Colin Reese

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USMNT: Changes Without Real Risk

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Excluding a whole list of new players on the American soccer scene, Jürgen Klinsmann has to decide if he wants to select a roster and Starting XI that consists entirely of players that he has been using or if he wants to bring in some players that he hasn’t been calling up.

There are players like Jonathan Spector, Eric Lichaj, and Benny Feilhaber that are experienced but who seem to not be Klinsmann’s personal preferences.

With Mix Diskerud and Joe Benny Corona, Klinsmann doesn’t necessarily need Feilhaber, but he does need Spector and Lichaj if he isn’t going to call up outside backs like Chris Klute, DeAndre Yedlin, and Andrew Farrell.

This all means that Klinsmann can make some roster and line-up adjustments without really experimenting with new players during World Cup qualifying.

Certainly, putting Landon Donovan into the starting line-up for the next World Cup qualifiers isn’t experimentation, and neither is starting Lichaj or Spector at right back.

The preferred XI for Klinsmann is hard to guess because so many adjustments were made during World Cup qualifying, the Gold Cup, and the friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Therefore, no one knows what the Status Quo Starting XI would be for the USMNT and Klinsmann.

While Tim Howard is the first choice goalkeeper over Brad Guzan, even though Guzan is probably just as good, the first choice outside backs and center backs are unknown.

Are Brad Evans and DaMarcus Beasley the first-choice right back and left back, or are Geoff Cameron and Fabian Johnson the first-choice outside backs?

Is some combination of those four players Klinsmann’s first-choice outside back pairing?

After Geoff Cameron and John Anthony Brooks had a strong showing against Bosnia and Herzegovina, are they the first-choice center backs, or are Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler Klinsmann’s first-choice center back tandem?

Maybe Klinsmann liked the speed, positioning, and athleticism that Michael Orozco brought to the center of the American defense.

In front of the defense, Klinsmann prefers Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones as the defensive midfield tandem, but Klinsmann had to like the way Cameron played the midfield destroyer role against Panama.

Starting Cameron over Jones would fall into the New Starting XI category for Klinsmann, and it’s probably a change that needs to be made unless Klinsmann is going to start Cameron, Bradley, and Jones together in the midfield.

Whether Klinsmann starts Cameron or Jones, Klinsmann really has to insert Landon Donovan into the starting line-up to play with Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore, and this leaves one starting spot open in the Front Six.

If Klinsmann starts Bradley, Jones/Cameron, Donovan, Dempsey, and Altidore, then Klinsmann has one of his hardest decision to make: Who should start: Joe Benny Corona, Aron Jóhannsson, Mix Diskerud, Graham Zusi, or Alejandro Bedoya?

This decision will likely prove to be the most difficult decision that Klinsmann has to make for the next World Cup qualifier.

The problem is whether or not he wants to insert more of a true playmaker than Donovan and Dempsey or whether he wants to use two center forwards.

If Jones and Bradley are starting together, then both players are likely to constantly be pushing up into the attack, which leaves the area in front of the American defense exposed.

On the other hand, if Cameron and Bradley start together, then Bradley can push up into the attack to help to create scoring chances and play final balls.

With Bradley combining with Donovan and Dempsey behind Altidore and Jóhannsson, then the USMNT would have three skilled midfielders in Bradley, Donovan, and Dempsey creating chances for not only Altidore and Jóhannson, but also themselves.

Taking all of these factors into consideration, the USMNT could field a new and better Starting XI without introducing players who are inexperienced at the international level.

One option for the United States would be to start this line-up below:

Howard; Lichaj, Orozco, Brooks, F. Johnson; Cameron, Bradley; Donovan, Corona, Dempsey; Altidore

 

The line-up proposed above is a new combination of players, but it isn’t a group of players who aren’t used to playing together or who aren’t used to international soccer.

Lichaj has played with many of the players before, and Orozco and Brooks are good enough to play together in the center of the defense, especially with Cameron and Bradley in front of them.

This sort of line-up above is different but not risky.

The United States could lose to any national team on any given day, but this starting line-up gives the United States skilled and athletic players at every position who are experienced and used to big games.

There’s no escaping risk, but this line-up is a way for Klinsmann to field a more balanced and a more talented line-up without throwing new players into the deep end.

From a tactical standpoint, the line-up above offers defenders with the skill, speed, and positional sense to play international soccer, and it offers a variety of different types of players in the Front Six who each play a needed role.

Cameron allows Bradley more license to attack, and Corona allows Donovan and Dempsey to not be tasked with all of the playmaking responsibilities.

For all of the people who are skeptical of inserting new players into the next World Cup qualifiers, the line-up proposed above is a way for Klinsmann to play the type of soccer that he wants to play where the attack begins in the very back and all of the players can play one-to-two touch soccer.

Tim Howard, Eric Lichaj, Michael Orozco Fiscal, John Anthony Brooks, Fabian Johnson, Geoff Cameron, Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan, Joe Benny Corona, Clint Dempsey, and Jozy Altidore make a solid combination of players with the experience, skill, and athleticism to field a balanced Starting XI that produces quality soccer that puts the United States in the position to win.

This is a reasonable, capable, and effective USMNT Starting XI.

 

Juan Agudelo, Refined and Ready

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Juan Agudelo. (Photo: Paul Frederiksen-USA TODAY Sport)
Juan Agudelo. (Photo: Paul Frederiksen-USA TODAY Sport)

 

Many observers criticize soccer players who are willing to continue to attempt tricks or audacious plays even if many of those attempts are failed attempts.

People who criticize showmanship and flair view it as wasted energy, but individual brilliance also wins games.

Juan Agudelo has been identified as a special American talent since he was 17 years old, and ever since that time, he has reaffirmed his skill-level, athleticism, and effectiveness as a striker on the club and international level.

Nevertheless, Agudelo is more of a finished product than he used to be because his 1v1 abilities, his movement off the ball, and his finishing all look more effective and refined than they used to be.

Everyone knew that Agudelo had talent that couldn’t be taught, and everyone knew that Agudelo wasn’t afraid to play with bravado. But, despite all of the highlights and despite quality international play, it was apparent that Agudelo was still a young striker who was ironing out weaknesses and honing his craft.

Over the course of this MLS season, Agudelo has become more efficient and more clinical in his technical ability, in his finishing, and in his execution of tricks, which is making him a more polished striker that can play a major role with the United States Men’s National Team.

The evidence of Agudelo’s increased level of play isn’t just in his collection of electrifying and high-difficulty goals, but it’s also evident in the overall-quality of his play, which includes two-footed technical ability, textbook heading technique, a soft first-touch, good vision, a nose for goal, and intelligent movement off the ball.

Agudelo has improved his movement off the ball, his ability to not be dispossessed in the penalty box, and in his increased sense of when to pass, when to shoot, and when to take defenders off the dribble.

What’s on display now is a striker who is ready to use all of his physical gifts and skills to excel against better competition on the international and club level.

For example, there’s a difference between being able to execute smooth stepovers, and being able to smoothly execute stepovers close enough to elite defenders to use the trick to leave the defender for dead.

Many people are critical of soccer players who play with flash and flair, but Agudelo seems to have learned how to use his flash more productively and more efficiently.

Whereas Jozy Altidore was criticized in the past for not enough movement off the ball, not enough aggressiveness, and not enough smooth technical ability, Agudelo has been criticized for being overly-flashy and losing the ball too often, due to his willingness to attempt multiple tricks in succession.

The major pieces of criticism of Altidore are a thing of the past, but now Agudelo too is close to going from being criticized to being praised.

As Altidore has refined his technical ability and attacking prowess, Agudelo has also been improving.

Agudelo has learned how to eliminate excess energy and movement by using his creativity, skill, size, and athleticism with more purpose and efficiency.

Juan Agudelo is now harder to mark, harder to dispossess, and harder to keep off the United States Men’s National Team because a striker with his skill-level, his athleticism, and his size has simply become too qualified to not be a fixture on the roster.

While Altidore has displayed an enormous improvement in his technical ability, his movement off the ball, and his finishing, which bodes well for the future of the USMNT, the prospect of Altidore playing alongside a polished Agudelo marks a new milestone for American strikers.

American midfielders like Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, and Michael Bradley have distinguished themselves among American soccer players and broken a lot of barriers for American players, but the United States Men’s National Team has been missing a ruthless first striker until Altidore went on a totally mean-spirited hat trick rampage against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite two years at AZ Alkmaar with an excellent scoring rate, the game against Bosnia and Herzegovina was a turning point for Altidore.

With strikers like Jozy Altidore, Aron Jóhannsson, and hopefully Juan Agudelo on the USMNT, the threat that the United States poses to top national teams has become very real.

Aron Jóhannsson is looking too good not to start, but starting Altidore and Agudelo together could take the United States to another level in terms of the skill, size, and athleticism of its strikers, and it should help the USMNT become closer to closing the gap with soccer’s giants.

 

Juan Agudelo’s Individual Highlights From This Season:

 

 

Best U.S. Soccer Players (September 2013)

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Chris Klute (right) is likely the best American left back. (Photo: Garrett Ellwood / Colorado Rapids)
Chris Klute (right) is likely the best American left back. (Photo: Garrett Ellwood / Colorado Rapids)

 

The Best American Soccer Players (September 2013)

-The rankings are based on skill-level, club form, international performances, and athleticism.

 

1.) Clint DEMPSEY (The Seattle Sounders)

2.) Michael BRADLEY (AS Roma)

3.) Jozy ALTIDORE (Sunderland)

4.) Landon DONOVAN (The LA Galaxy)

5. Tim HOWARD (Everton)

 

6.) Aron JÓHANNSSON (AZ Alkmaar)

7.) Fabian JOHNSON (Hoffenheim)

8.) Geoff CAMERON (Stoke City)

9.) Jermaine JONES (Schalke)

10.) Joe Benny CORONA (Tijuana)

 

11.) Juan AGUDELO (The New England Revolution / Stoke City)

12.) Mix DISKERUD (Rosenborg)

13.) Benny FEILHABER (Sporting Kansas City)

14.) Freddy ADU (EC Bahia)

15.) Benji JOYA (Santos Laguna)

 

16.) Brad GUZAN (Aston Villa)

17.) John Anthony BROOKS (Hertha Berlin)

18.) Herculez GOMEZ (Santos Laguna)

19.) Eddie JOHNSON (The Seattle Sounders)

20.) Terrence BOYD (Rapid Wien)

 

21.) Shane O’NEILL (The Colorado Rapids)

22.) José VILLARREAL (The Los Angeles Galaxy)

23.) Chris KLUTE (The Colorado Rapids)

24.) Gyasi ZARDES (The Los Angeles Galaxy)

25.) DeAndre YEDLIN (The Seattle Sounders)

 

26.) Alonso HERNANDEZ (Monterrey)

27.) Michael OROZCO FISCAL (Puebla)

28.) Jonathan SPECTOR (Birmingham City)

29.) Eric LICHAJ (Nottingham Forest)

30.) Paul ARRIOLA (Tijuana)

 

31.) Mario RODRIGUEZ (Borussia Mönchengladbach (U-23))

32.) Andrew FARRELL (The New England Revolution)

33.) Brek SHEA (Stoke City)

34.) Bobby WOOD (1860 Munich)

35.) Tony TAYLOR (Omonia)

 

36.) Joe GYAU (Hoffenheim II)

37.) Daniel CUEVAS (Santos Laguna)

38.) Edgar CASTILLO (Tijuana)

39.) Lamar NEAGLE  (The Seattle Sounders)

40.) Luis GIL (Real Salt Lake)

 

41.) Alejandro BEDOYA (Nantes)

42.) Maurice EDU (Stoke City)

43.) José TORRES (Tigres)

44.) Caleb STANKO (Freiburg)

45.) Perry KITCHEN (DC United)

 

46.) Gale AGBOSSOUMONDE (Toronto FC)

47.) Conor DOYLE (DC United)

48.) Jared JEFFREY (DC United)

49.) Kellyn ACOSTA (FC Dallas)

50.) Will TRAPP (The Columbus Crew)

 

Benji Joya, Creative Two-Way Midfielder

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Benji Joya (8). (Photo: MexSport)
Benji Joya (8). (Photo: MexSport)

 

Jürgen Klinsmann should strongly consider using a formation where Michael Bradley and Benji Joya start as box-to-box midfielders with Geoff Cameron as a midfield destroyer.

Benji Joya’s playing style is very similar to Stuart Holden’s playing style, and Joya just might be the player who offers the USMNT the creative attacking play combined with the quality defense for which Stuart Holden has been so valued.

Benji Joya is one of the new American talents tagged with the inexperienced label by many people in the American soccer media and in the American fan base, but no one skips college soccer, MLS, and makes it in La Liga MX who doesn’t have a lot of talent.

In many ways, Benji Joya is the box-to-box midfielder in the USMNT player pool who possesses the most creativity and attacking skill.

While Michael Bradley is outstanding at controlling the tempo of the passing, pushing the attack, and at providing defensive coverage, Joya provides more creativity and flair than tireless running. One of Bradley’s best qualities is that his tireless running allows him to be constantly involved in the game all over the field.

By using Joya, the USMNT can have a technically-skilled attacker who looks to play one-to-two touch soccer but who also provides defensive coverage in the midfield.

Joya’s competitiveness was on full display during the U-20 World Cup when he faced off against Paul Pogba, and this mentality combined with Joya’s skill-level means that Joya shouldn’t be dismissed too quickly just because he doesn’t see significant club minutes for a famous Mexican club team at just 19 years old.

To really evaluate Joya, critics and skeptics need to move past the fact that Joya doesn’t have a lot of appearances for Santos Laguna.

After all, Joya is only 19.

The relevant question is whether or not Joya has the athletic and physical gifts along with the technical ability to play international soccer, and those questions were answered by Joya’s play in the U-20 World Cup.

This writer would argue that the competition in the U-20 World Cup was high enough to indicate that Joya is ready to play for the USMNT.

Just because Santos Laguna isn’t starting a 19 year old doesn’t mean that the USMNT can’t use Joya’s unique skill-set.

World Soccer Source has discussed starting Geoff Cameron, Michael Bradley, and Jermaine Jones together, but this is probably an overly-defensive midfield, even if three attack-minded players are the other three players in the Front Six.

On the other hand, Joya is a technically-skilled midfielder who provides quality defense, but it’s nothing like the level of defense that Bradley and Cameron provide.

This difference between players like Cameron, Bradley, and Joya is a good thing because Bradley’s defensive strengths combined with his smooth passing could benefit from a creative and technical player like Joya to combine with who has the benefit of providing much more defense than Clint Dempsey, Joe Benny Corona, Landon Donovan, and Jozy Altidore.

Joya is a nice complement to Cameron and Bradley because Joya’s technical ability tends slightly more toward the creative than Bradley’s does, even if Bradley is skilled at pushing the attack and playing final balls.

Going forward, a Front Six with a complementary set of unique skill-sets can help the United States to close the gap with better national teams, and the criteria for inclusion on the USMNT should be expanded to include player’s with unique and needed qualities and playing styles, even if they don’t have as many club minutes as less-skilled players who see more playing time.

At some point in the near future, the United States needs to incorporate Benji Joya. Using a Front Six like the one below would offer a balanced combination of types of players and skill-sets making up the Front Six of the USMNT:

Geoff CAMERON; Michael BRADLEY, Benji JOYA; Joe Benny CORONA; Jozy ALTIDORE, Clint DEMPSEY.

 

 

The O’Neill-Brooks Center Back Tandem

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World Soccer Source is more than willing to come right out and declare that both Shane O’Neill and John Anthony Brooks are better center backs than both Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler.

Since World Soccer Source would like to see Geoff Cameron playing as the midfield destroyer, Shane O’Neill is the center back partner being proposed for John Anthony Brooks.

This declaration doesn’t mean that Gonzalez and Besler aren’t international-caliber center backs or that they shouldn’t be on the roster, but this writer is voicing the opinion that O’Neill and Brooks are better center backs and better soccer players than Gonzalez and Besler.

When Brooks played against Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic, he really wasn’t guilty of making any serious mistakes.

On Bosnia’s first goal, Eddie Johnson was stripped of the ball in front of his own penalty box as he was trying to find a way to get the ball out of the danger zone, and Bosnia stole the ball and played a pass through John Anthony Brooks and Geoff Cameron, which both players got their feet on. So, both Brooks and Cameron both blocked an expertly played through ball, but the ball managed to ricochet through a crowd.

That’s hardly a mistake, and when Brooks and Cameron were blamed for not crashing the net to stop the second attempt after Tim Howard blocked the first shot, it is very possible that both defenders were trying to keep their marks offside.

On Bosnia’s second goal scored by Vedad Ibisevic, Geoff Cameron was likely expecting John Anthony Brooks (who was ball side of Cameron) to head a ball played in both of their directions out, but Brooks was pushed in the back in the process of going for the header. This push not only prevented Brooks from jumping, but it also threw Cameron off. There is also the argument that Vedad Ibisevic was offside, and Cameron was behind him because he was trying to keep him offside.

On Bosnia’s third goal, Geoff Cameron was closer to a cross coming in Brooks direction and Cameron jumped really high to attempt to head the cross out, but he wasn’t able to get up high enough. This writer would argue that it’s likely that this jump obstructed Brooks view of the ball coming in for a split-second, but an elite striker like Dzeko was equipped to still finish the cross with his head, even with his view obstructed for a split-second.

The point of reviewing these three goals is to demonstrate that both Cameron and Brooks put in a very good defensive performance against an elite Bosnia-Herzegovina side where their only mistakes were being beaten to two headers by fractions of a second, and on both headers, there is a strong case to be made that their timing was thrown off by the situations described above.

As John Anthony Brooks is a Bundesliga starter, the question is now, “Why should Shane O’Neill start at center back for the USMNT?”

The answer to this question is simple. O’Neill is a more talented defender than both Gonzalez and Besler because he not only has a more complete set of defensive and overall fundamentals, but he also has the athleticism and understanding of the game to play as a center back, right back, left back, and defensive midfielder.

O’Neill brings a greater amount of agility in terms of his ability to keep up with quicker and craftier attackers, whereas against Germany even Matt Besler was easily rounded by André Schürrle. Besler is certainly fast and talented, but the same degree of quickness and mobility isn’t there.

This writer would argue that the actual defensive timing and positioning of O’Neill is well beyond that of Besler and Gonzalez, and even Tab Ramos is a big Shane O’Neill supporter.

It shouldn’t be forgotten than Shane O’Neill performed very well against France’s U-20 World Cup squad, which was stacked with elite European players, whereas Gonzalez and Besler have really only played fairly well against a Germany B Team, that in all honesty took it very easy until they decided to take the scoreline from 4-1 to 4-3 in a matter of minutes.

There’s a strong argument to be made that Germany wasn’t really trying very hard until the prospect of suffering an embarrassing loss to the United States became possible.

To be fair to Gonzalez, he has had the misfortune of coming up against some forwards who almost everyone has trouble defending, including Neymar, Romelu Lukaku, and Christian Benteke

While Gonzalez and Besler are definitely international-caliber center backs, the combination of technical ability, defensive timing and fundamentals, and athleticism seen from both Shane O’Neill and John Anthony Brooks looks to be superior to that of both Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler.

Many observers view Gonzalez and Besler as locks at center back, but two realities remain: O’Neill swam with the sharks against France’s ruthless U-20 World Cup squad and Brooks is a Bundesliga starter for a major club who faced off against an elite Bosnia and Herzegovina side without showing any nerves or real weaknesses.

Gonzalez and Besler are players who are strong candidates to start at center back for the USMNT, but whether or not they are the best American center backs remains to be seen.

Jürgen Klinsmann should strongly consider the possibility that not only is John Anthony Brooks better than Gonzalez and Besler, but Shane O’Neill is as well.

 

Does the USMNT Need a Playmaker?

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Joe Benny Corona (Photo: Evan Habeeb/USA TODAY Sports)
Joe Benny Corona (Photo: Evan Habeeb/USA TODAY Sports)

 

Brazil, Spain, Germany, Italy, and many other top national teams all use playmakers.

Top national teams clearly value playmakers, and if the USMNT is trying to close the gap with top national teams, then the U.S. should probably use a playmaker too.

With the exception of the two times that Jürgen Klinsmann has used Benny Feilhaber, the 2013 Gold Cup might have been the first time that Klinsmann really deployed an actual playmaker for the United States Men’s National Team.

The use of players like Joe Benny Corona and Mix Diskerud in the Gold Cup increased the amount of scoring chances that the United States produced compared to previous World Cup qualifying games.

For the most part, Klinsmann’s hasn’t used a playmaker because he has opted to use either Clint Dempsey or Landon Donovan as second strikers to be tasked with the creative responsibilities in the attacking third.

Against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Klinsmann used Diskerud as a playmaker in front of Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley, and Diskerud did actually create a scenario where he himself was the player in the penalty box looking to score. Diskerud was fouled multiple times in the penalty box on that particular play, but no penalty was called.

In the very same game, Klinsmann moved Eddie Johnson up to center forward to partner with Jozy Altidore, and this set-up allowed for Altidore and Johnson to combine to produce a goal that started off an initial Bradley pass played over the top of the defense.

While this situation didn’t involve a playmaker, it did involve Altidore having more attacking support with him up top in a game without Dempsey or Donovan.

Whether Altidore has an additional center forward playing with him or perhaps a second striker (as opposed to a first striker), the additional support in the attack allows for more combination play in the final third.

Going into the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, Klinsmann has to be planning on using Dempsey, Donovan, and Altidore in the attack, and the best way to maximize all of these players would be to use a playmaker to combine with them and be tasked with more of the playmaking responsibilities, which would free these three up to combine with each other and play off each other.

Bradley, Cameron, and Jones have all shown the ability to set-up goals and play final balls, but none of those players are playmakers. They are skilled passers with the ability to play well-weighted killer balls, but truly being a playmaker is a gift.

While Dempsey, Donovan, and Altidore would be creating for each other and combining in the attacking third, certainly all three of these players are better at scoring and combining with each other than they are at producing a steady stream of final balls. They can play final balls, but all three players excel more when they are making the runs to score themselves.

Therefore, adding a playmaker to set these players up to score is a way for the USMNT to increase the amount of shots created and the goals scored. Based on the playmakers that Klinsmann has recently used, it appears that Klinsmann has a choice between using Joe Benny Corona, Mix Diskerud, or even both.

While this writer believes using Geoff Cameron and Michael Bradley as the defensive midfield tandem produces better passing than the Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley tandem, both Diskerud and Corona possess more playmaking skills than Cameron, Bradley, Donovan, Dempsey, and Altidore.

Klinsmann would be wise to call up both Corona and Diskerud to the World Cup qualifying roster, and he should pick one of these players to start to give the USMNT a nice balance of different types of players started in the Front Six.

Whichever playmaker Klinsmann elects to start, if he even starts one, he always has the option of substituting one playmaker in for the other if the starting playmaker is having an off game, becomes injured, or is carded.

Bradley, Cameron, Donovan, Dempsey, and Altidore can certainly foster a brand of one-to-two touch soccer that produces goals, but adding a playmaker to that group of players should take the USMNT’s passing to a higher level, not to mention the fact that Corona has a knack for scoring.

 

 

Tactical Decisions for Klinsmann to Make

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Despite what many observers say, tactics in soccer do not just involve how you coach your team to play; they also involve player selection, formation decisions, and the balance of types of players started.

Tactical decisions involve what sort of players a coach wants to start or include on the roster, and tactical decisions also involve how and where players are used.

Jürgen Klinsmann likely finds himself with more questions than answers right now, as every game seems to reveal some new piece of information about the effectiveness of players he uses and where he uses them.

 

Front Six Decisions:

Most recently, without two of Klinsmann’s best players, Jozy Altidore went on a total rampage against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and he displayed that he’s arrived at the point where he’s harnessed his skill and athleticism against top international teams.

During the most recent set of World Cup qualifying games, Klinsmann likely felt that he had found an effective group of players, but things such as how Geoff Cameron partnered with Michael Bradley compared to how Jermaine Jones partnered with Michael Bradley likely showed Klinsmann how Cameron allowed Bradley more freedom to attack.

After the last wave of World Cup qualifying games was over, Klinsmann saw several players in the Gold Cup that likely made him reconsider what his best starting line-up really was.

Players like Joe Benny Corona, Mix Diskerud, and Alejandro Bedoya brought some needed creativity and final balls, which were two things that the USMNT had been missing somewhat in World Cup qualifying.

The other obvious difference that Klinsmann saw was how a player of Landon Donovan’s skill-level really deserved to be an integral part of the United States Men’s National Team.

Therefore, while Klinsmann had been sold on the idea of using Graham Zusi as a right midfielder, Corona, Diskerud, and Donovan made a case for their inclusion in the World Cup qualifying starting line-up as well.

Excluding the defense for the time being, Klinsmann finds himself in a situation where he has Michael Bradley, Geoff Cameron, Jermaine Jones, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Fabian Johnson, Mix Diskerud, Joe Benny Corona, Alejandro Bedoya, Sacha Kljestan, Graham Zusi, Jozy Altidore, Aron Jóhannsson, and Eddie Johnson all vying for six starting line-up spots.

That’s 14 players vying for 6 spots, and the 14 players mentioned don’t even include Brek Shea, José Torres, or players than Klinsmann hasn’t really included in his rosters.

Therefore, the coach of the USMNT has to decide if he wants to use two first strikers like Altidore, Johnson, and Jóhannsson, or if he wants to use three attacking midfielders behind just one first striker: Jozy Altidore.

The Bradley and Jones defensive midfield tandem seems to be Klinsmann’s preference, and assuming that he starts Dempsey, Donovan, and Altidore, then Klinsmann has to decide if Altidore needs another central forward with him up top or if some sort of playmaker is needed in between Donovan and Dempsey.

This set-up above leaves Klinsmann with the option of using a player like Corona or Diskerud as a playmaker, but it also leaves Klinsmann will the option of using Zusi, Dempsey, and Donovan as the line of three attacking midfielders. Additionally, maybe starting Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, and Fabian Johnson behind Jozy Altidore is an excellent way to go.

In a way, the victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina showed Klinsmann how using two center forwards was effective even without Dempsey and Donovan playing, so this really begs the question of how effective the USMNT can be with a midfield destroyer, a box-to-box midfielder, two attacking midfielders, and two center forwards.

As far as the Front Six goes, Klinsmann best course of action is to make sure that his roster has defensive midfielders, box-to-box midfielders, attacking midfielders, playmakers, second strikers, and first strikers, so that he has plenty of options for his starting line-ups and his substitutions.

The USMNT has the option of relying on the combination play of Cameron, Bradley, Jones, Dempsey, Donovan, and Altidore to create scoring chances and goals, or the U.S. can start a player like Corona or Diskerud to give Bradley, Dempsey, and Donovan more attacking support for Altidore and themselves.

As of yet, Klinsmann has not started Dempsey, Donovan, and a playmaker behind Altidore, so this might be the next logical step for Klinsmann in his attempt to close the gap with better soccer nations.

 

Defensive Decisions:

The best defensive back four is another set of decisions all together, even without discussing the introduction of several defenders that World Soccer Source has advocated starting such as Shane O’Neill, DeAndre Yedlin, and Chris Klute.

Should Klinsmann start Omar Gonzalez with Matt Besler at center back, or should Geoff Cameron start with John Anthony Brooks at center back?

Should some different combination of those players be used? What about Michael Orozco Fiscal?

In terms of outside backs, Klinsmann seems to favor using Brad Evans or Geoff Cameron at right back with DaMarcus Beasley at left back, but is Fabian Johnson really Klinsmann’s first choice left back? Would Klinsmann rather have Fabian Johnson starting as a left winger?

 

Will Jürgen Klinsmann use three defensive midfielders again?:

There is a very remote possibility that the USMNT could elect to go back to using three defensive midfielders since Klinsmann seems to view Bradley and Jones as box-to-box midfielders, as opposed to traditional defensive midfielders.

Maybe Klinsmann elects to use Cameron as a midfield destroyer with Jones and Bradley in front of him, so that they can have slightly less defensive duties and be more involved in the attack. With this formation, it would seem likely that Klinsmann would use Cameron, Bradley, Jones, Donovan, Dempsey, and Altidore as his Front Six.

 

Outlook and Prediction:

Heading into the next set of World Cup qualifying games, Jürgen Klinsmann has a lot of decisions to make, and it will be interesting to see which players are called up to the national team and which players start. There is really no way to tell who Klinsmann will call up, who he will start, or if he’ll do something similar to what he’s done before or something totally different.

There are more excellent American soccer players who are products of American youth soccer than there have been in the past, and there are also dual-nationals who are outstanding soccer players that have decided to play for the United States.

 

The USMNT Needs Klute and Yedlin

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Chris Klute (right) might be the best American left back. (Photo: Eamon Queeny / The Columbus Dispatch)
Chris Klute (right) might be the best American left back. (Photo: Eamon Queeny / The Columbus Dispatch)

 

With Steve Cherundolo out indefinitely and Fabian Johnson performing better as a left winger, as opposed to as a left back, Jürgen Klinsmann needs DeAndre Yedlin and Chris Klute at right back and left back, respectively, now.

Both Klute and Yedlin are two-footed and technically-skilled players with a good first touch, and they can both pass and dribble out of the back.

Yedlin has been enjoying more publicity, but Klute is perhaps an even better outside back. Nevertheless, Yedlin is a right back and Klute is a left back, and both players are sorely needed by the USMNT.

Klute has been amassing a laundry list of starts and 90 minute performances where he showcases his excellent defending, his dangerous attacking and passing ability, and his blazing speed.

On the other hand, Yedlin too has been amassing excellent performances, including a very strong showing in the U-20 World Cup and a strong showing against Roma.

Yedlin faced strong competition both in the U-20 World Cup and against Roma, so there is some real evidence that his game translates to the international level.

Despite not having the same opportunities as Yedlin, Klute’s skill both as a defender and as a participant in the attack is undeniable.

On one occasion this season, Klute passed the ball to himself by playing the ball past the defender and then sprinting out of bounds to the left of the defender only to come back in bounds to collect the ball again.

In addition to dribbling displays like this, Klute has also produced seven assists off crosses plus a highlight reel of dispossessing opposing players either by perfectly timed slidetackles or simply taking the ball of the opposition’s feet.

Using Yedlin’s and Klute’s skill and speed at the outside back positions gives the USMNT a new and needed element to its play: excellent attacking and defending out wide.

By using natural outside backs who bring skill and speed, the United States can not only defend faster and craftier attackers out wide, but the U.S. can also disrupt the opposition by attacking them with blazing speed out wide, which causes opposing defenders to have to frequently use more than one defender to try and stop the marauding runs of Klute and Yedlin.

Using Andrew Farrell might also be an option at right back or even center back, but using Jonathan Spector or Eric Lichaj would make more sense than using Brad Evans or Michael Parkhurst at right back, even if they have held their own.

There is certainly a greater number of talented young American players than there used to be, but it is important that Jürgen Klinsmann and the USMNT actually use or at least incorporate the new players like Yedlin and Klute who have distinguished themselves and displayed the ability to improve the United States Men’s National Team.

Any defender can be wrong-footed, caught out of position, or beaten, but DeAndre Yedlin and Chris Klute simply look too skilled and too fast not to use, even if they are young and inexperienced at the international level.

The USMNT really doesn’t have the luxury of not using players of this caliber, especially if Klinsmann wants to really challenge the top teams.

Mistakes may come, but it’s vital to use the players with the tools to compete and excel against top national teams.

 

Gyasi Zardes: USMNT Striker Prospect

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Gyasi Zardes is in a group of young or new American players who are playing in Major League Soccer or elsewhere who have been tagged with the label of being “raw,” “promising,” or “inexperienced.”

Zardes has been tagged with the raw label so much that it has clouded a more important label: talented.

There’s simply no way to watch Gyasi Zardes play and not notice the skill, the fearlessness, the physique, the speed, and the technical ability of the 21-year-old striker.

The LA Galaxy first striker who finds himself just shoved into the attack in various places by Bruce Arena for the purpose of getting him into the Starting XI has shown that his soft first touch, his changes of direction and speed, his shooting, his heading, and his overall athleticism are for real.

Gyasi Zardes is an exciting player, and his flair and aggressive play are effective.

Zardes has started the last 13 games for the Los Angeles Galaxy, and he has already taken some 59 shots this season. Frequently, Zardes is played out wide as opposed to playing as a first striker, and the fact that Bruce Arena will make space for him somewhere in the attack just to get him into the starting line-up is a testament to Zardes’ skill.

As has been quoted many times, Bruce Arena once said that, “Clint Dempsey tries sh*t,” and this shows somewhat how Arena values players who are willing to take risks to try to score or unlock defenses.

Arena clearly values Zardes as a player, and he makes a point of playing him.

Zardes is a freak of nature with an excellent physique, which he combines with his technical skill-level and fearlessness to aggressively attack opposing defenders and storm the penalty box.

With his soft first touch, his two-footed skill, his heading ability, his shooting, and his ability to take defenders off the dribble, Zardes is a player who should be allowed to take a lot of shots on goal, even if many of them sail over or wide.

If a striker has the skill and athleticism to get into scoring positions and threaten the goal, then that striker should be allowed to miss shots and make mistakes as part of the process of refining the technical ability of a first striker with incredible size and athleticism.

Gyasi Zardes plays with Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan, who can be trusted to give the young striker tips on the finer points of breaking down defenses, combining with his teammates, and besting goalkeepers, but it’s clear that Arena is allowing Zardes the freedom to aggressively attack defenses and the goal as part of the process of smoothing out his technical ability and attacking.

The most important thing about Gyasi Zardes is that all of the physical gifts and skills are accompanied by something that cannot be taught: the fire that burns on the inside, which fuels his fearless attacking and aggressiveness.

For all of the talk of Zardes’ size and athleticism, his excellent two-footed technical ability shouldn’t be overlooked. This is a first striker who is not only a fantastic athlete, but a fantastic talent as well.

The United States has many new strikers who people are overly critical of, but Zardes is a fantastic athlete and skilled striker who doesn’t need an invitation to attack. He’s only going to get better, and playing for the United States Men’s National Team is very likely.

Keep your eye on Gyasi Zardes.

 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2013/07/27/powerful-drive-zardes-misses-wide

A New USMNT Back Four

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Shane O'Neill (center) should partner with John Anthony Brooks at center back. (Photo: Bart Young / Colorado Rapids)
Shane O’Neill (center) should partner with John Anthony Brooks at center back. (Photo: Bart Young / Colorado Rapids)

 

New players like Chris Klute, DeAndre Yedlin, and Shane O’Neill have been thoroughly covered by this writer, and with the arrival of John Anthony Brooks, it would appear that the United States Men’s National Team has a new crop of young and talented defenders who can improve the quality and efficacy of the USMNT’s Back Four.

Despite being perhaps the U.S.’ most talented center back, Geoff Cameron isn’t included in this list because he can be more effective for the USMNT as a midfield destroyer to partner with Michael Bradley who plays the more box-to-box defensive midfield role.

World Soccer Source has covered in various articles how Cameron and Bradley can partner together better than Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley, and World Soccer Source has also extensively covered how a new Front Six has emerged for the U.S. national team that has the potential to produce better and more effective soccer.

Using a Front Six made up of Geoff Cameron, Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan, Joe Benny Corona, Clint Dempsey, and Jozy Altidore should greatly improve the USMNT, but a new and improved Back Four is needed as well.

Many observers view change as risky, but Jürgen Klinsmann’s defenses and line-ups have been characterized by change.

With the skill and athleticism that John Anthony Brooks and Geoff Cameron showed as center backs against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United States displayed for perhaps the first time ever a tandem of higher-level center backs playing technically-advanced soccer against a top national team.

Given this writer’s belief that Cameron would be better served in the midfield, Brooks will need a new center back partner, and it’s time to start incorporating or starting Shane O’Neill of the Colorado Rapids as Brooks’ center back partner.

O’Neill has shown over almost a full MLS season a much higher level of technical ability, athleticism, and defensive skills than both Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler; O’Neill just didn’t receive the credit for it.

O’Neill surpasses both Gonzalez and Besler in a number of areas, including the ones outlined above, but more importantly, O’Neill is quite visibly a better overall soccer player who shows an excellent understanding of the game and where he needs to be.

Based on how well Brooks played against Bosnia and Herzegovina, in addition to the fact that he’s a Bundesliga starter, Brooks has to be considered a starter from now on for the USMNT, and O’Neill gives Brooks a center back partner, who like Cameron, isn’t just a good defender, but a good all-around player with a thorough understanding of the game and the ability to play well when the competition goes up.

Taking nothing away from Besler and Gonzalez, the next step for the United States would be to employ more athletic and more skilled center backs like Brooks and O’Neill who are also tall with two modern outside backs like Chris Klute and DeAndre Yedlin who present a two-way threat from their outside back positions.

The United States Men’s National Team continues to have more quality players in the American player pool, but it’s time to use these players rather than waiting for some unknown amount of time to use them.

Yedlin, O’Neill, Brooks, and Klute have all shown a glimpse of what using four defenders with excellent athleticism and technical ability could look like for the USMNT, and the key to improving the national team is to actually use these better players.

While many people do not feel comfortable using new or younger players in a World Cup qualifier, it is important to not remain complacent and just ride out a winning streak, especially when the very last game against Bosnia and Herzegovina used many different players than the players responsible for the wins before.

Therefore, the USMNT has been winning with different players during the winning streak, and the next step is to have the courage to use fast and skilled two-way outside backs with tall, athletic, and skilled center backs.

Defensively, mistakes can always happen whether a coach uses the same defenders or new defenders, so there is never a guarantee that merely using most of the same defenders will eliminate mistakes. At any time, a ball can be played over or through the defensive back four, no matter how experienced they are.

If Jürgen Klinsmann learned anything during his time as head coach of the United States Men’s National Team, it’s that many of the new players that he introduced into the line-up exceeded his expectations. Players like O’Neill, Yedlin, and Klute have an extensive body of MLS performances, and in some cases, international performances that show the types of players that they are.

While playing out of position, Brad Evans and DaMarcus Beasley have held their own at right back and left back, but Yedlin and Klute look to be a higher-caliber of natural, modern outside backs who present a threat attacking and defending.

To continue to improve and close the gap with top national teams, in addition to being better prepared for the 2014 World Cup (assuming the U.S. qualifies), it is time to use the new players who have the tools needed to compete against better competition, rather than just using defenders who hold their own.

For a country that has been producing better and better players, the path to greater soccer success at the international level is to incorporate and field the new and better players.

A close examination of Chris Klute, DeAndre Yedlin, Shane O’Neill, and John Anthony Brooks will reveal a more talented group of defenders than Brad Evans, Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler, and DaMarcus Beasley, even if the four defenders just mentioned have done well against CONCACAF competition.

It’s important to remember that Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler, and DaMarcus Beasley didn’t play against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that the USMNT’s winning streak has included a revolving door of players.

Some of the new defenders are very impressive, and they have earned the right at the very least to be strongly considered for the USMNT.

 

MORE ON THE USMNT’S FRONT SIX AND BACK FOUR:

https://www.worldsoccersource.com/american-mls-defenders-to-watch/

https://www.worldsoccersource.com/the-cameron-bradley-defensive-midfield-tandem/

https://www.worldsoccersource.com/usmnt-back-four-options/

https://www.worldsoccersource.com/better-usmnt-front-6-emerges/

https://www.worldsoccersource.com/new-progress-in-usmnt-tactics/