USMNT

23 For the U.S. National Team (August 2015)

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Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey (Photo: Julio Cortez/Associated Press)
Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey (Photo: Julio Cortez/Associated Press)

After a very poor 2015 Gold Cup showing by the U.S. Men’s National Team, World Soccer Source proposes a new 23-man roster for the United States.

This current version of the roster proposal is based on a 4-3-1-2 or 4-3-3 formation, so there is a first choice and a second-choice option listed for all 11 starting spots, plus a third goalkeeper.

Ethan Finlay and José Villarreal are listed as wings, but neither is proposed as a starter because of World Soccer Source’s support of a midfield composed of Michael Bradley, Geoff Cameron, Benny Feilhaber, and Sebastian Lletget in a 4-3-1-2 formation.

The general tactical scheme for this 23-man roster is a Back Four with four midfielders and two forwards or a Front Six with a three-man midfield and an attacking trident.

Notes about the positions in the proposed roster and lineup options:

• Benny Feilhaber can be thought of as an attacking midfielder or as a center midfielder, and Sebastian Lletget can be thought of as an attacking midfielder or even something of a forward in certain formations.

• Ethan Finlay and José Villarreal are wings listed in the general category of attacking midfielders. Both players can play as forwards as well.

• The four forwards are essentially comprised of two second strikers and two first strikers. These positions are also referred to as withdrawn forwards or False 9s and center forwards.

• Juan Agudelo is both a second striker and first striker.

• Clint Dempsey is a second striker that also excels as a wing or attacking midfielder.

Here is World Soccer Source’s current 23-man roster for August 2015, and the center backs were hard to pick (a asterisk denotes the starter):

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan*, William Yarbrough, Clint Irwin

Center Backs: Maurice Edu*, Ventura Alvarado*, Andrew Farrell, Tim Ream

-Alvarado is likely ready to start after being tossed in the deep end during the Gold Cup.

Right Backs: DeAndre Yedlin*, Eric Lichaj

-Lichaj can play left back as well

Left Backs: Fabian Johnson*, Greg Garza

– Johnson also plays right back or as a wing.

Center Midfielders: Geoff Cameron*, Michael Bradley*, Kellyn Acosta, Dillon Powers

Attacking Midfielders: Benny Feilhaber*, Sebastian Lletget*, Ethan Finlay, José Villarreal

Forwards: Juan Agudelo*, Clint Dempsey*, Jozy Altidore, Bradford Jamieson IV

-Honorable Mention: Rubio Rubin

 

NT XI Proposal (4-3-1-2 or 4-3-3): Guzan; Yedlin, Edu, Alvarado, Johnson; Bradley, Cameron, Feilhaber; Lletget; Agudelo, Dempsey.

Tactical Formation:

Guzan

Yedlin-Edu-Alvarado-Johnson

Bradley-Cameron-Feilhaber

Lletget

Agudelo-Dempsey

 

Here is World Soccer Source’s 23 in a concise list:

NT 23: Guzan, Yarbrough, Irwin; Edu, Ream, Farrell, Alvarado; Yedlin, Lichaj, F. Johnson, Garza; Cameron, Bradley, Acosta, Powers; Feilhaber, Lletget, Finlay, Villarreal; Dempsey, Altidore, Agudelo, Jamieson IV.

 

The USMNT Must Improve its Midfield

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Dillon Powers (Photo: Colorado Rapids)
Dillon Powers (Photo: Colorado Rapids)

 

After the United States’ poor play in the 2015 Gold Cup, improving the midfield should be the first thing to address.

With the exception of Michael Bradley, the U.S. Men’s National Team needs a total overhaul.

The American midfield must have some logical balance of center midfielders and attacking midfielders. There’s no possession or clinical and elegant passing in the American midfield, and there’s no collective defense being played.

The real problem with the midfield is the personnel. The right players aren’t starting, and the right combination of players are not being played together.

Under various national team coaches, the United States has not fielded a midfield with the right balance of possession and ball recovery.

In a time when the best club and national teams are mostly using a three-man midfield made up of a defensive midfielder, a center midfielder (box-to-box midfielder), and an attacking midfielder, the United States refuses to field something similar.

The American player pool has all of these types of midfielders, even if they aren’t famous, world-class players.

In the past, World Soccer Source has backed Dillon Powers, Michael Bradley, and Sebastian Lletget, and there’s no reason that these three midfielders cannot start for the United States now.

Many observers seem to want guarantees and years of experience from American players before even a single national team call-up for a friendly comes, but the United States isn’t at the level yet where qualified midfielders like Powers and Lletget can be left off the National Team, especially when they fulfill a specific need.

For a national team that needs to improve, inserting the impressive two-way play and engine of Powers with the skill, creativity, and activity off the ball of Lletget can improve the American midfield.

Bradley thrives in the center of the midfield, so he should start the deepest and in the middle of a three-man midfield. Powers provides enough running and defending to allow Bradley to go forward, but the midfield should really be a unit of three players working together with and without the ball.

Based on all of the available information, there is nothing to suggest that Powers and Lletget lack the talent, the confidence, the mentality, the work rate, or the athleticism to play for the National Team.

If the goal is to improve the National Team with quality players that can represent the team long-term in order to raise the level and respect of American soccer, then Powers and Lletget are the two players right now that can partner with Bradley for years to come.

Time will tell what other players make their case or how the careers of Powers and Lletget go, but these two midfielders are exactly what Bradley and the United States need to be more successful.

If for no other reason, Lletget and Powers can play with Bradley and produce quality and effective soccer, and this is so important for the midfield of a soccer nation on the rise.

The United States needs better coaching decisions to improve the midfield, and it shouldn’t be acceptable for various players that aren’t midfielders to be forced to play out of position in the midfield.

Powers and Bradley in slightly deeper midfield roles than Lletget is a sound formula to fielding a quality three-man midfield for the United States.

This trio gives the National Team technical skill, a high work rate, effective defending, and quality midfield passing.

 

Who Should the USMNT Start vs. Jamaica?

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No one knows who Jürgen Klinsmann will start in the 2015 Gold Cup semifinal against Jamaica. Not even Klinsmann himself knows this. No point in guessing.

What about who should start and why? That’s easier to discuss.

Up to this point, Klinsmann has frequently forced Gyasi Zardes to play as a midfielder, and Alejandro Bedoya even played some 20 plus minutes at left back.

Let’s start with the center of the defense. Omar Gonzalez and Ventura Alvarado started together the last game and went the full 90, so starting them again makes sense for chemistry and consistency reasons.

Alvarado with John Brooks in the center of the defense gives the National Team more speed, but why throw the defensive chemistry into flux again?

Fabian Johnson has done well at left back, and starting DeAndre Yedlin at right back – his real position – gives the American defense more speed to chase down Jamaican attackers on the left side of Jamaica’s attack.

Yedlin is better than Timothy Chandler at chasing down and tackling attackers, so why continue to use Yedlin in the attack when the United States has Gyasi Zardes and Aron Jóhannsson to occupy the center to right side of the American attack?

In the midfield, Kyle Beckerman is a solid option anchoring the midfield as the defensive midfielder, but playing a three-man midfield of Mix Diskerud, Michael Bradley, and Joe Corona makes more sense. This gives the United States more skill, creativity, and possession, and Bradley can anchor the midfield in this tactical scheme.

Diskerud is not only a creative player that sets up goals and gets close to and into the penalty box to score them, but he’s also a center midfielder with a great engine and strong defensive skills. Corona is underrated in this area as well.

With Bradley and Diskerud carrying most of the burden of winning back possession in the midfield with Corona chipping in, as he did against Cuba in the second half of the previous game, the United States should have a nice balance of ball-recovery and possession.

This midfield isn’t perhaps up to the standards needed for a stronger opponent, but the United States could very well lose to Jamaica, so it’s important to give the midfield the pieces needed to keep possession and create goals.

It’s important to note that Alejandro Bedoya deserves to start in place of Corona or Diskerud, and most observers would say that he should.

Diskerud played well against the Netherlands and Germany before the World Cup, so it’s hard to say that his abilities wouldn’t be beneficial to the squad despite being relegated to the bench in recent games.

The USMNT would be wise to use a fluid attacking set-up against Jamaica to get Aron Johannsson, Gyasi Zardes, and Clint Dempsey all into the lineup, so an attacking trident would be a good option. Zardes has really been playing as a third forward anyway, and he is the ideal player to lead the line with Dempsey and Jóhannsson floating around him.

 

Below is the lineup discussed above, and it’s not the lineup the USMNT will likely use:

GK: BRAD GUZAN

RB: DeANDRE YEDLIN

CB: OMAR GONZALEZ

CB: VENTURA ALVARADO

LB: FABIAN JOHNSON

CM: MIX DISKERUD

DM: MICHAEL BRADLEY

AM: JOE CORONA

RW: ARON JOHANNSSON

CF: GYASI ZARDES

LW: CLINT DEMPSEY

Young American Attacking Talent

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Is it true that the American player pool lacks the types of game-changing attacking players to take the U.S. Men’s National Team to the next level?

No.

The United States doesn’t have a Lionel Messi or a Neymar or an Alexis Sánchez, but that doesn’t mean that the United States doesn’t have dynamic, quick, and talented attacking players that can improve the Americans’ offense.

Besides the veteran Clint Dempsey, there are plenty of other young, talented American attacking players. These players aren’t veterans, but they are willing and able to be effective at the international level. Some are more ready than others.

Any American starting lineup should have two center midfielders responsible for recovering possession in the midfield, but it should also have four attacking players.

A respectable squad should have a center forward and either an attacking midfielder or a second striker. Likewise, fast and dynamic wings are also advisable to really compete at the highest level.

The formation impacts what kinds of attacking players start, but we can divide attacking players into four categories (some of which overlap): attacking midfielders, wingers, second strikers (withdrawn forwards), and center forwards (first strikers).

Below, World Soccer Source discusses several of these attacking players, and Juan Agudelo is excluded because he is a known commodity.

Bradford Jamieson IV, the jewel of this list, fits into every category.

This isn’t an exhaustive list of new American attacking players.

Let’s break down the players into categories:

Attacking Midfielders

(Sebastian Lletget, Emerson Hyndman, Marc Pelosi, Bradford Jamieson IV, Luis Gil, Benji Joya)

Technically, attacking midfielders includes wings and Number 10s, but here the term attacking midfielders will refer to Number 10s.

Sebastian Lletget has a ton of exposure playing with the LA Galaxy, and he keeps surpassing expectations. If you’ve been waiting for an American attacking midfielder or Number 10 that checks all the boxes for skill, athleticism, and workrate, then look no further than Lletget. The LA Galaxy attacking midfielder combines very well with elite teammates, and he puts the ball in the back of the net.

Now back in MLS, Marc Pelosi should have the playing time to be able to show more of what he can do. Luis Gil is a known talent that continues to improve, and Bradford Jamieson IV is more of a forward that is good enough to thrive in any attacking position (he’ll be discussed more later).

Benji Joya is a center midfielder that also thrives as an attacking midfielder or out wide, and he should soon see the consistent playing time to show all of his talent and qualities.

Wingers

(Bradford Jamieson IV, Ethan Finlay, José Villarreal, Paul Arriola, Jordan Allen, Romain Gall, Dillon Serna)

Ethan Finlay is playing outstanding in MLS where he showcases his speed and two-footed skill. Finlay’s bombing runs down the wings and inside toward the penalty box are a joy to watch. His first-time right-footed chipped goal, and his curling goal off his weaker left foot after cutting inside are two highlights that stand out for him.

José Villarreal has been displaying his creativity and footwork in MLS for several years, and he continues to show with the LA Galaxy why he should soon be a national team player. The Inglewood native is a prototypical winger who despite his flair likes to get physical. Villarreal is an ideal player to play as a wing in the midfield or in an attacking trident.

Paul Arriola had an excellent U-20 World Cup where he showcased his skill, speed, and toughness, and this club season with Club Tijuana should be a big one for him.

Jordan Allen continues to improve in MLS, and a more consistent playing position should see him thrive. Allen is mentally strong, fast, and technical with a big ceiling.

Romain Gall and Dillon Serna are similar to Allen in that more minutes and a more consistent position on the field should cause them to thrive. Serna has a collection of golazos going.

Second Strikers

(Bradford Jamieson IV, José Villarreal, Ethan Finlay)

Bradford Jamieson IV is a dream of a second striker or withdrawn forward. Amazing speed and exceptional skill and creativity make Jamieson the jewel of the United States’ upcoming attacking talents. Jamieson is a young Clint Dempsey, but much faster and maybe more technical and creative.

Ethan Finlay and Villarreal are normally thought of as wings, but they have all of the qualities to excel as second strikers, which is what Villarreal frequently plays for the Galaxy anyway.

Strikers

(Rubio Rubin, Jordan Morris, Mario Rodriguez)

Anyone that follows the U.S. Men’s National Team has seen Rubio Rubin and Jordan Morris play, and in the U-20 World Cup, Rubin gave American soccer fans a lot to be excited about. Both players have featured for the National Team.

Mario Rodriguez hasn’t featured like Rubin and Morris have, but he has all of the qualities to be a Number 9 for the United States. Talented, two-footed, fast, and tall, Rodriguez is a complete striker like Rubin and Morris are. Rodriguez is a big striker that excels with the ball at his feet, plus he’s good in the air.

It will be interesting to see if all three of these players play much for the National Team and how they compare to one another.

Clint Dempsey, American Soccer Legend

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Clint Dempsey continues to demonstrate how special of an American soccer player he is. Landon Legend isn’t the only American soccer legend.

Along with Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley, Dempsey’s abilities are on a different level than other American players.

Dempsey totally distinguished himself from all of his American peers except for Donovan as soon as he became a professional. His skill on the ball with his first touch and trickery were new for an American.

American soccer has been known for fitness and toughness without much technical skill, but Dempsey combined fitness and toughness with skill soccer.

Like Dempsey and Bradley, Donovan was an excellent two-footed player, but Dempsey has shown a level of fast footwork that has shown that Americans can use this sort of skill to be effective against elite competition.

Several other American players experienced success in the top European soccer leagues, but it was Dempsey that consistently performed and started in an attacking role in a major European league.

American soccer players not only owe Donovan a huge thank you for raising the bar on American soccer standards, but they equally owe Dempsey a thank you for his consistently good attacking performances for years at the club and international level.

Recently, there has been discussion of phasing Dempsey out of the National Team, but every time he plays for the United States, he showcases a level of skill and quick attacking play that the United States is hoping to see from all of its attacking players.

Dempsey is closing in on Donovan’s international scoring record for the United States, and it’s clear that Dempsey isn’t fully-appreciated by the American media and fans.

Before you support the phasing out of Dempsey, remind yourself that there is still no replacement for him and matching his achievements will be a big task for the next best American soccer player.

While Donovan is widely-considered the best American soccer player of all time, Dempsey is equally as good, if not better.

For his attacking skill, his success in Europe, his longevity, his heart, his toughness, his ability to score, and his trailblazing role for American soccer players, Dempsey has rightly earned the right to be called the best American soccer player alongside Donovan.

When Dempsey retires, don’t forget Dempsey’s achievements or the way that he played. There are no stats to describe Dempsey’s contributions to American soccer.

 

5 MLS Players That Can Improve the USMNT

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The U.S. Men’s National Team could stand for an injection of new skill, and here are five MLS players that can improve the Nationa Team in the defense, in the midfield, and in the attack. All of these players are young enough to serve the National Team for many years.

 

1. Dillon Powers – Center Midfielder/Attacking Midfielder

Wanted: Two-Way Center Midfielders. The National Team could use an injection of complete midfielders to give the squad the type of passing, defending, and work rate that higher-level midfield play requires. Dillon Powers is the most promising of the newer center midfielders in MLS, and in his mid-twenties, he’s ready for international play now. The U.S. continues to field players out of position in the midfield, but Powers can excel as a box-to-box midfielder, as a Number 10, or as an attacking midfielder out right or left. Powers is also qualified to play as a defensive midfielder or Number 6.

2.  Sebastian Lletget –Attacking Midfielder/Center Midfielder/Wing

Playmaking and creativity in the midfield is one of the biggest weaknesses of the National Team. Link-up play between the midfield and the attack also continues to be a major weakness of the National Team. In a very short time in MLS, Sebastian Lletget has already demonstrated the qualities that transfer to the international game. His technical ability and work rate are excellent, and he’s fast and quick with a nose for goal. Lletget is a skilled finisher with either foot, and he combines quickly and well with skilled attacking and midfield counterparts. Looking over the American player pool, Lletget is a must for the National Team.

3. Andrew Farrell – Center Back/Right Back

The American defense continues to be a problem against the better national teams. The problem is having center backs that have the defensive abilities, technical skills, and athleticism needed to face off against elite attackers. Andrew Farrell stands out amongst the center backs in MLS. He’s good on the ball, strong defensively in all areas, and really difficult to body off the ball or beat for pace. In short, Farrell is a beast of a center back that defends well, plays well with the ball at his feet, and chases down attackers like a monster.

4. Bradford Jamieson IV – Forward/Wing

It’s no secret that the National Team is missing creative, skilled, and fast attackers that can score goals and create goals out of nothing. Bradford Jamieson IV is an 18-year-old attacking midfielder/forward that can beat defenders with skill, speed, or both at the same time. The LA Galaxy attacker can play anywhere in the attack, and he’s ready to play at the international level. Jamieson is a skill player like Clint Dempsey, but he has a level of speed and quickness that Dempsey never had.

5. José Villarreal –Wing/Forward

Attacking wide and centrally is important for attackers, and José Villarreal is a winger or second striker by trade that can improve the National Team’s ability to have a more dynamic and spontaneous attack. He’s another LA Galaxy player that looks like an upgrade to a dull and ineffective American attack – Clint Dempsey excluded. Villarreal is a lefty that also plays well with his weaker right foot, and he can serve the National Team well on the left, on the right, or paired with a Number 9 up top. Unlike many of the other attackers that have played for the National Team, Villarreal doesn’t need to be told to attack and go for goal. Like Lletget and Jamieson, this is another creative LA Galaxy player.

 

 

Quickly Fixing the USMNT Gold Cup XI

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By: COLIN REESE

 

There’s no denying Jürgen Klinsmann’s U.S. Men’s National Team roster was bizarre, but there is a way to at least make the starting line-up more effective.

In the U.S.’ opening win against Honduras, the Americans’ passing and attacking were poor. Klinsmann didn’t field the right personnel to keep possession and create enough chances.

While the defensive problems are most likely do to a Back Four that wasn’t used to playing together, the Front Six contained a strange assortment of players used out of position.

Klinsmann tried to deploy Gyasi Zardes and DeAndre Yedlin as something like box-to-box midfielders deployed slightly in front of and to the right and left of Kyle Beckerman. This didn’t work.

If the U.S. starts Brad Evans and Michael Bradley at the base of the midfield as central midfielders with Mix Diskerud in front of them as an attacking midfielder, then the American midfield is more balanced.

Evans has been used by Klinsmann as a utility player, but Evans is a center midfielder by trade where he can take advantage of his engine, his sound technical ability, his defensive skills, and his underrated athleticism.

A two-man center midfield of Evans and Bradley behind Diskerud, who himself defends well, is a stronger midfield.

As far as other changes go, DeAndre Yedlin and Fabian Johnson need to switch roles in a sense.

Johnson’s best qualities are his skill and speed, whereas Yedlin is skilled but not to the same level of Johnson.

Yedlin better serves the squad as a lightning fast right back that can surge forward in attack and chase down attackers as a defender.

Jozy Altidore is the best center forward on the roster, and he should keep his role as the reference point of the attack with Clint Dempsey and Johnson flanking him on the left and right respectively.

These roles for Dempsey and Johnson give them the freedom to do what they do best.

The American defense was the biggest source of criticism in the United States’ first game, and taking Timothy Chandler out of the line-up is the first step in correcting this.

Center back Ventura Alvarado became the target of fans’ criticism, but the two cases where Alvarado was burned were situations where an attacker came at him at a full sprint when he was isolated.

In short, there’s a difference between being badly beaten 1v1 and not being a quality defender. It’s hard to say Omar Gonzalez would have fared better when placed in the same isolated position.

Besides Chandler, the other change that needs to be made is inserting Greg Garza at left back since Johnson plays better in more of an advanced role.

These changes make a Back Four of Yedlin, Alvarado, Brooks, and Garza. At the very least, all of these players are young and talented defenders playing their natural positions.

Whereas the United States fielded a collection of players deployed out of position against Honduras, at least the line-up proposed below makes sense.

In the line-up below, only Evans looks out of position, but he is being deployed in his natural position.

 

USA XI (4-2-1-3):

Goalkeeper: Brad Guzan

Right Back: DeAndre Yedlin

Center Back: Ventura Alvarado

Center Back: John Brooks

Left Back: Greg Garza

Center Midfielder: Brad Evans

Center Midfielder: Michael Bradley

Attacking Midfielder: Mix Diskerud

Right Wing: Fabian Johnson

Center Forward: Jozy Altidore

Left Wing: Clint Dempsey

 

Sebastian Lletget Is USMNT Material

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The United States Men’s National Team needs Sebastian Lletget. It’s as simple as that.

After only a handful of games in MLS, Lletget looks like a National Team player already, and he isn’t coming onto the scene out of nowhere.

Lack of creative attacking play and a lack of link-up play between the midfield and the attack are major problems for the United States, and Lletget fixes both of these problems.

The fact that Lletget is also fast and quick with a nose for goal only makes him more of a must-have for the National Team.

The attacking midfielder has displayed an ability to play like a forward and a center midfielder at the same time, and this makes him more desirable to a National Team that needs skilled players that can play a really fluid modern style of play where the line between midfielders and forwards blurs.

In today’s game, only the center forward and defensive midfielder have fixed positions in the Front Six. The other four players must be able to high press, recover possession, keep possession, and break forward on the counter.

The United States really doesn’t use any attacking midfielders, and it shows. The U.S. National Team will continue to be a team lacking in real skill and creativity until more players like Lletget are used.

The LA Galaxy attacking midfielder has been quick to demonstrate how he can set-up goals, score goals, and win back possession, and he’s also athletic with a good engine.

The United States has a bad track record of not letting creative attacking midfielders play, and this holds them back from the success that the best national teams in the world have.

It’s imperative to have a high level of collective skill from the entire squad, but to close the gap with better teams, the special players that create goals or score them are a must.

The United States won’t be a world soccer power until these types of players are allowed to play.

There’s a lot of evidence that the U.S. is now producing better players at every position, but the National Team needs to be more open to the types of risk and change that takes a gamble on letting less experienced but more talented players start in important games.

Lletget should be one of the first players that is quickly incorporated into the National Team as soon as possible, and he should be joined by Juan Agudelo and Rubio Rubin who are surprisingly still fringe players for a national team that could really benefit from their inclusion.

Simply making it a point to make Lletget, Agudelo, and Rubin key figures on the squad is something Klinsmann should do.

After the Gold Cup, the American midfield needs to be comprised of Michael Bradley and Lletget plus a defensive midfielder to anchor the midfield.

Dillon Powers with Bradley and Lletget is another option where Bradley has more of a Javier Mascherano role in the midfield.

While Lletget was hard to call up to the Gold Cup roster when even Benny Feilhaber and Lee Nguyen were left off, there’s no good reason to make Lletget wait to join the National Team once the Gold Cup is over.

 

 

Who Should the USMNT Start After the Gold Cup?

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Jürgen Klinsmann’s Gold Cup roster was a letdown, and it lacked any vision or imagination. It’s natural to look ahead to what the U.S. National Team should look like after this summer’s Gold Cup.

Under Klinsmann, you can’t really call line-up or roster changes, “changes.” There’s been so much flux and almost hockey-style line-changes under the German coach that there isn’t a regular 11-man line-up where certain players would be replaced by younger options.

In fact, this total absence of a regular line-up or tactics or playing style is the biggest problem with Klinsmann as a coach. The man is essentially chaos personified.

But, using a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation, it should theoretically be easy to survey the talent pool and call-up the requisite amount of each type of player.

The formations above help to structure the selection of a roster and line-up, and below World Soccer Source looks at a goalkeeper, a Back Four, a Midfield Three, and a Front Three that the U.S. Men’s National Team should consider using.

 

Goalkeeper: Brad Guzan

Brad Guzan should be the USA’s goalkeeper for the next five years unless Zack Steffen surpasses him sooner. There’s no need for a change in the USA goal.

 

Back Four: DeAndre Yedlin, Andrew Farrell, Ventura Alvarado, Kellyn Acosta

Right Back: Yedlin

Center Back: Farrell

Center Back: Alvarado

Left Back: Acosta

 

DeAndre Yedlin is the best American right back in the pool, and just maybe Kellyn Acosta could be the best left back.

Acosta is faster than Greg Garza, and he’s probably a much better defender than Fabian Johnson or Brek Shea.

Acosta is a better combination of skill, defending, and athleticism than other options except for Desevio Payne, and Acosta might actually be a better defensive midfielder or central midfielder than outside back.

In the center of the defense, Andrew Farrell is looking more and more like the type of center back the USMNT needs. Farrell is strong defensively in that he tackles well, has excellent recovery speed, defends the 1v1 well, and is strong in the air, plus Farrell is calm and skilled on the ball. Farrell is also a beast of a defender that is quite intimidating.

His partner should be Ventura Alvarado who checks all the boxes for a modern center back, and he starts for Club America in the center of the defense. Despite some complaints amongst the American fan base, Alvarado is totally legit.

 

Midfield Three: Dillon Powers, Michael Bradley, Sebastian Lletget

Center Midfielder: Powers

Center Midfielder: Bradley

Attacking Midfielder: Lletget

 

This is two center midfielders where one is a defensive midfielder by trade plus an attacking midfielder for some more creativity and goalscoring ability. This is a great combination in the midfield.

Paris Saint-Germain uses something similar with Marco Verratti, Blaise Matuidi, and Javier Pastore, and that midfield is outstanding.

In that midfield, Verratti is really a regista (a deep-lying playmaker), and perhaps that’s really Michael Bradley’s true position.

While Bradley is almost a U.S. National Team centurion, Dillon Powers and Sebastian Lletget are excellent MLS midfielders.

Powers plays either as a Number 8 or Number 10 in MLS, but he’s a modern center midfielder that brings excellent technical ability, non-stop running, and strong defending.

Lletget is skillful and creative with a nose for goal; it’s also helpful that he’s fast and quick as well. For an attacking midfielder, he high presses and tracks back on defense well.

 

Front Three: José Villarreal, Rubio Rubin, Bradford Jamieson IV

Right Wing: Villarreal

Center Forward: Rubin

Left Wing: Jamieson

 

With José Villarreal out right where he can cut in onto his stronger left foot and Bradford Jamieson IV set loose on the left, the National Team has two technical players that could reach or surpass Clint Dempsey’s level.

The United States has been trying to produce players like these, and both of them come out of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Galaxy’s academy.

In the center, Rubio Rubin is a center forward with everything, and he made it in Europe as a teenager.

Villarreal, Rubin, and Jamieson is a real attacking trident, and surpassing Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey should be a goal for them.

Unlike Donovan and Dempsey, these three attackers will have the advantage of having teammates at their level. Donovan and Dempsey didn’t have this benefit; both of them, with a few exceptions, looked around and usually saw players that just weren’t good enough.

Multiple attackers with excellent technical ability and real quickness and speed will be a new look for the United States, and it’s worth noting that Juan Agudelo also has a strong claim as the starting center forward.

 

Post Gold Cup National Team XI:

Brad Guzan; DeAndre Yedlin, Andrew Farrell, Ventura Alvarado, Kellyn Acosta; Dillon Powers, Michael Bradley, Sebastian Lletget; José Villarreal, Rubio Rubin, Bradford Jamieson IV.

The Best American Soccer Players (July 2015)

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Clint Dempsey remains the American soccer player par excellence. (Photo: AP)
Clint Dempsey remains the American soccer player par excellence. (Photo: AP)

 

 

Rankings are hard. Weighing various factors to rank soccer players presents plenty of problems. How you consider skill, position, club, league, and international form leads to controversy.

 

All rankings are biased as everyone values different qualities and criteria differently, but here is World Soccer Source’s rankings of The Best American Footballers for July 2015:

 

  1. CLINT DEMPSEY (Seattle Sounders)
  2. MICHAEL BRADLEY (Toronto FC)
  3. BENNY FEILHABER (Sporting KC)
  4. MIX DISKERUD (NYC FC)
  5. JOZY ALTIDORE (Toronto FC)
  1. JUAN AGUDELO (New England Revolution)
  2. GEOFF CAMERON (Stoke City)
  3. ALEJANDRO BEDOYA (Nantes)
  4. FABIAN JOHNSON (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
  5. ARON JÓHANNSSON (AZ Alkmaar)
  1. DEANDRE YEDLIN (Tottenham)
  2. CHARLIE DAVIES (New England Revolution)
  3. BRAD GUZAN (Aston Villa)
  4. VENTURA ALVARADO (Club América)
  5. JOHN BROOKS (Hertha Berlin)
  1. JOE CORONA (Veracruz)
  2. RUBIO RUBIN (Utrecht)
  3. LEE NGUYEN (New England Revolution)
  4. SEBASTIAN LLETGET (LA Galaxy)
  5. MAURICE EDU (Philadelphia Union)
  1. GREG GARZA (Atlas)
  2. DILLON POWERS (Colorado Rapids)
  3. GYASI ZARDES (LA Galaxy)
  4. JOSÉ VILLARREAL (LA Galaxy)
  5. ANDREW FARRELL (New England Revolution)

 

Injured: JERMAINE JONES

Honorable Mention: ERIC LICHAJ, BRADFORD JAMIESON IV, MATT MIAZGA, TEAL BUNBURY, LUIS GIL, LONDON WOODBERRY, PAUL ARRIOLA