USMNT

MLS Players Worthy of USMNT Call-Up

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

 

 

By: COLIN REESE

 

This isn’t a comprehensive list of MLS players that are worthy of a United States Men’s National Team call-up, but it is a list of some of the key names that World Soccer Source felt deserved special recognition.

 

Any player whose name was forgotten or accidentally overlooked isn’t necessarily not rated highly by World Soccer Source.

 

MLS and American soccer now have more quality players of various positions than there are room for on the national team.

 

Some players who were recently used by Jürgen Klinsmann aren’t discussed in this article.

 

Below are the names of MLS players that World Soccer Source chose to highlight for USMNT recognition:

 

Juan Agudelo, Forward, New England Revolution

 

The most talented and creative of all the American strikers. Jürgen Klinsmann already rates and has used Juan Agudelo, but he has been out of the national team picture the last year because of a state of club limbo that has now been resolved. Agudelo is more technical, more creative, and more impactful that Jozy Altidore, whose game has improved tremendously the past 3-4 years. Despite Altidore’s underrated technical ability, Altidore can’t do the things that Agudelo can.

 

Benny Feilhaber, Midfielder, Sporting Kansas City

The attacking midfielder and now also central midfielder is the best playmaker in the American player pool. He has the most proven skill and experience amongst American Number 10’s. Feilhaber has always displayed smooth technical ability on the international level against elite opponents.

 

Dillon Powers, Midfielder, Colorado Rapids

 

This American midfielder is a complete midfielder that brings loads of skill, running, defending, and versatility. He’s technical and athletic, and he can play any position in the midfield, in addition to excelling as a withdrawn striker. He’s a playmaker with the work rate of a two-way center midfielder.

 

Maurice Edu, Midfielder/Defender, Philadelphia Union

 

The United States isn’t good enough to not need an experienced and proven midfielder and defender like Maurice Edu. His technical ability, defending, work rate, and athleticism are proven at the European and international level. A useful player for the national team.

 

Kelyn Rowe, Midfielder/Forward, New England Revolution

 

Kelyn Rowe is an attacking midfielder or forward that can play wide or centrally, and his two-footed skill, speed, and creativity are all qualities the national team needs. Rowe is a more talented and faster player than Graham Zusi, whom Klinsmann has used a lot during his tenure. Rowe like Powers is the type of skillful player the USA cannot afford to snub.

 

José Villarreal, Midfielder/Forward, LA Galaxy

 

José Villarreal is an exciting attacking player blessed with quickness, 1v1 skill, excellent passing, and a nose for goal. Slippery and creative, this player has a level of toughness and fighting spirit that goes underrated. One of the very best young American players.

 

Andrew Farrell, Defender, New England Revolution

 

Andrew Farrell has looked good in his natural position of center back because of his combination of skill, speed, defensive prowess and fundamentals, and impressive athleticism. The goal for USMNT center backs is to have the speed and defensive ability to defend fast and talented attackers plus the ability to calmly play the ball out of the back or calmly keep possession in the U.S.’ defensive third. Farrell checks all of the boxes for an international center back.

 

Shane O’Neill, Defender/Midfielder, Colorado Rapids

 

Shane O’Neill isn’t as athletically impressive as Farrell, but O’Neill is fast, quick, tall, and strong. O’Neill has good defensive instincts and fundamentals, and he’s excellent on the ball. He’s another center back the USMNT could really use.

 

Kofi Sarkodie, Defender, Houston Dynamo

 

For a national team that needs another modern right back that both defends and attacks like Yedlin, Sarkodie is likely the best in this regard in MLS. Sarkodie is hard to get past, and his speed and skill are a threat down the sideline in the attack. Sarkodie would seem like an obvious choice as a right back to test out with the national team as his defending is arguably better than Yedlin’s.

 

Charlie Davies, Forward, New England Revolution

 

Charlie Davies proved his effectiveness and partnership with Jozy Altidore years ago. Now fully-recovered, Davies has had several strong years in a row in MLS. The speed of Davies is a huge threat in the attack, and his overall skill-level and style of play are proven.

 

Clint Irwin, Goalkeeper, Colorado Rapids

 

The USMNT has been testing out Sean Johnson and Bill Hamid quite a lot, but Clint Irwin is a stand-out MLS goalkeeper that is positionally-sound and a great shot stopper. Irwin makes impressive saves, and he doesn’t have any clear weakness in regards to his goalkeeping fundamentals.

 

 

Who Should the USMNT Start vs. Mexico?

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Joe Corona (Photo: George Frey/Getty Images )
Joe Corona (Photo: George Frey/Getty Images )

 

 

By: COLIN REESE

 

The United States faces off against Mexico on April 15. With the caveat that Jürgen Klinsmann refuses to use Benny Feilhaber, here is the USA XI that World Soccer Source backs.

 

This United States Men’s National Team XI uses a midfield diamond formation with Maurice Edu as the defensive midfielder, Michael Bradley and Mix Diskerud as central midfielders, and Joe Corona as the attacking midfielder or Number 10 to feed the strikers and orchestrate the attack.

 

Up top in the attack, Juan Agudelo and Clint Dempsey form the strike partnership with Jozy Altidore out suspended for cussing out a referee.

 

With William Yarbrough in goal, the Defensive Back Four is made up of DeAndre Yedlin, Ventura Alvarado, Michael Orozco, and Greg Garza from right to left.

 

 

The World Soccer Source USMNT XI (4-1-2-1-2) For USA vs. Mexico:

 

Goalkeeper: William Yarbrough

Right Back: DeAndre Yedlin

Center Back: Ventura Alvarado

Center Back: Michael Orozco

Left Back: Greg Garza

Defensive Midfielder: Maurice Edu

Central Midfielder: Michael Bradley

Central Midfielder: Mix Diskerud

Attacking Midfielder: Joe Corona

Striker: Juan Agudelo

Second Striker: Clint Dempsey

 

USA XI: Guzan; Yedlin, Alvarado, Orozco, Garza; Edu; Bradley, Diskerud; Corona; Agudelo, Dempsey. 

 

 

USMNT: 23 For 2015 (April 2015)

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José Villarreal (Photo: LA Galaxy)
José Villarreal (Photo: LA Galaxy)

 

 

By: COLIN REESE

 

This isn’t Jürgen Klinsmann’s likely 23-man Gold Cup roster. This is World Soccer Source’s opinion of the 23 U.S. internationals that deserve to represent the United States Men’s National Team at the 2015 Gold Cup.

 

It goes without saying, but many deserving players were left off this list due to a need to have a balanced roster with the right amount of center backs, outside backs, defensive midfielders, attacking midfielders, wingers, and forwards.

 

Many of the players with the talent and mentality to do well this summer have been seeing limited club playing time, so it is premature to back them until things change. This applies to many of the players in the U.S.’s youth national teams playing outside of MLS.

 

Jermaine Jones was omitted because the United States has other capable center backs, and it’s time to let the younger center backs play because the United States needs this for its long-term success.

 

Alejandro Bedoya is a fast and technical player excelling in Europe with Nantes in Ligue 1. This is a commendable achievement, but, Bedoya was dropped from World Soccer Source’s USA roster to allow room for both Kelyn Rowe and José Villarreal because World Soccer Source considers them to be better at creating and scoring goals. They also play under more control. Both players can also play centrally and in wide positions better than Bedoya in World Soccer Source’s opinion.

 

Joe Corona is a more important player for the United States in this writer’s opinion because Corona is a better playmaker than Bedoya. Corona can play as a Number 10, on either wing, or as a second striker. Bedoya’s value is attacking at pace, but the United States really needs more possession with purpose and assists. This is what Corona brings to the squad, and Corona also scores goals.

 

Klinsmann’s refusal to use Benny Feilhaber is inexcusable, especially given the problems the U.S. has had with possession, with creating scoring opportunities, and displaying a degree of technical skill in the midfield against elite competition. Feilhaber deserves to represent the United States. Klinsmann clearly has some personal problem with Feilhaber, and Klinsmann needs to let it go.

 

Some other selections warrant some deeper explanation. Both Geoff Cameron and Maurice Edu are versatile players that excel as defensive midfielders and center backs, and Edu can also play as a central midfielder, while Cameron also plays both outside back positions.

 

These two players give the National Team depth at the defensive midfielder spot, so Bradley can either play as a center defensive midfielder directly in front of the Back Four or as a center midfielder of the box-to-box variety, depending on how attack-minded the United States wishes to play.

 

Andrew Farrell played as a right back last season for the New England Revolution, but this season he’s playing his natural position of center back. Farrell is a quality center back, but he’s also an outside back that provides more of the combination of defending, speed, and technical ability that the USA needs from its outside backs. Farrell can also play as a midfield destroyer in a pinch.

 

Robbie Rogers has been playing as a left back, but the right-footed player can play as a right back or in the midfield on either side as a midfielder, which is where he used to always play.

 

Looking at the bigger problems with Klinsmann’s player selection, the USSF cannot afford to keep snubbing the majority of the quality American players in the 20-25 year old range that aren’t dual-nationals from Europe, as Klinsmann has largely been doing.

 

So, below is World Soccer Source’s 23-man list of the players that deserve to represent the Stars and Stripes this summer at the 2015 Gold Cup:

 

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan, William Yarbrough, Clint Irwin

 

Defenders: Ventura Alvarado, John Brooks, Maurice Edu, Shane O’Neill, DeAndre Yedlin, Greg Garza, Andrew Farrell, Robbie Rogers

 

Midfielders: Michael Bradley, Geoff Cameron, Dillon Powers, Benny Feilhaber, Mix Diskerud, Joe Corona

 

Forwards: Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Juan Agudelo, Gyasi Zardes, José Villarreal, Kelyn Rowe

 

 

 

World Soccer Source’s USA XI (4-3-3): Guzan; Yedlin, Alvarado, Brooks, Garza; Bradley, Cameron, Feilhaber; Corona, Altidore, Dempsey.

 

 

American Soccer Player Rankings (April 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)

 

By: COLIN REESE

 

Ranking the Best American Soccer Players (April 2015):

 

  1. Clint Dempsey, Forward/ Midfielder, Seattle Sounders
  2. Michael Bradley, Midfielder, Toronto FC
  3. Benny Feilhaber, Midfielder, Sporting KC
  4. Jozy Altidore, Striker, Toronto FC
  5. Juan Agudelo, Forward, New England Revolution
  1. Mix Diskerud, Midfielder, NYC FC
  2. Joe Corona, Midfielder/Forward, Tijuana
  3. Geoff Cameron, Defender/Midfielder, Stoke City
  4. Ventura Alvarado, Defender/Midfielder, Club América
  5. Brad Guzan, Goalkeeper, Aston Villa
  1. Maurice Edu, Midfielder/Defender, Philadelphia Union
  2. DeAndre Yedlin, Defender/Midfielder, Tottenham
  3. Tim Howard, Goalkeeper, Everton
  4. John Brooks, Defender, Hertha Berlin
  5. Dillon Powers, Midfielder, Colorado Rapids
  1. Alejandro Bedoya, Midfielder, Nantes
  2. José Villarreal, Forward/ Midfielder, LA Galaxy
  3. Kelyn Rowe, Midfielder/Forward, New England Revolution
  4. Lee Nguyen, Midfielder, New England Revolution
  5. Greg Garza, Defender, Tijuana
  1. Fabian Johnson, Midfielder/ Defender, Borussia Mönchengladbach
  2. Charlie Davies, Forward, New England Revolution
  3. Gyasi Zardes, Forward, LA Galaxy
  4. Shane O’Neill, Defender/Midfielder, Colorado Rapids
  5. Andrew Farrell, Defender, New England Revolution

 

 

Improving the USA National Team Midfield

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Michael Bradley (Photo: Garrett Ellwood / Colorado Rapids)
Michael Bradley (Photo: Garrett Ellwood / Colorado Rapids)

 

By: COLIN REESE

 

As a midfield trio, Michael Bradley, Geoff Cameron, and Benny Feilhaber make a lot of sense.

 

That’s a box-to-box midfielder, a defensive midfielder, and an attacking midfielder.

 

This formula is used by many of the top national and club teams in the world, and with Feilhaber’s improved defending and work rate, Feilhaber would also be helping Bradley and Cameron to win back possession.

 

Winning the battle for the midfield is a crucial component to winning games, especially against elite teams full of pass masters.

 

In the American player pool for the national team, Bradley, Cameron, and Feilhaber are arguably the very best options for the central midfielder spot, the defensive midfielder spot, and the attacking midfielder spot.

 

Mix Diskerud is certainly a talented attacking midfielder that is a two-way player that is proven against top-level competition, but Feilhaber is more experienced and arguably better against the best teams. Either way, Diskerud is capable of playing this role as well.

 

Given all of the line-ups and players that Jürgen Klinsmann has used in the American midfield, it is quite surprising that a trio of Bradley, Cameron, and Feilhaber has never been used, particularly because Klinsmann likes the 4-3-3 formation.

 

Bradley, Cameron, and Feilhaber form a group of experienced U.S. internationals that can win back possession and keep possession, and all three players stand out amongst most American players for their technical ability. Clint Dempsey is more technical and creative than all three, but a defensive midfielder and central midfielder with loads of two-footed technical ability and creativity is nothing to be taken lightly.

 

The United States is often struggling to keep possession against the top national teams, if not totally overrun, so it makes it even more baffling that Klinsmann wouldn’t immediately gravitate towards starting a three-man midfield with three different types of midfielders that can play together at the speed of elite international soccer.

 

Klinsmann views recruiting dual-nationals from Europe as the solution to improving the USMNT, but the real problem has been not using the right combination of players.

 

Trying new players and thinking outside of the box are great tactics, but totally abandoning proven tactics and overlooking proven players doesn’t help the national team.

 

Based on the American player pool, arguing that the United States has a better midfield trio that Bradley, Cameron, and Feilhaber is hard to do.

 

Firstly, Cameron and Bradley form a defensive midfielder partnership where each knows and accepts their different roles, and secondly, Feilhaber is the most technical, the most experienced, and the most proven of the American attacking midfielders.

 

His progress in becoming a two-way midfielder that defends more and covers more territory in winning back possession only makes him more worthy now than in the past. At 30 years old, he’s enjoying his peak years.

 

Bradley, Cameron, and Feilhaber. Three proven, technical, and athletic American midfielders that play different but complementary roles.

 

The USA National Team needs to try out this midfield trio to look to stabilize and improve the squad.

 

 

Who Should Make the USMNT March Roster?

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Ventura Alvarado (Photo: MexSport)
Ventura Alvarado (Photo: MexSport)

 

By: COLIN REESE

 

Every one of the 23 players listed below are experienced players that have the quality to excel at the international level, and essentially every one of these players sees consistent playing time at the club level.

 

There are three goalkeepers, four center backs, four outside backs, six midfielders (including several defensive midfielders that also play center back), and six forwards (including players that are attacking midfielders/forwards).

 

Here is World Soccer Source’s USA 23-man roster proposal for the upcoming international friendlies as of right now:

 

Goalkeepers (3): Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Clint Irwin (Colorado Rapids)

 

 

Defenders (8): Ventura Alvarado (Club América), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Steve Birnbaum (DC United), Michael Orozco (Puebla), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham), Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Kofi Sarkodie (Houston Dynamo), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

 

 

Midfielders (6): Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Mix Diskerud (NYC FC), Dillon Powers (Colorado Rapids)

 

 

Forwards (6): Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana)

 

 

Other Players To Watch: Rubio Rubin, Lee Nguyen, Alejandro Guido, Shane O’Neill, Matt Hedges, Alonso Hernandez, Kelyn Rowe, José Villarreal, Chris Klute, Andrew Farrell, Robbie Rogers, Benji Joya, Paul Arriola, Perry Kitchen, Will Trapp, Kellyn Acosta.

 

 

How Gyasi Zardes Improves the USMNT

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Gyasi Zardes, USMNT Starter. (Photo: Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)
Gyasi Zardes, USMNT Starter. (Photo: Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)

 

 

By: COLIN REESE

 

Gyasi Zardes was a player that American soccer fans and observers of American soccer wanted to see play international soccer, and he exceeded expectations.

 

Zardes didn’t just have a good showing that included a great solo run and an inch perfect assist delivered from a sprint, Zardes played like a versatile attacker that could keep possession in midfield, play wide, play centrally, and attack the opposition directly.

 

The LA Galaxy striker proved himself to be a USMNT attacker with surprising versatility. Zardes was handed a national team start, and he played where the game dictated rather than playing like a robot that looked like he was just trying to follow the coaching staff’s instructions like Graham Zusi does.

 

Once the whistle was blown, Zardes decided to just put his stamp on the game by combining with Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Mix Diskerud, and Jozy Altidore. Zardes made himself a useful teammate that his more experienced teammates trusted to include in the game, and he didn’t ask for their permission. He included himself.

 

When Zardes recovered a bouncing ball with space in front of him, he didn’t wait for an invitation to sprint at the defense and release Dempsey with an elegant pass to score a world-class goal.

 

Dempsey made a hard finish look easy, but the USMNT does not have many players that would have had the spirit and ability to charge the defense and feed the USA’s best player.

 

Lots of players would have tried to play their first international game as a starter like a Yes Man looking to follow instructions and not make a mistake, but Zardes was totally unfazed by starting with Dempsey and Bradley; he didn’t defer to them.

 

Time and time again Dempsey has displayed his willingness to combine with anyone that is looking to play exciting and skillful attacking soccer, and he clearly enjoyed playing with Zardes.

 

Zardes has two huge backers to be a USMNT starter (Dempsey and Bradley), plus Zardes has the vote of the person with the most power, the coach.

 

No matter what Klinsmann decides to do about the central midfield positions, Zardes has likely won himself a starting spot on the national team.

 

With Zardes starting, the USA probably needs to start Geoff Cameron with Bradley to give the squad another defensive midfielder in the starting line-up, but this still leaves room for Mix Diskerud or Joe Corona to start as a Number 10.

 

Corona can also be used as a wing opposite Zardes, but whether Zardes is playing as an outside forward or a wide midfielder on paper doesn’t really matter because Zardes can keep possession or counter-attack, plus the attacker knows how to set up goals and score them.

 

Gyasi Zardes is likely here to stay as a U.S. National Team starter, and that’s a good thing.

 

Who cares what his position is on paper?

 

Zardes knows how to play with the USMNT’s two best players: Dempsey and Bradley.

 

The Best USMNT 23 (February 2015)

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Joe Corona (Photo: Club Tijuana)
Joe Corona (Photo: Club Tijuana)

 

By: COLIN REESE

 

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:

 

GOALKEEPERS: Brad GUZAN, Clint IRWIN, Zack STEFFEN

 

-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.  

 

The USMNT Compared to Brazil

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Clint Dempsey remains the face and undisputed leader of American soccer and the U.S. national team. (Photo: AP)
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.

 

The Best American Footballers (February 2015)

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Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey. (Source: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Europe)
Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey. (Source: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Europe)

 

By: COLIN REESE

 

Ranking The Best American Footballers (February 2015)

 

1. Clint DEMPSEY (Seattle Sounders)

2. Michael BRADLEY (Toronto FC)

3. Jermaine JONES (New England Revolution)

4. Mix DISKERUD (New York City FC)

5. Jozy ALTIDORE (Toronto FC)

6. DeAndre YEDLIN (Tottenham)

7. Fabian JOHNSON (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

8. Geoff CAMERON (Stoke City)

9. Brad GUZAN (Aston Villa)

10. John BROOKS (Hertha Berlin)

11. Joe CORONA (Club Tijuana)

12. Lee NGUYEN (New England Revolution)

13. Greg GARZA (Club Tijuana)

14. Ventura ALVARADO (Club América)

15. Juan AGUDELO (New England Revolution)

16. Aron JÓHANNSSON (AZ Alkmaar)

17. Rubio RUBIN (Utrecht)

18. Joe GYAU (Borussia Dortmund)

19. Dillon POWERS (Colorado Rapids)

20. Will TRAPP (Columbus Crew)

21. Kelyn ROWE (New England Revolution)

22. Shane O’NEILL (Colorado Rapids)

23. Maurice EDU (Philadelphia Union)

24. Emerson HYNDMAN (Fulham)

25. Alejandro GUIDO (Club Tijuana)

26. Kellyn ACOSTA (FC Dallas)

27. Benji JOYA (Santos Laguna)

28. Paul ARRIOLA (Club Tijuana)

29. Andrew FARRELL (New England Revolution)

30. Chris KLUTE (Columbus Crew)