Freddy Adu

USMNT Roster Options for Klinsmann

by

 

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.

 

USMNT: 23 for Brazil (August 2013)

by

The World Soccer Source 23-Man USMNT 2014 World Cup Roster Proposal 

(August 2013 Edition)

 

COMMENT:

This 23-man USMNT Roster Proposal is less conservative than other projections and predictions that you will find from other writers and websites.

The purpose of not just going with the current group of Jürgen Klinsmann regulars who are doing a good job at staying on top of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying table is not to purposely propose a group of inexperienced and young players for the sake of creating controversy.

On the contrary, the purpose is that this group of players below represents a sincere attempt to not just survive the group stage but to give young, talented, and athletic players the chance to try and raise the level of play of the USMNT.

For example, Gyasi Zardes and Mario Rodriguez are on the list over Eddie Johnson, which will seem almost comical to many people.

The reason that this writer selected Zardes and Rodriguez, despite the excellent combination of skill and overall athleticism of Johnson, is that this writer believes that these two young and internationally inexperienced players, if they happen to play for whatever reason over starters like Juan Agudelo or Terrence Boyd, will relentlessly attack the goal no matter the opponent more so than Johnson will.

It’s important to remember that Rodriguez is highly-regarded by Tab Ramos, and Rodriguez plays in Germany. Additionally, Zardes is widely-considered an extremely talented striker in MLS circles, and Zardes seemed to have no problem playing against Real Madrid yesterday who were fielding a strong line-up, including Casemiro at the defensive midfielder role.

 

Here is the roster proposal:

 

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad GUZAN, Tim HOWARD, Nick RIMANDO.

CENTER BACKS (4): Gale AGBOSSOUMONDE, Andrew FARRELL, Shane O’NEILL, Michael OROZCO FISCAL.

OUTSIDE BACKS (3): Chris KLUTE, Kofi SARKODIE, DeAndre YEDLIN.

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS (3): Michael BRADLEY, Geoff CAMERON, Benji JOYA.

ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS (5): Freddy ADU, Joe Benny CORONA, Clint DEMPSEY, Mix DISKERUD, Benny FEILHABER.

FORWARDS (5): Juan AGUDELO, Jozy ALTIDORE, Terrence BOYD, Mario RODRIGUEZ, Gyasi ZARDES.

 

NOTES:

-There are 7 defenders as opposed to 8 because Geoff Cameron plays center back as well as both outside back positions.

-Michael Orozco, Geoff Cameron, Andrew Farrell, Shane O’Neill can all play as outside backs and as defensive midfielders.

-Geoff Cameron is as much of a center back as he is a defensive midfielder.

-Benji Joya is a box-to-box midfielder listed with the defensive midfielders.

-Freddy Adu and Benny Feilhaber are on this roster proposal. Both of these players are highly-valued by World Soccer Source for their proven-ability and record of performing and making a positive impact at the international level regardless of the opponent. Many Americans and non-Americans consider these two players to be inconsistent and lazy playmakers with a poor attitude, but World Soccer Source considers them to be invaluable midfielders for the USMNT due to their ability to bring creative and quality passing and attacking play to a national team that lacks these qualities.

 

USMNT Starting XI Proposal (4-1-2-1-2): Howard; Yedlin, O’Neill, Farrell, Klute; Cameron; Bradley, Joya; Corona; Agudelo, Dempsey.

 

ROSTER ALTERNATES:

FORWARDS: Teal BUNBURY, Alonso HERNANDEZ, Eddie JOHNSON, Tony TAYLOR, José VILLARREAL.

MIDFIELDERS: Landon DONOVAN, Junior FLORES, Luis GIL, Joe GYAU, Jeremy HALL, Perry KITCHEN, Dax MCCARTY, Brek SHEA.

DEFENDERS: Matt BESLER, Omar GONZALEZ, Fabian JOHNSON, Eric LICHAJ, Michael PARKHURST, Jonathan SPECTOR, Caleb STANKO.

GOALKEEPERS: Cody CROPPER, Tally HALL, Bill HAMID, Clint IRWIN, Sean JOHNSON, Dan KENNEDY, Luis ROBLES.

 

 

Best U.S. Soccer Players (August 2013)

by

 

Clint Dempsey (left) and Jozy Altidore (right). (Photo: AP)
Clint Dempsey (left) and Jozy Altidore (right). (Photo: AP)

 

WORLD SOCCER SOURCE’S NEWEST LIST OF THE BEST AMERICAN SOCCER PLAYERS RIGHT NOW:

 

THE BEST AMERICAN SOCCER PLAYERS (AUGUST 2013)

 

1.) Clint DEMPSEY

2.) Michael BRADLEY

3.) Jozy ALTIDORE

4.) Landon DONOVAN

5.) Geoff CAMERON

 

6.) Tim HOWARD

7.) Jermaine JONES

8.) Joe Benny CORONA

9.) Benny FEILHABER

10.) Freddy ADU 

 

11.) Benji JOYA

12.) Mix DISKERUD

13.) Stuart HOLDEN

14.)  Juan AGUDELO 

15.) Terrence BOYD

 

16.) Eddie JOHNSON

17.) Chris KLUTE

18.) DeAndre YEDLIN

19.) Brek SHEA

20.) Andrew FARRELL

 

21.) Shane O’NEILL

22.) Jonathan SPECTOR

23.) Perry KITCHEN

24.) Joe GYAU

25.) Tony TAYLOR

 

26.) Mario RODRIGUEZ

27.) José VILLARREAL

28.) Alonso HERNANDEZ

29.) Gale AGBOSSOUMONDE

30.) Maurice EDU

 

31.) Brad GUZAN

32.) Michael OROZCO FISCAL

33.) Kofi SARKODIE

34.) Eric LICHAJ

35.) Paul ARRIOLA 

 

36.) Teal BUNBURY

37.) Lamar NEAGLE

38.) Quincy AMARIKWA

39.) George JOHN

40.) Amobi OKUGO

 

USMNT: Risk, Failure, and Success

by

 

Benji Joya (8). (Photo: MexSport)
Benji Joya (8). (Photo: MexSport)

 

The best athlete in the history of American sports said over and over again that failure was the key to his success. That athlete was Michael Jordan.

American soccer has more potential for success right now than at any time in the entire history of soccer in the United States. The key to success is actually fielding unproven players at the international level who have demonstrated the potential ability and the athleticism to be competitive with elite soccer nations.

A vast majority of the coaches in the United States including Jürgen Klinsmann are afraid to risk losing by playing starting line-ups made up of several internationally unproven players in meaningful games, but there is a way to accomplish this without jeopardizing qualification for the 2014 World Cup.

The solution is quite simple: use a Starting XI made up of proven players and fill the remaining roster spots with new but talented players in addition to players who are too good to exclude.

 

After the Gold Cup, the USMNT could start the follow starting line-up without taking any more risks than usual:

Tim Howard; Jonathan Spector, Maurice Edu, Geoff Cameron, Eric Lichaj; Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones; Landon Donovan, Benny Feilhaber, Clint Dempsey; Jozy Altidore.

 

The Starting XI listed above isn’t really a risky line-up by any means, as all of those players have ample experience playing international soccer at a respectable level.

If the whole world considers the United States Men’s National Team to be a team with just a few technically-skilled players, then why not use friendlies to field new players who have demonstrated the ability to offer an improvement over many of the players Jürgen Klinsmann has been using?

The sort of undertaking described above is considered risky by many, but couldn’t it also be considered risky not to attempt to strengthen areas where the USMNT is weak?

Beginning to improve the caliber of players fielded by the United States isn’t a question of teaching experienced players to play differently, but it is a question of actually starting promising players who could do very poorly in their first game or games.

On the other hand, maybe they’d do well.

The first step in this process is easy because the first step is deciding which players among the players that Klinsmann has been starting in World Cup qualifying absolutely have to start, and this list of names is short.

Tim Howard or Brad Guzan have to start. Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey have to start, but who else absolutely has to start? Maybe Landon Donovan has to start too.

Looking at that list, that list includes five names for four starting spots leaving seven Starting XI spots up for grabs. Starting line-up space for seven open spots leaves the door open for a lot of possibilities.

Looking at right back, DeAndre Yedlin of the Seattle Sounders seems like a risk worth taking, given his performances in MLS and in the U-20 World Cup, not to mention the two-way threat he poses. Yedlin has speed that’s close to Chris Klute’s speed, and using them as the outside backs would certainly improve the U.S.’ ability to attack and defend out wide.

Moving to center back, Geoff Cameron has demonstrated that he has a level of athleticism and skill, not to mention size, that has never really been given a chance to partner with a center back of similar qualities.

Why can’t Gale Agbossoumonde, Andrew Farrell, or Shane O’Neill be given a shot to start with Cameron? What’s the real argument against that?

Is there any proof that Omar Gonzalez or Matt Besler can outplay Agbossoumonde, Farrell, or O’Neill in an international game when they are partnered with Cameron? Those are all good MLS players, so trying them out should be something that the USMNT’s coaching staff and American soccer writers are interested in seeing.

None of those three players have been given the chance to show how they can perform compared to Besler and Gonzalez, but Besler was started against Mexico in Estadio Azteca in a World Cup qualifier with essentially no significant international experience. Besler and Gonzalez have done well, but have they really proven that they are the best?

At left back, Chris Klute hasn’t been given the chance to show how he can do compared to DaMarcus Beasley and Fabian Johnson. Beasley and Johnson aren’t even really left backs. Klute actually is a two-way left back, and he’s a very fast and skilled two-way left back who uses both feet.

If Americans really want to see better soccer, where’s the backing for at least using a friendly to field a backline of Yedlin, Agbossoumonde, Cameron, and Klute with Howard as the goalkeeper? Certainly, the United States has never fielded a back four with that degree of speed and technical ability.

There doesn’t appear to be any real risk, particularly in a friendly. The U.S. might lose, but the U.S. might lose anyway. Klinsmann’s World Cup qualifying rosters and line-ups have been completely make-shift and experimental anyway.

All of the players listed above are players who are garnering attention from the American soccer media and American soccer fans. None of those players are soccer players taken off the street; those are all well-known professional players.

One of the arguments that Klinsmann’s methods have been working is the USMNT’s victory over Italy.

The U.S. played Italy in a friendly, only to have Mario Balotelli, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, and Daniele De Rossi not start. The USMNT can’t really say that it beat Italy convincingly, if Balotelli wasn’t playing. Cesare Prandelli and Italy clearly felt like they didn’t need to use their best players against the U.S. because, if Italy lost, everyone would know Italy didn’t use its best players.

Certainly, Clint Dempsey played well against Italy, but Americans already knew that Dempsey could perform well against elite opponents.

Rather than not taking any risks in friendlies, the USMNT would be better served to see how much potential it could show if a bunch of young, athletic, and skilled defenders were allowed to play with a slightly older Geoff Cameron who too hasn’t really been given a fair chance to play with an adequate center back partner.

Assuming Michael Bradley is playing as a defensive midfielder and Landon Donovan is out on the right wing, why not start Freddy Adu or Joe Corona as a central attacking midfielder with Clint Dempsey out left? This group of players has been used before with success, at least with Adu playing with Dempsey and Donovan. Whereas, Corona hasn’t really been given the chance to play with Dempsey yet.

With the players mentioned above, there are only a few line-up choices left to make for the purpose of this experiment.

Does the U.S. use another defensive midfielder or perhaps a box-to-box midfielder with Bradley, or should the U.S. start two forwards? If the USMNT plays another midfielder with Bradley, is there any reason not to let Benji Joya start with Bradley?

Furthermore, who should the U.S. start at striker?

Jozy Altidore has improved greatly over the past two seasons in Holland, and the players listed above provide him with the service he needs to score goals.

On the other hand, if Altidore has already proven himself by scoring so many goals in Holland as well as showing that he can score for the U.S. when provided with service, shouldn’t the USMNT see how Juan Agudelo or Terrence Boyd can play with the players listed above?

Lots of questions. Few answers.

It’s time to start answering some of those questions, and the way to answer those questions is to start the following Starting XI:

Howard; Yedlin, Agbossoumonde/Farrell/O’Neill, Cameron, Klute; Bradley, Joya/Holden; Donovan, Adu/Corona/Feilhaber, Dempsey; Agudelo/Boyd.

 

USMNT Reverse Moneyball

by

 

M'Baye Niang (left) and Mario Balotelli (right). (Photo: Icon Sport)
M’Baye Niang (left) and Mario Balotelli (right). (Photo: Icon Sport)

 

Throw the stats out the window because the United States Men’s National Team needs to start fielding the most talented and athletic players as soon as possible in order to close the gap with better soccer nations.

American soccer writers and fans need to adopt a Reverse Moneyball mentality, where statistics take a back seat to an examination of technical ability and athleticism.

Statistics, whether they are traditional statistics or newer and more revolutionary statistics, aren’t as important in soccer as they are in baseball.

In soccer, statistics don’t really show the following things very well: touch, ball control, vision, two-footed skill, quickness, speed, tackling ability, heading, recovery defense, crossing ability, mental toughness, coolness in front of the goal, and overall technical ability.

There are ways to calculate some of the criteria listed above, but this term, “Reverse Moneyball,” is a convenient way to describe placing a higher premium on the visual scouting of players’ technical ability and athleticism over statistics like club minutes and assists.

Reverse Moneyball is therefore the visual evaluation of the technical and athletic ability of players compared to the very best players in the world, and Reverse Moneyball is a somewhat incomplete simplification of what actual Moneyball or sabermetrics is.

If an American soccer player doesn’t display a soft first-touch, dexterity with both feet, good vision, competitive athleticism, and good overall technical ability, then that player shouldn’t be used by the USMNT because they won’t stand a chance against players such as Mario Balotelli, Neymar, Arturo Vidal, Marcelo, Thomas Müller, Paul Pogba, Thiago Silva, and Raphaël Varane.

Many of the best American soccer players play a brand of soccer that is above that which is present in MLS.

Most of the best American soccer players in MLS aren’t meshing well with teammates who want to play an inferior brand of soccer based on playing the ball wide and hitting crosses into the box, and this conflict affects the better players’ ability to succeed and play one-to-two touch soccer.

This MLS season, the ever-controversial Benny Feilhaber has once again been written off as an inconsistent player with poor statistics and even several games without playing time this season in MLS, which isn’t an elite league, thus making Feilhaber look even worse to his critics.

Nevertheless, Feilhaber’s MLS passing stats are quite good, which can be verified by looking at the Chalkboard feature on MLS’ official site.

This label of being inconsistent due to a lack of a certain number of assists and a low number of goals overlooks Feilhaber’s most important qualities: his ability to foster a rhythm of good passing amongst his teammates and his ability to unlock defenses with final balls.

When Feilhaber plays, he sets a tempo of one-to-two touch soccer, which causes his teammates to follow suit, and this quality has been on display in the 2007 Gold Cup, the 2007 Copa America, the 2009 Confederations Cup, and the 2010 World Cup.

A higher premium also needs to be placed on MLS players such as Juan Agudelo whose creativity, skill level, and athleticism is more along the lines of players like Clint Dempsey.

No statistic will even show a player’s ability to receive a ball in such a way as to turn away from the oncoming defender without being dispossessed, nor will any statistic ever show a player’s ability to calmly play the correct pass in fast-paced international games where the time that a player has on the ball is very limited.

Tossing the statistics out the window and really examining how American players’ technical ability and athleticism compares to the best players in the world is the first step to finding the best American players and throwing them into the international deep end, so the USMNT can start playing to win.

 

Freddy Adu Article From Bahia Notícias

by

 

Freddy Adu (Source: Esporte Clube Bahia)
Freddy Adu (Source: Esporte Clube Bahia)

 

Felipe Santana ( @ffelipesantana ) of Bahia Notícias wrote an article about Freddy Adu entitled, “Questionado, Cristóvão elogia e promete dar chances para Freddy Adu” (Questioned, Cristóvão Praises and Promises to Give Freddy Adu Opportunities) where he included a quote from Adu’s coach at Bahia, Cristóvão Borges, who appeared on the Brazilian show “Bate-bola,” which is on ESPN Brasil.

“Bate-bola” has a double meaning because it means “Q & A” but it is also the warm-up drill where players play one-touch passes, back and forth.

 

Below is the link to the original article by Felipe Santana of Bahia Notícias:

 

http://www.bahianoticias.com.br/esportes/bahia/8396-questionado-cristovao-elogia-e-promete-dar-chances-para-freddy-adu.html

 

The text from the original article, “Questionado, Cristóvão elogia e promete dar chances para Freddy Adu,” is in bold and World Soccer Source’s (Colin Reese’s) translation is in italics.

 

São quase quatro meses de moradia no Brasil. Tempo suficiente para ganhar o carinho de companheiros, funcionários do clube e até a falar português. O tempo, no entanto, não foi suficiente para uma possível análise do seu desempenho dentro de campo. Estamos falando de Freddy Adu.

 

It has been almost four months of living in Brazil. Enough time to win the affection of his teammates, employees of the club, and even to speak Portuguese. The time, all in all, wasn’t enough (to make) an evaluation of his performance on the field possible. We’re talking about Freddy Adu.

 

No Bahia desde o final do mês de março, quando foi envolvido em uma troca com o volante Kléberson, o norte-americano desembarcou em Salvador e automaticamente despertou a curiosidade de todos sobre o seu atual momento técnico. Até porque, quando revelado para o futebol nos Estados Unidos, foi comparado ao rei Pelé.

 

At Bahia since the end of the month of March, when he was involved in a trade for the defensive midfielder, Kléberson, the American got off (the plane) in Salvador and immediately aroused the curiosity of everyone about his actual technical skill-level. Even more so because when he was unveiled to the American soccer (community), he was compared to Pele the King.

 

Adu passou por um período de adaptação ao futebol brasileiro e, mesmo depois disso, não teve chances. No Campeonato Baiano, o meia participou de apenas três partidas, sempre como opção para o decorrer do jogo. Pouco tempo.

 

Adu went through a period of adaptation to Brazilian soccer, and even after this, he didn’t get opportunities. In the Bahia state championship (Baianão/Campeonato Baiano), the attacking midfielder participated in just three games, always as an option to run out the game clock. Little time.

 

Cristóvão Borges chegou, mudou o comportamento da equipe, mas a situação do norte-americano segue a mesma. Quase sempre relacionado, o meia participou apenas dos minutos finais da estreia tricolor na Série A.

 

Cristóvão Borges arrived, changed the behavior/(direction) of the team, but the American’s situation continued just like it was. Almost always put on the roster, the attacking midfielder participated in just the final two minutes of a game in Bahia’s Brasileirão campaign.

 

O treinador do Bahia, ao ser questionado sobre as poucas oportunidades ao atleta, elogiou Freddy Adu. Em compensação, atribuiu o status de reservas ao alto nível de concorrência, segundo ele.

 

The coach of Bahia, upon being asked about the limited opportunities (given) to the player, praised Freddy Adu. On the other hand, he attributed his (Adu’s) position as a substitute to the high level of competition (amongst the squad), according to him (Borges).

 

“Tem muitas qualidades. Tecnicamente é muito bom e acho que pelo tempo que ele passou nos Estados Unidos, tem um entendimento tático do jogo excelente. Lá no Bahia tem uma concorrência muito grande, a briga para jogar é muito boa” – disse em entrevista ao canal ESPN Brasil.

 

“He has many qualities/skills. Technically, he’s very good and I think that due to the time he spent in the U.S., he has an excellent tactical understanding of the game. On Bahia’s roster, there is lots of competition, the fight for playing time is very good” – he said in an interview with ESPN Brasil.

 

Below is the link to another Cristóvão Borges interview with ESPN where he discusses Bahia:

 

http://www.espn.com.br/noticia/341937_a-la-guardiola-cristovao-se-apoia-em-grupo-de-estudos-para-aperfeicoar-o-ousado-bahia

 

There is an interesting quote from the ESPN interview mentioned above which can be found below:

 

Vendo o banco de reservas, apareceu o nome de Freddy Adu. Como é ter um nome conhecido como ele e como está sendo a adaptação dele ao Bahia?
Tem que sentir respeito. Não é só ele, tem Obina, Souza, outros ídolos da torcida, e o tratamento é de respeito. Tem que aproveitar a oportunidade, todos estão tendo chances. Todos precisam ficar bem, por isso estimulo a disputa. Freddy Adu parece brasileiro. Ele está muito à vontade, à vontade até demais. Ele tem boa técnica, muita disciplina tática – o que vem da escola dos Estados Unidos.

 

Translation:

 

Coming to the substitutes, the name Freddy Adu comes up. What is it like to have a known name like his and how has his adjustment to Bahia been?

 

You have to feel proud of him. Not just him, but Obina, Souza, and other fan favorites, and the treatment is of respect. He has to take advantage of his chance, all of them are getting chances. All of them need to keep doing well, because of this I foster the contest (for playing time). Freddy Adu looks Brazilian. He is very loose, almost too loose. He has good technique, good tactical discipline, which comes from the American school (of playing).

 

 

**Special Thanks to Ivan Dias Marques of Correio in Salvador who brought Felipe Santana’s article to my attention. Follow Ivan Dias Marques on Twitter: @ivandmarques

 

**ALL TRANSLATION MISTAKES ARE MY OWN

 

USMNT: 23 For the 2014 World Cup

by

 

Michael Bradley (Photo: Garrett Ellwood / Colorado Rapids)
Michael Bradley (Photo: Garrett Ellwood / Colorado Rapids)

 

23-MAN USMNT ROSTER PROPOSAL FOR THE 2014 WORLD CUP

 

GOALKEEPERS (3):

 

*Tim HOWARD

Brad GUZAN

Luis ROBLES / Dan KENNEDY / Clint IRWIN

 

CENTER BACKS (4):

 

*Geoff CAMERON (CENTER BACK / OUTSIDE BACK / DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER)

Shane O’NEILL (CENTER BACK / OUTSIDE BACK / DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER)

*Andrew FARRELL (CENTER BACK / OUTSIDE BACK)

Gale AGBOSSOUMONDE

 

OUTSIDE BACKS (4):

 

*DeAndre YEDLIN (RIGHT BACK / LEFT BACK)

Kofi SARKODIE

*Chris KLUTE (LEFT BACK / RIGHT BACK)

Fabian JOHNSON (RIGHT BACK / LEFT BACK)

 

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS (2):

 

*Michael BRADLEY

Perry KITCHEN

 

BOX-TO-BOX MIDFIELDERS (3):

 

*Stuart HOLDEN

Mix DISKERUD

*Benji JOYA

 

ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS (4):

 

*Clint DEMPSEY

Benny FEILHABER

Joe CORONA

*Freddy ADU

 

STRIKERS (3):

 

*Juan AGUDELO

Jozy ALTIDORE

Terrence BOYD

 

* STARTERS

 

USMNT STARTING XI (4-1-2-1-2) : HOWARD; YEDLIN, FARRELL, CAMERON, KLUTE; BRADLEY; JOYA, HOLDEN; ADU; AGUDELO, DEMPSEY.

 

Freddy Adu Interview with Correio

by
Freddy Adu sat down for an interview with Miro Palma of Correio in Salvador, Brazil.(Photo: Robson Mendes/Correio)
Freddy Adu sat down for an interview with Miro Palma of Correio in Salvador, Brazil. (Photo: Robson Mendes/Correio)

 

Freddy Adu recently did an interview with Miro Palma of CORREIO in Salvador where they discussed a variety of topics. Below is the translation of the interview.

 

Translation of Freddy Adu’s CORREIO interview with Miro Palma (Twitter: @miropalma):

 

*All translation done by Colin Reese. Any mistakes are my own.

 

http://www.correio24horas.com.br/esportes/detalhes/detalhes-1/artigo/freddy-adu-brinca-com-apelido-baiano-e-revela-gosto-de-oito7nove4/

 

Freddy Adu chegou ao Bahia cercado de expectativas e, mesmo após mais de três meses, o torcedor não pode fazer uma análise apurada do jogador de 24 anos. São só quatro partidas – todas elas entrando no 2º tempo, a poucos minutos do fim. Mesmo assim, o americano acredita que pode ser útil. No treino de ontem, marcou até um gol. Sempre alegre, tido pelos companheiros como o mais querido do elenco, ele projeta um futuro grandioso no Esquadrão. Em um bate-papo descontraído com o CORREIO, onde respondeu todas as perguntas em português, Adu falou sobre tudo. Confira!”

 

Freddy Adu came to Bahia surrounded by expectations, and even after more than three months, the fans can’t make a reasoned assessment of the 24 year old player. There are only four games, all of them (with him) coming on in the second half, just a few minutes from the end (of the game). Despite this, the American thinks he can be useful. At yesterday’s practice, he even scored a goal. Always happy, considered by his teammates as the most liked (player) on the roster, he sees a bright future ahead of him with the Esquadrão. In a casual chat with CORREIO, where he answered all of the questions in Portuguese, Adu talked about everything. Check it out!

 

Que achou da Copa das Confederações? E do Brasil?


Gosto muito do futebol brasileiro. Quando a Seleção Brasileira joga, sempre assisto, pois eu gosto de jogo bonito. O Brasil ganhou contra a Espanha e todo mundo fala: ‘pô, o Brasil voltou’. Futebol é a minha vida. Gosto muito de acompanhar todos os jogos e quero ficar aqui no próximo ano, jogando no Bahia.

 

What did you think of the Confederations Cup? And of Brazil?

I like Brazilian soccer a lot. Whenever the Seleção plays, I always watch, since I like jogo bonito. Brazil beat Spain, and everyone said, “Fu.., Brazil is back.” Soccer is my life. I really like to keep up with all of the games, and I want to stay here next year playing for Bahia.

 

E Neymar?


Joga muito (Risos). Foi o melhor jogador da Copa das Confederações e acho que vai se sair muito bem no Barcelona. Ele é muito importante para a Seleção Brasileira, faz coisas diferentes.

 

And Neymar?

He can really play (laughs). He was the best player in the Confederations Cup and I think he’s going to turn out really well at Barcelona. He is really important for the Seleção, he does unique things.

 

Você espera jogar mais no segundo semestre?


Sim, sim, sim. Só espero a minha chance. Tenho que trabalhar e, quando tiver a chance, mostrar que mereço. Mas se o treinador acha que o outro jogador pode ajudar mais, está tudo bem. Meu trabalho é vir aqui e, quando tiver chance, ajudar o time.

 

Do you hope to play more in the second half of the season?

-Yes, yes, yes. I’m just waiting for my chance. I have to work and when I have the chance, show that I deserve it. But if the coach thinks that another player can help more, that’s ok. My job is to come here, and when I have the chance, help the team.

 

Porque acha que ainda não teve uma sequência?


Mudou muito de treinador. Quando o novo (Joel) chegou, não me conhecia muito bem. Por isso tem que mostrar sempre que é bom jogador.

 

Why do you think you haven’t had a good sequence (of games)?

The coaches changed a lot. When the new one (Joel Santana) came, he didn’t know me very well. Because of that, you have to show that you’re a good player.

 

O que acha de Salvador? 

Gosto muito de ir pra praia. Tenho companheiros que são ótimas pessoas. Ryder, Douglas Pires, Rafael Donato, que moram perto de mim. Sempre vou pra casa deles, fazemos um churrasco, na área de Praia do Flamengo.

 

What do you think of Salvador?

I really like going to the beach. I have teammates who are really nice people. Ryder, Douglas, Rafael Donato, who live close to me. I always go over to their houses, and we have BBQs in the area around Praia do Flamengo.

 

Muita gente no clube diz que você é quase um baiano…


(Gargalhadas) A adaptação foi rápida. Eu gosto muito da cultura do Brasil. A vida não é longa e temos que aproveitar. Tenho um bom trabalho e posso ajudar minha família. Por isso estou sempre feliz.

 

Lots of people at the club say that you’re practically Baiano…

(Laughing) The adjustment was fast. I really like Brazilian culture. Life is short, and we have to take advantage of it. I have a good job, and I can help my family. Because of that, I’m always happy.

 

Sua família conhece a cidade?


Eles estão nos EUA, mas vou trazer eles aqui. Minha mãe e meu irmão vem em agosto.

 

Has your family even been to the city (Salvador)?

They’re in the U.S., but I’m going to bring them here. My mom and my brother are coming in August.

 

E em relação à música daqui. Gosta de escutar?


Gosto de Oito7nove4. É assim: ‘Dá um abraço, dá o outro, faça o movimento…’ (canta). Eu gosto muito dessa! Essa música é fera pra mim. Mas eu gosto mais de hip-hop, porque é a minha cultura nos Estados Unidos.

 

About the music here, do you like listening to it?

I like Oito7nove4. It goes likes this, “Dá um abraço, dá o outro, faça o movimento…” (singing). I like that one a lot! That song is fire to me, but I like hip-hop more because it’s my culture in the United States.

 

Qual o seu maior sonho?

Hum… Quero jogar na Copa. Jogar na Liga dos Campeões da Europa. Por isso eu assinei com o Bahia. Quando você joga bem aqui, todos os times do mundo querem você.

 

What’s your biggest dream?

Um… I want to play in the World Cup. Play in the Champions League. Because of that I signed with Bahia. When you play well here (in Brazil), every team in the world wants you.

 

Dá pra voltar à seleção?


Claro que sim. Já falei com o treinador e ele disse que eu tinha que jogar na liga mais forte. Se tinha a oportunidade de jogar no Brasil… Porra, tinha que jogar aqui. Tem tudo aqui agora: Copa do Mundo, Jogos Olímpicos. O Brasil está muito forte e os clubes estão com mais dinheiro. Todo mundo quer jogar aqui.

 

It is possible to return to the national team?

Of course it is. I already talked to the coach, and he told me that I had to play in a better league. If I had the opportunity to play in Brazil…F***/S***, I had to play here. Everything is here right now: The World Cup, the Olympics. Brazil is really strong, and the clubs have more money. Everyone wants to play here.

 

Quem é Freddy Adu?


Como jogador, Freddy Adu é um cara que joga bonito, joga feliz. Como pessoa, também. Sempre feliz.

 

Who is Freddy Adu?

As a player, Freddy Adu is a guy that plays with flair, that plays happy. As a person, also. (I’m) always happy.

 

Seu português está ótimo. Soube que você faz umas gracinhas com os jogadores…


Que nada. Meu português está fraco. Gracinhas é mais fácil. Gosto muito dos meus companheiros de time. Sempre todo mundo brincando. É como uma família, é bom. Meu antigo time não tinha isso. Tinham vários grupos. Aqui todo mundo está junto.

 

Your Portuguese is great. I knew that you joked around with the players…

Not at all. My Portuguese is weak. Jokes are easier. I really like my teammates. Everyone is always joking around. It’s like a family, and that’s good. My old team wasn’t like that. There were different cliques. Everyone is together here.

 

Seria o jeito brasileiro?


É isso… Quando eu saio de casa todo mundo brinca. Aê Freddy Adivis! E aí Freddy Adivis? É bom demais.

 

Could it be that that’s the Brazilian way?

That’s it…when I leave my house everyone is joking around. “Yo, Freddy Adivis! What’s up Freddy Adivis? It’s really great.

 

http://www.correio24horas.com.br/esportes/detalhes/detalhes-1/artigo/freddy-adu-brinca-com-apelido-baiano-e-revela-gosto-de-oito7nove4/

 

*All translation done by Colin Reese. Any mistakes are my own.

 

 

How good is Klinsmann’s USMNT XI?

by

 

Clint Dempsey (left) and Jozy Altidore (right). (Photo: AP)
Clint Dempsey (left) and Jozy Altidore (right). (Photo: AP)

 

For several months, this writer has proposed fielding a United States Men’s National Team XI made up of some of the U-20 players with the best USMNT players, even the ones Klinsmann refuses to use.

 

What would this look like? It would look like Benji Joya, DeAndre Yedlin, Shane O’Neill, Caleb Stanko, Mario Rodriguez, José Villarreal, Alonso Hernandez, Juan Agudelo, Benny Feilhaber, Joe Corona, and even Freddy Adu being given a real shot.

 

The caliber of the passing hasn’t been good enough, and there haven’t been enough shots on goal.

 

So, just how good are Klinsmann’s starting line-ups?

 

Skipping quickly past the goalkeeper position, either Tim Howard or Brad Guzan are proven international and EPL keepers who serve the United States well.

 

Who plays right back? Well, Steve Cherundolo is certainly a seasoned Bundesliga and USMNT veteran who nobody really ever doubted in the past. Now, he’s a little older, and he asked for time off this summer. Additionally, some observers feel as if he’s lost a step.

 

Jonathan Spector is a capable player with strong technical ability, experience, and respectable athleticism for an international player. He’s by no means slow, and he isn’t very old. Spector performed well against Spain and Brazil in the 2009, and that’s something that he can continue to point to for a long time.

 

A bolder choice is tossing DeAndre Yedlin into the deep end with the full USMNT at right back where he gives the United States a modern outside back blessed with speed, attacking inclinations, comfort on the ball, and fairly aggressive defensive tendencies.

 

Yedlin is thought of as primarily an attacking threat, but he has certainly demonstrated an ability to tackle well, force attackers wide, and track down opposing players. The advantage of using Yedlin is that he puts the opposition on its heels when he marauds down the sideline, which breaks the defensive shape of the opposition and sucks opposing players toward the sideline, which frees up Yedlin’s teammates.

 

Who should be the two American center backs is really up for debate, and until all of the relevant parties are allowed to step into the ring, no one is really going to know which American center backs or defensive midfielders can take the center of the American defense to the next level.

 

Are Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler better than Carlos Bocanegra, Clarence Goodson, and Oguchi Onyewu? Definitely yes.

 

Are Gonzalez and Besler better than Jay DeMerit? Probably not.

 

DeMerit was baptized by fire and performed well in two major FIFA tournaments against truly elite attackers. DeMerit didn’t just survive when the famous players were coming at him, he showed that he was an American center back that was too good to be victimized by elite forwards.

 

With that being said, Jürgen Klinsmann owes American fans and himself the opportunity to get to see the list of 10 or so center backs being tossed into the shark tank.

 

Center back is a difficult position primarily because faster and better players are sprinting at center backs while center backs are backpedaling; at any moment, the opposition can play balls through or over center backs or simply decide to dribble past them with a full head of steam.

 

It’s easy to say that center backs are mistake prone or too easily beaten. It’s hard to stop someone sprinting at a center back when the center back has his back to goal.

 

Gonzalez and Besler? Cameron and Gonzalez? Cameron and Besler? Shane O’Neill and Besler? Cameron and Shane O’Neill? George John and Maurice Edu? The list of possibilities goes on as several center backs like Amobi Okugo, Gale Agbossoumonde, Caleb Stanko, and Andrew Farrell (amongst others) weren’t even mentioned in the options above.

 

Taking a look at Agbossoumonde and Farrell together at center back in a friendly would be a very bold move that could prove to bring better skill, defense, and athleticism to the center of the American defense.

 

Should Fabian Johnson play as a left back where he can attack and bring better skill to the left side of the defense?

 

Should a brand new MLS player like Chris Klute be allowed to suit up for a friendly or tested in camp?

 

Should right backs with the ability to play as left backs be used?

 

These are all legitimate questions, which Klinsmann hasn’t posed or tried to answer through testing, with the exception of frequently using Johnson at left back.

 

Despite Klinsmann’s makeshift line-ups, one thing is for certain: the United States Men’s National Team has a better and more athletic pool of players than ever before.

 

Will they get a chance to show what they can do? Will they be giving a fair shot?

 

The front six offers a lot more certainly.

 

Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, and Jozy Altidore are starting as a box-to-box/defensive midfielder, roaming attacking midfielder or second striker, and first striker, respectively; this fact leaves three open spots.

 

Will Trapp isn’t beating Jermaine Jones or Geoff Cameron out for the defensive midfielder spot any time soon, and Perry Kitchen hasn’t even been given the chance to show how well he would do against someone like Brazil, if Jones or Cameron were unavailable.

 

Can Jeremy Hall or Amobi Okugo outperform Maurice Edu? Who knows?

 

The U.S. has other midfield destroyers as well, but no one from Tab Ramos’ U-20 U.S. side (except maybe Stanko in the future) is taking the misunderstood number 6 role, which requires a lot of comfort on the ball, speed, defensive skill, and elegant passing ability.

 

Two spots remain to be discussed, and these two spots have been Jürgen Klinsmann’s clearest display of being a poor tactician.

 

The ability to appreciate creative passing skills in a player who is willing to try passes that might not slip through the defense and the need of the first and second strikers to have a playmaker who is inventive, smooth, instinctual, and a risk taker is a connection that Klinsmann either refuses to try to address or a connection that he refuses to accept.

 

Either way, Klinsmann has been unwilling to even test out the best playmaker options at his disposal and pick one. Klinsmann’s standards for playmakers are high, but he has never proven that his assessment of Benny Feilhaber, Joe Corona, Freddy Adu, Mix Diskerud, or anyone else is correct. He needs to prove it.

 

He needs to allow a playmaker to play with Cameron/Jones, Bradley, Dempsey, Donovan, and Altidore, and he needs to evaluate all of the options at his disposal.

 

With Cameron or Jones playing with Bradley and Dempsey and Donovan combining with Altidore to help him to attack the goal, Klinsmann doesn’t have a good excuse to not try out playmakers who link the more defensive midfielders with Donovan, Dempsey, and Altidore.

 

Until he tries it out, he can’t support his tactics. Klinsmann needs to try something. He is entitled to not use his archenemies (Feilhaber and Adu) to whom he has nothing to teach , but he could at least play a line of three attacking midfielders Donovan, Corona, and Dempsey behind Altidore with Cameron and Bradley playing deep.

 

That’s fair.

 

That’s tactically sound.

 

Based on how Benji Joya has played in the U-20 World Cup and in CONCACAF U-20 World Cup qualifying, Joya would be a very useful midfielder to begin to incorporate into the USMNT.

 

Joya brings skill, calm passing, defensive qualities, good athleticism, and intensity. He’s a complete midfielder that offers Bradley, Cameron, Jones, and Dempsey a player who can play at their level and help the team to produce better soccer.

 

Perhaps the best performance ever for the USMNT under Klinsmann was the game against Panama in which Klinsmann had players close to fulfilling the 1 through 11 numbering system: Tim Howard 1, Brad Evans 2, Omar Gonzalez 3, Matt Besler 4, DaMarcus Beasley 5, Geoff Cameron 6, Fabian Johnson 7, Michael Bradley 8, Jozy Altidore 9, Eddie Johnson 9, Clint Dempsey 11. No number 10 or anything close to it.

 

Even Joe Corona, an actual number 10 who proved himself in the Copa Libertadores, was on the bench for several qualifiers before and after the Panama game when the U.S. was passing poorly. Corona’s cameo against Panama was essentially a public insult from Klinsmann that said, “It means nothing to me that you start for a good Liga MX team that went deep into the Copa Libertadores, and I don’t care that you proved yourself twice against Corinthians.”

 

Looking at the starting line-up against Panama, the right back and left back were questionable as legitimate options against better teams. Eddie Johnson was oddly used as a right midfield winger. Clint Dempsey was used as a 10.

 

The reason the line-up worked was because Cameron, Bradley, Fabian Johnson, Dempsey, Eddie Johnson, and Altidore all had the skill-level, playing style, and athleticism to display a higher caliber of passing play despite the rather bizarre formation with a striker like Eddie Johnson as a right winger and Dempsey as a playmaker .

 

The Best 40 American Players (July 2013)

by
Clint Dempsey, the best American soccer player ever. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Clint Dempsey, the best American soccer player ever. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

THE FOLLOWING PLAYERS ARE RANKED USING THE CRITERIA OF SKILL AND PROVEN ABILITY AT THE INTERNATIONAL OR CLUB LEVEL:

 

“Clint (Dempsey), I think has the most ability.” – Pelé (on who is the best American player)

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/66/united-states/2013/06/05/4026451/pele-freddy-adus-career-hasnt-turned-out-the-way-i-expected

 

1. Clint DEMPSEY

2. Michael BRADLEY

3. Jozy ALTIDORE

4. Landon DONOVAN

5. Tim HOWARD

 

6. Benny FEILHABER

7. Geoff CAMERON

8. Jermaine JONES

9. Fabian JOHNSON

10. Freddy ADU

 

11. Steve CHERUNDOLO

12. Joe CORONA

13. Juan AGUDELO

14. Terrence BOYD

15. Brad GUZAN

 

16. Benji JOYA

17. Eddie JOHNSON

18. Stuart HOLDEN

19. Joe GYAU

20. Mix DISKERUD

 

21. Jonathan SPECTOR

22. Luis GIL

23. Brek SHEA

24. Mario RODRIGUEZ

25. Alonso HERNANDEZ

 

26. Tony TAYLOR

27. DeAndre YEDLIN

28. Andrew FARRELL

29. Chris KLUTE

30. Eric LICHAJ

 

31. Gale AGBOSSOUMONDE

32. Perry KITCHEN

33. Daniel CUEVAS

34. Teal BUNBURY

35. Maurice EDU

 

36. George JOHN

37. Kofi SARKODIE

38. Shane O’NEILL

39. Caleb STANKO

40. Matt BESLER

 

**NOTE: HERCULEZ GOMEZ WAS INJURED AT THE TIME THAT THIS LIST WAS MADE.