[Sakibomb25]

I thought Harvey has always started at defensive center mid? I didn't realize Bhuta moved up to the mid.

I think the most effective line-up would be to have Bhuta be in right back and Harvey in defensive center mid. Then you can have Kohler and either Klinger or Aikey as the other mid, with Klinger or Aikey up top. I have a feeling Klinger will start in the midfield and Aikey will be center forward (though in the pros, she'll probably project to be a midfielder). However, at the next level, she could conceivably play any position her team needs of her.

Bhuta never played RB last year- it was N Harrison with a few S Smith appearances all season. Bhuta started the year as the 8 in RM. Harvey struggles some with bad turnovers and she lacks the quickness to recover when she coughs it up. As a result she was briefly removed as a starter midseason and Bhuta moved to the 6. It was a win-win. Harvey showed a bit of a nose for goal at the 8 that the team badly needed with the forward injuries, and Bhuta was basically perfect as a DM. My top 10 player is no exaggeration - I don’t take topdrawersoccer as literal truth (Dudley at 31? Seriously?). But they had Bhuta as 14 at the end of the 2024 season and most of the players ahead of her moved on. She really was that good; so I think the odds she goes back to RB are basically zero. DM is just a much more important position especially for a team that likes to control the ball, and I say that as a dude who played a lot of RB.

Fair enough. I guess I was going off of Harvey’s play when she started as a defensive midfielder. But honestly I think the key is find a consistent partner for Evans at center back and to make sure Aikey is part of the offense and not on defense. She can play defense, but she is much more valuable on offense.

Excited to see Boahmah grow in her role as a defender - she’s got the quickness to get it done, but also is an asset on attacks forward.

[Sakibomb25]

I thought Harvey has always started at defensive center mid? I didn't realize Bhuta moved up to the mid.

I think the most effective line-up would be to have Bhuta be in right back and Harvey in defensive center mid. Then you can have Kohler and either Klinger or Aikey as the other mid, with Klinger or Aikey up top. I have a feeling Klinger will start in the midfield and Aikey will be center forward (though in the pros, she'll probably project to be a midfielder). However, at the next level, she could conceivably play any position her team needs of her.

Bhuta never played RB last year- it was N Harrison with a few S Smith appearances all season. Bhuta started the year as the 8 in RM. Harvey struggles some with bad turnovers and she lacks the quickness to recover when she coughs it up. As a result she was briefly removed as a starter midseason and Bhuta moved to the 6. It was a win-win. Harvey showed a bit of a nose for goal at the 8 that the team badly needed with the forward injuries, and Bhuta was basically perfect as a DM. My top 10 player is no exaggeration - I don’t take topdrawersoccer as literal truth (Dudley at 31? Seriously?). But they had Bhuta as 14 at the end of the 2024 season and most of the players ahead of her moved on. She really was that good; so I think the odds she goes back to RB are basically zero. DM is just a much more important position especially for a team that likes to control the ball, and I say that as a dude who played a lot of RB.

Fair enough. I guess I was going off of Harvey’s play when she started as a defensive midfielder. But honestly I think the key is find a consistent partner for Evans at center back and to make sure Aikey is part of the offense and not on defense. She can play defense, but she is much more valuable on offense.

Excited to see Boahmah grow in her role as a defender - she’s got the quickness to get it done, but also is an asset on attacks forward.