Over the last few years, the Bundesliga has become a haven for the development of young footballers from the United States. Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and John Brooks have become regulars in their teams’ starting lineups, while budding prospects such as Josh Sargent, Chris Richards, Haji Wright and many more are also improving their game at a German club or academy.
Tyler Adams is one of the most recent Americans to make the move across the Atlantic. This tactical analysis will look at how Adams played during his time in Major League Soccer, and how he could potentially play at his new Bundesliga club as well as the United States national team.
Who is Tyler Adams?
Joining RB Leipzig from New York Red Bulls, Adams is reuniting with his former manager Jesse Marsch, who coached New York from 2015 until his own move to Germany in the summer of 2018. Marsch is currently an assistant coach at Leipzig, under the tutelage of manager Ralf Rangnick.
Adams has been in the Red Bull conglomerate his entire career, joining the New York Red Bulls Academy at the age of 12. A New York native, the midfielder rose through the Red Bull system, moving from the academy to New York Red Bulls II in early 2015, and signing a senior team contract less than eight months later.
Adams is no stranger to silverware, as he won the 2016 USL Cup with Red Bulls II and the 2018 MLS Supporters’ Shield with the New York Red Bulls. He also played key roles in both the MLS team’s CONCACAF Champions League campaign in which they reached the semi-finals, and in the 2017 Under-20 World Cup for the United States, reaching the quarter-finals.
Positioning in midfield
During Adams’ time in New York, he was primarily positioned as one of the deeper midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Paired with Sean Davis in the two-man midfield, Adams and Davis would take shifts moving forward and staying back above the back line.
Do not assume however that Adams is restricted to this deeper role. On the contrary, the 19-year-old is the most omnipresent and energetic on the pitch. Last season, Adams led the New York Red Bulls in passes per game with 50.3, and had the second-best pass completion percentage on the team at 76.4%. He often touches the ball more than any other teammate.
This desire to roam has been very constructive to almost all aspects of New York’s play.
