Player of the Week

Player of the Week: Sheanon Williams

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Sheanon Williams’s season—like that of the Union as a whole—has been up and down. He’s had good days and bad on offense, and the same on defense. From setting up Conor Casey’s first Union goal with a trademarked long throw to being directly at fault for several opposition goals, it’s been a bit feast or famine for him.

That lack of consistency is something of a surprise, as Williams is a team leader on the field and off. He earned that title by putting in game after game of above-average two-way play, but this season he has struggled at times.

However, in the past few games, Williams has flipped a switch. Not only has he found some consistency, he’s been consistently excellent. Against Columbus, he scored the second goal with an acrobatic volley. Against New York, he assisted on Casey’s opener. And against Dallas, he assisted two goals—the first a long throw headed in by Amobi Okugo, and the second a perfectly-placed cross to give Aaron Wheeler his first MLS goal—and also managed to include a very late goal-line “clearance” that nearly sealed a win for the Union.

While the loss of two points against Dallas surely stings, no one did more than Williams to put the Union in a position to win that game. Neither Dallas goal came from his area, and Williams had none of the lapses in concentration that had troubled him in the games preceding the Columbus match.

In short, with a settled line-up including the workhorse Sébastien Le Toux in front of him, Williams is again showing the terrific balance of attacking and defensive play that so swiftly earned him his starting job upon joining the Union.

If he can keep it up, Sheanon Williams isn’t just PSP’s Player of the Week, he’s one of the best right backs in MLS.

3 Comments

  1. Southside Johnny says:

    Totally agree. For a while I feared he was sliding back down the same slope as Marfan, but he seems to have found himself. I think Cruz was screwing him up some, but his overall defending was subpar as well. These last two games are where he left off last year. Certainly one of the best in league.

  2. Agreed. Williams – LeToux is a nice pairing and might be worth sacrificing quality on the left side to keep such a positive on the right. I’ve gone back and forth about switching Williams and Gaddis, but there’s no way that Gaddis, even on his right would put in that kind of delivery. Hopefully, Sheannon’s back for good now!

  3. I think that the Le toux pairing has been 50% of it and I think that parke and he have figured it out as well. amobi makes his way upfield a lot with sheanon and that means parke and williams need to understand who, where and when each other need cover.
    Overall whatever has led to his improved form thank god for it. keep it up sheanon.

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