Bradford Jamieson IV

Young American Attacking Talent

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Is it true that the American player pool lacks the types of game-changing attacking players to take the U.S. Men’s National Team to the next level?

No.

The United States doesn’t have a Lionel Messi or a Neymar or an Alexis Sánchez, but that doesn’t mean that the United States doesn’t have dynamic, quick, and talented attacking players that can improve the Americans’ offense.

Besides the veteran Clint Dempsey, there are plenty of other young, talented American attacking players. These players aren’t veterans, but they are willing and able to be effective at the international level. Some are more ready than others.

Any American starting lineup should have two center midfielders responsible for recovering possession in the midfield, but it should also have four attacking players.

A respectable squad should have a center forward and either an attacking midfielder or a second striker. Likewise, fast and dynamic wings are also advisable to really compete at the highest level.

The formation impacts what kinds of attacking players start, but we can divide attacking players into four categories (some of which overlap): attacking midfielders, wingers, second strikers (withdrawn forwards), and center forwards (first strikers).

Below, World Soccer Source discusses several of these attacking players, and Juan Agudelo is excluded because he is a known commodity.

Bradford Jamieson IV, the jewel of this list, fits into every category.

This isn’t an exhaustive list of new American attacking players.

Let’s break down the players into categories:

Attacking Midfielders

(Sebastian Lletget, Emerson Hyndman, Marc Pelosi, Bradford Jamieson IV, Luis Gil, Benji Joya)

Technically, attacking midfielders includes wings and Number 10s, but here the term attacking midfielders will refer to Number 10s.

Sebastian Lletget has a ton of exposure playing with the LA Galaxy, and he keeps surpassing expectations. If you’ve been waiting for an American attacking midfielder or Number 10 that checks all the boxes for skill, athleticism, and workrate, then look no further than Lletget. The LA Galaxy attacking midfielder combines very well with elite teammates, and he puts the ball in the back of the net.

Now back in MLS, Marc Pelosi should have the playing time to be able to show more of what he can do. Luis Gil is a known talent that continues to improve, and Bradford Jamieson IV is more of a forward that is good enough to thrive in any attacking position (he’ll be discussed more later).

Benji Joya is a center midfielder that also thrives as an attacking midfielder or out wide, and he should soon see the consistent playing time to show all of his talent and qualities.

Wingers

(Bradford Jamieson IV, Ethan Finlay, José Villarreal, Paul Arriola, Jordan Allen, Romain Gall, Dillon Serna)

Ethan Finlay is playing outstanding in MLS where he showcases his speed and two-footed skill. Finlay’s bombing runs down the wings and inside toward the penalty box are a joy to watch. His first-time right-footed chipped goal, and his curling goal off his weaker left foot after cutting inside are two highlights that stand out for him.

José Villarreal has been displaying his creativity and footwork in MLS for several years, and he continues to show with the LA Galaxy why he should soon be a national team player. The Inglewood native is a prototypical winger who despite his flair likes to get physical. Villarreal is an ideal player to play as a wing in the midfield or in an attacking trident.

Paul Arriola had an excellent U-20 World Cup where he showcased his skill, speed, and toughness, and this club season with Club Tijuana should be a big one for him.

Jordan Allen continues to improve in MLS, and a more consistent playing position should see him thrive. Allen is mentally strong, fast, and technical with a big ceiling.

Romain Gall and Dillon Serna are similar to Allen in that more minutes and a more consistent position on the field should cause them to thrive. Serna has a collection of golazos going.

Second Strikers

(Bradford Jamieson IV, José Villarreal, Ethan Finlay)

Bradford Jamieson IV is a dream of a second striker or withdrawn forward. Amazing speed and exceptional skill and creativity make Jamieson the jewel of the United States’ upcoming attacking talents. Jamieson is a young Clint Dempsey, but much faster and maybe more technical and creative.

Ethan Finlay and Villarreal are normally thought of as wings, but they have all of the qualities to excel as second strikers, which is what Villarreal frequently plays for the Galaxy anyway.

Strikers

(Rubio Rubin, Jordan Morris, Mario Rodriguez)

Anyone that follows the U.S. Men’s National Team has seen Rubio Rubin and Jordan Morris play, and in the U-20 World Cup, Rubin gave American soccer fans a lot to be excited about. Both players have featured for the National Team.

Mario Rodriguez hasn’t featured like Rubin and Morris have, but he has all of the qualities to be a Number 9 for the United States. Talented, two-footed, fast, and tall, Rodriguez is a complete striker like Rubin and Morris are. Rodriguez is a big striker that excels with the ball at his feet, plus he’s good in the air.

It will be interesting to see if all three of these players play much for the National Team and how they compare to one another.

5 MLS Players That Can Improve the USMNT

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The U.S. Men’s National Team could stand for an injection of new skill, and here are five MLS players that can improve the Nationa Team in the defense, in the midfield, and in the attack. All of these players are young enough to serve the National Team for many years.

 

1. Dillon Powers – Center Midfielder/Attacking Midfielder

Wanted: Two-Way Center Midfielders. The National Team could use an injection of complete midfielders to give the squad the type of passing, defending, and work rate that higher-level midfield play requires. Dillon Powers is the most promising of the newer center midfielders in MLS, and in his mid-twenties, he’s ready for international play now. The U.S. continues to field players out of position in the midfield, but Powers can excel as a box-to-box midfielder, as a Number 10, or as an attacking midfielder out right or left. Powers is also qualified to play as a defensive midfielder or Number 6.

2.  Sebastian Lletget –Attacking Midfielder/Center Midfielder/Wing

Playmaking and creativity in the midfield is one of the biggest weaknesses of the National Team. Link-up play between the midfield and the attack also continues to be a major weakness of the National Team. In a very short time in MLS, Sebastian Lletget has already demonstrated the qualities that transfer to the international game. His technical ability and work rate are excellent, and he’s fast and quick with a nose for goal. Lletget is a skilled finisher with either foot, and he combines quickly and well with skilled attacking and midfield counterparts. Looking over the American player pool, Lletget is a must for the National Team.

3. Andrew Farrell – Center Back/Right Back

The American defense continues to be a problem against the better national teams. The problem is having center backs that have the defensive abilities, technical skills, and athleticism needed to face off against elite attackers. Andrew Farrell stands out amongst the center backs in MLS. He’s good on the ball, strong defensively in all areas, and really difficult to body off the ball or beat for pace. In short, Farrell is a beast of a center back that defends well, plays well with the ball at his feet, and chases down attackers like a monster.

4. Bradford Jamieson IV – Forward/Wing

It’s no secret that the National Team is missing creative, skilled, and fast attackers that can score goals and create goals out of nothing. Bradford Jamieson IV is an 18-year-old attacking midfielder/forward that can beat defenders with skill, speed, or both at the same time. The LA Galaxy attacker can play anywhere in the attack, and he’s ready to play at the international level. Jamieson is a skill player like Clint Dempsey, but he has a level of speed and quickness that Dempsey never had.

5. José Villarreal –Wing/Forward

Attacking wide and centrally is important for attackers, and José Villarreal is a winger or second striker by trade that can improve the National Team’s ability to have a more dynamic and spontaneous attack. He’s another LA Galaxy player that looks like an upgrade to a dull and ineffective American attack – Clint Dempsey excluded. Villarreal is a lefty that also plays well with his weaker right foot, and he can serve the National Team well on the left, on the right, or paired with a Number 9 up top. Unlike many of the other attackers that have played for the National Team, Villarreal doesn’t need to be told to attack and go for goal. Like Lletget and Jamieson, this is another creative LA Galaxy player.

 

 

Hope For the Future of American Soccer

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

 

By: COLIN REESE

 

 

There is much for which to be hopeful for the future of American soccer and the United States Men’s National Team. Plenty of talent is coming through the pipeline.

 

The United States has technical and athletic players that are young and youngish at virtually every position.

 

In goal, the USA has William Yarbrough, Clint Irwin, Cody Cropper, and Zack Steffen.

 

In defense, the USA has DeAndre Yedlin, John Brooks, Andrew Farrell, Greg Garza, Erik Palmer-Brown, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Matt Miazga, and Christian Dean.

 

In the midfield, the Stars and Stripes have the likes of Mix Diskerud, Joe Corona, Dillon Powers, José Villarreal, Kellyn Acosta, Benji Joya, Emerson Hyndman, Luis Gil, and Paul Arriola.

 

In the attack, the United States has Juan Agudelo, Gyasi Zardes, Bradford Jamieson IV, Jordan Allen, Rubio Rubin, Mario Rodriguez, Alonso Hernandez, Junior Flores, and Romain Gall.

 

These young players coupled with others that weren’t listed along with the players in the 25-32 year old range give the USMNT a deep pool of talent where many need experience, playing time, and seasoning.

 

But, one thing is for sure, and that is that the skilled and proven experienced players can be started with a few of the younger players to give them experience, seasoning, and chemistry with the senior squad.

 

Of all of the younger players in the pool, with the exception of players like Agudelo, Yedlin, Alvarado, and Brooks who have proven themselves with the National Team, Bradford Jamieson IV really stands out as the most exciting national team prospect of the group.

 

Jamieson has an excellent first touch, advanced technical ability, speed, fearlessness, size, vision, excellent passing ability, and lots and lots of speed and quickness. Jamieson also has the thing that American soccer has been looking for: a player that can take defenders off the dribble and score solo goals from the run of play. Jamieson will attack defenders directly and continue to do so even when defenders take possession from him on his previous dribbling attempts.

 

If the United States wants to use a 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2, or 4-3-3 formation, there is room for Jamieson to get some real minutes with the National Team.

 

There are many conflicting views of who should start for the United States, but if we look at a 4-2-3-1 formation with the experienced and proven players, then there is room to put Jamieson in to play the first half or the last 20-30 minutes of the game.

 

What is a proven USA XI in a 4-2-3-1?

 

I’d argue that Brad Guzan, DeAndre Yedlin, Ventura Alvarado, John Brooks, Greg Garza, Geoff Cameron, Michael Bradley, Alejandro Bedoya/Joe Corona, Mix Diskerud, Clint Dempsey, and Jozy Altidore is a non-controversial and strong starting line-up.

 

If we look at that line-up, what does it hurt to start Juan Agudelo over Altidore and Jamieson over Bedoya and Corona just to give him experience and the squad an explosive and quality attacker?

 

Furthermore, how could it hurt to give Dillon Powers minutes in the midfield and to give Andrew Farrell minutes at center back?

 

Surely, these players are good enough to see minutes in friendlies or in the first round of the Gold Cup against truly weak opponents.

 

The most important thing is that MLS appears to be producing more and more technical and athletic defenders, midfielders, and forwards.

 

Despite being produced here, these players are demonstrating a level of technical ability along the lines of Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, and Michael Bradley.

 

Once again, of all of these players, Jamieson is by far the most polished and exciting of these young players, and Jamieson is the type of creative and skilled attacking player that the United States has been waiting for more of since the appearance of Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey.

 

Jamieson’s technical ability, speed, and 1v1 skills are truly special by any standard. The fact that an 18-year-old American player that was born and raised in the United States is displaying these skills is a reason for hope for the undeniable rise of American soccer.

 

Let us not forget all of the other promising young players that are defenders, midfielders, and forwards. It will be interesting to see which players begin to stand out more and more from the others.

 

Looking toward the Gold Cup, perhaps Powers, Farrell, and Jamieson are the most deserving of surprising roster inclusions for that tournament. With proven players largely already filling up the 23-man Gold Cup roster, there is room for Farrell, Powers, and Jamieson on this summer’s roster.

 

The continued improvement of American soccer will depend on risk. The players starting for the National Team should be consistent performers at the club level or at least proven performers at the club or international level, but the United States needs to start incorporating its younger players that display the most skill.