By: COLIN REESE
Looking at the depth chart for the United States Men’s National Team by position in a 4-2-3-1 formation is an organized and logical way to go about evaluating the depth chart of the United States.
Below is an examination of a first and second choice option for each of the 11 positions in the 4-2-3-1 formation (and some of these players can play multiple positions or on more than one side of the field):
GOALKEEPERS:
1. Tim HOWARD
– Tim Howard proved that he is still the best current American goalkeeper with his performance in the World Cup, but Brad Guzan is arguably just as good.
2. Brad GUZAN
– Whether or not Brad Guzan is better than Tim Howard won’t be known until Guzan sees more minutes with the USMNT, but Guzan has certainly shown that there is no drop-off when he starts over Howard.
RIGHT BACKS:
1. DeAndre YEDLIN
– Given his consistently high level of play at such a young age in MLS, DeAndre Yedlin should not have been a controversial pick for the USA’s World Cup squad, but he was. Yedlin showed his two-way threat in the World Cup where his attacking and technical ability were equally as influential as his ability to keep pace with and slow down fast and creative attackers on the big stage.
2. Kofi SARKODIE
– Anyone who follows MLS has seen how Kofi Sarkodie is one of the best American right backs around, and he also fits into the mold of the two-way outside backs that the United States wants playing for its national team.
RIGHT CENTER BACKS:
1. Geoff CAMERON
– Of all the American center backs, Geoff Cameron is the one that brings the most complete package of skills and physical gifts, and he represents the type of higher-caliber center back that the United States wants.
2. Shane O’NEILL
– Shane O’Neill is better than Omar Gonzalez because he’s a center back along the lines of Cameron in that his skill and defending is more nuanced and complete than being strong in the air and making clearances. O’Neill is also a better athlete than Gonzalez.
LEFT CENTER BACKS:
1. John BROOKS
– John Brooks is a better center back than Matt Besler. Brooks plays in a better league. He’s younger and more two-footed, and his 1v1 defending and passing are better than Besler’s.
2. Michael OROZCO
-Michael Orozco probably would have been on the 2014 World Cup roster had he not had a hamstring injury right before the World Cup. Orozco has years of experience playing in Mexico, and he is a complete package of defending, technical skill, athleticism, and competitive intensity. Orozco is exactly the type of center back that the USA needs.
LEFT BACKS:
1. Chris KLUTE
– Chris Klute is likely the best American left back (and he’s just as good at right back), but Klute’s lack of international experience continues to be the justification for not giving him any international experience. Unlike other MLS players like Brad Davis or Chris Wondolowski who used to have very little international experience, Klute’s game looks like it translates much better to the international level than other MLS players without any U.S. caps.
2. Kellyn ACOSTA
– Kellyn Acosta is one of the very young, technical, and athletic MLS players that the United States needs to just put on the national team. These kinds of very talented and athletic young players simply need to be allowed to play for the U.S. and get acclimated to international play because the USMNT will need them to get to the next level.
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS:
1. Michael BRADLEY
-Michael Bradley’s best position is as a defensive midfielder or Number 6, and he is world-class at this position. If the goal is to play very technical and athletic players at each position, then Bradley is the player that the United States needs to start as the defensive midfielder, instead of trying to push him into a more attacking role where frankly other players are better.
2. Maurice EDU
-With Jermaine Jones’ tendency to attack, Maurice Edu is the defensive midfielder that the United States should use when Bradley is unavailable. Edu is more technical and two-footed than he gets credit for, and his defending, speed, and athleticism are ideally suited to protecting the center backs and keeping track of opposing attackers. Edu also boasts legitimate European experience and success.
CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS:
1. Jermaine JONES
– Jermaine Jones’ ability to be a two-way threat and score was on display in the 2014 World Cup, and if Bradley is tasked with playing the stay-at-home defensive midfielder role, then Jones is the player to bring the bulk of the two-way play to the American midfield.
2. Dillon POWERS
-Dillon Powers can play as a central attacking midfielder or as a central midfielder, but Powers brings much better defending than one generally sees in playmakers. Powers’ engine and defending make him just the type of player that can bring quality passing and defending to the center of the American midfield.
RIGHT WINGS:
1. Fabian JOHNSON
– Fabian Johnson is a real weapon with either foot on the wings where he can attack wide or cut in toward the goal to score or to set up his teammates. Given the power and control than Johnson has with his left foot compared to other American players, Johnson is the best right wing in the American pool, plus he can play equally well as a left wing.
2. Benji JOYA
-Benji Joya can play any position in the midfield well against high-level competition because he’s a complete and creative midfielder that plays with a lot of intensity, but listing Joya as a wing frees up a roster spot for a player like Dillon Powers that mostly thrives in the middle. Joya is a more creative and explosive player than Powers, so it makes sense to let Joya use his technical ability and trickery as a wing that can cut inside or play wide.
CENTRAL ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS:
1. Benny FEILHABER
– Benny Feilhaber has been the best American playmaker since right after the 2006 World Cup, and it’s a shame that he was left off the 2014 World Cup roster. Feilhaber’s international play along with his play the last two seasons with Sporting Kansas City should have finally silenced his critics. The USA needs this type of player to really compete against top national teams.
2. Joe CORONA
– Joe Corona is a little more skilled and athletic than Mix Diskerud but not quite as good yet as Feilhaber. Corona is a better 1v1 dribbler than Diskerud and Feilhaber, and Corona has a better knack for getting into scoring positions in the penalty box. Corona can play as a Number 10 or on either wing where he can play final balls and open up defenses, and he’s shown enough skill and creativity against top competition in Mexico and in the Copa Libertadores to earn this spot as the second best American playmaker.
LEFT WINGS:
1. Clint DEMPSEY
– Clint Dempsey is the best American player, and playing Dempsey out left where he’s arguably done the best through his career allows a natural Number 10 to line-up more centrally while Dempsey is free to roam where he sees fit. A Number 10 playing with Dempsey maximizes his skill-set and goal-scoring ability.
2. Julian GREEN
– Julian Green looks fast, skilled, creative, and ready to go. The United States tossed Green into the deep end during extra time of a Round of 16 World Cup game against Belgium, and he scored quickly. Green’s performance in the World Cup in addition to being on the books for Bayern Munich makes him someone that fully deserves to be on the USA roster and see lots of playing time giving Dempsey’s positional flexibility.
STRIKERS:
1. Jozy ALTIDORE
– For now, Jozy Altidore should get the benefit of the doubt as the best American striker not named Giuseppe Rossi, but Juan Agudelo looks more talented while still boasting the size and athleticism of Altidore.
2. Juan AGUDELO
– Juan Agudelo has a strong argument as the best American striker, and despite his relative lack of national team minutes, Agudelo always looks much more talented and dangerous than Altidore.
What would this USA XI look like?
HOWARD; YEDLIN, CAMERON, BROOKS, KLUTE; BRADLEY, JONES; JOHNSON, FEILHABER, DEMPSEY; ALTIDORE.
What would a second-choice USA XI look like?
GUZAN; SARKODIE, O’NEILL, OROZCO, ACOSTA; EDU, POWERS; JOYA, CORONA, GREEN; AGUDELO.
What is Jürgen Klinsmann’s Possible First-Choice USA XI?
HOWARD; YEDLIN, CAMERON, BROOKS, BEASLEY; BRADLEY, JONES; JOHNSON, DEMPSEY, GREEN; ALTIDORE.