By: COLIN REESE
The starting point for this version of World Soccer Source’s Best USMNT XI (beyond giving Brad Guzan the starting goalkeeper spot) is the decision to deploy Michael Bradley as the stay-at-home defensive midfielder or Number 6 with Jermaine Jones as the box-to-box midfielder or Number 8.
With Bradley anchoring the midfield as the defensive midfielder, the United States is starting the right defensive midfielder that can not only protect the center backs the best but that can also orchestrate the team’s passing and possession, albeit not in an advanced playmaker role.
By designating Bradley as the Number 6, the United States could finally solve the problem of how best to deploy Bradley and Jones together without both players looking to advance forward with the attack as much as possible, which caused holes in front of the defense before the World Cup where Kyle Beckerman or Geoff Cameron were played in the stay-at-home defensive midfielder role.
If Jones and Bradley are playing clearly defined roles, then the United States can focus on bolstering the attacking midfield portion of the midfield, which (along with the absence of a back-up striker) was arguably the weakest point for the United States in the 2014 World Cup.
Fabian Johnson, Benny Feilhaber, and Clint Dempsey is a very strong option for the line of three attacking midfielders, and at least this group offers a skilled playmaker flanked by two-footed attacking midfielders that can play wide but that also excel the most at cutting inside into more dangerous positions where they can score and create scoring opportunities.
Bradley and Jones providing much of the defensive protection in the midfield with Johnson, Feilhaber, and Dempsey behind the United States’ most qualified, dynamic, and complete striker, Juan Agudelo, is certainly better than using Kyle Beckerman, Alejandro Bedoya, Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley, Graham Zusi, and Clint Dempsey as the Front Six.
DeAndre Yedlin emerged arguably as the United States’ best right back, especially given the fact that Fabian Johnson is more effective and useful to the United States as a winger.
With Yedlin and Johnson on the right side, the United States has the ability to have two wide players that can drop back to provide defensive cover when one player overlaps the other.
Geoff Cameron is a much more complete center back than Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler who both did themselves proud in the 2014 World Cup, but Cameron is the best American center back.
Although Besler was widely and rightly praised for his performances in the World Cup, John Brooks certainly looks to be the better 1v1 defender with more skill on the ball and more athleticism, in addition to being stronger in the air and more of a scoring threat on set pieces.
Cameron and Brooks as a center back pairing looks to be the strongest option for the USMNT at this point, and the use of both players together moves the United States away from using center backs whose defense too often consists of hitting clearances out of bounds or downfield.
Cameron and Brooks not only provide better defense than Gonzalez and Besler, but they also provide more technical skill and better athleticism – the latter of which is critical to not being vulnerable to being victimized by skill and quickness thrown at the center of the defense.
The final element to this USA XI is Chris Klute at left back. Klute has been establishing himself as the best left back in MLS for over a year, and the fact that he’s two-footed, defensively-strong, lightning fast, attack-minded, and technically-skilled makes him the logical left back choice for the United States.
DaMarcus Beasley was excellent in the 2014 World Cup, but Klute is a natural outside back that can play on either side, in addition to providing even more speed, better defending, and more technical skill than Beasley.
Looking at this USA XI, there are two complete center backs, two modern two-way outside backs, a defensive midfielder partnered with a central midfielder, a creative and proven playmaker flanked by dynamic and two-footed wings, and an exciting young striker that brings skill, flair, size, speed, strength, and a nose for goal.
The USA XI below is a good starting point for the United States after the World Cup, but it’s important to test and incorporate new or younger talents.
GOALKEEPER: Brad GUZAN
RIGHT BACK: DeAndre YEDLIN
CENTER BACK: Geoff CAMERON
CENTER BACK: John BROOKS
LEFT BACK: Chris KLUTE
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER: Michael BRADLEY
CENTRAL MIDFIELDER: Jermaine JONES
RIGHT WING: Fabian JOHNSON
PLAYMAKER: Benny FEILHABER
LEFT WING: Clint DEMPSEY
STRIKER: Juan AGUDELO
TACTICAL FORMATION (4-2-3-1):
GUZAN
YEDLIN CAMERON BROOKS KLUTE
BRADLEY JONES
JOHNSON FEILHABER DEMPSEY
AGUDELO