by Ridge Mahoney @ridgemax, Dec 28, 2015

Traditionally, MLS teams don’t spend much on defensive midfielders, yet as more funds are made available for higher-priced players, and the majority of that money goes to attackers, the value of destroyers who can also use the ball increases.





If they don’t win the ball themselves, defensive mids are often the first outlet for defenders who have won a tackle or intercepted a pass. The good ones cover a lot of ground to shield the back line, clog up passing lanes, and pry the ball loose in double-teams. The best defensive mids are also efficient passers who play intelligent balls to maintain possession or set the attack in motion. If they can get forward at the right time take a crack at goal or slip a through ball, or drift wide to launch a dangerous cross, so much the better.



SA Positional Rankings:

Best Striker: Kei Kamara

Best Forward: Sebastian Giovinco

Best Attacking Midfielder: Benny Feilhaber

Best Right Midfielder: Ethan Finlay

Best Central Midfielder: Michael Bradley

Best Left Midfielder: Fabian Castillo



One of the league’s top defensive mids for the past few seasons, Osvaldo Alonso of Seattle, led all players in pass completion percentage at 92.3. Top-ranked Dax McCarty of the Red Bulls racked up more recoveries, 319, than any other player, and he also provided 30 key passes that set up opportunities for teammates. (Figures according to whoscored.com.)



Players who played less than one-half of the season are not rated.



SA Positional Rankings: Defensive Midfielders

1. Dax McCarty (New York)

2. Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle)

3. Diego Chara (Portland)

4. Matias Laba (Vancouver)

5. Victor Ulloa (FC Dallas)

6. Scott Caldwell (New England)

7. Darwin Ceren (Orlando City)

8. Wil Trapp (Columbus)

9. Perry Kitchen (D.C. United)

10. Soni Mustivar (Sporting KC)



In his 10th season, McCarty served as the primary conduit of the league’s top-scoring attack (62 goals) and its sixth-ranked defense (43 goals). He finished second on the Red Bulls with eight assists and completed 84.1 percent of his passes, of which he averaged 71.8 per game. In most games, he hit just the right balance of busyness and efficiency that enabled the Red Bulls to function smoothly.



Injuries limited Alonso to 22 appearances; the Sounders lost just six of those games and seven others that he missed. Chara cut down his foul count to a career low 63 -- which still placed him in the top 10 -- and hit his average of eight cautions per season right on the nose while knitting together the Portland midfield and completing 86.3 percent of his passes. Laba led all midfielders with five tackles per game and also averaged a solid 2.7 interceptions.



Ulloa committed just 41 fouls and averaged nearly three interceptions per game as the keystone in FCD’s midfield. Rather quietly Caldwell completed 85.1 percent of his passes, scored two goals, and registered five assists while often deployed as the lone midfield anchor. Ceren utilized a lot of central midfield support to hit 86.5 percent of his passes and record 2.5 interceptions per game.



Concussion issues sidelined Trapp for about one-third of the season; he connected with 87.8 percent of his passes and averaged 2.4 interceptions per game. Kitchen started every match and wore down near the end of the season, registering more fouls (65) than interceptions (58). Mustivar’s passing percentage was mediocre (80.8) but he finished third in the league by averaging five interceptions per game as roles and responsibilities in the SKC midfield were shifted around.



HISTORY. Alonso, second to McCarty among defensive midfielders in 2015, is the only player to be named the best player at the position as many as three times (2009, 2012 and 2014).



SA's Best Defensive Midfielders

2015 Dax McCarty

2014 Osvaldo Alonso

2103 Kyle Beckerman

2012 Osvaldo Alonso

2011 Kyle Beckerman

2010 Jeff Larentowicz

2009 Osvaldo Alonso

2008 Brian Carroll

2007 Jesse Marsch

2006 Shalrie Joseph

2005 Ricardo Clark

2000 Matt McKeon

1999 Chris Armas

1998 Chris Armas

1997 Richie Williams

1996 Leonel Alvarez