Fansided

Every MLS teams’ best player aged 20 or under

By Harrison Hamm

May 20, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta United forward Andrew Carleton (30) runs on the field against the Houston Dynamo in the second half at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta United forward Andrew Carleton (30) runs on the field against the Houston Dynamo in the second half at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 6, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Red Bulls midfielder Tyler Adams (4) in action against the Philadelphia Union during the first half at Talen Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
May 6, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Red Bulls midfielder Tyler Adams (4) in action against the Philadelphia Union during the first half at Talen Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Red Bulls: Tyler Adams

The Red Bulls have long been one of the best clubs in MLS at locating and developing young talent. They consistently play New York natives on the first team — think Alex Muyl or Connor Lade — and they’ve seen a steady stream of youth prospects over the past few years, depth that helped immensely in their 2015 Supporters’ Shield run and their close call in 2016. New York Red Bulls II, their USL reserve affiliate, cruised to a championship last year.

While there are a number of options for their best U-20 player (Derrick Etienne Jr. and Anatole Abang are good examples), it’s U.S. U-20 international and confirmed defensive midfielder of the future Tyler Adams who takes the cake here, and it’s not even very close. Adams is mature beyond his 18 years, and excels at controlling games through efficient passing and keeping the ball in midfield.

He’s tireless, covering an incredible amount of ground, and, as Top Drawer Soccer’s Will Parchman noted, he uses his body well to help shield opposing players. Adams was crucial for the U.S. U-20s in their World Cup run, playing as a traditional box-to-box midfielder, and secured his spot as the Red Bulls long-term starting defensive midfielder after RBNY traded Dax McCarty in the offseason to make room for Adams.

His performances in MLS this season has been promising, and as he grows into a true No. 6, he’ll have the best of the best teaching him. Red Bulls’ assistant coach Chris Armas is a former star d-mid, and he said “(Adams) is way better than I was.” High, deserved praise.

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