USMNT

 

 

By: COLIN REESE

 

How Can the USMNT Improve in 2015? 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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.

USA B-Team (4-3-3): IRWIN; KLUTE, OROZCO, O’NEILL, GARZA; POWERS, EDU, JOYA; ROWE, ZARDES, AGUDELO.

 

Roster Notes:

 

– 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.

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

By: COLIN REESE

 

Clint Dempsey is still the undisputed alpha dog of the United States Men’s National Team and the best American footballer, but Mix Diskerud now looks to be one of the very best players on the national team.

 

Diskerud isn’t a newfound revelation, and it’s a mystery why he saw no minutes at the 2014 World Cup.

 

The fact that Jürgen Klinsmann is playing Diskerud means that the USA has more creativity and link-up play between the midfield and the attack.

 

Klinsmann’s decision to make Diskerud a focal point of the team was also followed by another smart decision: to switch Jermaine Jones from his long-time defensive midfielder or central midfielder role to that of a center back.

 

Using Jones as a center back with John Brooks allows Geoff Cameron to start as a defensive midfielder which frees up Michael Bradley to play a box-to-box role with Mix Diskerud playing as something in between a regista and a Number 10.

 

Cameron’s talents are better maximized as a defensive midfielder or central midfielder because Cameron is a complete player whose skills go well beyond being an athletic player with good skill on the ball and good defensive instincts and fundamentals. Cameron is an inventive and industrious player that can impact the game more as a midfielder where he sees more action and more of the ball.

 

A technical and athletic center back pairing with Cameron providing defensive coverage in front of them in the midfield allows the United States to play out of the back with Diskerud playing the role of creator and orchestrator in the midfield.

 

Greg Garza’s play with Tijuana at left back along with his two strong performances at left back for the United States allow Fabian Johnson to be deployed as a right attacker or winger in Klinsmann’s newly preferred 4-3-3 formation. Johnson is a truly two-footed player that can cut inside onto either foot to score with placement, power, or both.

 

With Joe Corona out for a few months with a broken bone in his foot, the USMNT XI  in the 4-3-3 formation may now be comprised of the following players: Brad Guzan; DeAndre Yedlin, Jermaine Jones, John Brooks, Greg Garza; Michael Bradley, Mix Diskerud, Geoff Cameron; Fabian Johnson, Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey.

 

While the role of the players in the Back Four is clear, the Front Six is a more fluid formation. It’s a mistake to think of Bradley, Diskerud, Cameron, Johnson, Altidore, and Dempsey as players forming two lines of three players occupying the right, left, or center of the field, but Cameron and Altidore do have slightly more defined roles as the defensive midfielder and striker.

 

Once Corona is back, Klinsmann will have to decide whether he wants to use two defensive midfielders or whether he wants to start a midfield three made up of Diskerud, Bradley, and Corona, which allows for two creative playmakers playing in front of Bradley.

 

Before Corona’s injury suffered during club play, Corona was never used correctly. He was never used in a midfield set-up with a defensive midfielder.

 

In the future, the USA needs to see how Diskerud, Bradley, and Corona can perform with Johnson, Altidore, and Dempsey up top, which would likely move Cameron back into the center of the defense with Jones.

 

The use of Diskerud in a creative role behind Altidore and Dempsey means that Klinsmann is finally beginning to field the type of proactive line-ups that he promised back in 2011.

 

 

 

By: COLIN REESE

 

Picking a 23-man roster for the United States Men’s National Team or any national team begins with a vision for the Starting XI. From there, the rest of the roster is filled with back-up players or players the offer the team a different dimension, skill-set, or weapon.

 

Assuming the United States uses a 4-3-3 formation, four of the midfield roster spots should already be locked up: Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Mix Diskerud, and Joe Corona.

 

The USA needs both Bradley and Edu to have two experienced and talented defensive midfielders, and the USA needs Diskerud and Corona to have technical and creative attacking midfielders.

 

These four midfielders allow the United States to start a midfield trio with one defensive midfielder and two attacking midfielders or a midfield trio with two defensive midfielders and one attacking midfielder.

 

This amounts to starting Corona, Bradley, Diskerud or to starting Edu, Diskerud/Corona, and Bradley.

 

Alejandro Bedoya is another midfielder/forward that is likely a lock for the time being, but Bedoya is more valuable as an outside forward than as a central midfielder. The competition for attacking spots is very tight, and while Jürgen Klinsmann likely considers Bedoya a roster lost, other players might be more useful.

 

Starting Bedoya as the right attacker in an attacking trident might very well be the strongest option for the time being, but both Diskerud and Corona offer better passing, more composure on the ball, and more creativity than Bedoya whose main weapon is attacking at pace – a valuable skill.

 

Four of the eight defender spots should be locks as well: DeAndre Yedlin, Geoff Cameron, John Brooks, and Fabian Johnson.

 

In the attack, Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore are on the roster in permanent marker, and in goal, Brad Guzan is the clear Number 1.

 

This is 11 of 23 roster spots already filled, and if you add in Julian Green and Joe Gyau, then the roster numbers 13 players.

 

The United States will need another striker besides Altidore, and despite Gyasi Zardes’ excellent MLS form and scoring rate this season, Juan Agudelo has to be listed before Zardes. Agudelo is quite simply too talented, too fast, too quick, too tall and strong, and too experienced to leave off.

 

Agudelo might not have tons of international experience, but he has certainly proven in more than enough legit games that he can perform well against top national teams and that he isn’t fazed by big games.

 

Klinsmann has to realize that Agudelo is too explosive of a striker and too valuable of an attacking force to leave off the roster, and Zardes’ form and upside are too promising for Klinsmann to leave off the squad.

 

Zardes is an example of a great athlete with sound technical ability that continues to cultivate his technical ability by playing more games and playing with great players.

 

Now, we’re at 15 players, and we need four more defenders to be the back-ups for each of the spots in the Back Four.

 

Who should be the back-ups? Andrew Farrell, Shane O’Neill, Michael Orozco, and Chris Klute.

 

This makes 19 players, but we need two more goalkeepers. Klinsmann has guaranteed Nick Rimando a roster spot, but given Rimando’s age, World Soccer Source backs Cody Cropper and Clint Irwin to fill the other two goalkeeper spots.

 

With three roster spots left, it’s time to add some of the new midfielders that the USMNT needs, and this means calling up Dillon Powers and the young Benji Joya.

 

Powers is an MLS regular that is highly-rated by almost all observers of American soccer, and Joya is widely-regarded as one of the future keystones of the USMNT, even if he has found himself getting zero MLS minutes in the past month or so.

 

Joya has a certain intensity and completeness to his game that is apparent when he plays, and he looks very polished in all areas of his play. Joya is exactly the type of two-way midfielder that Klinsmann is trying to use on the USMNT.

 

Looking at the players discussed above, Guzan in goal with Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, and Johnson forming the Back Four is the best defense the United States has at its disposal.

 

A midfield trio of Corona, Bradley, and Diskerud offers a combination of strong defending and creative playmaking, and Corona and Diskerud bring the type of link-up play that has been missing from the USA under Klinsmann’s entire tenure.

 

Bradley lining up in front of Cameron and Brooks should offer plenty of defensive strength, and if that it isn’t enough defensive coverage then either Corona or Diskerud will have to be replaced by Edu.

 

As the attacking trident, Gyau, Altidore, and Dempsey seems as good as any option for the time being, but there is also the interesting option of starting Agudelo, Altidore, and Dempsey.

 

Unlike Altidore, Agudelo moves around a lot off the ball, and also unlike Altidore, Agudelo knows how to play wide and centrally. Two strikers of Altidore’s and Agudelo’s skill, size, and speed with Dempsey playing slightly deeper would be a handful for any defense.

 

In the 4-3-3 formation and only including players that Klinsmann is likely to use, the best USMNT XI is either Guzan, Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, Johnson, Corona, Bradley, Diskerud, Gyau, Altidore, and Dempsey or Guzan, Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, Johnson, Bradley, Diskerud, Edu, Corona, Altidore, and Dempsey.

 

With that USMNT XI as a starting point, here are the 23 players (plus Donovan) that the USMNT should call up:

 

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad GUZAN, Cody CROPPER, Clint IRWIN

CENTER BACK (4): Geoff CAMERON, John BROOKS, Shane O’NEILL, Michael OROZCO

OUTSIDE BACKS (4): DeAndre YEDLIN, Fabian JOHNSON, Andrew FARRELL, Chris KLUTE

MIDFIELDERS (6): Michael BRADLEY, Maurice EDU, Mix DISKERUD, Joe CORONA, Dillon POWERS, Benji JOYA

ATTACKERS (7): Clint DEMPSEY, Landon DONOVAN, Jozy ALTIDORE, Juan AGUDELO, Joe GYAU, Julian GREEN, Gyasi ZARDES

 

*The roster includes 24 players because Landon Donovan is only playing against Ecuador for his farewell international match.

 

 

 

 

By: COLIN REESE

 

Given the fact that Jürgen Klinsmann, as well as club teams and national teams all over the world, are continuing to switch over to a 4-3-3 formation, the USMNT’s midfield should be thought of as a three-man set-up.

 

There are about three tactical options with a three-man midfield.

 

First, there is the option of using two defensive midfielders or at least two box-to-box midfielders with an attacking midfielder playing in a more advanced role.

 

Second, there is the option of using a defensive midfielder deep in the middle protecting the Back Four with two attacking midfielders playing in more advanced roles that involve lots of movement all over the midfield.

 

Third, a midfield trio can consist of a box-to-box midfielder, a defensive midfielder, and an attacking midfielder.

 

Specifically for the USMNT, the first option would involve starting Jermaine Jones or Maurice Edu with Michael Bradley as the defensive midfielders with Mix Diskerud, Joe Corona, or Benny Feilhaber starting in the more advanced attacking midfielder role.

 

In this set-up, there is also the obvious option of starting Geoff Cameron with Bradley with one of the attacking midfielders playing the more advanced role.

 

This system gives the national team strong defending combined with quality passing from two defensive midfielders with a third attacking midfielder being free to create more and play a playmaking and link-up role.

 

The second option would entail using Diskerud and Corona in front of Bradley who would be playing the defensive midfielder role that was missing from the recent victory over the Czech Republic.

 

This midfield trio would be based on Diskerud and Corona passing and moving in a creative capacity in addition to high pressing with Bradley providing the defensive safety net and cultured passing behind them in front of the defense.

 

Diskerud and Corona would not only be a constant passing outlet for Bradley, but they would also be tasked with keeping possession, setting the tempo, linking up with the attack, and setting up goals.

 

The third option utilizes the common practice of starting a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box midfielder that provides lots of two way play, and an attacking midfielder/playmaker, so this option gives the midfield the three types of midfielders that allow for a midfield to neither be more defensive nor more attack-minded.

 

In this third option, someone like Cameron or Edu would play the defensive midfielder role with Bradley playing the box-to-box midfielder role with Corona or Diskerud playing the attacking midfielder or playmaker role.

 

What the United States needs is a roster capable of deploying either of the three options depending on the opposition, or the United States could chose to not alter its tactics based on its opposition, but rather look to set the pace of the game.

 

Looking at the American player pool, Bradley, Jones, and Edu are obviously the names that come to mind as roster locks as far as defensive midfielders and/or box-to-box midfielders go; Cameron is normally listed as a defender.

 

But now, Perry Kitchen is also making his case to be deserving of a roster spot as one of the USMNT defensive midfielders, and unlike the other three players, Kitchen plays strictly as a defensive midfielder or midfield destroyer; Kitchen can also play as a center back.

 

If Kitchen is listed as a defensive midfielder, it’s possible that Edu could be listed as a defender as Cameron is. Edu has been excelling as a center back, and Edu has performed well there for the United States in the past.

 

The main attacking midfielder options are Diskerud and Corona, and Klinsmann likely has no intention of calling up World Cup veteran and seasoned playmaker, Benny Feilhaber, who is an undeniable top option to play the playmaker role for the United States.

 

Even with Feilhaber’s vastly improved two-way play and level of fitness over the last two seasons, Klinsmann has given no indication that he plans on calling up or using the best American playmaker: Feilhaber.

 

In the wake of the United States’ impressive victory over the Czech Republic in an international friendly, even without an American defensive midfielder in the Starting XI, Klinsmann will reinsert Bradley into the line-up with maybe Corona and Diskerud flanking him on paper.

 

Not to be lost in the shuffle is Alejandro Bedoya who offers more speed but less creativity than Diskerud or Corona. For now, Bedoya is likely needed on the roster as a back-up for either Diskerud or Corona, but players like Joe Gyau and Julian Green might make Bedoya surplus to requirements.

 

Nevertheless, Bedoya’s speed and wide play makes him a starting right attacker option for Klinsmann in the attacking three lining up in front of the midfield trio, but Green or Gyau on the right with Clint Dempsey on the left are likely Klinsmann’s first choice outside attacking options.

 

At this point, Gyau’s speed and dribbling is an important x-factor to open up space for the likes of Dempsey and Altidore to be more open in the final third to score.

 

 

Below are several USMNT midfield trios that Klinsmann has available to him (excluding Feilhaber whom Klinsmann has no intention of using):

 

ATTACK-MINDED: CORONA BRADLEY DISKERUD

 

DEFENSIVE-MINDED: JONES/EDU DISKERUD/CORONA BRADLEY

 

 

Also below are three USMNT Front Six options for Klinsmann:

 

Corona, Bradley, Diskerud; Gyau, Altidore/Agudelo, Dempsey.

 

Edu, Diskerud, Bradley; Corona*, Altidore/Agudelo, Dempsey.

* Corona is listed as a right attacker because of his ability to play in a more advanced pseudo-forward role with Dempsey behind Altidore. Fitting Corona into the Front Six to provide Diskerud with more creative support seems necessary given the defensive nature of this second Front Six.

 

Corona, Bradley, Diskerud; Agudelo, Altidore, Dempsey.