The NWSL being the NWSL, there aren’t a ton of players with typical center midfield duties. But like we saw with defensive midfielders, the duties for center midfield players varied. Some were elite pressers while others were relied on to protect and carry the ball into dangerous areas. Then there was one who was exceptional at everything and beyond.

Before we get into it, it’s caveat time. All center midfielders had negative Shot OBV per 90, mainly because they all took long range shots and data hates their low conversion rate. Though this is where I beef with data, because long range shots can have varied outcomes, and not all cede possession. Anyway, I removed the metric to get a truer top 5.

So let’s get on with it.

Pass .01 | Dribble & Carry .07 | Defensive Action .09

This one surprised me. We know Kristie Mewis’ most unique trait is her accuracy and passing range with her left foot, but uh, aside from shot it was her lowest OBV number.

So let’s look at the good stuff, starting with Dribble & Carry. This is where you can start to see the chaotic nature of Juan Carlos Amorós’ system. Kristie started dribbles from damn near everywhere on the pitch. A few of these dribbles are lengthy, but you can see quite a high success rate as well. Of her 451 carries, only 36 ended in loss of possession.

The defensive action was her highest number, and the visual below tells an even more complete story of Amorós’ super intense Batties. In her defensive action map, there are just two blocks, nine interceptions and eleven clearances, but 272 pressures.

Though I must say, it’s a slightly deflating use of a player whose accuracy and range of passing from set pieces and open play is a rare and coveted skill. It highlights how players can adapt and still be effective, but the hope is that there’s also a way to find balance between demands of a system and allowing players’ true talents to shine.

Houston Dash Kristie Mewis was almost a completely different player than Gotham Kristie Mewis.

Pass .06 | Dribble & Carry .12 | Defensive Action .02

I’ve been formulating the idea that DeMelo is a box-to-box midfielder more than an attacking midfielder and this has emboldened me. I don’t think DeMelo has the defensive awareness to sit deeper like Sam Coffey or Korbin Albert, but when it comes to winning fouls, carrying the ball into the final third and creating high xG assist opportunities from open play, DeMelo impresses.

Of course the one thing that stands out is her very high number of turnovers, 4.26 per match. Although if we look at all open play passes from 2023, we might be able to see why.

DeMelo attempted lots of lengthy passes, averaging 21.6 yards per pass, which ranked second longest in the group (Mewis). Much of this was crossing and attempting through balls, which have lower completion percentages than shorter range passes. It would be interesting to see her in a more intricate system that relied on shorter passes to maintain possession or pick through a defense.

Her carries, however, were awesome. Still a bit risk/reward, as she had 121 that ended in loss of possession (likely inflated by her also logging multiple 90s at center attacking mid and wide forward). DeMelo also led the entire league in fouls won, with 3.85 per 90, which led second place (LaBonta) by more than a foul per game.

Pass .04 | Dribble & Carry .09 | Defensive Action .08

Didn’t really have Moultrie putting in a ton of defensive work but guess I should just shut right on up cause .08 is the second highest number in this top 5. Though similar to Kristie Mewis, who had the highest, this is likely informed by style of play as well.

Still, it’s impressive. And even more impressive given that she’s still a teenager. Moultrie registered the same number of successful tackles as Mewis (28), but logged nearly a hundred more pressures (362). And like Mewis, was simply all over the damn place.

Moultrie’s Dribble & Carry number is her highest, and is impressive for the same reasons – they happened all over the pitch. For such a young player, she was also remarkably protective of the ball. Of her 469 carries only 54 ended in a loss of possession, which was an 88.5% success rate. That’s pretty dope, and quite useful.

Pass .02 | Dribble & Carry .14 | Defensive Action .05

One day we will be able to no longer say that Yazmeen Ryan is underrated and on that day angels will sing, woodland creatures will dance, and the sun will reveal her face and smile upon us all.

Anyway, this makes me happy. Ryan is just a pure baller who can pretty much play anywhere and, according to StatsBomb, did. While 13.5 90s in midfield was by far her most consistent position, she also registered minutes as a defensive midfielder, right back, left winger, right winger, and forward.

Similar to DeMelo, Ryan’s turnovers were quite high. But she made up for it by also winning a lot of fouls and being a pest on the defensive end, with high PAdj Pressures (28.02/90) and a respectable Tack/DP% (percentage of time a player makes a tackle when going into a duel vs getting dribbled past) of 68%.

Ryan was seventh among all non-defensive players in carries per 90, with 37.78. In fact, Yazmeen Ryan completed the same number of successful dribbles per 90 as Sophia Smith, 1.54 – below only Trinity Rodman, Kerolin, Debinha and Marta (min. 1200 minutes).

Pass .02 | Dribble & Carry .20 | Defensive Action .07

While removing Shot OBV helped everyone else it actually does Crystal Dunn a disservice, who had a .12(!!!), putting her actual Overall OBV at an absurd .41 per 90.

All of this is why I am so high on Crystal Dunn and think that it remains absurd that the USWNT refuses to play her in midfield. Also why I was made damn near rabid that Kilgore chose Emily Fox as the fullback that would literally hang out in the center circle while Crystal Dunn was literally right tf there.

*closes eyes*

*deep inhale / deep exhale*

*opens eyes*

Ok let’s continue. Dunn’s defensive work is impressive, she won possession through 44 tackles, 17 interceptions, and 107 pressures. Dunn was also above average in 1v1 ground duels, with a 67% Tack/DP%.

As has been standard, the turnover number is high, but no one makes up for it more than Dunn. She averaged 36.99 carries per 90, and had a solid variance between successful (1.35) and failed (.77) dribbles. Dunn also carried the ball 628 times and lost possession on just 71 occasions, an 88.7% success rate.

All that and Dunn also led all players in open play passes into the box per 90, and registered 35 key passes at .09xG per shot with three assists.

Crystal Dunn is a solid defensive presence and remarkable attacking force from the center of the pitch. Why anyone wouldn’t want this player central to score goals and create high value chances is a thing I will never ever understand. It is certainly, in every case and every way, hustling backwards.

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