The 23-man United States Men’s National Team roster proposed below includes a balance of center backs, outside backs, defensive midfielders, attacking midfielders, and forwards (Number 9s and second strikers).
Here is World Soccer Source’s Best USMNT 23 for February 2015:
-Guzan is the clear Number 1, but it’s time to bring Irwin and Steffen into the fold.
-Irwin is one of the very best keepers in MLS, and the USA would be wise to start making the young Steffen part of the senior squad.
DEFENDERS: Ventura ALVARADO, John BROOKS, Shane O’NEILL, Steve BIRNBAUM, DeAndre YEDLIN, Greg GARZA, Andrew FARRELL, Chris KLUTE
– Alvarado, Brooks, O’Neill, and Birnbaum are the four center backs.
– Michael Orozco is one of the best American center backs and somewhat of a big-time snub from this 23-man roster, but Birnbaum showed well against Chile. O’Neill is widely considered one of the very best center back prospects for the USA.
– Yedlin, Garza, Farrell, and Klute are the outside backs. Klute, who is right-footed, plays left back and right back.
– Farrell is a center back that had been playing as a right back for the New England Revolution, and Alvarado, who is really a center back, can play every defensive position for Club América.
– Garza recently injured his knee, and depending on the gravity of the injury, Fabian Johnson would deserve his left back spot. The argument can be made that Johnson, despite being more skilled than both players, doesn’t track back on defense as well as Klute or Garza.
MIDFIELDERS: Michael BRADLEY, Geoff CAMERON, Maurice EDU, Benny FEILHABER, Mix DISKERUD, Dillon POWERS
-Bradley, Cameron, and Edu are defensive midfielders. Bradley also plays as a box-to-box midfielder.
-Powers plays as a central midfielder, attacking midfielder, and defensive midfielder.
-Feilhaber and Diskerud are attacking midfielders that have also become two-way central midfielders.
FORWARDS: Clint DEMPSEY, Jozy ALTIDORE, Joe Benny CORONA, Juan AGUDELO, Rubio RUBIN, Alejandro GUIDO
– Dempsey plays as a withdrawn striker, attacking midfielder, and winger.
– Corona and Guido are attacking midfielders that play as wings, second strikers, and Number 10s.
-Guido is more of a senior team player for Tijuana than Paul Arriola, who is another American with Xolos to watch.
-Altidore, Agudelo, and Rubin are Number 9s.
-Agudelo and Rubin are more versatile than Altidore, and they can both play wide as well.
-Agudelo is the most talented of the American strikers.
Editor’s Note:World Soccer Source normally includes Benji Joya because of his overall skill, athleticism, and his completeness as a midfielder, but Joya’s status with Santos Laguna is currently unclear after not being signed by the Chicago Fire after his loan with MLS.
Clint Dempsey remains the face and undisputed leader of American soccer and the U.S. national team. (Photo: AP)
By: COLIN REESE
The United States Men’s National Team continues to lag behind elite national teams that demonstrate collective team technical ability and visibly superior play, but the United States can play like the best national teams, even if the overall skill level isn’t as high.
Brazil for example has a specific formula that it always uses.
Brazil uses two modern outside backs that flank two athletic and technical center backs that show elite defending.
Additionally, the Seleção deploys two defensive midfielders: one destroyer and one box-to-box central midfielder. In the attack, Brazil uses a hybrid between three attacking midfielders and one striker or two attacking midfielders with two forwards.
Brazil also always uses a Number 10, whether it’s a type of fast, goal-scoring Number 10 like Neymar or one like Oscar. Neymar plays differently than Zidane played, but using Neymar as a Number 10 gives Brazil a real playmaker.
The formula that Brazil and many other national teams use works.
The United States can use Brazilian tactics without being as talented and elite. The United States has the personnel to field a 4-2-3-1 or a fluid 4-2-2-2.
Jürgen Klinsmann should use the 4-2-3-1 formation, but he should use it with players playing their natural positions.
The USA has outside backs and center backs. DeAndre Yedlin is a talented right back, and Greg Garza and Fabian Johnson are talented left backs.
To be fair, Johnson plays right back and left back.
Kofi Sarkodie and Andrew Farrell are two other talented right backs in the American player pool, and Chris Klute plays both right back and left back like Johnson does. Klute is extremely fast just like Yedlin is.
These types of outside backs give the USA width, which lets the midfielders look to focus on keeping possession and breaking down defenses with quick passing slightly more in the center of the field.
The USA also has skilled center backs. Geoff Cameron, Ventura Alvarado, John Brooks, Michael Orozco, Maurice Edu, and several other center backs are all talented – some more so than others. Steve Birnbaum has proven to be capable as well. Shane O’Neill looks the part as well.
Certainly, Yedlin, Alvarado, Brooks, and Garza or Johnson form a Back Four where all of the players are good enough to play well against top national teams, and all of these players are playing their natural positions.
Forming the line of two defensive midfielders, Cameron as the midfield destroyer with Bradley as the more box-to-box midfielder is an obvious partnership, and it has proven to work.
As the line of three attacking midfielders, what’s wrong with starting Joe Corona, Benny Feilhaber or Mix Diskerud, and Clint Dempsey?
Nothing is wrong with that, and at least those players have the technical ability, experience, and athleticism to play skill soccer as opposed to kick and run or bunker ball against top national teams.
Jozy Altidore and Juan Agudelo are both strikers that the United States can start up top, but Agudelo is out of match fitness due to his recent time without a club until he resigned with the New England Revolution.
Both Altidore and Agudelo are skilled and athletic strikers that can cause problems for top national teams, stretch the opposition’s defense, and put the ball in the back of the net.
This combination of defensive midfielders both playing the ball out of the back and protecting the attackers and Back Four allows for the United States to really display the proactive soccer that Klinsmann has spoken so much about.
With Klinsmann, there has never been a logical and organized system of deploying the best American players in their natural positions, but if he were to start the best American players where they belong, then the United States would at least be looking to impose its will on the opposition and display quality soccer.
Other players need to be tested out and given experience, but the players and formation discussed above would be a step in the right direction for Klinsmann.
Bob Bradley used to deploy two defensive midfielders in the middle of the midfield with Dempsey and Landon Donovan on the left and right wings respectively, but Klinsmann’s job was to take this one step further and make sure a playmaker was used in place of the second forward in the 4-4-2.
If Bradley had used a quick playmaker as a second striker, then he would have been able to keep his formation, but at least his tactics were clear.
Klinsmann has the ability to have his defensive midfielders, his attacking midfielders, and his forwards along with a technical, athletic, and defensively-solid Back Four, but he just hasn’t fielded this sort of line-up.
The United States isn’t as good as world football’s elite national teams, but at least the coach should use the personnel and tactics to play soccer that is closer to elites.
At the 2014 World Cup, the United States was thoroughly outclassed with only the spirit and work ethic of American players making the USA’s games close. Certain American players played well, but the overall visual of the United States was a team still lacking in collective technical ability.
To close the gap with the Brazils of the world, Jürgen Klinsmann owes the United States, its players, and its fans a national team that plays skilled players in their natural positions in an effective formation, and Klinsmann has plenty of players to choose from that were born and/or raised in the United States.
Klinsmann’s insistence on looking for dual-nationals abroad as opposed to all of the players that developed in the United States is insulting to American soccer fans, and his policy of always looking abroad first has been ineffective at closing the gap with elite national teams.
There’s nothing wrong with using players from abroad that qualify to represent the United States due to their background, but Klinsmann has overlooked too many players that developed in the United States.
Even if he has used plenty of MLS players, the overall amount of promising and young American talents that were born and/or raised in the United States have quite simply been untapped and untested by Klinsmann.
Making instant improvements to the United States Men’s National Team after the friendlies against Chile and Panama with a somewhat limited roster is something that is easy for Jürgen Klinsmann and U.S. Soccer.
Call up Ventura Alvarado and make him a starting center back
Starting Ventura Alvarado and John Brooks at center back at the soonest opportunity is something Klinsmann and the United States Men’s National Team should do.
Alvarado brings two-footed skill, size, speed, a good reading of the game, sound defending, and versatility to the American defense.
Jermaine Jones is a good center back even at 33 years old, but Alvarado is 22 and playing for Club America.
This center back tandem of Alvarado and Brooks opens the door to starting Geoff Cameron and Michael Bradley as the defensive midfielders, which has proved to be a good partnership where both players know their roles.
This formula gives the United States a young, talented, and athletic center back pairing with a defensive midfield pairing with a more clear cut assignment of roles.
Start Cameron and Bradley as the defensive midfielders
Let Cameron stay back a bit deeper with Bradley free to play a box-to-box role filled with plenty of defending and attacking forays.
Getting past both Cameron and Bradley should prove to be much more difficult than breaking down the center of the American line-up previously.
Stacking the heart of the midfield and the defense with Bradley, Cameron, Alvarado, and Brooks would certainly make for a more imposing and effective United States.
What would the defense look like?
The rest of the American defense has more or less been solidified with DeAndre Yedlin at right back and Greg Garza or Fabian Johnson at left back, and Brad Guzan is of course the undisputed starting American goalkeeper.
Guzan in goal with Yedlin, Alvarado, Brooks, and Garza as the Back Four with Cameron and Bradley lining up in front of them is something for American soccer fans to get excited about.
Who should start in the attack?
This defense and defensive midfield pairing gives the United States the freedom to stack the attack with talented, creative, and fast players that can actually go at the opposition with aggressive, technical, and spontaneous attacking play.
An attack with Joe Corona, Mix Diskerud, and Clint Dempsey lining up behind Jozy Altidore at striker is really a no-brainer.
While they are other players to test and give minutes to, this line-up is a massive improvement over previous American line-ups.
Alejandro Bedoya has been doing well as a wide player for the United States, but Corona is a better passer and creator. Corona should start over Bedoya, who is a fast and talented attacker that actually plays in Ligue 1.
Alvarado in particular is key to this improvement in the USA XI because he not only solves the center back problem, but he also solves the defensive midfielder problem.
If Cameron is available to play with Bradley in the heart of the midfield, then there’s no need to force Bradley into too constrictive of a role as either a playmaker, which is Klinsmann’s bizarre preference, or as a midfield destroyer.
This set-up also allows Diskerud to play his natural position as a Number 10 or central attacking midfielder. He has vastly improved his defending and overall two-way play as well.
There are lots of talented and exciting players in the American player pool, but these 11 players are ready to go right now.
With Alvarado actually playing for a team of Club America’s stature, there’s no real need for any other evidence of his abilities. The evidence is right there to see when he plays. The United States cannot allow Mexico to cap-tie a player like Alvarado, who is an American from Phoenix.
Klinsmann has fielded a wide variety of illogical and unbalanced rosters, but going with the 4-2-3-1 formation with the players proposed above is hard to heavily criticize.
With the defense proposed above being self-explanatory, the attacking strategy is quite obvious as well; Diskerud plays a Number 10 role (with plenty of defending), and Corona and Dempsey are free to roam all over the attack supporting Altidore, setting him up, and looking to score themselves.
In many ways, both Corona and Diskerud are primarily tasked with providing final balls and service for Dempsey and Altidore, which has been one of the United States’ weaknesses along with a center back to start with Brooks.
The other problem for the United States has been who should play left back, but Garza and Johnson have solved this problem nicely.
The USA XI described above is a strong and balanced selection with quality players deployed in their natural positions, and there is a strong defense without sacrificing a capable attack.
There are plenty of players in the American player pool that the United States needs to test out and give minutes to, but the Starting XI outlined below is a balanced and talented line-up that at least makes perfect sense.
What should the Starting XI be?
USA XI (4-2-3-1): Guzan; Yedlin, Alvarado, Brooks, Garza; Bradley, Cameron; Corona, Diskerud, Dempsey; Altidore.
Benji Joya should be incorporated into the USMNT now. (Photo: Chicago Fire)
By: COLIN REESE
Editor’s Note:Omissions of talented American players doesn’t mean that World Soccer Source doesn’t rate them highly or as highly as other selections. The 23 players selected are an attempt to propose a balanced 23-man roster with the right amount of players for each position, in addition to players that add a different or needed dimension to the United States Men’s National Team.
23 Players for the USMNT’s January 2015 Camp
GOALKEEPERS (3): Clint IRWIN, Luis ROBLES, Tally HALL
DEFENDERS (8): Maurice EDU, Shane O’NEILL, Andrew FARRELL, Amobi OKUGO; Kofi SARKODIE, Kellyn ACOSTA, Chris KLUTE, Robbie ROGERS
– Four center backs and four outside backs
MIDFIELDERS (6): Michael BRADLEY, Perry KITCHEN; Benny FEILHABER, Mix DISKERUD; Dillon POWERS, Benji JOYA
-Two defensive midfielders and four two-way central midfielders with natural playmaking abilities.
FORWARDS (6): Clint DEMPSEY, Kelyn ROWE, José VILLARREAL, Juan AGUDELO, Gyasi ZARDES, Teal BUNBURY
-Three Number 9s plus three second strikers/wings.
USA XI (4-3-3): IRWIN; SARKODIE, EDU, O’NEILL, KLUTE; POWERS, BRADLEY, JOYA; AGUDELO, FEILHABER, DEMPSEY.
Clint Dempsey (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
By: COLIN REESE
In a previous edition of this column, World Soccer Source backed Greg Garza at left back with Fabian Johnson at the right attacker spot. Garza is a solid and exciting left back that hasn’t done anything to lose his starting spot, but the re-emergence of Charlie Davies makes Davies too good to not include in the attacking trident with Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey, which moves Johnson to left back.
Davies’ form pushes Garza out of the ideal United States Men’s National Team Starting XI for World Soccer Source.
With Michael Bradley injured, the USMNT no longer has the option of starting Bradley, Geoff Cameron, and Mix Diskerud as the midfield three. Now, the USMNT should start Diskerud, Cameron, and Benny Feilhaber as the three-man midfield.
Below is World Soccer Source’s Best USMNT XI for November 2014:
USMNT XI (4-3-3):
GOALKEEPER: Brad GUZAN (Aston Villa)
Even before Tim Howard decided to take time off from international play, Brad Guzan had already made his case to be the USA’s Number 1. Either way, both Howard and Guzan are world-class goalkeepers, and Guzan is the clear first-choice with Howard gone. Guzan has waited his turn, and he is the undisputed USA Number 1.
RIGHT BACK: DeAndre YEDLIN (Seattle Sounders)
DeAndre Yedlin is the best choice to start at right back because he plays the way that elite outside backs play. Fabian Johnson has an outstanding left-foot, so it makes more sense to use him as a left back than as a right back. Yedlin is also two-footed, but Yedlin at right back with Johnson at left back is the obvious choice to field modern outside backs that can compete with the best. Yedlin is known for his attacking and speed, but his defending is very underrated. Given his speed, it goes without saying that beating Yedlin for pace is very hard to do for any player in world football.
CENTER BACK: Jermaine JONES (New England Revolution)
Using Jermaine Jones at center back was a logical decision by Jürgen Klinsmann. Many clubs and national teams use defensive midfielders as center backs because these really talented defensive midfielders bring better skill on the ball than most center backs, plus they are skilled and experience defenders that are used to making tackles and winning back possession. Using Jones with Brooks is a major upgrade to using Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler in the center of the defense.
CENTER BACK: John BROOKS (Hertha Berlin)
John Brooks has shown more than enough times that he brings excellent technical ability and defending combined with impressive athleticism. It’s hard to see someone taking the left center back spot from Brooks, and there’s no reason to play anyone else there. Even Matt Besler has never shown the type of skill and defending that Brooks has displayed. There’s no comparison between Besler and Brooks.
LEFT BACK: Fabian JOHNSON (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
The resurgence and return to form of Charlie Davies has changed everything for World Soccer Source. While Greg Garza at left back with Fabian Johnson at right attacker or right winger was a great formula for success, the return of Davies means that the USA can use Charlie Davies, Jozy Altidore, and Clint Dempsey as the attacking trident. Yedlin and Johnson as the outside backs gives the USMNT two modern outside backs that bomb forward and track attackers down in the defense. Johnson performs equally well as an outside back or winger, and using him as the left back allows the USA to use its outside backs for its attacking width.
CENTRAL MIDFIELDER: Mix DISKERUD (Rosenborg)
Mix Diskerud has kept his creativity, technical ability, and attacking skill and aggressiveness while tacking on strong two-way play with lots of running. Diskerud has proven to be an excellent ball-winner that covers a lot of territory both in the attack and the defense. Diskerud is allowing Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey to receive more final balls and better service, and Diskerud is connecting the midfield to the attack.
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER: Geoff CAMERON (Stoke City)
With Michael Bradley injured, the USA no longer has the option of using Bradley as a central midfielder with Geoff Cameron as a defensive midfielder. Now, the USA can use Cameron as the defensive midfielder anchoring the midfield with Mix Diskerud and Benny Feilhaber playing slightly in front of him while still providing plenty of defending and lots of running to both keep possession and win back possession. Cameron’s size, athleticism, and defending combined with his technical ability and skilled passing with both feet allows Cameron to collect the ball from the Back Four and feed the likes of Diskerud and Feilhaber and switch the point of attack. Cameron is playing as a “defensive midfielder,” but he knows how to get forward with the attack, set-up goals, and score goals.
CENTRAL MIDFIELDER: Benny FEILHABER (Sporting Kansas City)
There’s no indication that Jürgen Klinsmann will use Benny Feilhaber, but nobody doubts his experience, creativity, and technical ability. Feilhaber is arguably the best playmaker and passer in the American player pool, and he brings a type of creativity, vision, and skill that only Diskerud brings. Using Diskerud and Feilhaber in slightly more advanced roles with Cameron playing deeper is an enticing midfield trio.
RIGHT ATTACKER: Charlie DAVIES (New England Revolution)
Charlie Davies is officially back. Jozy Altidore thrived when partnered with Davies in the attack, and at that point Clint Dempsey was playing as a midfielder. Dempsey is better than Davies, but an attacking trident comprised of Davies, Altidore, and Dempsey is something Klinsmann needs to explore. Davies is not only fast, but very clean and composed on the ball. Davies can play as a second striker, outside forward, or False 9, and Davies and Dempsey floating around and behind Altidore is a legit attacking trident. Unlike the types of attacking set-ups that Klinsmann used in the 2014 World Cup, Davies, Altidore, and Dempsey is one with lots of creativity, speed, and skill. The use of Davies and Dempsey allows the USA to link-up better with Altidore even when Feilhaber and Diskerud happen to be back deeper defending and winning back possession.
STRIKER: Jozy ALTIDORE (Sunderland)
For World Soccer Source, the skill and the quality of many of the goals that Altidore has scored in recent years overshadow Altidore’s slump playing with Sunderland, which is a club that doesn’t play the kind of soccer that the USA or any other national team is looking to play. Altidore is a quality striker when given attacking support and quality service and final balls. Altidore’s most recent goal for the USA, which he took down off his chest and then cut back on the defender before slamming the ball inside the near post, was an example of how Altidore isn’t just a beast of an athlete but a technical footballer as well.
LEFT ATTACKER: Clint DEMPSEY (Seattle Sounders)
The American footballer and attacker par excellence, Clint Dempsey has probably four to five more years as the leader and best player on the USMNT. Dempsey has shown not only impressive durability but also constantly improving skill, passing, and goal-scoring ability every year, even though he is over 30. Dempsey is the most important and best player on the USMNT.
USA XI (4-3-3): GUZAN; YEDLIN, JONES, BROOKS, JOHNSON; DISKERUD, CAMERON, FEILHABER; DAVIES, ALTIDORE, DEMPSEY.
This USA XI is in theory a 4-3-3, but Cameron would be playing deeper in the midfield as a defensive midfielder with Altidore up top as the striker. Therefore, the exact tactical formation is fluid and flexible.
Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey. (Source: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Europe)
By: COLIN REESE
This list attempts to balance the most proven veteran players with new players that need to be incorporated into the United States Men’s National Team. The USMNT has been using a 4-3-3 formation recently, and this list of players fits into that formation as well as the 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-3-2 formations.
With Michael Bradley injured, the spine of this roster is essentially Brad Guzan in goal, Jermaine Jones and John Brooks in the center of the defense, Geoff Cameron anchoring the midfield, Mix Diskerud and Benny Feilhaber in the creator roles, and Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore leading the attack.
For World Soccer Source, Charlie Davies’ proven track record with the USMNT in big games plus his current MLS form and chemistry with Jozy Altidore move him back into the national team.
Michael Bradley, Joe Corona, and Joe Gyau aren’t included on the roster below due to injury.
Here is World Soccer Source’s Best USMNT 23 (November 2014):
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad GUZAN, Clint IRWIN, Tally HALL
DEFENDERS (8): Jermaine JONES, John BROOKS, Michael OROZCO, Shane O’NEILL, DeAndre YEDLIN, Fabian JOHNSON, Greg GARZA, Chris KLUTE
MIDFIELDERS (6): Geoff CAMERON, Benny FEILHABER, Mix DISKERUD, Dillon POWERS, Benji JOYA, Maurice EDU
FORWARDS (6): Clint DEMPSEY, Jozy ALTIDORE, Juan AGUDELO, Charlie DAVIES, Gyasi ZARDES, Kelyn ROWE
INJURED: Michael BRADLEY, Joe CORONA, Joe GYAU
Here is a USMNT XI option from the players listed above:
USA XI (4-3-3): GUZAN; YEDLIN, JONES, BROOKS, JOHNSON; DISKERUD, CAMERON, FEILHABER; DAVIES, ALTIDORE, DEMPSEY.
– The defense includes four center backs with only Shane O’Neill being somewhat inexperienced on the international level. O’Neill has plenty of experience with the youth national teams.
– The defense also includes four outside backs with only Chris Klute being inexperienced on the international level. Klute is too promising to not be given several international caps to gauge how he does and give him time to get acclimated to the international game.
– The midfield contains two defensive midfielders (Cameron and Edu) and four creative two-way midfielders (Feilhaber, Diskerud, Powers, Joya) that could be classified as central midfielders or attacking midfielders.
– Readers will notice that several of the players on the roster play as center backs and as defensive midfielders. Cameron, Edu, and O’Neill fit into this category.
– Players like Joya, Rowe, and Powers need to be incorporated before Dempsey retires in four to five years. They are also needed in case Dempsey is ever unavailable. All three know how to create and score goals, and hypothetically, strikers like Altidore and Agudelo should be carrying the scoring load whenever Dempsey isn’t playing.
– In the attack, Dempsey and Rowe are second strikers or wingers, and Altidore, Agudelo, and Zardes are Number 9s or first strikers.
– It’s time to bring Charlie Davies back into the national team fold. Naturally a second striker, the attacker brings experience, proven skill, and loads of speed to the attack., Davies has a proven chemistry with Altidore, and Davies can play as a wide attacker or as a False 9.
Clint Dempsey remains the face and undisputed leader of American soccer and the U.S. national team. (Photo: AP)
By: COLIN REESE
An attacking trident of Fabian Johnson, Jozy Altidore, and Clint Dempsey gives the USMNT an attack that has a second striker or withdrawn forward in Dempsey, a Number 9 in Altidore, and a winger in Johnson who can float around with Dempsey all over the attacking third.
Right Attacker: Fabian JOHNSON
If Greg Garza continues to play well at left back, then a two-footed player with Fabian Johnson’s skill and speed is a weapon that needs to be used in the attack. Johnson is a quality finisher and creative player who isn’t just a player whose game is based on speed. Johnson is a very fast player, but he’s also a player that knows how to put the ball in the back of the net with both feet. Playing with the two players listed below, Johnson’s skill-set and athleticism should be even more influential.
Striker: Jozy ALTIDORE
Sunderland slump aside, Jozy Altidore combines skill with power and athleticism. Altidore has shown that he can score with either foot or his head. When given a strike partner or just better service Altidore can and has scored against elite competition. Clint Dempsey and Altidore play well together, and Altidore is a talented and effective striker when he isn’t stranded up top. With the emergence of Mix Diskerud as a midfield force, Altidore should be seeing more service and better final balls. Unlike in the past, Altidore looks more capable of attacking from wide positions as well, which makes the attacking trident very fluid and potentially dangerous to opposition defenses.
Left Attacker: Clint DEMPSEY
Pater familias of the USMNT and resident expert in showing no respect for his opponents, Clint Dempsey is the main protagonist in the American attack. He combines trickery, skill, and creativity with his famous toughness and durability. He attacks with skill, pace, and calmness in front of goal, and he can display more of his skill when given talented teammates to combine with. At 31 years old, Deuce needs 18 more goals to reach Landon Donovan’s record of 57 USMNT goals. Donovan was a regular for the United States a few years before Dempsey, and it will be exciting to see if Dempsey can equal Donovan’s scoring record in the coming years.
Michael Bradley (Photo: Garrett Ellwood / Colorado Rapids)
By: COLIN REESE
Jürgen Klinsmann would be wise to form a midfield trio with a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, and an attacking midfielder. The attacking midfielder that has been the missing piece in the American midfield is Mix Diskerud, and even as an “attacking midfielder” he provides a lot of defending and running in what is something of a combination between a regista role, a central midfielder role, and a Number 10 role. Geoff Cameron as a defensive midfielder gives Michael Bradley a more defined role than when Bradley was paired with Jermaine Jones and both players battled to be the player with the freedom to attack.
Central Midfielder: Michael BRADLEY (Toronto FC)
With Geoff Cameron also starting in the midfield triumvirate, Michael Bradley can play as a Number 8 with more freedom to go forward. Unlike his partnership with Jermaine Jones, which looked to be two central midfielders both wanting the Number 8 role, Bradley’s partnership with Cameron has Cameron playing the clearly defined role of the Number 6 extraordinaire. Bradley is effective going forward, but nothing close to Mix Diskerud’s attacking and creative artistry. No comparison.
Attacking Midfielder: Mix DISKERUD (Rosenborg)
Mix Diskerud has become some combination of a regista and Number 10, and his evolution into a regista was due to his improved defending and work rate in the midfield. Diskerud is inventive and adventurous in his passing, which is usually on target, but now Diskerud covers more territory and enjoys playing defense. Comparing Diskerud to Marco Verratti or Andrea Pirlo is a felony, but this is more the type of role that he is playing for the USMNT.
Defensive Midfielder: Geoff CAMERON (Stoke City)
While Geoff Cameron and Michael Bradley both provide more of the defensive bite in the midfield trio than Diskerud, Cameron plays the role of the stay-at-home defensive midfielder to Bradley’s Number 8 role. Despite being labeled a defensive midfielder in this midfield trio, Cameron lives to stretch his legs, hit outside of the foot passes with both feet, and spray passes all over the field. Since Bradley is also in the midfield, Cameron can pick and choose his spots to go on kamikaze attacking runs with the assurance that Bradley will cover for him deeper in the midfield. Bradley is famous for his tireless running, but Cameron is the more impressive athlete and faster player.
Jermaine Jones is now being used as a center back for the USMNT. (Photo: Hans Punz/Associated Press)
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.
