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SBI MLS Rookie of the Week: Jose Villarreal

JoseVillarreal (Getty)

When Jose Villarreal went into Sunday's LA Galaxy match against FC Dallas, he was brought in to provide a spark in a scoreless draw. He provided that and more in helping steer the Galaxy to a 2-0 victory.

Villarreal assisted on Juninho's openin goal just seven minutes after entering the match, and drew plenty of praise after the match for giving the Galaxy attack the energy it needed to pull away. The performance was enough to earn Villarreal SBI MLS Rookie of the Week honors.

Villarreal beat out a field that included D.C. United's Nick DeLeon, New York Red Bulls defender Connor Lade and Columbus Crew goalkeeper Matt Lampson.

What did you think of Villarreal's performance? Excited to see an 18-year-old player with so much skill? What rookie impressed you the most this past week?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Seen every first team minute he’s played so far, and Jose is the real deal. Looks very mature, completely unfazed by playing alongside some of MLS’ biggest stars, and makes an impact on the field.

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  2. Saw him in the last two appearances, really impressed – especially with his hold up play with his back to goal. For a smaller player, he was holding off big defenders like a guy 8 inches taller and 6 years older. Great engine and hustle. Can’t wait to see more.

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  3. some nice insights above re. Jose imho, thanks

    saw him vs. Isidro

    looked nervous early, can’t blame him, yet had some better touches and movement as the game wore on, looked for comfortable along with the whole team, moved better

    perhaps that helped him, don’t know, but he grabbed the game right away vs. FCD when put out there, played with some real confidence, and his quickness and responses, his touches, were better because of it. he came in with a purpose

    top end speed don’t know but wouldn’t call him slow

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  4. He is quick. Explosive speed is overrated in soccer. What matters is quickness in 10 to 20 yard increments, and quick acceleration to open up a yard of space on a defender. He seems like he has quick feet and good 5 to 10 yard acceleration and really good balance. His brain is very quick. He seems to see things before they happen which is the most valued attribute for a soccer player.

    What makes some of the great players seem physically faster than they really are is the fact that they see the field better, and can diagnose a play faster than the other players can. To me Villarreal has this instinct and A QUICK soccer brain.

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  5. He has good technical skill, good left foot, and good quickness. If he can start scoring goals than he could become a very good player.

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  6. Agree that generally Lade should not play as a fullback but thought he was better (or at least less awful) last night than against Houston and Portland.

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  7. The few times I’ve seen him he’s certainly appeared to be quite slick and confident with the ball at his feet. My main concern is that he doesn’t appear to have explosive speed or quickness. To those who have seen him play consistently is that the case or am I just blind?

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  8. This guy’s gonna be good. When you look at whom he practices with day-in and day-out, he will only get better. He is “only” 18 and better than Frddy Adu at that age, not for his technical skill on the ball, but for his vision, great left foot, and quickness, not to mention he is very tactically astute. I see him in Europe in 2-3 years.

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  9. I don’t know, I’m a Lade fan but I thought he got torched most of the game. So not close to ROTW for me.

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