How the USMNT Can Improve its Attack
By bringing Bobby Wood into the U.S. National Team, Jürgen Klinsmann has already improved the American attack. Wood is an excellent strike partner for Clint Dempsey, and both players are technical and creative players. With Wood starting, the attack is more dynamic. Wood plays with more skill and movement that Jozy Altidore, and this gives Dempsey more support in the attack.
Adding a true Number 10 like Sebastian Lletget would make the American attack even better because Lletget can be a playmaker for both forwards, and he can also score himself. With Lletget, Wood, and Dempsey in the attack, the United States would have a more dangerous and talented group of attackers.
The United States has been lacking enough talent in the attack to really threaten top national teams, and these three – or Rubio Rubin in place of Dempsey- have the qualities to improve the attack. This attack won’t magically make the United States as good as the likes of Chile, Argentina, or Germany, but it will signal a major improvement to the overall skill of the United States. This would be an attack that displayed skill soccer over just toughness and a high work rate.
Dempsey still has several years in the tank, but Rubin is also ready to start for the United States now. Rubin has already played well for the United States, and nothing about him or his play indicates that he needs more development before playing a major role.
Without Dempsey, an attack comprised of Lletget, Wood, and Rubin would also be a skillful and dynamic attack that plays proactively against top opponents rather than waiting to score off a set piece or benefit from a defensive mistake.
Klinsmann has already figured out that Wood and Dempsey are an effective strike partnership, and he has already brought Rubin into the national team and seen him perform well. Adding Lletget to the squad or even just using Darlington Nagbe as an attacking midfielder would improve the American attack even more.
The United States looks close to having an attack that can do real damage against elite opponents. Klinsmann doesn’t need to change his Wood-Dempsey combination, but he would be wise to better link up the midfield to the attack with Lletget and/or Nagbe.