Julian Gaines – Los Angeles FC’s swashbuckling right-back

Julian Gaines grew up in Austin, Texas as his brother, Mckinzie had an influence in his upbringing as the duo would compete and motivate each other in football as the Gaines brother would ply his trade abroad, in Germany with Darmstadt and Hannover as he has also played in the MLS with Austin FC and Charlotte FC. Both players came through the Lonestar Soccer Club in Texas as Julian would join the Barca Residency Academy in Arizona. Julian has experience with the United States Youth National Teams at U15 and U17 level as he developed as a winger or central attacker, even in his early USL outings at Austin Bold. Gaines was unsure whether to take the college route at Oregon State, but he eventually decided to join the Las Vegas Lights due to their relationship with Los Angeles FC. In Las Vegas, he transitioned into a wing-back as he now plays as a right-back with Los Angeles II in the MLS Next Pro.

Gaines stands at five foot ten as he is lumbering presence at right-back with long limbs as his size combines well with his close control and bursts of pace. The 20-year-old stands out as a ball-carrier from the fullback position, receiving possession with the in-step of his right foot, caressing the ball inside and past a marker to drive possession forward as he thrives in skipping past his primary marker and driving into space. His past as a winger has an influence on his current style as a fullback as he can surge forward on lung busting runs, skipping past his first marker and using his body to shield the ball from other defenders. Gaines is comfortable tucking into the centre to receive possession and work passing combinations as he is a fantastic progressive passer as well as a brilliant progressive ball-carrier from the deeper areas. He can also drive the ball forward from the central spaces when he is operating in a more central role. Defensively, he is astute at pressing the ball and winning possession in the press while he does have immense potential in 1v1 situations, having the pace and energy to drive opposition attackers into tight quarters before using his physique and long legs to make blocks and regain possession.

Away to Portland II, he received possession near the touchline to prod the ball into the centre and work a pass back to the six-space as he would receive possession once more, in the half-space this time, moving the ball to his toe to skip past an opposition midfielder, driving the ball into the opposition half to thread a well-weighted through ball for a teammate in behind. He received possession from his centre-back in the half-space once more to prod the ball forward and play a line-breaking pass past four players to the nine-space to instigate an attacking move. He was closer to the touchline when he chipped a pass to a teammate to evade pressure, moving into the half-space to receive possession again and work a pass to the six-space. Gaines received a back-pass in his own box with two opposition players pushing up to apply pressure on him as he lofted a pass to the nine-space to instigate a counter-attacking move.

Gaines thrives under pressure as he can use his ball-carrying, progressive passing or passing connections to evade pressure and drive his team forward. In the build-up phase, the 20-year-old received possession near the touchline, controlling the ball and driving possession into the centre before playing a left-footed pass to the wide areas for a teammate. He received possession under pressure once more, controlling the ball with his in-step and drawing his marker towards him, before moving the ball to the outside of his boot to drive the ball past his marker and striding into the opposition half before switching the ball to the opposite flank for the left winger to have a 1v1 and a shooting opportunity. Gaines thrives as a ball-carrier because he can drive possession inside or outside as once he drives the ball forward, he can release possession with a progressive pass.

In an attacking situation, Gaines was positioned on the overlap, receiving possession to loft a cross into the box which was held by the goalkeeper. In another attacking sequence, he received possession in the opposition half, driving the ball into the central spaces before spreading possession to the ball-far centre-back. In another attacking interchange, the 20-year-old tucked inside to receive possession in an inverted role, driving the ball into the centre as he skipped past a defender before slaloming into the box as he had a shot deflected wide. Gaines received possession in the half-space, driving the ball forward before spreading play to his winger as he received possession, controlling the ball with his in-step, setting himself up to skip past his marker and drive possession forward to play a line-breaking pass to the nine-space as he continued his run to receive a flick-on to play the ball to a teammate to facilitate a switch. The right-back received possession near the touchline as he controlled the ball with his right in-step as he was positioned on the half-turn, driving the ball into the centre where he switched possession to the left-back.

Gaines received a switch ball, driving into the centre to work a pass to the ball-far centre-back before receiving possession again in a central position to drive the ball into the opposition half, threading a pass for his winger in the channels who was offside. The 20-year-old received possession on the overlap, driving towards his marker before dribbling past him to drive to the by-line to cut-back a cross for his teammate to divert an opportunity wide from inside the box. Gaines has the ability to drive and play the ball forward as a fullback but once he is in the opposition half, he can lean on his background as an attacker, charging at defenders before slaloming into space to create opportunities with deliveries into the box. He can also act as both an inverted fullback, tucking into the centre to work connections and drive the ball while also being a more traditional overlapping fullback. He received possession near the touchline to drive the ball into the central spaces and thread a progressive pass to the ten space.

Away to Houston Dynamos II, Gaines exhibited his diligence and potential in 1v1 defending as he moved closer to the touchline to close down a marker as an opposition attacker was driving the ball towards him as he drove to the by-line for the American to track him as he faked a cross as Gaines stayed on his feet and stretched his leg so he could still close him down when his winger tried to cut-back. In a build-up sequence, he received possession near the touchline with an opposition player pushing up to mark him as Gaines looked to drive inside before cutting back outside to play a progressive pass for his winger. He received another lay-off in his own box to loft another lobbed pass to the nine-space to instigate another counter-attacking move. The 20-year-old received possession in the right-back zone to skip past a defender, driving the ball forward before working a pass to the eight space to facilitate a switch. Gaines made an overlapping movement to receive possession on the wide right zone, working a one-two with a teammate before making a run into the half-space.

Gaines received possession on the right flank, driving the ball forward before cutting into the centre to play a progressive pass to the attacking line. Gaines would tuck into the defensive line to create a three-chain as he received possession to evade his striker, driving the ball into the centre before he skipped past a second defender to drive deep into the opposition half to spread an outside of the boot pass for his winger to have a 1v1 opportunity. Away to Sporting Kansas City II, he received possession in the right back zone with an opposition attacker pushing up to apply pressure on him for the 20-year-old to take a touch and work a pass to the six-space. Gaines had a 1v1 situation against an opposition winger when he stood him up as the attacker drove to the by-line and slipped for the fullback to calmly shield the ball and shepherd it out of bounds for a goal kick. He received possession while he was under pressure again to take a touch and play another pass to Bryan Moyado in the six-space.

Gaines received possession in the right-back zone under pressure once more, using his first touch to drive the ball inside, skipping past his marker as he drove the ball into the central spaces to work a pass for his teammate. In the defensive phase, his team were in a 4-5-1/4-4-2 shape as Gaines’ winger received possession for the defender to show great anticipation to step in front of him to make an interception, skip past an opposition player to drive the ball into the centre to work a pass for a teammate. After a turnover in the build-up phase, Gaines instinctively tucked inside from his wide role to track a marker before engaging another attacker to make a heroic challenge, denying the opposition a shooting opportunity. In a build-up sequence, he tucked into a centre-back role to work a one-two with a centre-back before driving the ball past an attacker to thread a pass to the six-space. In a pressing situation, he tucked into the centre and pushed forward to close down the opposition eight space to regain possession with a clean challenge.

After an attacker evaded his winger, Gaines stepped forward to make a clean challenge and regain possession. In the build-up phase, the goalkeeper lofted a pass to him which Gaines controlled in the air in stride as he guided the ball past an opposition attacker, driving the ball forward to work a pass to the ball-far eight space. After a clearance, the 20-year-old recovered the ball to swivel and play a line-breaking pass to the half-space. In a build-up sequence, he tucked into the half-space to receive possession in between the lines as he surged forward, skipping past a defender as he drove into the box to square a cross for a teammate to tap in. He utilized his ball-carrying to create another opportunity when he made an interception on a switch ball in the defensive phase, skipping past an opposition marker to stride forward as he evaded a second midfielder to drive to the top of the opposition box where he spread a pass to a teammate who sent a shot over the bar.

Gaines possesses the tools to play top level football in Europe as his ball-carrying sets him apart as a fullback, he is comfortable, driving either side of a marker while he is comfortable in driving the ball forward in the wide areas and in the central spaces. Once he evades his marker and drives the ball into open space, he can release the ball progressively to a teammate or create opportunities. As a former attacker, his 1v1 dribbling is strong as well as he can drive towards a defender, utilizing step overs to create a yard of space before playing a cross into the box. He can be creative with his progressive passing, threading through balls for teammates in space while he has the potential to be a dangerous crosser. He has the energy, physique and pace to operate as a wing-back as well as a fullback as he could thrive with more creative liberty in a wing-back role.

Defensively, Gaines has the requisite tools to become a strong 1v1 defender, he can match attackers for pace and stride, hemming them in tight quarters to make a challenge while he does not have to go to ground to make tackles as he has such long legs. He can stretch to make blocks while remaining on his feet in case his winger cuts back. He will need to be more aggressive in these situations as he can get beaten in 1v1 situations. He has the anticipation to push into space to make tackles or interceptions while if he is behind an opponent, he can stretch his leg to win possession cleanly. Gaines’ size and mobility make him astute at pressing the ball and regaining possession in the counter-press as he can push into space to make challenges and interceptions as well as being a strong 1v1 defender.

Gaines has the tools to develop into a well-rounded right-back for the United States’ Men’s National Team as teams in Europe could acquire him as a low-cost option. Thiago Motta’s Bologna in Serie A would be a good team to move to as they have English-speaking players as he could act as a back-up or alternate to Stefan Posch as the playing style suits him. Teams that utilize wing-backs like Torino, Monza and Udinese would also be good landing spots for him as Serie A would suit his playing style. The Bundesliga and its fast-paced transitions would also suit his playing style as Freiburg, Union Berlin, Wolfsburg, Mainz, Eintracht Frankfurt, Koln, Augsburg, Hoffenheim and Stuttgart would also be good places for him to develop. In the 2. Bundesliga, it would be intriguing to see him in Tim Walter’s system as he has the skillset to easily adapt to that style of play. The Austrian Bundesliga would be a wonderful intermediate step for him as he would fit well at Sturm Graz, LASK Linz, Rapid Wien and Austria Wien. In the Eredivisie, he would particularly fit well in Michael Silberbauer’s Utrecht system, Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, AZ Alkmaar, Heerenveen and Vitesse Arnhem. In Belgium, teams like Genk, Club Brugge, Royal Antwerp, Anderlecht, KV Mechelen, Westerlo and Union Saint Gilloise would be a fit as at the last team, he could develop into a player for Brighton and Hove Albion in the English Premier League. Midtylland would also be a good landing spot for him to develop into a wing-back for Brentford’s system while in Sweden, Kalmar IF and Malmo would be a good fit as Malmo give creative responsibilities to their wing-backs in their system. In Ligue 1, Toulouse, Montpellier and Lens would be good places for him to develop. In Portugal, Vitoria SC, Famalicao, Vizela, Casa Pia and Rio Ave would help him adapt to European football. Gaines has great potential as he should be on the scouting lists of most European clubs in the summer.