skip navigation

USL Insights – Palmer-Brown Sets the Tempo

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 05/11/17, 8:57AM EDT

Share

U.S. U20 National Team captain has been stellar in action for Rangers


Photo courtesy Michael Rincon / Phoenix Rising FC

Watching Erik Palmer-Brown captain the United States U20 National Team to its first CONCACAF U20 Championship in March, the high potential he possessed was evident both in his play, and his overall numbers for the tournament.

Since moving from playing as a holding midfielder for the United States back into his more conventional role at center back for the Swope Park Rangers this season in the USL, we have received even more evidence of his upside.

Palmer-Brown was the youngest Homegrown signing in Sporting Kansas City’s history, and made 10 appearances for the club during 2014-15 before being sent on loan to Portugal’s Porto B last year to add to his experience. All of that is coming to bear in his performances for the Rangers, where he has acted as a metronome, helping set the tempo at the back for the defending Western Conference champions.

Palmer-Brown’s efficiency was well marked in his performance in the Rangers’ 1-0 victory against Sacramento Republic FC on April 15. The 20-year-old made 96 passes for the game, completing at a rate of 92.6 percent. If that seems high, know that it’s pretty much the accuracy rate Palmer-Brown has been at all season. As Kurt Austin pointed out, Palmer-Brown’s accuracy rate this season of 92.2 percent over 322 total passes is the best of any player competing professionally in North America.

Going back for his second FIFA U20 World Cup – one of three returning players from the squad that competed in New Zealand in 2015 – Palmer-Brown’s leadership and versatility will be something to watch for wherever he’s deployed in U20 National Team Head Coach Tab Ramos’ lineup over the next month.

Erik Palmer-Brown, Swope Park Rangers
Pass Chart vs. Sacramento, 4/15/17

DECISIVENESS REQUIRED FOR INDEPENDENCE


Photo courtesy Emily Byrne / Rochester Rhinos

When it comes to building an attack, and controlling the pace of play for a contest, there haven’t been many better sides this season than the Charlotte Independence. The Jacks are averaging more than 400 successful passes per game – their total of 2,032 passes completed is higher than the Eastern Conference leader Charleston Battery’s 1,969 in two fewer games – and sit with a 79.2 accuracy rate.

Unfortunately for Head Coach Mike Jeffries' side, that hasn’t translated to success in the final third of the field, where the Independence have been somewhat trigger-shy so far this season. Charlotte has logged only 48 shots total in its five games, only 12 of which have been on goal. With figures like that, compared to the Battery’s 42 shots on goal – an average of 6 per game compared to 2.4 – and it’s pretty simple to see why the Independence have struggled out of the gate.

The Independence’s last outing against a good, but not necessarily great, Rochester Rhinos defense was a case in point. As you can see from the charts, the Independence had only 11 touches in the Rhinos’ penalty area, and the starting midfield and attack in the team’s 4-2-3-1 formation floundered as it tried to find a way through. 

Charlotte Independence
Front Six Pass Chart at Rochester, 4/29/17

Charlotte Independence
Total Team Touches at Rochester, 4/29/17

After reaching the playoffs last season with multiple players finding the net regularly, the Independence need to find that little bit of extra sharpness and speed in the final third. With the New York Red Bulls II coming to Eagle Field on Thursday night, though, the challenges won’t let up anytime soon.

Follow the USL Championship

Most Recent News

Most Read News

Latest Videos