ECNL North Carolina-U16 Top Midfielders

The next group of players to look at from the ECNL NC U16 event are the midfielders. With so many teams, it was inevitable to get plenty of talented midfield prospects. All the different styles, profiles, and tactics made it so that the midfielders on display got to show their strengths against each other. The following list is composed of players of varying profiles, each of which were all impressive on their own.    Gianna is an immensely talented, creative midfielder who helps her team be effective in the final third. Her phenomenal vision allows her to see passes that even watching from the camera's view were difficult to see. She finds these passes all match long, too, making the defenders' jobs all the more difficult. To add to said difficulty, her ability to play precise, driven passes beat defenders constantly. She also knows when to play lofted passes if ground passes are not viable or not the best option. The intelligence she demonstrates in her decision-making proves that she is a player with an extremely high ceiling. Her game isn't only attacking, though. Out of possession, she lends a helping hand to defend, no matter how far she needs to drop.     Ashna is a promising wide midfielder who can also play as a winger and a second striker. She is able to provide width just as she is able to move centrally. When she plays out wide, she helps stretch the defense and creates open spaces for her teammates. She'll also look to attack those spaces when possible. The theme of attacking spaces is also true when she's looking to receive the ball behind the defenders' backs. Being as fast as she is, she leaves the defenders behind her with remarkable ease. When her team is defending, she always drops back to help, making her a well-rounded wide player.     Emma is a central midfielder whose talent makes me believe that she is destined for an illustrious career. The magic she brings to the game is something that cannot be taught. When she receives the ball, it is more than likely that she will produce something special. Very aware of her surroundings, she does not let any defender even think of anticipating her. She's able to free herself from pressure in ways only seen at the elite level. Her vision is unreal, finding players in great positions. Matched with her passing, she's a constant creative threat. Her set-pieces are also special. Whether she's crossing it in or shooting, she makes sure they're always creating danger.     Ava is a talented defensive midfielder whose great work can go unnoticed by many. Playing at the base of her team's midfield requires her to carry out multiple tasks. One of those is the defensive aspect, where she excels. Her clean recoveries are one of her strongest attributes, winning the ball back with remarkable ease. She rarely needs to use extra force to win the ball back, but when she does, she remains a clean player. The other facet she needs to be good at is her ballplaying ability. Her intelligence helps her in both these facets, but is more noticeable in the latter. With short passes, mostly progressive, she helps her team build up from deeper in midfield.     Taylor is an attacking midfielder who can also play anywhere in attack and is remarkably effective in the final third. Her movements both on and off the ball are great, allowing her to create and/or exploit spaces in or near the box. On the ball, she has quick feet to move the ball away from her markers with ease. She's also incredibly agile, getting players off her without touching the ball. Her ball control also allows her to change direction devastatingly when she's running through on goal. Off the ball, she runs into spaces constantly. Wherever the defense is most vulnerable, she'll look to attack that space. Coming from a deeper area than the attackers do, she can also crash the box unnoticed.

The next group of players to look at from the ECNL NC U16 event are the midfielders. With so many teams, it was inevitable to get plenty of talented midfield prospects. All the different styles, profiles, and tactics made it so that the midfielders on display got to show their strengths against each other. The following list is composed of players of varying profiles, each of which were all impressive on their own.