By: COLIN REESE
Jürgen Klinsmann has converted Jermaine Jones to a center back, and the United States now has a still developing Back Four. Here is one possible Back Four with the potential to be very effective. It has two modern outside backs who are two-way threats, and it contains two complete center backs with the skill and athleticism to do much more than just boot long balls down field.
Right Back: DeAndre YEDLIN (Seattle Sounders/Tottenham)
DeAndre Yedlin should really be the undisputed starting right back for the USA. His defending isn’t just decent but close to excellent. Yedlin is known more for his speed and attacking, but given the fact that Fabian Johnson can play left back or either wing very well, Yedlin is the best American right back. As a right back, he can be very involved in the attack and the team’s wide play. He doesn’t need to be used as a wing or outside forward to heavily contribute to the attack. Equally as important as his speed and skill going forward is his ability to outpace and dispossess even attackers with world-class speed. Even in a sport loaded with electric speedsters, Yedlin is strikingly fast.
Center Back: Jermaine JONES (New England Revolution)
Using Jermaine Jones at center back gives the center of the American defense skill on the ball, quality defending, impressive athleticism, experience, strength, and toughness. Jones is comfortable passing in tight spaces in the back, and he doesn’t get nervous when he has little time to work the ball out of trouble. He can also chase down fast attackers and either tackle them or muscle them off the ball. Jones looks to have curbed his tendency to commit dirty and almost criminal tackles. Now, Jones plays cleaner defense without the reckless and frankly dangerous tackles of the past. The ex-Bundesliga player is a durable player and an excellent athlete who looks far from past his prime even at 33 years old.
Center Back: John BROOKS (Hertha Berlin)
John Brooks’ height stands out to people, but his overall technical ability, athleticism, and sound defending are more impressive. Brooks is a smooth athlete that despite being left-footed is very good with his right foot and able to play the right center back or left center back spots. The young center back also reads the game well and has good positional sense. Brooks excels at 1v1 defending and playing the ball out of the back, and he has shown that he is a big scoring threat on set pieces as well; Brooks can also score with his feet when the opportunity presents itself. Brooks looks to be something of a lock at left center back for the United States for years to come. With Jones and Brooks in the center of the defense, Geoff Cameron can play as a defensive midfielder where he can have a bigger positive impact on the game.
Left Back: Greg GARZA (Club Tijuana)
Greg Garza has been ready and more than qualified to start at left back for the United States for over a year, but many American soccer fans don’t follow La Liga MX. Garza was a known name to them, but not someone that a majority of USMNT fans had watched play full games. Jürgen Klinsmann probably didn’t call him up until recently because Garza was the back-up for Edgar Castillo who lags way behind Garza in terms of defensive skill and instincts. Garza is also a very technical and creative player that has a tendency to not use his right foot enough – much like Castillo.