What can you tell me about Jack Hallahan (M Soccer)

Submitted by CaliUMfan on January 10th, 2020 at 12:15 PM

Does anyone here follow Michigan Soccer closely? If so, what can you tell me about Hallahan?

I am an LAFC season ticket member (we drafted Halllahan yesterday) and a huge M basketball and football fan but I don't really follow M soccer. MLS has sort of surpassed the days where kids that went the college route are likely to make an impact and LAFC is the best team in the league so more likely than not he won't actually make the squad but I was hoping someone had some insight as to what he might be able to offer at the pro level. 

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Zoltanrules

January 10th, 2020 at 1:11 PM ^

Zlatan is gone, so you are better off in El Trafico.

Hallahan (Redditch, England) suited up in 79 career matches for Michigan from 2016-19, making 70 starts. He is arguably the best four-year player in program history, ranking second in career points (73), third in goals (26) and tied for third in assists (21). In 2018, he was a United Soccer Coaches All-American (second team), a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. Hallahan is a three-time United Soccer Coaches All-North Region selection and is the only man in program history to garner three All-Big Ten first team selections. LAFC is about to enter its third year of competition in the MLS and is helmed by former U.S. National Team coach Bob Bradley.

2020: Jack Hallahan, LAFC (2nd. Rd., 50th overall)
2019: Marcello Borges, Colorado Rapids (2nd Rd., 28th overall); Robbie Mertz, Colorado Rapids (4th Rd., 76th overall)
2018: Francis Atuahene, FC Dallas (1st Rd., 4th overall)
2017: Lars Eckenrode, Toronto FC (4th Rd., 83rd overall)
2014: Fabio Pereira, Seattle Sounders (4th Rd., 77th overall)
2013: Kofi Opare, LA Galaxy (2nd Rd., 24th overall)
2011: Justin Meram, Columbus Crew (1st Rd., 15th overall)
2010: Mauro Fuzetti, Sporting KC (3rd Rd., 41st overall)
2009: Peri Marosevic, FC Dallas (1st Rd., 5th overall); Michael Holody, Colorado Rapids (4th Rd., 59th overall)
2006: Peter Dzubay, New Jersey MetroStars (2nd Rd., 17th overall)
2005: Knox Cameron, Columbus Crew (4th Rd., 44th overall)
2004: Kevin Taylor, Colorado Rapids (3rd Rd., 25th overall)

Joined: 08/23/2009

MGoPoints: 21234

Crash

January 10th, 2020 at 1:54 PM ^

I've seen him in person a few times, and I've gone to some AFC Ann Arbor games.  I would say he won't make the team.  He has a knack for finding the net and producing on offense, but he's physically not that gifted.  He's not blazing fast or quick.

Just my opinion.  I've played soccer my whole life (38 years old), but I've never played at that kind of level.  However, I do think I can spot talent reasonably well.

Joined: 08/18/2010

MGoPoints: 1293

4godkingandwol…

January 10th, 2020 at 3:12 PM ^

Because soccer isn’t American. And therefore it is bad. 

at least that’s what I imagine down voters would argue. Then they’d say, “it’s not that it isn’t American, it just sucks.” To which I would argue, “the vast majority of the Sports watching human species objectively disagrees with you.”  Then I’d likely get downvoted too, because it is the preferred refuge of the “soccer sucks” contingent on this board. 

Joined: 08/06/2008

MGoPoints: 31376

ohaijoe

January 10th, 2020 at 3:39 PM ^

I’ve never understood the anti-soccer crowd. It’s a sport where you have to keep moving almost the whole 90 minutes, which requires great cardio ability. But you also have to be strong enough to fend off challenges, dexterous enough to control a ball with your foot, and strategic enough to search for holes in the defense. And one weak spot in 11 can really kill you. And lower scores make every possession tense. It’s like higher-stakes basketball but (a) you can’t rely on one superstar to carry you, and (b) you have to use your hands? That’s like a baby’s toy.

Joined: 06/27/2013

MGoPoints: 857

JimmyBeGood

January 10th, 2020 at 2:01 PM ^

I did see a number of his U of M games in person the last two years. No one would say I’m a great soccer mind but I will give you my impressions. He usually played right winger, took about half of deep free kicks, and half of the corner kicks. He is fast with and without the ball and very skilled ball handler who created many of his own shots but could anticipate and get open for others to pass to him. I don’t remember him being a liability on defense. One of the leaders of the team, stayed healthy and seemed to have good stamina. You knew when he wasn’t on the field. 

Joined: 08/05/2019

MGoPoints: 1143

jackfl33

January 10th, 2020 at 2:46 PM ^

 His strength taking people on and is a very good finisher. Puts in consistently excellent service from the wing. Watching Michigan all year he was clearly the focus of the other teams scouts and I believe he was the B10 offensive player of the year as a junior. Would have repeated this year probably but missed a decent number of games for injury. Scored a banger of a free kick against PSU in the B10 tourney.

Weaknesses are around athleticism and is very left footed. His right foot improved dramatically over his time at UM but teams still very strongly overplayed his left foot at the end. His senior year that spoke more of his quality on the left than weakness on the right in my opinion. Also he almost literally never combines with others. Puts his head down and tries to dribble by people and have a hit or serve the ball.

End of the day I think his athleticism holds him back from making it at the MLS level but he was a hell of a player at Michigan.

Joined: 05/14/2011

MGoPoints: 473

vanarbor

January 10th, 2020 at 4:04 PM ^

I’ve only watched 2 of his games so I’m not qualified to give you a scouting report.

I did have an Econ class with him in the summer and was homework buddies with him. He’s a quirky but funny dude who’s always super nice. Also offered to play on my struggling intramural soccer team. Really humble as well, since I didn’t even realize until halfway through the class that he was amongst the best UM soccer players ever.

Not sure you care about any of this though haha.

Joined: 11/06/2018

MGoPoints: 3167