USMNT

Which 23 players should make the USMNT Copa America roster?

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Which 23 players should make the USMNT Copa America roster?

Jürgen Klinsmann has selected a 40-man United States preliminary roster for the 2016 Copa America Centenário, and once again there are multiple players on the roster that do not deserve to be there given the other talent in the pool.

The following players likely didn’t deserve to make the 40-man roster: Brad Evans, Alfredo Morales, Chris Wondolowski, Edgar Castillo, Graham Zusi, Michael Orozco, Gyasi Zardes, Timmy Chandler, Danny Williams, and Ventura Alvarado.

That’s 10 important roster spots that could have gone to either more talented or more in-form players. The 10 players that would have been better picks are: Sebastian Lletget, Rubio Rubin, Dillon Powers, Juan Agudelo, Kelyn Rowe, Jorge Villafaña, Brek Shea,  Andrew Farrell, Paul Arriola, and Fatai Alashe.

Nevertheless, Klinsmann must cut down his 40-man roster to 23 names, and here are the names that World Soccer Source believes deserve to make it.

Goalkeepers (3)- Brad Guzan, David Bingham, Ethan Horvath

World Soccer Source went with two younger goalkeepers to back up Brad Guzan instead of backing Howard, but Howard is an excellent goalkeeper who still has several years of quality goalkeeping in the tank.

Defenders (8)- Geoff Cameron, Steve Birnbaum, Matt Miazga, John Brooks, DeAndre Yedlin, Eric Lichaj, Kellyn Acosta, Tim Ream

Cameron, Birnbaum, Miazga, and Brooks give the squad the requisite four center backs, and Yedlin, Lichaj, Acosta, and Ream give the squad four fullbacks or outside backs. Yedlin and Lichaj are the right backs on paper, and Acosta and Ream are the left backs. Acosta plays right back or left back, despite really being a center midfielder or defensive midfielder. Lichaj can play left back, but he is a right back. Ream is a left-footed center back that also plays left back well.

Midfielders (6)- Michael Bradley, Perry Kitchen, Jermaine Jones, Darlington Nagbe, Lee Nguyen, Fabian Johnson

Bradley, Kitchen, and Jones give the squad three defensive midfielders, and Bradley and Jones are also box-to-box midfielders. Bradley and Jones do not partner well together because they normally don’t have a clear designation of roles: either the stay-at-home defensive midfielder or the Number 8 central midfielder. Nagbe is an attacking midfielder that has become an excellent Number 8 midfielder, plus he can play wide or as a second striker. Johnson is a winger, and Nguyen is a true playmaker that is essentially a Number 10.

Forwards(6)- Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Christian Pulisic, Bobby Wood, Ethan Finlay, Jordan Morris

Altidore, Wood, and Morris are all center forwards, and Dempsey, Finlay, and Pulisic are all either attacking midfielders/second strikers or wings. All three can play well wide or centrally, and they give the center forwards a strike partner or wing support. Johnson listed as a midfielder can play as a wing or either side in a Front Three.

*Jozy Altidore is now out injured with a hamstring injury

A Better USMNT Midfield

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A New United States Midfield Three

The American midfields under national team coach Jürgen Klinsmann have been ever changing, and the United States Men’s National Team would benefit from order and consistency.

A three-man midfield is as good as any, and one of the hallmarks of a three-man midfield is the inclusion of a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box midfielder, and an attacking midfielder.

Frequently, three-man midfields have one defensive midfielder and two box-to-box midfielders with the attacking midfielder or playmaker up with the Front Three.

Who should be in the American Midfield Three?

World Soccer Source backs the use of Michael Bradley as the defensive midfielder with Darlington Nagbe and Dillon Powers as box-to-box midfielders.

One bonus of using Nagbe and Powers is that both of these players have the endurance of Number 8 midfielders with the creativity and technical ability of attacking midfielders.

Nagbe has often been praised for his ability to roam all over the field and transport the ball from deep in the midfield into the attack, and this Number 8 role allows him to do that with the national team just like he does with his club team, the Portland Timbers.

Dillon Powers has to be high on the list of underrated American soccer players. After winning MLS Rookie of the Year several years back, Powers has continued to show why he is a much more talented and complete midfielder than the types of midfielders that the United States used to produce. Too many of these midfielders were simply hustle players that were hard tacklers, but they lacked the actual skill to be able to perform at the international level against better competition.

After years as coach of the United States, it’s unclear why Klinsmann has never once used Powers. There’s no justification or explanation for it. His competition was never Bradley and Jermaine Jones, as both of those players could mesh well with Powers.

With the Copa America Centenario coming up this summer, the United States needs to greatly improve the overall skill and tactical formation of its midfield or risk getting embarrassed by superior South American competition. A Midfield Three of Powers, Bradley, and Nagbe makes so much sense, and given how little thought it took to propose it, it’s a wonder that Klinsmann has never bothered to try it.

After Nagbe has shown well for the United States, he still doesn’t appear to be one of the first names on the lineup sheet for Klinsmann, and this is worrying. If deserving players can show well and impress their teammates and still not become starters, then how much hope can there be of Klinsmann using a better midfield this summer?

With both Powers and Nagbe in the Midfield Three, Sebastian Lletget is best used on the right in the Front Three as Clint Dempsey should be the first option to line up out left in that free attacking role.

The Return of Chris Klute

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The Return of Chris Klute

With the return of Chris Klute of the Portland Timbers back to full fitness, he immediately moves into discussion for a roster spot on the United States Men’s National Team at left back because the United States still doesn’t have one. Of course, Brek Shea, Jorge Villafaña, Fabian Johnson, and Kellyn Acosta all come to mind for the two roster spots for left back, but Jürgen Klinsmann has refused to settle on or stick with a viable choice.

Although Johnson is the clear front runner in that group, Johnson has a tendency to not track back enough on defense and run out of stamina during games. If you also consider the fact that Johnson is really a winger, then Klute’s name must be considered a viable possibility for the national team’s left back (Klute also plays right back).

Klute has several qualities that make him an worthy option to be the United States’ left back. He’s lightning fast and truly a two-way outside back, and Klute is technically-sound with both feet and a solid defender. Unlike many of the other left back options, Klute is not only comfortable playing the position, but he’s also very comfortable with both feet. He doesn’t have a tendency to avoiding using one of his feet to control, win, or play the ball.

Speed kills, and probably no one in MLS is as fast as Klute. But, don’t dismiss Klute has a speed merchant without technical ability or defensive skill. Klute is a clean tackler that times his tackles well. Having a left back that can chase down attackers and attack himself down the sideline can only help the U.S. National Team.

One area where Klute needs to improve is his willingness to shoot on goal when he gets himself near the penalty box. Klute can burn defenders and cut inside with ease, but he frequently doesn’t take advantage of the prime position into which he has put himself. Klute needs to channel his inner-Marcelo and let those shots fly. Rather than stopping his attacking forays and looking to drop the ball off to someone behind him, Klute needs to keep surging forward and force the goalkeeper to make a save.

Playing for the United States would expose some areas where Klute must improve, but Klute is quality outside back with an amazing x-factor of world-class speed.

Michael Bradley Should Play Defensive Midfielder for USMNT

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Michael Bradley Should Play Defensive Midfielder for USMNT

Michael Bradley was born to play as a defensive midfielder. Bradley’s incredible engine – meaning his cardiovascular stamina – has been praised for years, and this has caused some coaches and fans to push for him to play a more offensive role in the midfield. But, Bradley’s ability to run hard for more than 90 minutes is a key quality for a defensive midfielder.

Having the energy and endurance to constantly cover for the defense and present oneself as a constant passing option is vital for a defensive midfielder. Somehow, there is a belief that Bradley’s ability to run nonstop is wasted as a defensive midfielder, but that position is a physically demanding position. In fact, not having the air in one’s lungs or the power in one’s legs to be able to mark and chase down opposing players would be a major problem.

At the base of the midfield, Bradley can control the United States’ passing and protect the American backline from being overrun and burned. Playing the defensive midfield role doesn’t mean that Bradley can’t advance forward together with the team, and it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have any cover to make attacking forays. The Number 8 midfielder or box-to-box midfielder has the responsibility to cover for the defensive midfielder in this situation. The American midfield needs a tireless runner at its base, and this is where Bradley can best use his skill set. The base of the midfield even affords Bradley more touches on the ball, and therefore more influence on the game.

The misuse and miscasting of players has been a constant problem for Jürgen Klinsmann, and a non-American example of this was his attempt to get rid of Thomas Müller when Klinsmann was the coach of Bayern Munich. Bradley and Jermaine Jones have been consistently misused by Klinsmann, and the American midfield continues to be too weak as a result of not having a defensive midfielder with the technical ability and athleticism to truly compete against top national teams.

With the emergence of Darlington Nagbe, it makes sense to use the more dynamic Nagbe in his natural role as a Number 8 with a flair for the offensive. This means Bradley as the Number 6 and Nagbe as the Number 8 makes a lot of sense for the United States, and as World Soccer Source has previously written, Sebastian Lletget should be given the Number 10 role and set loose.

Bradley has many years of excellent soccer ahead of him, and it’s time to stop forcing him into different midfield roles that don’t suit him or his teams. For the National Team, using Bradley correctly as a defensive midfielder ultimately means the more creative Nagbe and Lletget can play the more attacking roles.

Don’t forget that, with AS Roma, Bradley’s position was listed as a “mediano” which is the midfield destroyer role.

Sebastian Lletget For the USMNT

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Sebastian Lletget for the U.S. Men’s National Team

Sebastian Lletget is the Number 10 that the United States have been looking for. The LA Galaxy attacking midfielder and forward brings creativity, technical skill, quickness, a low center of gravity, and active movement off the ball.

Lletget is a triple threat in that he brings passing, dribbling, and scoring. Recently against the Portland Timbers, Lletget showed how he can thrive when playing his natural position as a playmaker. With Robbie Keane injured, all of the passing and play came through Lletget, and he was able to showcase what he can do when playing his best position. The former U.S. youth international is a complete enough attacker that he has also thrived with the Galaxy in a wide role, but in the middle, Lletget has more touches on the ball.

As several people have commented on social media, there are shades of Clint Dempsey in Lletget’s balletic dribbling, and this sort of comfort and facility on the ball is the main skill that the United States and American soccer have been missing. Let’s not forget that Lletget also knows how to put the ball in the back of the net with both feet. He’s proven himself to be a composed finisher.

Lee Nguyen and Darlington Nagbe have shown well with the national team, but their inclusion doesn’t exclude Lletget. In fact, taking nothing away from Nguyen, Lletget is a more valuable player than Nguyen. Despite being an attacking midfielder, Nagbe does bring a box-to-box element to the national team, so there’s no reason to think that he and Lletget cannot play together. Right now, a strong argument could be made that the best three-man midfield might be Michael Bradley, Darlington Nagbe, and Dillon Powers, and this leaves room for Lletget to start in the attack with Dempsey and a center forward.

The United States needs Lletget’s skill-set as a goalscoring playmaker that has a direct and creative style of play. Someone needs to provide some of the creativity and skill that usually only Dempsey brought to the table, so why not let Lletget play with Dempsey this summer in the Copa America Centenario?

Lletget is ready to play for the United States now. He isn’t just a promising player or an interesting prospect, but he is arguably the best American attacking midfielder now along with Nagbe. Based on his club form since the beginning of the 2015 MLS season and his overall skill level, Lletget should not only be on the national team roster, but he should be a starter.

Selecting a USA Copa America Centenario squad (April 2016)

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Selecting a USA Copa America squad (April 2016)

If you’re a fan of the U.S. Men’s National Team, then you should be concerned about how good the competition will be in the Copa America Centenario. Whether or not Lionel Messi, Luís Suárez, or Neymar play, most of the national teams are much better than the United States. The United States have a decent national team with certain players who are much better than the rest of the team, but with the best American footballers playing together, the United States can play better than ever under Jürgen Klinsmann’s tenure as coach.

In the last World Cup qualifier against Guatemala, Klinsmann made sure to not field an unbalanced lineup with players out of position, and several players like DeAndre Yedlin and Steve Birnbaum proved to be improvements to previous players at their positions. This is something positive for the United States. With Geoff Cameron partnering with Birnbaum in the center of the defense, the American defense looks more technical and less porous.

I’ve always contended that Klinsmann doesn’t ever have a first team in mind with substitutes for each position, and this causes him to select a roster that has too many players for some positions and not enough for others.

Looking at the American player pool and recent U.S. games, it is possible to propose a decent 23-man roster starting with the goalkeepers and on down to the center forwards.

Goalkeepers

Brad Guzan, William Yarbrough, David Bingham

Brad Guzan is the Number 1 right now as he’s younger than Howard and playing regularly in the EPL. The second-choice goalkeeper should be William Yarbrough who has performed solidly for the United States when given the chance, plus he’s a starting goalkeeper in Liga MX. Yarbrough is a reliable goalkeeper that’s good with his hands and feet, and he’s in good form. Maybe some of the other goalkeepers in the pool are just as good or better, but Yarbrough is a wise choice here. David Bingham looks like the third goalkeeper for now. He has been widely praised for his play in MLS. Clint Irwin has a case here as well.

Defenders

Center Backs (4): Geoff Cameron, Steve Birnbaum, John Brooks, Matt Miazga

Right Backs (2): DeAndre Yedlin, Fabian Johnson

Left Backs (2): Brek Shea, Jorge Villafaña

Cameron and Birnbaum seem like the best center back options right now, but Matt Miazga and John Brooks are quality center backs that also bring the combination of skill, athleticism, and defending. Let’s not forget the Miazga is on Chelsea’s roster, and Brooks is a proven Bundesliga center back who is a frequent scapegoat for USA fans.

If you follow American soccer, then the outside backs are self-explanatory. With two right backs and two left backs listed, this group is already better than Klinsmann’s normal treatment of outside backs as an afterthought. Yedlin and Johnson are the best starting options, but there is some concern that Johnson doesn’t always look like he has the stamina to track back on defense. Shea normally looks like he has more energy to chase down attackers out wide. Johnson is a much better winger than outside back, but he’s needed here on the roster to fit in the midfielders needed below.

Midfielders

Defensive Midfielders (4): Michael Bradley, Perry Kitchen, Fatai Alashe, Kellyn Acosta

Attacking Midfielders (4): Dillon Powers, Darlington Nagbe, Sebastian Lletget, Christian Pulisic

The midfielders included here are essentially two defensive midfielders, two box-to-box midfielders, two attacking midfielders, and two wings (Ethan Finlay listed in the forwards is a winger by trade as well and Sebastian Lletget is really a Number 10). With these eight midfielders, the American roster actually has the personnel needed to field a balanced and effective three or four-man midfield. Fatai Alashe and Kellyn Acosta are great examples of how Bradley is needed more as the defensive midfielder instead of the box-to-box midfielder which is where these two thrive, and Klinsmann rates both of them. Kitchen is a true Number 6, and he has shown himself to be a player with the requisite athleticism and skill-set to play the defensive midfielder role at the international level. Dillon Powers hasn’t been used by Klinsmann before, but can anyone who follows American soccer really doubt this player?  One area where American soccer has improved is the arrival of midfielders like Powers who have a higher baseline of skill than most of the American players before them. For this writer, Sebastian Lletget is too talented to leave off. Lletget has really stood out in the American player pool as a talented, technical, and creative attacking player that can really play. The LA Galaxy midfielder/forward is a true Number 10 that can play wide or centrally and combine with talented players like Dempsey. Lletget is a goal-scoring playmaker with good vision and creativity, and the U.S. really needs those qualities. Lletget also plays as a second striker. During the month of April Christian Pulisic has proven to be a real talent for Borussia Dortmund. This player is much more than hype, as the Bundesliga player has displayed individual skill, quickness, and creativity against strong European club competition.

 

Forwards

Second Strikers (2): Clint Dempsey, Ethan Finlay

Center Forwards (2): Juan Agudelo, Rubio Rubin

With Juan Agudelo and Rubio Rubin as the center forwards, World Soccer Source is picking the skill and dynamism of those two over the familiarity with seeing Jozy Altidore’s name always on the team sheet. Altidore is a capable Number 9, but Agudelo and Rubin bring more skill and activity to the head of the attack. Ethan Finlay is needed to play as a second striker or as a wing on either side. Finlay brings plenty of passing ability and speed to the attack, and he also knows how to put the ball in the back of the net. Clint Dempsey is still the undisputed best American player, and he’s needed to score and lead the attack.

 

Article Updated on April 29, 2016

The Best USMNT XI (April 2016)

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The Best United States Men’s National Team XI (April 2016)

With the Copa America Centennario coming up this summer, Jürgen Klinsmann should continue to use more appropriate lineups like the one he used against CONCACAF minnows Guatemala. Using players out of position needs to be a thing of the past for Klinsmann.

Against Guatemala, the United States started a defense composed of DeAndre Yedlin at right back, Geoff Cameron and Steve Birnbaum at the center back spots, and Edgar Castillo at left back. Left back continues to be a position without a clear best option, but certainly Yedlin, Cameron, and Birnbaum are all qualified and capable of manning the other three positions in the defense.

Both Cameron and Birnbaum looked comfortable on the ball and defensively solid, and both center backs bring the level of athleticism needed to perform at the international level, especially against soccer’s giants in South America. Yedlin too looked strong and comfortable, and the young right back finally looks like the clear best option at that position.

Klinsmann started Kyle Beckerman, Michael Bradley, and Graham Zusi in the midfield, and certainly Beckerman and Zusi are a level below Bradley. Beckerman is a trustworthy defensive midfielder, but he’s always been on the slow side. Now in his mid-thirties, it’s time to have a quicker defensive midfielder starting.

Bradley is a born defensive midfielder, and something of a prototypical defensive midfielder. Surely, starting Bradley at the defensive midfielder spot in a midfield three is the best choice for Klinsmann and the United States.

Darlington Nagbe thrived in MLS in a box-to-box role, and he has been a standout in his several appearances with the national team. Using Bradley and Nagbe as two of the three midfielders is really a no-brainer.

The third midfield spot could go to Lee Nguyen as the attacking midfielder or perhaps going with Dillon Powers of the Colorado Rapids as a combo Number 8/attacking midfielder would serve the best interest of the national team. Both Nagbe and Powers are two-way midfielders with the vision and passing ability to set up goals, so starting them with Bradley would make a lot of sense for the United States.

If Klinsmann elects to use the 4-3-3 formation, then the lineup needs three forwards with Clint Dempsey being the one on the left.

The center forward spot could go to Jozy Altidore, Bobby Wood, or Juan Agudelo, but Charlie Davies is a capable and proven center forward too.

On the right wing, Fabian Johnson or Ethan Finlay fit the bill, and Sebastian Lletget is also worth trying for multiple games. The L.A. Galaxy attacking midfielder has proven his ability to play quick, one-to-two touch soccer with the likes of Robbie Keane, so he is more than capable of combining with the likes of Clint Dempsey and whoever the center forward is. Lletget is too talented of an attacking midfielder to leave off the roster and starting lineup.

The type of lineup outlined above is just like Klinsmann’s most recent lineup, but there are several changes. One has to think that after Klinsmann finally came under widespread criticism about his lineups and tactics that he will be less likely to field another bizarre lineup with multiple players out of position.

The German still hasn’t done an excellent job in selecting the right players for his 23-man rosters, but perhaps a more defined lineup concept will guide his future selections. With a starting lineup in mind, Klinsmann merely has to select 11 second-choice options plus an additional goalkeeper.

The smart money would be on betting that Klinsmann won’t continue to utilize questionable tactics that insult the intelligence of American soccer fans and the media. With this change something of a guarantee, the United States should begin to display more team chemistry and more collective skill as things aren’t in so much turmoil.

The big question remaining about Klinsmann is will he continue to recycle the same group of players. Klinsmann has a bad habit of dropping and reintroducing the same players into the pool rather than testing out new ones who have more or less proven their capabilities.

Going forward, Dillon Powers, Kelyn Rowe, Jorge Villafaña, and Sebastian Lletget stand out as names that Klinsmann needs to bring in, but Klinsmann deserves credit for brining in Kellyn Acosta, Fatai Alashe, and Will Trapp. Those seven players are all players that this writer considers worthy of national team spots right now, and Klinsmann has introduced some of them into the team.

As a next step, Klinsmann would be wise to make some four lineup changes: Edgar Castillo, Kyle Beckerman, Graham Zusi, and Gyasi Zardes. As replacements for those four spots, the following players fit the bill: Villafaña at left back, Powers and Nagbe in the midfield, and Johnson or Finlay at right wing.

World Soccer Source sees something like this lineup as the logical next step for the U.S. Men’s National Team: Guzan; Yedlin, Cameron, Birnbaum, Villafaña; Powers, Bradley, Nagbe; Lletget, Agudelo, Dempsey.

How the U.S. National Team looks after the January friendlies

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After the January friendlies and recent club play, there’s a clearer picture of the best United States Men’s National Team lineup.

Tim Howard or Brad Guzan is an automatic starter in goal, and Geoff Cameron and John Brooks have to be considered the two starting center backs.

At the fullback spots, Kellyn Acosta and Jorge Villafaña have separated themselves. Acosta played left back in the recent friendlies, but right back is the position where the national team needs him most.

Villafaña enjoyed an outstanding MLS season at left back for the Portland Timbers, and his play earned him a promotion to a better team in a better league. Villafaña now plays for Santos Laguna in La Liga MX.

One huge benefit of the defense outlined above is that all five players are actually deployed in the correct position and the position where they are enjoying good form.

Midfielders Darlington Nagbe and Lee Nguyen have displayed their technical qualities in recent months (and for years before), and starting these two midfielders with Bradley would be an inspired choice. Three technical midfielders are just what the doctor ordered for the United States. The alternative is to continue to do nothing to attempt to improve the lack of enough technical ability in the midfield.

Bradley anchoring the American midfield as the defensive midfielder or central midfielder or whatever name you want to use is frankly a no-brainer. Using Bradley as an attacking midfielder is a waste of half of his skill-set and his engine. He was born to anchor the American midfield.

If the United States elects to go with the 4-3-3 formation, then all that’s left is the attacking trident made up of two wings and a center forward. For much of his career, Clint Dempsey played on the left side of the attack or midfield, and there’s no reason he can’t play as the left forward in the American attack.

Fabian Johnson’s form is too good in the Bundesliga right now to not start, so Johnson deserves that right wing starting spot.

Leading the line as the center forward should be Jozy Altidore (with Juan Agudelo deserving strong consideration). Altidore has frequently been starved for service at striker, and Altidore has become a more active and complete striker in recent years. During the January friendlies, Altidore displayed a leaner and lighter frame which can only help the extremely muscular Altidore. There’s nothing wrong with being lighter, leaner, and more agile.

Just starting the most deserving players won’t fix the United States’ problems without some continuity and chemistry. There’s nothing wrong with making adjustments to the lineup as the coach sees fit, but continuing to completely shuffle around the lineup will slow down the U.S.’ progress.

Going into World Cup qualifying, here again is that lineup that could improve the United States’ play: Guzan; Acosta, Cameron, Brooks, Villafaña; Nagbe, Bradley, Nguyen; Johnson, Altidore, Dempsey.

Where Should Darlington Nagbe Play for the USMNT?

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What’s Darlington Nagbe’s best position for the United States Men’s National Team? Is there really only one?

Darlington Nagbe thrived this past season in Major League Soccer as a central midfielder, but his skill-set and qualities allow him to be a game-changer in multiple positions. Nagbe played his best when he was able to get lots of touches on the ball with lots of freedom to move. Whether he plays as a box-to-box midfielder or as some sort of forward, Nagbe just needs freedom to play the game as he sees fit. Even as an outside forward or wing in a 4-3-3, he could drop into the midfield to recover possession and collect the ball. Starting Nagbe either as a midfielder or forward is more important that ensuring that he is started in the Number 8 role.

Michael Bradley is certainly a more defensive player than Nagbe, so having Bradley in the lineup frees Nagbe up to be more offensive while still being able to contribute defensively.

A 4-3-3 formation would suit the United States well, and Nagbe’s qualities make him suited to play in the midfield or in the attack. If Clint Dempsey and Fabian Johnson are playing in the Front Three with Jozy Altidore or some other striker, then this makes the midfield the best spot for Nagbe. If Mix Diskerud (or some other attacking midfielder) and a defensive midfielder are lining up with Bradley in the midfield then one of the outside forward spots is best for Nagbe. These outside forward spots are positions that afford plenty of freedom of movement, and of course Lionel Messi and Neymar play these positions for Barcelona where they drop into the midfield all the time.

Nagbe is most influential when he is heavily involved in the game, and Jürgen Klinsmann would be wise to make him a starter for the United States. Formations and tactics are certainly important, but special attacking players have always been given plenty of freedom.

All Nagbe needs is plenty of touches, and the United States needs him involved in the attack whether as a midfielder or a forward. Nagbe is also the logical choice to play Dempsey’s role when Dempsey isn’t playing, so Nagbe will have to work on his finishing to score as much as Dempsey.

For right now, a Front Six with  Diskerud, Bradley, and Nagbe, behind Johnson, Altidore,  and Dempsey seems as good as any, so it’s not hard to see Nagbe fitting into the lineup of a full-strength United States.

Although Nagbe did play as a Number 8 for the Portland Timbers, it’s easy to see how Nagbe is more of an offensive midfielder when compared to Michael Bradley or even the young Kellyn Acosta. Nagbe is much more of a complete player than just someone that needs to play the same role for the national team as his club team to succeed.

Whether he is more of a central midfielder or a forward, Nagbe can be a reference point and game-changing player for the United States.

Ten USMNT Players to Watch in 2016

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10 USMNT Players to Watch in 2016

  1. Juan Agudelo (Striker)

Will Juan Agudelo be the United States’ starting center forward in 2016? Jürgen Klinsmann has stuck with Jozy Altidore for a long time, and to be fair to Altidore, he hasn’t seen quality service or balls played to feet. Agudelo offers an x-factor of creativity and technical skill that is a level above that of Altidore, and Agudelo is a more active and direct striker that goes straight to goal.

2. Clint Dempsey (Forward/Attacking Midfielder)

This writer hasn’t seen any real evidence that Clint Dempsey has lost a step or seen his overall cardiovascular endurance drop. His skill and creativity are at the same high level, and he’s the only American player that has proven that he can score against anyone. Dempsey should still be a starter for one to two more years, and he should still have a free role no matter what tactical formation is used.

3. Michael Bradley (Center Midfielder)

Anchoring the American midfield with Michael Bradley would really shore up the United States’ passing and ball winning in the midfield. Bradley could definitely use a partner in crime in the other holding midfielder role, and this writer backs Kellyn Acosta to play that role. The Bradley as attacking midfielder experiment was always bizarre. Leave that in 2015.

4. Geoff Cameron (Center Back/Defensive Midfielder)

Geoff Cameron should have been a lock at one of the two center back spots for the last three or four years. Doing this would have allowed him to grow and improve in the role. Now with several high level years left in his legs, the National Team would be smart to make him one of the first names on the team sheet with Dempsey and Bradley.

5. Darlington Nagbe (Midfielder/Forward)

Darlington Nagbe is known for his skill on the ball and speed, but his growth into a ball winner and non-stop running make him even more of a must have in the American midfield or attack. Attackers should high press and win back possession too, so Nagbe’s skillset should influence the team either as a forward or midfielder. Plenty of elite attacking players drop back into the midfield to win the ball back and start the attack. Nagbe should start in 2016.

 

6. Fabian Johnson (Winger/Outside Back)

Letting Fabian Johnson start at right wing with Clint Dempsey at left wing would certainly improve the attacking skill of the United States. Johnson is a proven goalscorer and player that can beat defenders with speed, skill, or both. Maybe Johnson can help the USMNT to score more goals in 2016. Johnson should also be able to draw defenders away from the center forward and Dempsey who should also draw defenders away from Johnson.

7. Rubio Rubin (Striker)

Rubio Rubin has featured for the United States before, and there’s no reason to not make him a consistent inclusion on the roster. Rubin is considered by many to be the best American player in his age bracket along with Bradford Jamieson IV, and Rubin is also very direct like Agudelo. Rubin can create and score, and he can go wide or attack centrally. It’s time to start giving Rubin experience because he’s good enough to play international soccer right now. Jordan Morris has taken much of the spotlight from Rubin, which is understandably, but Rubin needs to be more of a protagonist.

 

8. John Brooks (Center Back)

John Brooks is something of a scapegoat for U.S. Men’s National Team fans. The lack of possession in the midfield leads to the American defense getting torched, but Brooks has shown himself to be strong defensively and comfortable on the ball. One of the defensive questions for 2016 is whether Matt Besler or Brooks should start with Cameron.

9. DeAndre Yedlin (Right Back)

DeAndre Yedlin needs to be allowed to grow into the starting right back spot. Yedlin can keep up with elite and fast attackers, and he can quickly recover the ball and go on the offensive. Yedlin’s skillset are ideal for an outside back, and his type wide attacking play is normally seen from outside backs at the high levels of soccer. It’s a misuse of Yedlin as a wing in the midfield or attack because other American wingers have more skill and creativity than he has. His skillset is needed at right back.

 

10. Sebastian Lletget (Attacking Midfielder/Forward),  Ethan Finlay (Winger/Forward), Kellyn Acosta (Center Midfielder/Outside Back)

World Soccer Source listed these three players as one because all three are players that haven’t featured for the United States Men’s National Team yet. Kellyn Acosta is a two-way central midfielder that brings technique, athleticism, endurance, and vision. The Untied States could use Acosta’s defensive and attacking qualities. Any team would be improved by starting an active center midfielder that can push, push forward, and hunt people down. Acosta would add a certain degree of dynamism to the midfield. Sebastian Lletget and Ethan Finlay are attacking players that are too good to leave off the roster. Finlay offers more speed than Lletget, but Lletget brings more passing possession. Both are creative, and both can score. Lletget is arguably better from a skill and vision standpoint. Finlay had better goal and assist numbers in 2015 than Lletget, but both add needed dimensions to the National Team.