By: COLIN REESE
The goal to improve the quality of American soccer and of the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) marches on, and the gap remains between the amount of quality possession and technical soccer that the USA plays and other national teams play.
While it’s vital to have a defense made up of quality defenders with good athleticism and skill on the ball and while it’s important to have attackers that can finish scoring chances and create scoring opportunities, the midfield is where the real battle is waged.
The need to have better link-up play between the defensive midfielders and the attack has been harped upon by observers of the USMNT, so there is no disagreement among observers that this element of the United States’ play needs to be improved.
If Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones both start for the United States, then there is still not enough of a link-up midfielder and attacking midfielder in the Starting XI to solve the problem of poor passing and little creativity in the midfield.
Out of all of the players in the American player pool, perhaps none other than Benny Feilhaber is more equipped right now to provide the type of link-up play and creativity that is missing from the national team.
Given all of the praise that Feilhaber has received for his improved defense and two-way play along with his drastically improved fitness levels, it is only logical for Feilhaber to be the first name that needs to be added to the American midfield with Bradley, since the only real criticism of Feilhaber in the past was that he didn’t play enough defense.
Maybe it’s also time to start thinking of a box-to-box midfielder or central midfielder to take Jones’ place, even if Jones is still going strong and looking very fit as he approaches 33.
Who should Jones’ replacement be? Benji Joya or Dillon Powers.
The USMNT roster needs both Joya and Powers, but Joya is the more technical, quick, and creative of the two for the Starting XI. Powers might be a better combination of defending and attacking than Joya, but Joya’s work rate and defending are still excellent. To be clear, Powers is a skilled passer and technical player that knows how to set up goals and score goals, and his gifts and skills look high-caliber.
Although Bradley has been marketed as more of an attacking and creative player than he really is, the USA needs Bradley lining up in front of the defense where he can protect the Back Four and help to orchestrate the passing. Bradley is the best American defensive midfielder.
His tireless running and intense but clean tackling are huge assets to the American midfield, and they are invaluable to the center backs and outside backs for whom he is providing defensive coverage.
Bradley’s two-footed passing can help the United States to work the ball out of the back with possession, and as a defensive midfielder he can be a passing outlet for the defense.
One complaint about Jones has been his sometimes dirty tackling and knack for getting cards, and although this wasn’t a problem in the World Cup, Bradley doesn’t have this same problem with dirty tackling.
An American midfield comprised of Bradley, Feilhaber, and Joya gives the USA defensive coverage, technical players, and skilled passers in the midfield, and players like Joe Corona and Clint Dempsey lining up out right and left as attackers that drift inside and sort of form part of the midfield gives the United States enough skilled passers and gifted players in between the defense and the striker to produce the sort of improved possession and overall play that Jürgen Klinsmann and the United States are looking for.
To progress with the times and improve, the United States should think of its midfield as a three-player system composed of a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box midfielder, and a playmaker, and these players are listed below.
Defensive Midfielder: Michael BRADLEY
Playmaker: Benny FEILHABER
Central Midfielder: Benji JOYA
The reason that Corona and Dempsey are not listed to make the midfield a five-man system is because they are forward-midfield hybrids that help to provide more support for the striker and more link-up play for the midfielders.
Since Feilhaber has become a much fitter and much more two-way midfielder, his creativity, vision, and technical skill can be bolstered by having players like Corona and Dempsey to combine with, and let’s not forget Joya who is a complete midfielder with the attacking skill, speed, and quickness to be used as an attacker.
Bradley, Feilhaber, Joya, Corona, and Dempsey behind either Jozy Altidore or Juan Agudelo is a strong and balanced American midfield and attack that improves the overall technical ability of the national team, which is what all American soccer fans want to see now and in future games and touraments.