Depth and Quality at Striker New for the United States
Striker traditionally just denoted the center forward or Number 9 position, and of course there was always the second striker or withdrawn forward to support and feed the first striker.
Nowadays, the term striker is sometimes used for any forward, but for the United States Men’s National Team, true strikers had been in short supply. With the emergence of Bobby Wood and Rubin Rubin, the United States has two talented center forwards who aren’t just target men for headers. Wood and Rubin are refined strikers with a full arsenal of attacking skills. The United States also has its long time striker, Jozy Altidore, who continues to improve and expand his skills and qualities.
Juan Agudelo is also back in good form, and Agudelo is something of the American striker par excellence. So far, Agudelo is the most explosive and talented of the American strikers, but Wood has proven to be a clinical and smooth striker with lots of speed and skill.
This kind of striker depth is a new phenomenon for the United States, and there are other strikers like Jordan Morris who haven’t been discussed yet. Putting the ball in the back of the net against elite competition has been a weakness for the United States, but Wood has shown a greater ability to get behind and past defenders than other strikers the U.S. has had. The Hawaiian center forward can take defenders off the dribble or slip behind them to receive passes, but he also knows how to suck defenders toward himself in order to set up a teammate to score.
The United States would be wise to capitalize on their striker talent, but again and again we see a reluctance from coaches of the U.S. to start an attacking midfielder or playmaker to feed the center forward.
Allotting at least three roster spots to center forwards is the wise choice for Jürgen Klinsmann. The United States has had a problem with losing its center forward in big tournaments, but losing two is possible as well. As goals are so crucial to success, reserving at least three roster spots to center forwards is not excessive on a 23-man roster. Since there is striker depth, why not start two forwards together with one as the first striker or Number 9 and the others as the second striker or Number 11.
Clint Dempsey used to be the only real scoring threat for the United States against top competition, but as a second striker, attacking midfielder, or wing, he was farther from the goal. Now with several strikers with the skill and athleticism to really threaten better international competition, the United States is moving towards being a tougher opponent.