by Ridge Mahoney @ridgemax, Dec 22, 2015

SA Positional Rankings:

SA Positional Rankings: Right Midfielders

HISTORY.

SA's Best Right Midfielders

The increased use of 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 formations in MLS has produced more players deployed as de facto wingers as opposed to more traditional right-midfield roles normal in a 4-4-2.For these positional rankings, in most cases a wide player up top in a three-man front line is classified as a forward, while those on the flanks in a three-man midfield supporting a single striker are placed in the categories of right and left midfielders.Such designations are sometimes complicated by players of different skill sets utilized by a head coach on opposite flanks. On paper, their positions are the same but the games they play are not.This category also includes attackers who handle a lot of playmaking duties while starting from wide positions much of the time. Players who missed significant portions of the season because of injury or as midseason arrivals may not be listed due to a minimal number of appearances.(Columbus)(NY Red Bulls)(New England)(Vancouver)(FC Dallas)(LA Galaxy)(Montreal)(San Jose)(Seattle)(Sporting KC)He fizzled in the MLS Cup final, which didn’t do his national team prospects much good, but Finlay’s breakout season of 12 goals and 13 assists complemented perfectly the 22-goal campaign of teammate. His dribbles and runs behind the back line yielded prime chances for himself or a teammate, and contributed greatly to Crew SC’s 58 goals (tied for second-best in MLS).Sam’s 10 goals in 31 games exceeded the nine he scored in 54 games during the previous two seasons, and his solid service from the wings and on set plays earned him seven assists. The Revs’ attacking rotation moved Rowe around different slots and on and off the bench (21 starts in 33 games) yet he put up solid numbers of seven goals and six assists. Techera played only 22 games (17 starts) and also scored seven goals to go with five assists.Barrios wrested a spot away fromand started the last 15 regular-season games on his way to seven goals. Zardes started the season up top and moved back into midfield whenarrived; national team duty and the Galaxy's inconsistent form trimmed his production to six goals and four assists. A torn ACL ended Romero’s season a few weeks early; he finished with four goals and four assists. In his second MLS season, Perez Garcia again battled through injuries and languid spells to score twice and register seven assists.Pappa lost his starting spot late in the season and his numbers dipped to three goals and six assists. He'll start again in Colorado. Callups and injuries limited Zusi to 25 games (22 starts) in which he scored only two goals and assisted on five others.Finlay is the third player to repeat as MLS's best right midfielder.was selected four years in a row (1999-2002).won back-to-back honors in 2005-06.2015 Ethan Finlay2014 Ethan Finlay2013 Sebastien Le Toux2012 Eddie Gaven2011 Landon Donovan2010 Atiba Harris2009 Freddie Ljungberg2008 David Beckham2007 Ben Olsen2006 Ronnie O’Brien2005 Ronnie O’Brien2004 Steve Ralston2003 Brian Mullan2002 Steve Ralston2001 Steve Ralston2000 Steve Ralston1999 Steve Ralston1998 Cobi Jones1997 Chris Henderson1996 Roberto Donadoni