing defender, but he's an alert player who has tons of leadership qualities. The Sounders lacked that in the latter portion of the 2013 regular season and the playoffs.
