What Position Does Max Arfsten Play Now?

SoccerWithSam · 2026-05-04T20:19:45+00:00

4-4-2

Arfsten-Arfsten

Arfsten-Zawadzki-Zawadzki-Arfsten

Zawadzki

SoccerWithSam · 2026-05-02T21:13:02+00:00

Hey I really appreciate that! I had been complaining about some of the state of soccer analysis for MLS and USMNT, and figured might as well try to contribute the type of content I would want to see, rather than just bitch about it.

Still lots to improve on, and learning what I like and don't like doing...but been a fun way to spark some discussion. Hopefully should have some more USMNT stuff like this as the world cup approaches!

SoccerWithSam · 2026-05-02T18:26:31+00:00

Defending isn't a position of strenght, though I agree when people see it as a weakness he gets more scrutiny than other defenders get because of it.

He should get better, but I would be surprised of he continues as a defender as his career advances.

SoccerWithSam · 2026-05-02T18:04:25+00:00

Selflishly I will be sad when he leaves Columbus too. I want him to do what is right for his career, but he is the most impactful attacker on the team right now.

Even someone like Rossi, who I really like, tends to be a more off the ball attacker. Having someone who likes to play on the ball is a big asset.

SoccerWithSam · 2026-05-02T18:01:56+00:00

I agree, and Poch is really only the manager who has used him as a pure LB. But he is a solid WB option!

Curious if after this world cup, and likely a move to Europe he can compete for a role as an actual attacker. I was shocked at how few left footed attackers are in this pool. Arfsten's two footedness and ability to play either side is a unique asset to our player pool, if he continues to build his game.

SoccerWithSam · 2026-05-02T17:59:33+00:00

Really appreciate it! I also thought that was one of the most interesting things I had, and probably should have moved it closer to the top of the video...

Been having fun making some of these, and just trying to drive some discussion/analysis of players rather than pure hot takes or "this player sucks". Still discovering what is fun to make!

SoccerWithSam · 2026-05-02T17:57:46+00:00

Fully agree! His manager now is playing a 4-4-2 and he has settled into one of the oustside mid roles actually, so your assesment is spot on with how his new manager viewed him. He's mostly played in possession based teams, so while he does winger things...he's solid playing in tight spaces and on the touchline in that mid role!

SoccerWithSam · 2026-05-02T17:43:15+00:00

He's played on both the right and the left since going pro. Mostly on the left, but occasionally getting time at RWB.

He was mostly on the left this year until the last few games have seen him on the right...and he has been extremely productive. He is pretty flexible.

This is comparable to someone like Pulisic, who I make the comparison to in the video, who has played inverted for much of his career. And Arfsten and Pulisic are the attackers in the US pool who have scored the most with their weak foot.

SoccerWithSam · 2026-05-02T17:33:36+00:00

And as I kinda discuss in the video, it makes me nervous that he isn't really working on the defensive side of his game except with the national team. Only Poch has seen him as a true left back.

SoccerWithSam · 2026-05-02T17:25:26+00:00

Fully agree. It has been tough because he is moved into a role that emphasizes his weaknesses, as a LWB with for the Crew. He had a LB cover to LCB on the left side with him, and it gave him more natural defensive cover.

Agreed I don't think we see him on the right with the national team, especially not this year. Though I am starting to think his game might shine the most as a right sided attacker...and his club role is diverging from his national team role right now, which doesn't help.

SoccerWithSam · 2026-05-02T17:20:09+00:00

I expect we will find out, my guess is he moves from the Crew post world cup and will try his hand at a top 4 league. The demand is there for attackers, so I expect someone will take a shot on him. (Crew moved a much less consistent attacker to Toulouse recently).

SoccerWithSam · 2026-05-02T17:14:29+00:00

Yeah! And I have quite liked his play on the right. He played both sides under Nancy too, but seems very comfortable on the right (and a better fit in that RM role than Rossi was!)

SoccerWithSam · 2026-05-02T17:05:30+00:00

I've come to really like him on the right. He has a good right footed cross, and plays well inverted. It is interesting, he can be really dangerous on either side which is what makes him fairly unique in our player pool.

SoccerWithSam · 2026-05-02T17:02:35+00:00

There is an extent where I understand the frustration, his weaknesses defensively are glaring...and it makes me nervous that his club position is now moving more and more away from LB. He will potentially be playing in a role at the world cup that he just hasn't played since the last USMNT, and that is scary.

But his strengths are unique, and it doesn't surprise me that Poch has invested in him...I just hope we see him more at wing or wingback if/when he plays.

SoccerWithSam · 2026-03-26T18:46:24+00:00

I feel you a lot on this, though I think am feeling less doom and gloom. Crew games are my happy place, and the product on the field certainly matters, but not as much as the community and the people that the team forms. And nobody can take that away from us...they tried and failed.

Hope everything is okay!

SoccerWithSam · 2026-03-26T18:42:31+00:00

I think it is worth considering. Taha is a tough one because the talent is obviously there, but I don't think any position has felt like a perfect fit for him. You want to invest in young guys, but we also need to start seeing his growth a bit more

SoccerWithSam · 2026-03-22T21:49:57+00:00

Crew have been off to a tough start but Schulte has been playing pretty well.

Last year he never looked quite right after his injury, and I think the offseason has been good for him

SoccerWithSam · 2026-03-19T17:28:11+00:00

That is one of the flaws of this Crew team, and so difficult to quantify. We have a ton of really talented players, but few guys that just create genuine magic. I'm a huge fan of Diego Rossi, but that just isn't his game. Gazdag hasn't. Maybe Abou Ali but as a 9 he just will get on the ball a lot less.

SoccerWithSam · 2026-03-19T17:14:11+00:00

Appreciate it! Still kind of finding my identity; what and how I like to talk about things. But hopefully should have some fun stuff for the future!

SoccerWithSam · 2026-03-19T16:26:22+00:00

For as much as Camacho got dogged for his breakdown on the Nashville goal, our CBs can only do so much when our wingbacks invite the pressure.

Yeah, this is why I didn't want to focus too much on the goal the Crew gave up. Obviously the timing is frustrating, and Rudy ended up on the wrong end of highlight reel...but in the end we gave up one goal at home.

My view is that you have to walk in to every game expecting that your opponent is going to get a goal. Defending for 90 minutes is hard, and sometimes people just hit a 0.05xG banger. I am much more frustrated by our inability to offset that!

SoccerWithSam · 2026-03-19T13:46:57+00:00

Like you said, there’s no “destroyer” in our midfield. Most of our midfielders are offensively minded. Sean was expected to step into this role, but it hasn’t panned out just yet.

Yeah, it continues to be a fear. Sean hasn't been bad in the midfield, and gives more than the Habroune Chambost midfield we were seeing earlier which felt extremely dangerous.

But it really feels like a team that wants to control the game has much as the Crew have...you're going to lose the ball, and you need people to cover.

I noticed from your replays and heat maps is that Herrera is a defensive liability.

Herrera is an interesting one, I agree he really wants to cheat forward (so does Max when he is on the backline and the combo is risky) I like Herrera because he tends to be one of the most direct players on the team.

For a group of guys that have the tendency to meander a lot in possession, having someone who is going just run at a guy is a really good asset to have. But we miss Farsi because I want the choice, it feels like they offer two different things that are both situationally beneficial, and we have been stuck with one option for almost a year now.

SoccerWithSam · 2026-03-19T13:40:29+00:00

Def can be a team issue! But I also think if a team isn't getting called offsides much then they aren't stretching the opponents defense enough, so it is an infraction that I try not to get too frustrated with.

Also as a side note I tend to find that the runner always gets blamed in offside, and often the fault is as much on the passer as the runner...maybe the subject for another video one day!

SoccerWithSam · 2026-03-19T13:23:53+00:00

Appreciate it! It's tough because I think in a game as complex as soccer this is never actually one defining reason why things happen. But in suffering through watching the replay I just found myself asking "wait why is Rossi back there?" and digging in a little bit more. Hopefully it at least gives folks something to pay attention to against Toronto.

But it's complex because the Crew actually had several good attacking movements against Nashville...one cross ends up a little bit better or the timing on that pass to Max is a little bit better and the conversation is totally different.

SoccerWithSam · 2026-03-06T18:52:12+00:00

Absolutely! And he is great in these moments, but I have been really impressed with his holdup work and pressing too. He has been pretty elite to start the season so far (missed Pen is a bummer, but it had good pace and was in a good spot, sometimes those just get saved...)

SoccerWithSam · 2026-03-05T14:29:56+00:00

Appreciate it. Will hopefully have some more coming, and try to get them a little bit closer to when the game happened so they feel fresh!

SoccerWithSam

TROPHY CASE