USMNT

What Formation Should Bruce Arena Use With the United States?

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What Formation Should Bruce Arena Use With the United States?

As the coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Bruce Arena was known to always trot out the 4-4-2 formation, but Arena is a more advanced and versatile tactician than that.

For what it’s worth Brazil, Argentina, Chile, France, and The Netherlands all use the 4-3-3 formation, so there’s something to be said for the soundness of that formation choice. It’s worth noting that the 4-3-3 and the 4-2-3-1 are really the same lineup more or less, unless no attacking midfielder is used in the Midfield Three.

The United States could use the 4-3-3 formation, but the 4-2-3-1 formation might be as good of a place to start as any. With that set-up, the United States can have enough ball-winning in the midfield with two defensive or holding or central midfielders, and the squad would also have plenty of attacking firepower with a line of three attacking midfielders plus a striker.

The minority viewpoint among United States Men’s National Team observers that Michael Bradley shouldn’t be starting is crazy talk. The filling of the starting two defensive or central midfield roles starts with Bradley and then moves on to selecting Darlington Nagbe, Kellyn Acosta, or Dax McCarty. The latter would make Bradley the Number 8 or box-to-box midfielder, but going with Nagbe or Acosta would definitely be the more inspired choice with the intention of making a real effort to move forward with American tactics and improve the skill of the national team.

The next midfield issue is the question of who should start as the playmaker or central attacking midfielder or Number 10. The United States has to start one. It’s not going to work to just keep fielding a lineup without a playmaker, so Arena should pick one to start. Benny Feilhaber or Lee Nguyen are the obvious choices as both are simply better than Sacha Kljestan, but using Sebastian Lletget is perhaps a better option. If Arena were to start Feilhaber, then Lletget and Christian Pulisic could flank Feilhaber on the right and left behind Bobby Wood as the striker. It’s hard to argue that Feilhaber isn’t the best American playmaker, and his skillset and style of play is sorely needed on this dull United States Men’s National Team.

The United States’ defense is arguably solid right now. DeAndre Yedlin at right back with Geoff Cameron and John Brooks as the center backs with Fabian Johnson as the left back is a suitable Back Four. Maybe using Eric Lichaj instead of Johnson is a better option since Lichaj defends better. Lichaj could also start over Yedlin. Another inspired choice would be to start Andrew Farrell at right back with Lichaj at left back since the United States needs outside backs who can defend better while still being able to bomb down the sideline in the attack.

Arena couldn’t go wrong with using the 4-2-3-1 with the United States, and it’s as sound as any formation. This formation was the traditional formation of Brazil, and you could argue that the 4-2-3-1 and the 4-3-3 are really the same thing.

 

Who Should Bruce Arena Call into the United States’ January Camp?

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Who Should Bruce Arena Call into the United States Men’s National Team’s January Camp?

Although the United States Men’s National Team’s January camp is over a month away, Bruce Arena has likely already made a list of domestic players that he plans to call up, and certainly he is still working on expanding and evaluating that list.

While it’s difficult to predict Arena’s list, it is possible to think of who deserves to make the list, and of course this list wouldn’t necessarily be comprehensive.

Let’s start from the goalkeepers and move on down to the forwards, and let’s consider just some of Arena’s best option. Here are 30 names instead of 23 names as several additional midfielders and an extra forward were included.

Goalkeepers- Clint Irwin, Brian Rowe, Zack Steffan, Bill Hamid

The American player pool features many excellent goalkeepers. Zack Steffen stood out with the youth national teams, and Clint Irwin and Brian Rowe have been excellent in MLS along with Bill Hamid. Tim Howard should still be injured in January.

Center Backs- Andrew Farrell, Maurice Edu, Steve Birnbaum, Matt Besler

Andrew Farrell played right back this past season, but his best position is at center back. Nevertheless, he’s a quality right back that can help Arena at that position as well. If Maurice Edu is fit, then he is a center back and defensive midfielder who has proven ability. Edu is a more technical and athletic center back than most of the United States’ options.

Outside Backs- Kofi Sarkodie, Robbie Rogers, Chris Tierney, Chris Klute

Three of the best American outside backs (DeAndre Yedlin, Eric Lichaj, Fabian Johnson) play in Europe, so here are four domestic outside backs who stand out. Chris Klute has been seeing limited playing time since playing so well with the Colorado Rapids under Oscar Pareja. Chris Tierney and Robbie Rogers are two left backs worth looking at, and Kofi Sarkodie has impressed in MLS for several seasons when used.

Midfielders- Michael Bradley, Dax McCarty, Kellyn Acosta, Fatai Alashe, Victor Ulloa, Dillon Powers, Will Trapp, Darlington Nagbe, Benny Feilhaber, Lee Nguyen, Sebastian Lletget, Kelyn Rowe, Ethan Finlay, Benji Joya

This list includes several extra midfielders because the United States’ midfield has been weak, and it’s important to really test out more midfielders. This list also includes plenty of attacking midfielders and playmakers as the United States’ level of technical ability and creativity in the midfield is way too low. This list also features a log jam of central midfielders. May the best ones win.

Here we have multiple playmakers in Benny Feilhaber, Lee Nguyen, Sebastian Lletget, Darlington Nagbe, and Kelyn Rowe. Nagbe has really thrived as a box-to-box midfielder because he can use his running endurance and speed to have his skill be useful all over the field, and he has also proven to be a good tackler and ball-winner.

Lletget and Rowe also excel as wings, and Christian Pulisic will need someone to play on the opposite side of the field from him. Feilhaber and Nguyen were the playmakers that Jürgen Klinsmann should have been using every game, but now the question is whether or not Sebastian Lletget is better than both. Still, these players aren’t mutually exclusive, as having both Feilhaber and Nguyen on the roster makes sense because Lletget also plays as a wing or second striker.

Ethan Finlay is also too talented and quick to overlook. The Columbus Crew winger and second striker has performed well for the United States already, and his skillset is needed. Finlay is also aggressive and looks to score or play final balls.

Forwards- Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Juan Agudelo, Jordan Morris, Bradford Jamieson IV

Bradford Jamieson IV was included because of his compelling combination of skill, creativity, directness, and athleticism. Among young American players, Jamieson’s talent has really stood out along with Christian Pulisic and Rubio Rubin. Assuming Clint Dempsey can play, he can play second striker, attacking midfielder, or wing. The other center forwards are almost instant inclusions.

 

Players Bruce Arena Needs on the United States Men’s National Team

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Players Bruce Arena Needs on the United States Men’s National Team

Sebastian Lletget (Attacking Midfielder/Wing/Forward)

World Soccer Source contends that Sebastian Lletget is the most important player that Bruce Arena can bring in. Why? Because Lletget is an attacking midfielder and a playmaker, and the United States has recently found an excellent new center forward in Bobby Wood, plus the United States already has two excellent central midfielders in Michael Bradley and Darlington Nagbe or Kellyn Acosta. Lletget offers the missing elements to the national team: creativity and playmaking. The United States has creativity in Christian Pulisic, but he needs another gifted attacking player to combine with. Based on what he’s shown in MLS, Lletget is better than Benny Feilhaber, Lee Nguyen, and Sacha Kljestan. More so than just a playmaker to play the final pass, Lletget is a midfielder who can  orchestrate the team’s passing and possession. The United States isn’t just lacking playmaking in the final third; it’s also lacking quality passing and possession farther away from the goal.

Kellyn Acosta (Center Midfielder)

The United States has used Kellyn Acosta before, but it was as an outside back. What Acosta really brings to the United States is another defensive or central midfielder to play with Bradley. Acosta is an excellent all-around player who brings technical skill, defending, lots of running, and speed. Acosta has even proven to be a threat on goal. For a national team that often gets beat in the midfield, Acosta offers everything you could want from a central midfielder, and he’s part of the younger generation of American players who offer more technical ability that many of the players in the previous generation. Whether Bradley needs a substitute or a partner, Acosta is that midfielder. It doesn’t hurt that he offers plenty of positional versatility.

Darlington Nagbe (Center Midfielder/Attacking Midfieder)

Darlington Nagbe brings skill to the national team just like Lletget, and that makes him valuable. Nagbe is a creative and skillful player who is effective all over the field due to his tireless running and speed. Whether Bruce Arena wants him to play as a Number 8 midfielder or an attacking midfielder, there has to be a roster spot for Nagbe who many people consider one of the very best players in the American player pool. If Nagbe partners with Bradley, then a central midfield combination where Bradley plays as the defensive midfielder or Number 6 and Nagbe plays as the box-to-box midfielder or Number 8 would be an improvement for the United States.

Kelyn Rowe (Attacking Midfielder/Wing)

The United States needs Kelyn Rowe because of his technical ability, creativity, and quickness. Rowe can play centrally or wide as an attacking midfielder or wing, and the United States would be wise to call up a player with his qualities. Christian Pulisic is arguably already better than everyone on the team, and he needs other technical and creative attacking midfielders and wings to play with. Rowe would offer Bruce Arena a playmaker or wing option, and he helps improve the United States’ biggest problem: low technical ability.

Rubio Rubin (Center Forward)

The United States is always looking for center forwards, and Rubio Rubin is a player to back up Bobby Wood or play as his strike partner. Rubin is considered by many to be the best young American player besides Christian Pulisic, and Rubin is an aggressive and skillful center forward like Wood. The United States has always needed center forwards who can stretch and beat opposing defenses, and this is how Rubin plays. When Wood and Rubin first played for the United States, it was evident that these two center forwards were more dangerous and direct than Jozy Altidore, who never has attacked like these two. Rubin is worthy of a call-up just to be Wood’s substitute, but Rubin is also ready to start right now against any opponent because he has the mentality and ability to start and perform well. Rubin already performed well against Colombia, so what other kind of proof is really needed?

Andrew Farrell (Center Back/Right Back)

Andrew Farrell is a center back or right back, and he’s the type of center back that the United States has only seen in Eddie Pope and Geoff Cameron. He has the technical ability to keep possession in the back and pass the ball out of danger instead of just clearing the ball or hitting long balls. As a defender, Farrell is an excellent ball-winner who is faster than most attackers, and he has fast feet unlike other center backs the United States has used. Defenders like Omar Gonzalez are prone to being thrown off balance and left for dead by opposing attackers, and Farrell has the athleticism and playing ability to stay in front of, catch up to, and dispossess fast and skillful attackers. Whether it by storming up and down the sideline to attack and defend or leading the defense as a center back, Farrell is a higher caliber of defender than the United States would be wise to select and field.

Eric Lichaj (Right Back/Left Back)

Eric Lichaj is better defensively than DeAndre Yedlin, and Lichaj is a veteran of the English Premier League and Championship. Lichaj also has a track record of playing well for the United States at both right back and left back. In addition to continuing to use Yedlin, Arena can select Lichaj to bolster or improve his defense. Lichaj is useful to the United States because he is a proven right back, but he is also a proven left back, which is a very weak position for the United States. Klinsmann’s refusal to use Lichaj was odd, but maybe his affinity for Timothy Chandler always put Lichaj lower down on Klinsmann’s depth chart at right back.

Jorge Villafaña and Robbie Rogers (Left Backs)

Many of the United States’ rosters under Jürgen Klinsmann simply had no players who played left back for their club teams. All things considered right now, Jorge Villafaña and Robbie Rogers are two left backs who have played or are playing well for their clubs right now.

 

 

Who Should U.S. Soccer Pick to Replace Jürgen Klinsmann?

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New Coaching Options for the United States Men’s National Team

Oscar Pareja

The Oscar Pareja pick would arguably be the best choice because he is a great tactician and talent scout who plays young players when they are good enough to play. The younger talent in the United States is better than the talent of previous generations, and Pareja is a coach who will select those players for the national team and let them play, if they are ready. Pareja offers fresh perspective and new ideas without those ideas being bizarre. Pareja coaches skill soccer in the Latin American style, and this style of play is a more advanced and effective style of play than the overemphasis on hustle and physicality that the United States has too often played. Beyond all of these reasons, Pareja has a history of winning in MLS, and he has a history of knowing how to build strong lineups who play quality soccer in a more skilled and effective style. A big dose of Latin American style soccer is needed for the United States that only fields a couple players who play soccer the right way.

Bruce Arena

There have been reports and rumors that Bruce Arena might be the coach to replace Jürgen Klinsmann, and the positives of that switch would be that Arena plays a balance of attacking and defensive players and that he knows the American player pool very well. The real problem with Klinsmann as coach was his poor tactics that led to a lack of possession and creativity in the lineup, and Arena doesn’t normally omit skill players and playmakers from his lineups and rosters. Unlike other options, Arena has experience and success as a coach at the international level, but hiring Arena feels like the five years under Klinsmann served no purpose for the United States. Arena could have been the coach again back in 2011, so selecting him doesn’t really qualify as fresh ideas. Klinsmann overlooked a lot of qualified players from MLS, and Arena seems to better at identifying the standout MLS players, as he did when he signed Sebastian Lletget to the LA Galaxy when he was stuck in Purgatory with Wes Ham United.

Sigi Schmid

Sigi Schmid has been a successful soccer coach and scout in the United States for decades, and in a recent interview with Alexi Lalas for the Mutant Gene Podcast, he showcased his tactical acumen and ability to scout and evaluate players. Unlike Klinsmann, Schmid doesn’t have a history of poor tactics and bad player evaluation. Even now, Klinsmann continues to insists that Michael Bradley is a playmaker. Schmid has a track record of winning and scouting, and the biggest issue for American soccer right now at the national team level is fielding more technically-skilled players in their correct positions. One gets the sense with Schmid that he wouldn’t field a lineup without a combination of defensive midfielders and attacking midfielders, and this is the real area where the United States gets destroyed by elite national teams and not-so-elite national teams. The United States loses when the opposing team runs circles around them and keeps possession, and this is less likely to happen with a coach like Schmid who is tactically-sound. Schmid is responsible for scouting and finding many of the most talented American players, and this ability is needed to select rosters.

Tab Ramos

Hiring Tab Ramos to replace Klinsmann would involve simply promoting an assistant coach to head coach, and like the other coaching options, Ramos is a better tactician and scout than Klinsmann. Like Pareja, Ramos believes in coaching soccer played the right way, and he has shown that he balances attacking and creativity with the needed defensive play. As coach of the United States’ youth national teams, Ramos always selected the most skilled players that he had available, rather than going by other unclear criteria. Ramos showed that he made sure to field midfields that combined defending with technical skill and attacking play, and he also didn’t field players out of position in unsuitable formations.

Who Should U.S. Soccer Pick to Replace Jürgen Klinsmann?

With Pareja and Ramos, U.S. Soccer would be showing a commitment to selecting a coach who is looking to field a team that plays better soccer based on skill, and with Arena or Schmid, U.S. Soccer would be picking a coach who selects rosters and lineups better than Klinsmann. Arena and Schmid coach skill soccer, but Pareja and Ramos coach that style even more. Looking to play more Latin American style soccer rather than English or European soccer would be a bolder move by U.S. Soccer.

 

What Went Wrong in the 2-1 USA Loss to Mexico?

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What Went Wrong in the 2-1 USA Loss to Mexico?

In the 2-1 loss to Mexico in the hexagonal of World Cup qualifying, the United States Men’s National Team had a few players out of position, and this hurt Jürgen Klinsmann’s team’s ability to keep and recover possession. With three center backs and really only Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones in the midfield, the United States struggled to link up the midfield with the attack.

Geoff Cameron was unavailable due to injury for this game, and that forced the United States to use a slower and less talented defender in Omar Gonzalez. With or without Cameron, starting Sacha Kljestan in the midfield with Bradley and Jones instead of using three center backs might have better defined Bradley’s and Jones’ role while also adding another midfielder to keep possession and serve as a playmaker for the two strikers.

Christian Pulisic was dangerous and active in the attack as a Number 10, but he needed another creative midfielder to combine with to help playmake for Bobby Wood and Jozy Altidore. Pulisic did his best, but the lineup was light on midfielders.

You could argue that dropping one of the center backs and starting DeAndre Yedlin over Timothy Chandler were the only things wrong with Klinsmann’s lineup and formation, but those two things had a devastating effect on the USA’s performance. Unfortunately, tactical mistakes like these have been the norm for Klinsmann as head coach of the United States. Referring to Klinsmann’s lack of accountability to Sunil Gulati and U.S. Soccer, the journalist, Kurtis Larson, tweeted that Klinsmann’s ‘leash is the circumference of the globe.’

Against a talented team like Mexico with players playing for better club teams, Klinsmann was wrong to use a new lineup that lacked balance or link up play between the midfield and the attack. This seems to be the mistake that Klinsmann makes over and over; he refuses to field a playmaker to help the United States to keep possession and play final balls to the forward or forwards. It’s unclear why Klinsmann continues to keep making the same mistake because he has several playmaker options at his disposal.

Klinsmann has coached the United States for five years now, and there’s nothing more to say about his tactics and personnel choices. They’re normally pretty poor. The coach has made a few excellent choices like consistently starting Bobby Wood because he is a talented striker full of skill, direct play, and creative play, and even more importantly, he consistently scores against good teams.

When the United States plays Costa Rica next, Klinsmann will need to field a formation that allows the players to keep possession better.

 

Grading the Most Recent USMNT Roster against Mexico and Costa Rica

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Grading the Most Recent USMNT Roster against Mexico and Costa Rica

Jürgen Klinsmann’s most recent United States Men’s National Team roster to face Mexico and Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying was light on technical skill and fullbacks. While the forward selections minus Alan Gordon were correct, the midfield and defense have makeshift feels. The midfield has only Sacha Kljestan in the creation, while Lee Nguyen, Darlington Nagbe, and Sebastian Lletget were all omitted. Juan Agudelo did enough to earn a roster spot only to see a big bruiser in Gordon take his roster spot.

Defense: C

The defense has too many center backs, and there isn’t a clear-cut back-up for the right back and left back positions. DeAndre Yedlin and Fabian Johnson are clearly the starting outside backs, but the substitutes aren’t clear like-for-like replacements. Timothy Chandler plays right back or left back, so he’s one left back substitute, which makes Michael Orozco the right back substitute. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of two clear right backs and two clear left backs. Cameron Carter-Vickers is an impressive young center back, but why were both Omar Gonzalez and Steve Birnbaum put on the roster then?

Midfield: C

The midfield selections lack a Sacha Kljestan replacement at the playmaker or central attacking midfielder position, and that spot should be filled by Lee Nguyen. Lynden Gooch and Julian Green are arguably lower down the depth chart than Sebastian Lletget and Paul Arriola or Kelyn Rowe on the wings, and there has to be room for Darlington Nagbe and Kellyn Acosta to be substitutes in central midfield. Caleb Stanko is a talented defensive midfielder, but Perry Kitchen was being groomed to replace Kyle Beckerman. Alejandro Bedoya and Graham Zusi are the other wings on this roster, and those two don’t bring enough individual skill to the wings. Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Christian Pulisic, and Sacha Kljestan clearly earned their spots, but the rest of the midfield is questionable.

Forwards: A-

Except for Alan Gordon, the forward selections are strong. Juan Agudelo would have been a much stronger option than Gordon, so Klinsmann gets an A- for forward selections. Despite not seeing much club playing time, Rubio Rubin has impressed with the national team in the past, and it’s time to just start consistently putting him on the roster due to his talent level and aggressive play. It’s hard to say that Aron Johannsson isn’t a quality center forward though, so how can you question his selection?

Questionable Call-ups

Alan Gordon, Graham Zusi, Caleb Stanko, Lynden Gooch, Michael Orozco, Julian Green, Cameron Carter-Vickers

Notable Omissions

Sebastian Lletget, Juan Agudelo, Darlington Nagbe, Lee Nguyen, Kellyn Acosta

 

Who Should Make the USA Roster Against Mexico and Costa Rica in World Cup Qualifying?

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Who Should Make the USA Roster Against Mexico and Costa Rica in World Cup Qualifying?

The United States Men’s National Team soon faces off against Mexico and Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying, and those two national teams are both strong opponents who play better soccer. The United States needs to commit to fielding more skilled players and a playmaker, which Jürgen Klinsmann has been doing with Sacha Kljestan. World Soccer Sources rates Sebastian Lletget and Lee Nguyen better at the playmaker position, but Nguyen and Lletget can play together as Lletget is an excellent wing player who can beat defenders off the dribble and set up goals.

While our picks deviate from Jürgen Klinsmann’s likely picks, World Soccer Source backs these players as technical and athletic players with strong soccer minds. This isn’t a prediction; it’s an opinion. Much of Klinsmann’s core group of players is here minus Geoff Cameron who is said to be unavailable due to injury. Klinsmann’s picks have been better, but World Soccer Source still has a problem with the lack of attacking midfielders and skill players.

Goalkeepers- Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough), William Yarbrough (Club León)

Say what you want about the overall skill level and soccer ability of the U.S. Men’s National Team, but they have always had goalkeepers. Ethan Horvath is another option as the third-choice goalkeeper. Who knows yet whether Yarbrough or Horvath is better?

Center Backs- Steve Birnbaum (DC United), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Andrew Farrell (New England Revolution), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)

*Geoff Cameron is injured

These center back choices are set up to have Steve Birnbaum starting with John Brooks, and this is more or less the first-choice pairing with an injured Geoff Cameron. Omar Gonzalez is a proven center back, but his lateral quickness and overall athletic ability are below those of Birnbaum. Mexico and Costa Rica have quick and skillful attacking midfielders who should be able to throw Gonzalez off balance. Andrew Farrell is listed below under center backs instead of right back where he has been playing for the New England Revolution; Farrell is a center back by trade who also uses his speed and individual skill well as a right back. Omar Gonzalez was reportedly having knee pain, so perhaps having both Steve Birnbaum (who was injured) and Gonzalez on the roster is risky.

Right Backs- DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest)

DeAndre Yedlin and Eric Lichaj are the clear best right backs in the U.S. Men’s National Team pool, but Klinsmann has never really rated Lichaj for whatever reason. Almost no one agrees with Klinsmann in this regard.

Left Backs- Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), Robbie Rogers (LA Galaxy)

Right now, Fabian Johnson and Robbie Rogers are looking like the best left back options for the U.S. Jorge Villafaña has earned a spot on the national team, and Kellyn Acosta – a center midfielder by trade- has performed well when asked to play left back or right back.

Defensive/Central Midfielders- Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Perry Kitchen (Hearts), Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers)

World Soccer Source sees Michael Bradley as a defensive midfielder or Number 6 midfielder even if Sigi Schmid sees him as more of a box-to-box midfielder or Number 8. Perry Kitchen is the other defensive midfielder in the field who looks ready to back-up Bradley or start with him. Darlington Nagbe has performed well for the national team when given minutes, and his type of ball skills, speed, and non-stop running could really help the United States. Kellyn Acosta is another important player to include because he can play either as a defensive midfielder or box-to-box midfielder, and he has been one of the young standout American players for his overall ability and athleticism. Acosta would be a strong partner for Bradley as Acosta would stay back and defend when needed or advanced forward when needed; this allows Bradley to alternate between playing deep in front of the defense or bombing forward with possession.

Attacking Midfielders and Wings- Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Monchengladbach), Kelyn Rowe (New England Revolution), Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew)

These attacking midfielder and wing positions have been a major weak point for Klinsmann, and a lack of talented options has not been a problem. Klinsmann has simply refused to use a playmaker until very recently, but there are capable players in the pool. Lee Nguyen, Benny Feilhaber, and Sacha Kljestan were all specifically mentioned by Sigi Schmid in an interview with Alexi Lalas for the Mutant Gene Podcast as suitable playmakers for the national team, and now the United States also has Sebastian Lletget who can also play on either wing, in central midfield, or as a second striker. World Soccer Source sees Lletget, Nguyen, and Christian Pulisic as perhaps the ideal line of three attacking midfielders in front of Bradley and Acosta as the holding midfielders. Kelyn Rowe and Ethan Finlay provide needed depth in the wings, and they can both play on either side. Rowe is also a Number 10 himself.

Center Forwards- Bobby Wood (Hamburg), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution)

It was difficult to leave Jordan Morris off this list, but World Soccer Source went with Juan Agudelo who is likely the most talented and impressive striker in the American pool. With that being said, Bobby Wood is still a lock at striker for this writer and Klinsmann. Wood is a smooth and skillful center forward who attacks the goal very aggressively and stretches the defense. Compared to Jozy Altidore who simply doesn’t attack with the same ferocity of Wood, Wood really stands out. Wood constantly threatens the defense and makes run on and off the ball. Wood can finish with both feet and his head, and he combines well with forward partners. Altidore is still an impressive forward who has underrated creativity and technical ability, which he has shown time and time again during his career. Altidore has suffered the most by Klinsmann’s reluctance to use a playmaker in the past, but Wood has done a better job of making runs dictating a pass from his midfielders or striker partner. There’s nothing wrong with starting Wood and Altidore together, and this doubling up of center forwards in the lineup is the type of attacking shift the national team needs.

 

Our Preferred USA Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1): Howard; Yedlin, Farrell, Brooks, Johnson; Bradley, Acosta; Lletget, Nguyen, Pulisic; Wood.

Sigi Schmid Discusses the United States’ Need for a Playmaker

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Sigi Schmid Discusses the United States Men’s National Team’s Need for a Playmaker

In a long interview with Alexi Lalas for the Mutant Gene Podcast, Sigi Schmid discussed a wide variety of soccer topics including his belief that Jürgen Klinsmann should be starting a playmaker on the United States Men’s National Team.

This discussion included a detailed discussion of positions, formations, and playing styles. Schmid also articulated his belief that Michael Bradley isn’t a playmaker or a defensive midfielder, and that Klinsmann often had Jermaine Jones and Bradley playing the same position without a playmaker included. He also expressed his belief that Klinsmann has used wings, but he has neglected to use a central midfielder who can playmake.

Below is one of Schmid’s comments about the need for a playmaker, and how Schmid identified Benny Feilhaber, Sacha Kljestan, and Lee Nguyen as playmakers over 10 years ago in 2005. You can listen to the episode of the Mutant Gene Podcast here.

“But those three playmakers (Feilhaber, Kljestan, Nguyen) that I just mentioned you know if you add those three players together, caps under Jürgen (Klinsmann) are under 20… You can play a DeAndre Yedlin on one wing and a Julian Green on the other wing and those guys are gonna have speed and they’re gonna try and attack people, but you’re not gonna get any playmaking out of that position. Pulisic now is a little different. He can playmake a little bit.”

This writer has criticized Klinsmann’s reluctance to use a playmaker going back to 2011, and Bob Bradley has also been guilty of not starting a playmaker either, although Bradley was starting Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan at the same time, which gave the team much more playmaking that it has seen under Klinsmann.

Recently, Klinsmann has in fact been starting Kljestan as a playmaker, but Schmid’s comments might carry more weight with Klinsmann who values a fellow German’s opinion on his tactics.

World Soccer Source has written about Sebastian Lletget on numerous occasions, and Schmid named Lletget as a player with playmaking abilities who he liked as a wing player. Based on Schmid’s comments, you could almost infer that he wanted to see Lletget on the national team as a winger, but he still wanted to see either Feilhaber, Kljestan, or Nguyen as the central attacking midfielder or playmaker.

Whenever a respected coach has constructive criticism for the United States Men’s National Team, the American fan base benefits. The United States is still seeking to be a technical and better national team, and any commentary that helps the national team go from a hustle team to a skill team is needed.

 

Andrew Farrell Is Ready to Be DeAndre Yedlin’s Backup for the United States

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Andrew Farrell’s Ready to Be DeAndre Yedlin’s Backup for the United States

The United States Men’s National Team’s defense is better than it has been in years, but the outside back positions still aren’t two players deep. Andrew Farrell of the New England Revolution can help with the depth at the right back position, plus Farrell’s best position is actually center back. One of the criticisms of DeAndre Yedlin, the starting right back for the national team, is that his actual defending is still developing, but that’s never been said of Farrell.

Farrell is difficult to get past as a defender, and that’s not only due to his ball-winning and marking, but also due to his speed. Something that both Yedlin and Farrell have in common is that both are fast even for professional soccer standards. Recently, Jürgen Klinsmann has been having Geoff Cameron play right back, which is not his best position. Calling up Farrell allows Klinsmann to start Cameron at center back or even at his very best position: defensive midfielder.

You could make a strong argument that Farrell is a better right back than Yedlin because he provides Yedlin’s speed and technical ability with better defending and more of an intimidation factor.

Even though Farrell is a top defender in MLS, it would be an exaggeration to say that he’s a world-beater at the international level. He’s only been a pro for several seasons, but he does solidify and improve the right side of the United States’ defense.

Is Farrell or Yedlin better? That’s in the eye of the beholder, but Klinsmann would be wise to at least let Farrell be Yedlin’s back up. It also wouldn’t hurt to also give the national team another center back who brings an impressive combination of defending, technical ability, and athleticism.

Who Should the United States Start against Cuba?

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Who Should the United States Start against Cuba?

Jürgen Klinsmann and the United States Men’s National Team should use their best lineup in the friendly against Cuba, rather than doing too much experimentation.

Klinsmann has found a strong defensive unit, and he should stick with that Back Four. That also means starting Michael Bradley and Sacha Kljestan again in the center of the midfield with Christian Pulisic out wide. Jozy Altidore and Bobby Wood have formed an effective striker partnership, and doubling up on strikers is an excellent idea for a national team like the United States that has struggled to score enough against top competition.

Using Altidore and Wood not only allows Altidore to have a strike partner, which allows him to be more involved, but it also makes it harder for the defense to mark Wood.

Maybe the only change to the lineup would be starting Paul Arriola on the right wing. If Pulisic is going to be on the left wing, then Arriola is the obvious choice to man the right wing, and Arriola has already performed well for the United States. Like Pulisic, Arriola brings speed and skill to the wing, and Arriola can also create like a Number 10. The Tijuana midfielder and forward also knows how to score.

Possible Starting Lineup (4-4-2  Formation)

Goalkeeper- Ethan Horvath

Right Back- DeAndre Yedlin

Center Back- Geoff Cameron

Center Back- John Brooks

Left Back- Fabian Johnson

Right Wing- Paul Arriola

Center Defensive Midfielder- Michael Bradley

Center Attacking Midfielder- Sacha Kljestan

Left Wing- Christian Pulisic

First Striker- Jozy Altidore

Second Striker- Bobby Wood