Williams stabilizes the midfield, frustrates the opposition and gives teammates like Marco Etcheverry and Ben Olsen the freedom to work their magic upfield. I'm not a spectacular player, a goal scorer or a big defender. But I play an important position. I'm a central player who stops the other team's attack up the middle and gets the ball moving throughout my team and gets some flow back to the offense. I guess there's not a whole lot of people like that, and I guess I'm fortunate that I do those things well.
Somebody has to do it.
Both Bradley and Rongen agree that Williams is one of the best at his demanding position. Make good passes, get the ball to the right people at the right time, work both ways, win the ball back. These are intangible qualities. I think that's what those players are all about. But good coaches know it's a game with 11 players.