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Joshua Yaro looking to improve on mixed Day 1 showing at MLS Combine

Photo by Andy Mead/MLS
Photo by Andy Mead/MLS

LAUDERHILL, Fla. — Widely projected to be the No. 1 pick of the 2016 MLS Draft, Joshua Yaro has plenty to build on at the MLS Combine if he is to live up to the hype.

Yaro did not have a terrible first day at the office on Friday, but, as is the case with most prospects, was not at his sharpest on Day 1 of the Combine. The 21-year-old Yaro started at centerback for Team X before moving to right back in the second half, and his overall performance was a mixed bag. There were flashes of the athleticism and skill that have earned him a Generation adidas deal, but also poor touches and sloppy passing.

Needless to say, there is room for improvement for the Georgetown Hoya.

“On Day 2, first of all, help my team keep winning and being able to clean up some of the mistakes,” Yaro told SBI when asked what he’d like to show during Sunday’s round of games. “Making my passing a lot sharper, making my runs and everything, and build myself up to where I need to be because I don’t think I’m in the position right now or as good as I can be I’d say.”

While undoubtedly physically gifted, Yaro faces a dilemma that many college players encounter when trying to make the jump to the pros. At 5-foot-11, Yaro is considered a bit short for his preferred centerback position, leaving some to question whether he is better suited for a fullback spot at the next level.

After a first half in which he did not look entirely comfortable, and was outplayed at times by centerback partner Ivan Magalhaes of Maryland, Yaro was deployed as a right back to begin the second stanza. He used his speed to get up and down the line, but did not always make the type of adequate run that would have made him a suitable outlet for a teammate.

“Not great today, but he’s a good player,” Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch told SBI. “We’ve watched him a lot, partly because we like him and partly because Georgetown is Red Bull south. We’ve gotten to know him pretty well. I think very highly of him.

“This whole thing kind of happened pretty quickly with him signing his contract, getting down here, so not surprising that he didn’t have a great first day, but I think he’ll continue to show better as it goes.”

Yaro is certainly hoping so. On one of his most notable plays of the day – which came at right back, no less – he darted forward to the back post unnoticed. A cross was coming in from the left, and Yaro got himself in position to head the ball. He failed to make clean contact despite little pressure, however, and wasted the opportunity.

Bad plays aside, the talent that has made many coaches salivate was evident in spurts. He leaped high to contest a few headers, used his speed to beat attackers to several balls and avoided any costly blunders in his team’s shutout win.

“Centerback I enjoyed it. Right back was a bit frustrating because I wasn’t getting the ball as much,” said Yaro. “It’s hard when you’re just running up and down the field without the ball. I was telling my coach to let the other guys know if they could get me the ball, but it’s good, it’s a good test. It’s just the first day, and I’m looking forward to the next two games and hopefully keep improving every game.”

Yaro might be hoping for a better second-day showing, but he knows that a bigger challenge might be in store for him given that it is likely that he sees more time at right back.

“I think the next game I might start out wide,” said the Ghanaian. “Looking forward to it. It’s a new challenge. It’s always fun to experience new things.”

In an ideal world, Yaro admits he would get selected in the MLS Draft on Thursday by a club that would use him at centerback. He feels more comfortable there, which should be no surprise since he spent so much time at that spot with Georgetown.

Yaro knows that might not be how things ultimately play out, though. That is why he is readying himself for whatever challenge he is faced with, both on Sunday and in MLS.

“I’m looking forward to whichever position I end up playing at the next level,” said Yaro. “I think it’ll be an interesting one, it’s going to take some adjustment, but at the end of the day it’s going to be rewarding when I finally step into that and get comfortable with that position.”

Comments

  1. An athletic player with little technical ability will be the first pick of the draft…this pretty much sums up the state of MLS

    Reply

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