Impact of Copa America on MLS Teams: An Analytical Breakdown 2c3i4o

As Copa America draws near, MLS teams are preparing to cope with the absence of key players called up for international duty. This mid-season disruption will undoubtedly affect some teams more than others, perhaps altering the outcome of this soccer season. In this analysis, SportsHandle will delve into the data to identify the teams that will be most and least affected by the absence of their star players. Using data from Opta, we break down the numbers to provide a clear picture of the challenges and advantages facing MLS teams. Here’s how the departure of these key players could shape the rest of the MLS season. 4i55q

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Teams Most Affected 2j6n68

Here’s a look at the teams most affected by their players’ departures:

Minnesota United FC

• Players:
  • Tani Oluwaseyi: +1.4 PPG Diff
  • Carlos Harvey: +1.1 PPG Diff
  • Dayne St. Clair: +0.9 PPG Diff
• Combined PPG Diff: +3.0
  • (Including –0.4 from Alejandro Bran)

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

• Players:
  • Ali Ahmed: +1.6 PPG Diff
  • Andrés Cubas: +1.2 PPG Diff
• Combined PPG Diff: +2.8

CF Montréal

• Players:
  • Samuel Piette: +1.1 PPG Diff
  • Ariel Lassiter: +1.1 PPG Diff
  • Joel Waterman: +0.1 PPG Diff
  • Mathieu Choinière: + 0.1 PPG Diff
• Combined PPG Diff: +2.4

Nashville SC

• Players:
  • Jacob Shaffelburg: +1.3 PPG Diff
  • Aníbal Godoy: +0.8 PPG Diff
  • Shaq Moore:  +0.3 PPG Diff
• Combined PPG Diff: +2.4

Los Angeles Football Club

• Player:
  • Cristian Olivera: +1.9 PPG Diff
• Combined PPG Diff: +1.9

 

Teams Least Affected 623i5n

While some teams will struggle without their stars, others might not feel the impact as much. Here's a breakdown of the teams least affected by player departures to Copa America:

Orlando City SC

• Players:

• • Wilder Cartagena: -0.5 PPG Diff
  • Pedro Gallese: -2.1 PPG Diff
• Combined PPG Diff: -2.6

Philadelphia Union

• Players:
  • Andre Blake: -0.3 PPG Diff
  • Damion Lowe: -0.6 PPG Diff
  • José Martínez: -0.9 PPG Diff
• Combined PPG Diff: -1.8

New York Red Bulls II

• Player:
  • Omar Valencia: -1.8 PPG Diff
• Combined PPG Diff: -1.8

Houston Dynamo FC

• Player:
  • Adalberto Carrasquilla: -1.7 PPG Diff
• Combined PPG Diff: -1.7

FC Cincinnati

• Player:
  • Miles Robinson: -1.1 PPG Diff
• Combined PPG Diff: -1.1

Lionel Messi Spotlight 2y4x5k

Lionel Messi’s presence in MLS has been nothing short of transformative for Inter Miami CF. The data underlines just how crucial he is to their success. With Messi on the field, Inter Miami's performance is significantly boosted. His individual PPG Diff of +1.0 indicates the team scores one more point per game on average when he plays. His absence will pose a substantial challenge for the team, making his involvement in Copa America a critical juncture for Inter Miami’s season. Additionally, teammates like Matías Rojas (+0.3) and Luis Suárez (-0.1) will also be missed, further compounding the team's potential struggles.

Ranking the Top 5 Teams for Positive PPG Differential 46h

Based on the PPG differential, we can rank the top five teams whose performance will most likely be affected by the absence of key players over the course of Copa America:

1. Minnesota United FC: +3.0
2. Vancouver Whitecaps FC: +2.8
3. CF Montréal: +2.4
4. Nashville SC: +2.1
5. Los Angeles Football Club: +1.9

Methodology 4j42b

The data presented here is sourced from Opta. The PPG (Points Per Game) differential measures the change in a team’s average points per game when a specific player is absent compared to when they are present. This metric provides a clear indication of a player's impact on their team's performance. The combined PPG differential for teams with multiple players participating in Copa America was calculated by summing the individual PPG differentials of each player, giving a holistic view of the potential impact on the team's performance during the tournament.

You can find the full data here. The data was pulled on 06/17/24.

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