10 USMNT Players to Watch in 2016
- Juan Agudelo (Striker)
Will Juan Agudelo be the United States’ starting center forward in 2016? Jürgen Klinsmann has stuck with Jozy Altidore for a long time, and to be fair to Altidore, he hasn’t seen quality service or balls played to feet. Agudelo offers an x-factor of creativity and technical skill that is a level above that of Altidore, and Agudelo is a more active and direct striker that goes straight to goal.
2. Clint Dempsey (Forward/Attacking Midfielder)
This writer hasn’t seen any real evidence that Clint Dempsey has lost a step or seen his overall cardiovascular endurance drop. His skill and creativity are at the same high level, and he’s the only American player that has proven that he can score against anyone. Dempsey should still be a starter for one to two more years, and he should still have a free role no matter what tactical formation is used.
3. Michael Bradley (Center Midfielder)
Anchoring the American midfield with Michael Bradley would really shore up the United States’ passing and ball winning in the midfield. Bradley could definitely use a partner in crime in the other holding midfielder role, and this writer backs Kellyn Acosta to play that role. The Bradley as attacking midfielder experiment was always bizarre. Leave that in 2015.
4. Geoff Cameron (Center Back/Defensive Midfielder)
Geoff Cameron should have been a lock at one of the two center back spots for the last three or four years. Doing this would have allowed him to grow and improve in the role. Now with several high level years left in his legs, the National Team would be smart to make him one of the first names on the team sheet with Dempsey and Bradley.
5. Darlington Nagbe (Midfielder/Forward)
Darlington Nagbe is known for his skill on the ball and speed, but his growth into a ball winner and non-stop running make him even more of a must have in the American midfield or attack. Attackers should high press and win back possession too, so Nagbe’s skillset should influence the team either as a forward or midfielder. Plenty of elite attacking players drop back into the midfield to win the ball back and start the attack. Nagbe should start in 2016.
6. Fabian Johnson (Winger/Outside Back)
Letting Fabian Johnson start at right wing with Clint Dempsey at left wing would certainly improve the attacking skill of the United States. Johnson is a proven goalscorer and player that can beat defenders with speed, skill, or both. Maybe Johnson can help the USMNT to score more goals in 2016. Johnson should also be able to draw defenders away from the center forward and Dempsey who should also draw defenders away from Johnson.
7. Rubio Rubin (Striker)
Rubio Rubin has featured for the United States before, and there’s no reason to not make him a consistent inclusion on the roster. Rubin is considered by many to be the best American player in his age bracket along with Bradford Jamieson IV, and Rubin is also very direct like Agudelo. Rubin can create and score, and he can go wide or attack centrally. It’s time to start giving Rubin experience because he’s good enough to play international soccer right now. Jordan Morris has taken much of the spotlight from Rubin, which is understandably, but Rubin needs to be more of a protagonist.
8. John Brooks (Center Back)
John Brooks is something of a scapegoat for U.S. Men’s National Team fans. The lack of possession in the midfield leads to the American defense getting torched, but Brooks has shown himself to be strong defensively and comfortable on the ball. One of the defensive questions for 2016 is whether Matt Besler or Brooks should start with Cameron.
9. DeAndre Yedlin (Right Back)
DeAndre Yedlin needs to be allowed to grow into the starting right back spot. Yedlin can keep up with elite and fast attackers, and he can quickly recover the ball and go on the offensive. Yedlin’s skillset are ideal for an outside back, and his type wide attacking play is normally seen from outside backs at the high levels of soccer. It’s a misuse of Yedlin as a wing in the midfield or attack because other American wingers have more skill and creativity than he has. His skillset is needed at right back.
10. Sebastian Lletget (Attacking Midfielder/Forward), Ethan Finlay (Winger/Forward), Kellyn Acosta (Center Midfielder/Outside Back)
World Soccer Source listed these three players as one because all three are players that haven’t featured for the United States Men’s National Team yet. Kellyn Acosta is a two-way central midfielder that brings technique, athleticism, endurance, and vision. The Untied States could use Acosta’s defensive and attacking qualities. Any team would be improved by starting an active center midfielder that can push, push forward, and hunt people down. Acosta would add a certain degree of dynamism to the midfield. Sebastian Lletget and Ethan Finlay are attacking players that are too good to leave off the roster. Finlay offers more speed than Lletget, but Lletget brings more passing possession. Both are creative, and both can score. Lletget is arguably better from a skill and vision standpoint. Finlay had better goal and assist numbers in 2015 than Lletget, but both add needed dimensions to the National Team.