USMNT

Gyasi Zardes: USMNT Striker Prospect

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Keep your eye on Gyasi Zardes.

 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

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

A New USMNT Back Four

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

The Cameron-Bradley Defensive Midfield Tandem

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Geoff Cameron (20) allows Michael Bradley to be more involved in the attack. (Photo: USA Today Sports)
Geoff Cameron (20) allows Michael Bradley to be more involved in the attack. (Photo: USA Today Sports)

 

Geoff Cameron and Michael Bradley should be the starting USMNT defensive midfield tandem with Cameron playing the midfield destroyer role and Bradley playing the box-to-box role.

Brazil uses this exact system of starting a midfield destroyer with a box-to-box midfielder, as do many other top national teams and club teams, and it works quite well.

While seeing U.S. center backs with the skill, size, and athleticism of John Anthony Brooks and Geoff Cameron against Bosnia and Herzegovina was a promising sign of improvement for the United States, Cameron can likely help the United States more by playing the midfield destroyer role, which allows Bradley more license to attack than the Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley tandem.

Cameron as the midfield destroyer helps protect the USMNT’s defensive back four, in addition to giving the U.S. a skilled passer who can help the U.S. to maintain possession and pass better against better teams. Bradley would still play a lot of defense as a box-to-box midfielder, but using Cameron allows Bradley to venture far enough up field to play final balls closer to goal, as opposed to having to play most of his final balls from a deeper position.

While Bradley wouldn’t be playing as a playmaker and Cameron wouldn’t just be playing defense, the Cameron and Bradley tandem allows for Bradley to receive more defensive coverage from an athletic player who is a good passer and calm on the ball.

Starting Geoff Cameron over Jermaine Jones is important because both Bradley and Jones like to play more box-to-box roles when they are playing for the United States, and both players are constantly looking to advance into the final third, which leaves a hole in front of the defensive back four. This hole allows the opposition to play balls behind the American defense either by playing balls over the top of the defense or by playing incisive through balls.

Since Cameron is more willing to play deeper, he is a better choice to partner with Bradley because Cameron provides more defense without a drop in technical ability and passing quality. Cameron is a complete midfielder who brings skill on the ball, strong tackling, lots of running, one-to-two touch play, and good positional sense.

With Cameron being the gatekeeper that guards the space between the two center backs, he is able to also direct passing from the back, which in turn allows Bradley more freedom to attack.

This set-up allows for four more attack-minded players in front of Cameron and Bradley, and this gives the United States a balanced midfield that passes and defends well in addition to generating scoring chances and goals.

Jermaine Jones is a highly-skilled two-way Champions League and Bundesliga midfielder who brings a lot of qualities, but the chemistry between Cameron and Bradley is better because each player has a clear understanding of his role.

If Jürgen Klinsmann wants Jones and Bradley starting, then perhaps he should start both of them as box-to-box midfielders in front of Cameron in a midfield diamond with a playmaker at the tip of the diamond.

Both Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley are capable of setting up goals and helping the United States to maintain possession, so using Cameron, Bradley, and Jones together is possible because it gives the United States technically-skilled central midfielders who all defend very well.

If all three of these players are started, then their skills need to be balanced by using a playmaker and two strikers or by using two attacking midfielders plus a first striker. This would allow the USMNT’s Front Six to not be somewhat overly-defensive. Adding Joe Benny Corona, Clint Dempsey, and Jozy Altidore to the Front Six to balance out the use of Geoff Cameron, Jermaine Jones, and Michael Bradley would be one way to balance the line-up.

Cameron, Bradley, Jones, Corona, Dempsey, and Altidore would be a strong combination of players in front of the defense with the tools necessary to compete against top national teams and beat them.

 

Depth Sounding the USMNT Pool

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Jozy Altidore, Joe Benny Corona, Michael Bradley, and Aron Jóhannsson. (Photo: Dado Ruvic/Reuters)
Jozy Altidore, Joe Benny Corona, Michael Bradley, and Aron Jóhannsson. (Photo: Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

 

Each USMNT game brings more questions about player selection for the roster and the Starting XI.

Should Geoff Cameron start as the midfield destroyer over Jermaine Jones?

Who should start at center back?

Should Fabian Johnson be used as a left winger?

If Michael Bradley, Geoff Cameron, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, and Jozy Altidore start, who should receive the sixth spot in the Front Six?

Who should be in the U.S.’ Back Four?

*Below is a list of many of the players available to the USMNT, and it is by no means comprehensive. Names may have been forgotten, and there are surely numerous talents that are flying under the radar.

Consider the following names below, and look how difficult it is to decide on three goalkeepers, four center backs, four outside backs, eight midfielders, and four forwards.

Of all the names on the list, only a number of them are locks: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, John Anthony Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Fabian Johnson, Aron Jóhannsson, and Jozy Altidore.

Additionally, Joe Benny Corona, Mix Diskerud, Terrence Boyd, and Juan Agudelo should also be locks.

Straying into the more controversial, there’s not a lot of evidence that the United States has a better pure playmaker than Benny Feilhaber.

 

A Look at Part of the USMNT Player Pool

 

GOALKEEPERS: Tim HOWARD, Brad GUZAN, Nick RIMANDO, Cody CROPPER, Luis ROBLES, Sean JOHNSON, Tally HALL, Clint IRWIN, Bill HAMID, Dan KENNEDY.

 

CENTER BACKS: John Anthony BROOKS, Shane O’NEILL, Michael OROZCO FISCAL, Gale AGBOSSOUMONDE, Caleb STANKO, Andrew FARRELL, Michael PARKHURST, George JOHN, Amobi OKUGO, Matt BESLER, Omar GONZALEZ, Tim REAM, Javan TORRE.

 

OUTSIDE BACKS: Steve CHERUNDOLO, Eric LICHAJ, Jonathan SPECTOR, Chris KLUTE, DeAndre YEDLIN, Zach LOYD, Kofi SARKODIE, Zarek VALENTIN, Sheanon WILLIAMS, Kellyn ACOSTA, Boyd OKWUONU, Juan Pablo OCEGUEDA, Eric MILLER, Anthony WALLACE, Jorge VILLAFAÑA.

 

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS: Michael BRADLEY, Geoff CAMERON, Jermaine JONES, Maurice EDU, Jeremy HALL, Perry KITCHEN, Ricardo CLARK, Jared JEFFREY, Will TRAPP, Brad EVANS, Kyle BECKERMAN.

 

ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS: Clint DEMPSEY, Landon DONOVAN, Benny FEILHABER, Freddy ADU, Joe Benny CORONA, Mix DISKERUD, Benji JOYA, Fabian JOHNSON, Brek SHEA, Joe GYAU, Dax MCCARTY, DaMarcus BEASLEY, José TORRES, Sacha KLJESTAN, Daniel CUEVAS, Luis GIL, Graham ZUSI, Sebastian LLETGET, Alejandro BEDOYA, Edgar CASTILLO, Dillon POWERS, Nick DeLEON, Conor O’BRIEN, Daniel GARCIA, Mikey LOPEZ, Chris PONTIUS, Soony SAAD, Dillon SERNA, Junior FLORES, Corey BAIRD.

 

FORWARDS: Jozy ALTIDORE, Aron JÓHANNSSON, Juan AGUDELO, Terrence BOYD, Gyasi ZARDES, Julian GREEN, José VILLARREAL, Mario RODRIGUEZ, Alonso HERNANDEZ, Tony TAYLOR, Paul ARRIOLA, Teal BUNBURY, Lamar NEAGLE, C.J. SAPONG, Herculez GOMEZ, Kenny COOPER, Conor DOYLE.

 

USMNT September Roster Proposal

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This isn’t a roster prediction or projection, rather this is a roster proposal, which advocates for a group of players to look to continue to improve the United States Men’s National Team.

Guessing which players Jürgen Klinsmann will call up is next to impossible, and while Klinsmann has enjoyed recent success, there are still areas for improvement in the quest to make the United States a top national team.

This writer would argue that Klinsmann has shown some improvement in his formations and tactics, but this writer would also argue that Klinsmann is doing two things wrong: overlooking many players that could improve the United States and not starting all of the best players at each position together.

 

USMNT September Roster Proposal

GOALKEEPERS: Tim HOWARD, Brad GUZAN, Nick RIMANDO

CENTER BACKS: John Anthony BROOKS, Shane O’NEILL (also an outside back and defensive midfielder), Andrew FARRELL (also an outside back)

OUTSIDE BACKS: Eric LICHAJ, Chris KLUTE, DeAndre YEDLIN, Kofi SARKODIE

DEFENSIVE AND BOX-TO-BOX MIDFIELDERS: Geoff CAMERON (also a defender), Michael BRADLEY, Jermaine JONES, Benji JOYA

ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS: Clint DEMPSEY, Landon DONOVAN, Benny FEILHABER, Joe Benny CORONA, Mix DISKERUD

STRIKERS: Jozy ALTIDORE, Juan AGUDELO, Aron JÓHANNSSON, Gyasi ZARDES

 

NOTES:

-Geoff Cameron is listed as a midfielder because of Cameron’s ability to thrive as a midfield destroyer, but Cameron is also a center back and outside back, which means that the roster does in fact have eight defenders.

-Benny Feilhaber is on the roster despite a long absence from the national team because of his current MLS club form, his proven-ability to perform as a playmaker against top national teams, and his ability to bring creativity and high-caliber passing to the team. World Soccer Source is a strong backer of Benny Feilhaber.

-The American defense has been a problem, and changing it seems like a necessary action to take. New defenders like Shane O’Neill, Andrew Farrell, DeAndre Yedlin, Chris Klute, and Kofi Sarkodie are probably needed at this point to look to improve defensive weaknesses that truly are a problem for the USMNT.

-John Anthony Brooks answered any questions people had about him when he put in a very strong showing against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Getting Brooks to play for the United States instead of Germany was quite the achievement for the United States, especially since Brooks was born and raised in Germany and a product of German football.

-Like Brooks, Aron Jóhannsson proved his worth against Bosnia (not to mention with AZ Alkmaar), and the United States snatched up another player who is essentially from another country (Iceland) but who is also a U.S. citizen.

-Gyasi Zardes is on World Soccer Source’s USMNT September Roster Proposal for World Cup qualifying because Zardes’ combination of skill, size, speed, aggressive attacking, and total fearlessness makes him a player who can be valuable to use to disrupt defenses and score if Altidore or the other strikers aren’t having success. Zardes should prove to be more than just a striker the national team uses late in the game to terrorize tired defenses, but right now, using a skilled freak of nature like Zardes late in games should prove to be a handful for opposing defenders. Zardes leads MLS in shots, and there’s nothing wrong with a skilled, athletic, and fearless striker who simply doesn’t care if it takes him 10 shots to score.

 

TACTICS:

The United States Men’s National Team has reached a point where it can compete with top national teams when the right combination of players are started together.

Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Tim Howard, and Jozy Altidore are the keys to the team, but playing Geoff Cameron as the midfield destroyer allows Bradley to be a bigger part of the American attack. Additionally, Landon Donovan hasn’t been reincorporated into the A Team.

Using Cameron as a midfield destroyer with Bradley as a box-to-box midfielder gives Clint Dempsey and another attacking midfielder like Joe Benny Corona midfielders who can fulfill more of the defensive duties in the midfield while still be vital protagonists in the USMNT’s passing and attack.

This combination of Cameron and Bradley behind attacking midfielders like Donovan, Corona, and Dempsey who themselves are behind Altidore looks to be perhaps the soundest strategy for the United States right now.

The defense is a problem. John Anthony Brooks looks to be a starter already at one of the center back spots, but some major changes need to take place in the American defense.

This writer advocates using Chris Klute at left back and Andrew Farrell at right back, in order to bring better defending, technical ability, and speed to the outside back positions. Right now, Farrell looks to be a better defender than DeAndre Yedlin, but Yedlin might be better going forward. Nevertheless, both Farrell and Yedlin are skilled at attacking from outside back positions.

As for Brooks’ center back partner, Shane O’Neill is a viable option despite his age and lack of much international experience. Many observers view this as risky, but there seems to be a lot of evidence that O’Neill is simply a better athlete, player, and defender than both Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler. That’s controversial to many observers and experts, but so be it.

 

Who would this writer advocate starting in the next USMNT World Cup qualifier?

USMNT Starting XI Proposal (4-2-3-1):

Tim HOWARD; Andrew FARRELL, Shane O’NEILL, John Anthony BROOKS, Chris KLUTE; Geoff CAMERON, Michael BRADLEY; Landon DONOVAN, Joe Benny CORONA, Clint DEMPSEY; Jozy ALTIDORE.

 

Post-Bosnia USMNT Starting XI Options

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Throughout the summer, every United States Men’s National Team game seemed to create more questions about what the best Starting XI was for the United States.

After beating Bosnia, thanks to a Jozy Altidore hat trick, Jürgen Klinsmann now has a center back in John Anthony Brooks who looks like he should be a starter.

Additionally, it was promising to see two athletic, tall, and technically-skilled center backs like Geoff Cameron and John Anthony Brooks playing side by side.

Each player was beaten to a header, resulting in goals, but there can be no denying that the overall quality and athleticism of the center of the American defense looked better (and the competition was very good).

On the other hand, it also looked like Cameron was needed as the midfield destroyer, as Jermaine Jones seemed unwilling to play deeper in the midfield. Jones didn’t just pick and choose his moments to go forward, but rather, he seemed to always be way too far forward.

Even though Cameron and Brooks looked like a legitimate center back pairing to face better national teams, Cameron seemed to be needed as the midfield destroyer to allow Michael Bradley to participate in the attack more.

Looking just at the center backs and the defensive midfielders, it would appear that perhaps Cameron could help the United States more by playing just in front of the defensive back four where he can help to protect the defense and be more involved in the passing of the United States’ midfielders.

If it is the case that Cameron would better serve the United States as a midfield destroyer, then Brooks will need a center back partner with Cameron’s qualities. Brooks played so well with Cameron that Brooks has to be strongly considered a starting center back for the United States.

While Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler are good center backs, they aren’t nearly as good as Brooks and Cameron, and despite Cameron’s strong performance, Cameron was subjected to some harsh criticism for being beaten to a header, which resulted in a goal from a very talented opponent.

Another lesson that came out of the victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina was a lesson that many observers noticed a long time ago: Fabian Johnson is better at attacking as a left winger than he is at defending as a left back.

It’s very possible that Chris Klute of the Colorado Rapids is a better left back than Fabian Johnson because Klute possesses more of the qualities and playing style that make a strong outside back, which include speed, strong 1v1 defending, crossing ability, tackling, and better recovery defense. Fabian Johnson might be a better soccer player, but Klute is a better defender with more of the qualities needed from an outside back.

The win over Bosnia-Herzegovina left a lot of question marks over who should start for the United States and where, and Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan weren’t even playing.

The best Front Six for the United States just might be Geoff Cameron and Michael Bradley as a line of two defensive midfielders, Landon Donovan, Joe Benny Corona, and Clint Dempsey as a line of three attacking midfielders with Jozy Altidore as the lone striker.

On the other hand, maybe it’s more important to have another center forward like Aron Jóhannsson playing alongside Altidore as opposed to having Donovan starting in the midfield.

Maybe in certain games, Donovan is less important than having a second center forward because Cameron, Bradley, Dempsey, and Corona can produce enough passing and final balls to create plenty of chances for Altidore and someone like Jóhannsson to score, not to mention the fact that Dempsey and Corona can score themselves.

This surplus of good midfielders and attacking players is a good problem to have because it allows the United States to have a lot of good starting options as well as numerous quality substitutes.

Choosing the best defensive back four is more of a problem than selecting a quality Front Six.

Despite good performances, is Brad Evans the strongest option at right back? Should Eric Lichaj, Andrew Farrell, or DeAndre Yedlin play there?

Who should partner with John Anthony Brooks at center back? Like it or not, Brooks performed better against a stronger opponent than Gonzalez or Besler ever have, and a center back like Shane O’Neill might be needed to give Brooks a center back partner who has the size, quickness, defensive skills, and technical ability to give him a capable partner who can compete against top national teams.

After seeing the friendly against Bosnia, perhaps Klinsmann needs to strongly consider using more of his younger players even in big games.

Taking everything into consideration, World Soccer Source would like to see several new and younger players in the next World Cup qualifier because they are likely better than some of Jürgen Klinsmann’s first-choice options.

World Soccer Source would like to see the following Starting XI in the next World Cup qualifier:

Tim HOWARD; Andrew FARRELL, Shane O’NEILL, John Anthony BROOKS, Chris KLUTE; Geoff CAMERON, Michael BRADLEY; Joe Benny CORONA, Clint DEMPSEY; Jozy ALTIDORE, Aron JÓHANNSSON.

 

Jozy Altidore: Promise Becomes Reality

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Jozy Altidore. (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
Jozy Altidore. (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

 

The United States has a world-class first striker. Jozy Altidore is now the first world-class American striker.

From age 16 until roughly age 22, Altidore was labeled as another example of a overly-hyped American soccer player who wasn’t the answer to the United States Men’s National Team’s lack of a world-class striker to spearhead the attack.

Two years ago, Altidore began to display an increased ability to score goals against better competition in European club soccer, which began a two year process of refining his technical ability and finishing to match his exceptional athleticism and physique.

In many ways, the weaknesses that critics pointed to in Altidore’s game were true. His movement off the ball often wasn’t good enough to force his teammates to pass to him, and he simply didn’t move enough without the ball. In the past, Altidore used to not attack the goal as aggressively as he does now because now Altidore will dribble with both feet through crowds of players to get himself into position to shoot.

It would appear that the primary reason for the enormous improvement in Altidore’s technical ability, his 1v1 skills, his finishing, his movement off the ball, and his increased attacking aggression was playing club soccer in Holland, which is one of the best soccer nations in the world in terms of technical ability.

To be fair to Jozy Altidore, he really became more of a finished product and a better first striker at a normal age, which was around age 22.

Altidore’s time spent club hopping was largely time when he was honestly quite young, even by professional soccer standards, so it makes sense that his promise and skill didn’t really manifest themselves until he was about 22.

By the time he arrived at a club team like AZ Alkmaar in a country like Holland that placed a premium of technical skill and attacking soccer, he was the right age to begin to make drastic improvements in his game.

One conclusion that can be drawn from Jozy Altidore’s recent increase in technical ability and attacking skills is that by playing in an environment that valued quality soccer and in which he saw consistent playing time Altidore was able to blossom and begin to harness his full potential.

Looking back at the years that Villarreal loaned Altidore out when he was a teenager and before he turned 22, it’s hard to really decide if the environments that he played in weren’t conducive to his development or if those experiences were part of the process that made him ready to blossom in Holland.

Altidore’s hat-trick against Bosnia-Herzegovina yesterday was a statement game where he showcased his ability to score with his left foot in traffic, his ability to score off free kicks, and his ability to quickly pounce on balls in the penalty box and put them away while avoiding an onrushing goalkeeper and a defender behind him.

 

 

 

Who Should the USMNT Start vs. Bosnia?

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Geoff Cameron (20) allows Michael Bradley to attack more. Can Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley, and Geoff Cameron start at the same time? (Photo: AP/Rick Bowmer)
Geoff Cameron (20) allows Michael Bradley to attack more. Can Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley, and Geoff Cameron start at the same time? (Photo: AP/Rick Bowmer)

 

Jürgen Klinsmann announced the United States Men’s National Team roster to face Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday that is made up of proven international players, new international players, and less experienced but stand out performers from the Gold Cup.

While the group of players that Klinsmann has selected contains a good balance of defensive and attacking midfielders in addition to a talented group of strikers, the defensive selections make it harder to predict who will start.

It’s unclear which goalkeeper will start for the United States, but Klinsmann has elected to go with the best two American goalkeepers in Tim Howard and Brad Guzan, in addition to Cody Cropper, the starting goalkeeper from the U-20 ranks.

The selections at right back would appear to be Michael Parkhurst, Brad Evans, Michael Orozco, and Geoff Cameron, but Parkhurst, Orozco, and Cameron are also center backs. Additionally, Cameron is a defensive midfielder who put in a commanding performance at midfield destroyer against Panama in World Cup qualifying, which allowed Michael Bradley more freedom to go forward more with the attack.

Right back is anyone’s guess. Will Klinsmann use Cameron at right back because he plays there for Stoke, or will Klinsmann elect to use Cameron at center back or at the midfield destroyer role?

Klinsmann used Evans at right back in recent World Cup qualifying games and friendlies, but Klinsmann used Parkhurst as the right back in the Gold Cup. This writer thinks that Parkhurst will receive the start at right back.

Center back is more guesswork as well. Michael Orozco showed excellent technical ability along with good athleticism and defending in the Gold Cup, so perhaps Orozco starts at center back along with Cameron. Despite Cameron’s excellent showing as the midfield destroyer where he showed that he was more willing to stay back than Jermaine Jones, the Bradley and Jones tandem as defensive midfielders of the more box-to-box variety seems to be Klinsmann’s duo of choice.

It will be interesting to see if John Anthony Brooks sees any playing time at center back against Bosnia, or perhaps Klinsmann will start him and toss him into the deep end to get him some experience with the USMNT. Playing for the United States cannot be any more pressure than playing in the Bundesliga, but Brooks is young and new to the team.

Fabian Johnson is listed as a midfielder, so perhaps Klinsmann plans to start Edgar Castillo at left back with Fabian Johnson playing as a left winger. When Castillo makes overlapping runs, then Johnson and the defensive midfielders will be there to cover for the space left by Castillo.

Turning to the Front Six, Klinsmann has a variety of choices. He can start Bradley and Jones as the two defensive midfielders, or he could possibly use Cameron as a midfield destroyer with both Jones and Bradley in front of him as box-to-box midfielders. Choosing this second option would alter the defensive back four, and it would likely mean that Fabian Johnson would be moved to left back, as there wouldn’t be space for a left wing with a diamond midfield formation containing Cameron, Bradley, Jones, and a playmaker.

On the other hand, if Bradley and Jones start as the defensive midfielders, then Klinsmann will likely use a line of three attacking midfielders in front of them. If Klinsmann does this, then perhaps the line of three attacking midfielders would be Joe Benny Corona out right, Mix Diskerud in the center, and Fabian Johnson out left.

Jozy Altidore is Klinsmann’s first-choice striker, so Altidore will likely start against Bosnia. Perhaps, another striker will start, but it seems likely that Klinsmann will use the other strikers as substitutes.

Another scenario to consider is one in which either Corona or Diskerud would start in the midfield but not both, and Eddie Johnson and Fabian Johnson would start as the two wingers, even though Eddie Johnson isn’t a winger.

Looking at all of players and positions discussed above, there are a number of possible line-ups that Klinsmann might use. Below are several options:

Howard; Parkhurst, Orozco, Cameron, Castillo; Bradley, Jones; Corona, Diskerud, F. Johnson; Altidore.

Howard; Evans, Orozco, Cameron, Castillo; Bradley, Jones; Corona, Diskerud, F. Johnson; Altidore.

Howard; Parkhurst, Orozco, Brooks, F. Johnson; Cameron; Bradley, Jones; Diskerud; Altidore, Corona.

 

The options go way beyond a couple of the starting line-up options listed above, but those are just a few possibilities.

If World Soccer Source were picking a USMNT Starting XI to face Bosnia, then World Soccer Source would select the Starting XI below:

Howard; Parkhurst, Orozco, Brooks, F. Johnson; Bradley, Cameron, Jones; Corona, Diskerud; Altidore.

 

Below is the official roster release from U.S. Soccer:

http://www.ussoccer.com/news/mens-national-team/2013/08/klinsmann-calls-23-players-for-friendly-against-bosnia-herzegovina.aspx

 

**NOTE: After the publication of this article, U.S. Soccer announced that Michael Orozco Fiscal withdrew from the USMNT camp due to a hamstring injury.

 

USMNT Roster Options for Klinsmann

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Chris Klute (arms raised). (Photo: USA Today SPORTS)
Chris Klute (arms raised). (Photo: USA Today SPORTS)

 

Making an improved 23-man USMNT roster is much easier than choosing the best Starting XI.

The primary difficulty now is not finding quality American players but rather cutting the pool down to 23 players and deciding how many new players should receive roster spots.

Any national team roster normally contains three goalkeepers, four outside backs, four center backs, 4 defensive midfielders, four attacking midfielders, and four forwards, but frequently players can play more than one position so the amount of players at each position can vary.

At goalkeeper, Tim Howard and Brad Guzan are clearly the best two American goalkeepers (excluding Brad Friedel), and the only decision for Jürgen Klinsmann to make is who the the third goalkeeper should be. Maybe it should be Nick Rimando or some other goalkeeper like Clint Irwin, Dan Kennedy, Tally Hall, Sean Johnson, or Luis Robles, but perhaps Cody Cropper or some other young goalkeeper should receive the third goalkeeper spot.

When selecting center backs, a wise decision would be to have four center backs. The primary center backs to choose from for the USMNT are Geoff Cameron, George John, Omar Gonzalez, Michael Orozco, Michael Parkhurst, Tim Ream, and Matt Besler. These center backs are some of the more experienced center backs that aren’t too slow for or not skilled-enough for international play.

Additionally, there are younger center backs like Shane O’Neill, Andrew Farrell, Amobi Okugo, Gale Agbossoumonde, and Caleb Stanko who are worthy of a look. Assuming John Anthony Brooks plays for the United States, which isn’t definite, he also has to be strongly considered as a front-runner for one of the four spots.

Therefore, at center back, the coaching staff of the USMNT has at least 12 players to look at without doing more extensive scouting of all of the other options.

When choosing four center backs, the final decision comes down to deciding which center backs have the defensive instincts and fundamentals combined with the technical ability and athleticism to realistically be able to compete at the international level.

Outside back is an area of some concern for the United States. Without any exploration of new players, the obvious starting point is to choose from Eric Lichaj, Jonathan Spector, Timothy Chandler, and Fabian Johnson, but then one has to strongly consider new players like Chris Klute, DeAndre Yedlin, and Andrew Farrell. Furthermore, Steve Cherundolo when healthy is still likely the best American outside back.

The United States has several quality defensive midfielders, and Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Geoff Cameron, and Maurice Edu are the first names that come to mind. There are additionally some MLS defensive midfielders like Perry Kitchen, Jared Jeffrey, and Jeremy Hall who need to be looked at.

Without even including Shane O’Neill and Caleb Stanko, who were listed above in the center back section, Jürgen Klinsmann has seven defensive midfielders to choose from for four spots.

Just looking at this list of defensive midfielders, Bradley, Jones, Cameron, and one other player are the obvious choices.

At the very least, Bradley, Jones, Cameron, and Edu are a good starting point unless Klinsmann is willing to pick one of the newer defensive midfielders instead of Edu.

Benji Joya falls in between the realm of the defensive midfielders and the attacking midfielders. Joya is somewhat more of an attacking midfielder than he is a defensive midfielder, even though he has stated that he is a holding midfielder. Joya has also stated that he can play a variety of positions. A young, complete midfielder like Joya is another name that deserves serious consideration for the USMNT because he can bring defensive coverage and excellent passing and attacking skills to the American midfield.

The decisions now are attacking decisions.

For a country that has a reputation for not having very technically-skilled players, the United States has more quality attacking midfielders than it has roster spots. Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan should be obvious choices, and then the team realistically needs to select two playmakers. The obvious group of playmakers to choose from includes Benny Feilhaber, Joe Benny Corona, Mix Diskerud, and Freddy Adu.

While contending that Corona and Diskerud should be the playmakers on the roster is a logical and good decision, both Feilhaber and Adu have demonstrated their ability to perform well against strong opponents in international play.

Choosing Feilhaber should be a much easier choice than it appears to be for Klinsmann because Feilhaber has an excellent track record at the international level, and his comfort on the ball, passing ability, set piece taking, and his excellent shooting skills are quite evident.

Nevertheless, Corona and Diskerud have recently shown their ability to bring strong playmaking qualities to the United States, but of all of the playmakers, Feilhaber has the most international experience and the most proven-ability on the international level.

Additionally, the USMNT has wingers like Brek Shea and Joe Gyau in the player pool who can bring speed and skill as well attacking strength out wide.

At striker, the United States actually has more than four capable and effective strikers. The player pool includes Jozy Altidore, Juan Agudelo, Terrence Boyd, Eddie Johnson, Herculez Gomez (injured), and the pool has newer strikers like Mario Rodriguez, José Villarreal, Alonso Hernandez, Gyasi Zardes, Teal Bunbury, Aron Jóhannsson, and Tony Taylor.  With the exception of Villarreal, those are all first strikers including Tony Taylor, but a roster normally has four forwards who are not always just first strikers.

The goal is to close the gap with the world’s best national teams, and Jürgen Klinsmann’s roster selections always contain way too many players that are solid at the club level but lacking that next level of skill and athleticism needed to do battle with elites and magicians.

The next step for Jürgen Klinsmann should be to at least call up all of his players with the most proven-ability at the international level, and he also needs to play them together. The starting line-up of proven-players would be something like this formation below:

Tim Howard; Jonathan Spector, Michael Orozco, Maurice Edu, Fabian Johnson; Geoff Cameron, Michael Bradley; Landon Donovan, Benny Feilhaber, Clint Dempsey; Jozy Altidore.

On the other hand, if the USMNT was willing to use more inexperienced players in the defense to try and improve the level of play of the United States, then perhaps this line-up below would be a good place to start:

Howard; Yedlin, O’Neill, Farrell, Klute; Cameron, Bradley; Donovan, Feilhaber/Corona, Dempsey; Altidore.