Future Watch: Sam Vines Soccer Cards, Colorado Rapids – Major League Soccer has been making headlines with young talent being transferred to clubs throughout Europe. One young player who could make such a move in the future is Colorado Rapids left back Sam Vines.
The 21-year-old Vines came up through the Rapids’ youth setup. He joined their academy at age 13 and was named “Rapids Academy Player of the Year” in 2017. Vines broke through for the Rapids first team in 2019 with 23 starts and 26 appearances. In 2020, Vines made 18 starts and had a goal and three assists.
Like many wide backs around world football, Vines is very capable going forward as well as maintaining his defensive responsibilities. He is a smart defender who has good vision and a knack for knowing what is coming from his opponents. Vines is also very capable going forward. He is comfortable on the ball and has a fantastic touch.
An example of his work going forward was on the first goal of a 3-1 win over Seattle in November. Vines started an attack down the left side, worked the ball brilliantly with a teammate to be open on the wing and get towards the endline in space. But it was Vines’ inch-perfect cross to a teammate in the box that was memorable and set up a magnificent goal.
More recently, Vines started for the United States national team in a 6-0 win earlier in the week versus El Salvador. He delivered a spectacular pass down the left wing that directly led to a cross for an easy opening goal early for the USA. His touch on the pass had to be spot on and it was. Vines clearly has the talent to impact games from his wide position.
Even when Vines scored his first-ever goal in MLS, in a game back in September, you could see his vision and soccer brain working as he trailed a play until the right moment to make himself available to finish a pass on the back post. He did so coolly and looked like a real finisher in the process.
Vines has all the skills to play at a very high level. It may not be long before soccer fans all over the globe know his name.
Hear from Vines in this video from the Rapids:
Vines can be found on cardboard in the 2020 Topps MLS release.
Future Watch: Sam Vines Soccer Cards, Colorado Rapids – Stats
| Playing Time | Performance | Per 90 Minutes | Expected | Per 90 Minutes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Squad | Country | Comp | LgRank | MP | Starts | Min | Gls | Ast | PK | PKatt | CrdY | CrdR | Gls | Ast | G+A | G-PK | G+A-PK | xG | npxG | xA | xG | xA | xG+xA | npxG | npxG+xA | Matches |
| 2017 | 17 | Charlotte | us USA | 2. USL | 11th | 0 | 0 | Matches | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 18 | Charlotte | us USA | 2. USL | 21st | 29 | 25 | 2,304 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0.00 | 0.16 | Matches | ||||||||
| 2018 | 18 | Colorado | us USA | 1. MLS | 21st | 1 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | Matches |
| 2019 | 19 | Colorado | us USA | 1. MLS | 16th | 26 | 23 | 2,151 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.02 | Matches |
| 2020 | 20 | Colorado | us USA | 1. MLS | 16th | 18 | 18 | 1,620 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.06 | 0.17 | 0.22 | 0.06 | 0.22 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.05 | 0.09 | 0.14 | 0.05 | 0.14 | Matches |
| 4 Seasons | 2 Clubs | 2 Leagues | 74 | 66 | 6,120 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.01 | 0.10 | 0.12 | 0.01 | 0.12 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.02 | 0.05 | 0.07 | 0.02 | 0.07 | ||||
| Country | Comp | LgRank | MP | Starts | Min | Gls | Ast | PK | PKatt | CrdY | CrdR | Gls | Ast | G+A | G-PK | G+A-PK | xG | npxG | xA | xG | xA | xG+xA | npxG | npxG+xA | Matches | |||
| Colorado (3 Seasons) | 1 League | 45 | 41 | 3,816 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.02 | 0.07 | 0.09 | 0.02 | 0.09 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.02 | 0.05 | 0.07 | 0.02 | 0.07 | |||||
| Charlotte (2 Seasons) | 1 League | 29 | 25 | 2,304 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0.00 | 0.16 | |||||||||||||
| MLS (3 Seasons) | 45 | 41 | 3,816 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.02 | 0.07 | 0.09 | 0.02 | 0.09 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.02 | 0.05 | 0.07 | 0.02 | 0.07 | ||||||
| USL (2 Seasons) | 29 | 25 | 2,304 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0.00 | 0.16 | ||||||||||||||
Future Watch: Sam Vines Soccer Cards, Colorado Rapids – Other Resources
Future Watch: Sam Vines Soccer Cards, Colorado Rapids – Image Gallery
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