Tyler Adams scored against Atlético Madrid and that’s certainly very exciting. However, I feel like that event has masked the reason Adams was brought on and the job he performed. Adams’ goal was more or less a happy accident. If you’ve watched any RB Leipzig this year (and I’ve watched nearly every minute that Adams has played), you’d know that Tyler hasn’t exactly been an offensive dynamo.
João Félix subbed on for Atlético in the 58th minute and drew a penalty (also scored it) in the 70th. Tyler Adams came on in the 72nd minute. I’ve seen it written that Adams came on to man-mark Félix. After watching that portion of the game a couple times I don’t think that’s accurate.
I would submit that Adams had a different assignment for each phase of the game. In Possession, Out of Possession, Offensive Transition, and Defensive Transition .
RWB/CM/D-Mid/Right D-Mid
Right Wing Back in Possession
Part of Adams’ value is his intelligence/versatility. It looks like Nagelsmann is comfortable assigning him complex roles and trusts that Tyler will execute. When Leipzig was in possession Adams went forward in more or less a right back/right wing back role:
His job in possession was to stretch the width of the defense. He’s not a danger to take anyone off the dribble and his crossing isn’t overly threatening, but he occupies the area and typically does the right thing with the ball.
Central Midfielder in Offensive Transition
This is where he was when he scored the goal. When Atlético turned the ball over Adams would run the channel area between the center back and left back. Again, he’s not a huge threat going forward, but he takes up the right positions and fills space well. That’s exactly what he did when he scored:
The Atlético defenders had collapsed on Sabitzer (what a ball from him btw) and opened up a big gap between the defensive and midfield lines. Adams gets into this space and gets off the shot.
D-Mid during Defensive Transition
I don’t watch Atlético often thanks to La Liga’s awful television deal with beIN Sport, but their playing style tends to be described as defend and counter. Leipzig had the majority of possession (57% for the game) and the most dangerous Atlético attacks were likely to come in the form of counters.
When Leipzig lost the ball Adams was in the middle of the field breaking things up. That may be Tyler’s single greatest asset. He’s a one man wrecking crew when it comes to pressuring/stopping counter attacks. Watch him head for the middle here when Leipzig turns the ball over:
Right Defensive Mid when Out of Possession
When Atlético Madrid was solidly in possession of the ball Adams would defend the middle and the right side. I’m honestly still not sure I’ve got a handle on this. Leipzig was playing with three center backs and he was mostly in front of them, but Adams wasn’t just a d-mid. He clearly had some responsibilities in covering the wide right of the field as well. This is why we hear so much about formations like 4-3-3 being sort of pointless descriptors. Adams had a different job for each phase of the game so labeling him as a wing back is inaccurate.
So What?
I think right now Nagelsmann sees Adams as a defensive stopper sort. He can put him in, give him an intricate assignment, and believes that Adams won’t make too many mistakes. Goal aside, he’s not great offensively, but he’ll win the ball and crush counterattacks all game long.
It will be interesting to see if or how Nagelsmann deploys him against PSG in the semifinals. That right sided defensive area is exactly where Neymar would be showing up. Scary, (Neymar was 16/23 dribbling against Atalanta 👀) but it would be a blast to watch. Whether Adams starts or not he’s an exciting piece for the USMNT and will be for years to come.
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