Chattanooga Red Wolves defensive midfielder Conor Doyle (22) leads the Chattanooga Red Wolves in tackles this season with 41, which ranks seventh among USL League One players. His efficient passing has also been an asset for the first-year professional soccer team.Some athletes display a flashy style that shines brightly and excites the crowd.
One of the key assets for the first-year Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, though, has been the steady approach of a former Major League Soccer player.
“There are players, fans say, ‘Oooh, look at what he just did.’ Conor (Doyle) is a player you will probably never notice unless you are disciplined enough to say I am just going to watch his game,” Red Wolves coach Tim Hankinson said. “If you do, you will see he hardly ever makes a mistake.
“He is not going to try some fancy trick that will get you cheering, but his efficiency and strong play in the midfield has become very important to the success of the team right now.”
Chattanooga (6-4-6) will try to stretch its unbeaten streak to nine games Saturday night as it returns to competition for the first time since tying Forward Madison FC 1-1 on July 13 in Wisconsin. The Red Wolves host FC Tucson (6-6-4) at 7 at David Stanton Field, where they are 5-0-3. Entering Friday night’s USL League One matches, Chattanooga was fourth in the 10-team standings, with their visitors from Arizona sixth.
While most of Doyle’s experience in his 10-year professional career has come at winger or striker, the former player for England’s Derby County FC as well as D.C. United and the Colorado Rapids of MLS has found his groove at a new spot.
Like his new teammates in their roles, it took a little time for Doyle to adjust to his spot in the defensive midfield. However, the 27-year-old bought into his coaches’ strategies and has formed a strong bond with Brazilian teammate Ualefi dos Reis in the middle.
Over the Red Wolves’ past eight games, both Doyle and Ualefi have completed more than 85% of their passes, with the duo making the offensive attack more efficient and the defense tougher to get through.
“Our passing has improved,” said Doyle, who helped D.C. United win the U.S. Open Cup in 2013. “I think the summer heat has been the best thing for us because it has made us slow down to where we have to keep the ball and not tire ourselves out. Being better on the ball has helped spark this streak. We are creating more chances instead of just a few shots off counterattacks or set pieces.”
Doyle has contributed a pair of headers for goals, with his anticipation and battle for the ball a calling card. He averaged just 1.75 tackles during Chattanooga’s first eight games, but the 6-foot-2 Texas native has shown linebacker qualities while bumping that mark to 3.4 per game during USL League One’s longest unbeaten streak.
In a 1-1 draw against Orlando City B in Florida on July 10, he completed 98% of his passes and totaled six tackles. Doyle ranks seventh in the league with 41 tackles and also has 26 interceptions.
“It’s funny because I have never considered myself to be much of a tackler,” he said. “But for Wally (Ualefi) and I, we have to get there and break things up to give our front three or four a chance to score. Shutting down passing lanes is a big part of our game, and to start the attack from a little higher up is a good thing.”
As one of three teams in the first-year league yet to lose at home, Chattanooga will look for its midfield to continue to set the tone.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.