Colin Reese

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Brazil’s New Attackers

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While the search for the Seleção’s Number 9 continues, two Brazilian attackers stand out as worthy of lining up to the right and left of Neymar.

Lucas Moura and Felipe Anderson are worthy to line up next to Neymar.

The Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) must make sure that Lucas Moura and Felipe Anderson are put on the Seleção. These players embody the spirit of Brazilian soccer, and Neymar could use some more attackers that can shred defenders by themselves.

Time for Brazilian soccer to return to the electrifying and creative style of attacking play that made Brazil the undisputed best national team in the world in the past.

Lucas, Neymar, and Felipe Anderson can take Brazil back to futebol arte.

Assuming Brazil uses two excellent center midfielders and a quality Number 9, then the trio of Lucas, Neymar, and Felipe Anderson should make the Seleção a team to truly fear once again.

Brazil has been falling short of expectations, but the doomsday prophecies of Brazilian soccer are off base.

Brazil’s problems lay with finding a better starting line-up, and the main question marks are in the defensive midfield roles and the center forward position.

After all, Danilo, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, and Marcelo is an excellent Back Four, and Lucas, Neymar, and Felipe Anderson is an outstanding trio of world-class attackers.

While Lucas is a game-deciding attacker, his game is most associated with phenomenal dribbling and speed. Lucas is an excellent passer and finisher, but his speed and dribbling are huge x-factors.

Felipe Anderson combines playmaking with goal-scoring skill, and like Lucas and Neymar, he is virtually unplayable when he’s on his game.

Last season in Serie A, Felipe Anderson was the proverbial man on fire, and he and Lucas should help Neymar and the Seleção bring futebol arte back.

 

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.

 

 

Quickly Fixing the USMNT Gold Cup XI

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By: COLIN REESE

 

There’s no denying Jürgen Klinsmann’s U.S. Men’s National Team roster was bizarre, but there is a way to at least make the starting line-up more effective.

In the U.S.’ opening win against Honduras, the Americans’ passing and attacking were poor. Klinsmann didn’t field the right personnel to keep possession and create enough chances.

While the defensive problems are most likely do to a Back Four that wasn’t used to playing together, the Front Six contained a strange assortment of players used out of position.

Klinsmann tried to deploy Gyasi Zardes and DeAndre Yedlin as something like box-to-box midfielders deployed slightly in front of and to the right and left of Kyle Beckerman. This didn’t work.

If the U.S. starts Brad Evans and Michael Bradley at the base of the midfield as central midfielders with Mix Diskerud in front of them as an attacking midfielder, then the American midfield is more balanced.

Evans has been used by Klinsmann as a utility player, but Evans is a center midfielder by trade where he can take advantage of his engine, his sound technical ability, his defensive skills, and his underrated athleticism.

A two-man center midfield of Evans and Bradley behind Diskerud, who himself defends well, is a stronger midfield.

As far as other changes go, DeAndre Yedlin and Fabian Johnson need to switch roles in a sense.

Johnson’s best qualities are his skill and speed, whereas Yedlin is skilled but not to the same level of Johnson.

Yedlin better serves the squad as a lightning fast right back that can surge forward in attack and chase down attackers as a defender.

Jozy Altidore is the best center forward on the roster, and he should keep his role as the reference point of the attack with Clint Dempsey and Johnson flanking him on the left and right respectively.

These roles for Dempsey and Johnson give them the freedom to do what they do best.

The American defense was the biggest source of criticism in the United States’ first game, and taking Timothy Chandler out of the line-up is the first step in correcting this.

Center back Ventura Alvarado became the target of fans’ criticism, but the two cases where Alvarado was burned were situations where an attacker came at him at a full sprint when he was isolated.

In short, there’s a difference between being badly beaten 1v1 and not being a quality defender. It’s hard to say Omar Gonzalez would have fared better when placed in the same isolated position.

Besides Chandler, the other change that needs to be made is inserting Greg Garza at left back since Johnson plays better in more of an advanced role.

These changes make a Back Four of Yedlin, Alvarado, Brooks, and Garza. At the very least, all of these players are young and talented defenders playing their natural positions.

Whereas the United States fielded a collection of players deployed out of position against Honduras, at least the line-up proposed below makes sense.

In the line-up below, only Evans looks out of position, but he is being deployed in his natural position.

 

USA XI (4-2-1-3):

Goalkeeper: Brad Guzan

Right Back: DeAndre Yedlin

Center Back: Ventura Alvarado

Center Back: John Brooks

Left Back: Greg Garza

Center Midfielder: Brad Evans

Center Midfielder: Michael Bradley

Attacking Midfielder: Mix Diskerud

Right Wing: Fabian Johnson

Center Forward: Jozy Altidore

Left Wing: Clint Dempsey

 

Sebastian Lletget Is USMNT Material

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The United States Men’s National Team needs Sebastian Lletget. It’s as simple as that.

After only a handful of games in MLS, Lletget looks like a National Team player already, and he isn’t coming onto the scene out of nowhere.

Lack of creative attacking play and a lack of link-up play between the midfield and the attack are major problems for the United States, and Lletget fixes both of these problems.

The fact that Lletget is also fast and quick with a nose for goal only makes him more of a must-have for the National Team.

The attacking midfielder has displayed an ability to play like a forward and a center midfielder at the same time, and this makes him more desirable to a National Team that needs skilled players that can play a really fluid modern style of play where the line between midfielders and forwards blurs.

In today’s game, only the center forward and defensive midfielder have fixed positions in the Front Six. The other four players must be able to high press, recover possession, keep possession, and break forward on the counter.

The United States really doesn’t use any attacking midfielders, and it shows. The U.S. National Team will continue to be a team lacking in real skill and creativity until more players like Lletget are used.

The LA Galaxy attacking midfielder has been quick to demonstrate how he can set-up goals, score goals, and win back possession, and he’s also athletic with a good engine.

The United States has a bad track record of not letting creative attacking midfielders play, and this holds them back from the success that the best national teams in the world have.

It’s imperative to have a high level of collective skill from the entire squad, but to close the gap with better teams, the special players that create goals or score them are a must.

The United States won’t be a world soccer power until these types of players are allowed to play.

There’s a lot of evidence that the U.S. is now producing better players at every position, but the National Team needs to be more open to the types of risk and change that takes a gamble on letting less experienced but more talented players start in important games.

Lletget should be one of the first players that is quickly incorporated into the National Team as soon as possible, and he should be joined by Juan Agudelo and Rubio Rubin who are surprisingly still fringe players for a national team that could really benefit from their inclusion.

Simply making it a point to make Lletget, Agudelo, and Rubin key figures on the squad is something Klinsmann should do.

After the Gold Cup, the American midfield needs to be comprised of Michael Bradley and Lletget plus a defensive midfielder to anchor the midfield.

Dillon Powers with Bradley and Lletget is another option where Bradley has more of a Javier Mascherano role in the midfield.

While Lletget was hard to call up to the Gold Cup roster when even Benny Feilhaber and Lee Nguyen were left off, there’s no good reason to make Lletget wait to join the National Team once the Gold Cup is over.

 

 

Who Should the USMNT Start After the Gold Cup?

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Jürgen Klinsmann’s Gold Cup roster was a letdown, and it lacked any vision or imagination. It’s natural to look ahead to what the U.S. National Team should look like after this summer’s Gold Cup.

Under Klinsmann, you can’t really call line-up or roster changes, “changes.” There’s been so much flux and almost hockey-style line-changes under the German coach that there isn’t a regular 11-man line-up where certain players would be replaced by younger options.

In fact, this total absence of a regular line-up or tactics or playing style is the biggest problem with Klinsmann as a coach. The man is essentially chaos personified.

But, using a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation, it should theoretically be easy to survey the talent pool and call-up the requisite amount of each type of player.

The formations above help to structure the selection of a roster and line-up, and below World Soccer Source looks at a goalkeeper, a Back Four, a Midfield Three, and a Front Three that the U.S. Men’s National Team should consider using.

 

Goalkeeper: Brad Guzan

Brad Guzan should be the USA’s goalkeeper for the next five years unless Zack Steffen surpasses him sooner. There’s no need for a change in the USA goal.

 

Back Four: DeAndre Yedlin, Andrew Farrell, Ventura Alvarado, Kellyn Acosta

Right Back: Yedlin

Center Back: Farrell

Center Back: Alvarado

Left Back: Acosta

 

DeAndre Yedlin is the best American right back in the pool, and just maybe Kellyn Acosta could be the best left back.

Acosta is faster than Greg Garza, and he’s probably a much better defender than Fabian Johnson or Brek Shea.

Acosta is a better combination of skill, defending, and athleticism than other options except for Desevio Payne, and Acosta might actually be a better defensive midfielder or central midfielder than outside back.

In the center of the defense, Andrew Farrell is looking more and more like the type of center back the USMNT needs. Farrell is strong defensively in that he tackles well, has excellent recovery speed, defends the 1v1 well, and is strong in the air, plus Farrell is calm and skilled on the ball. Farrell is also a beast of a defender that is quite intimidating.

His partner should be Ventura Alvarado who checks all the boxes for a modern center back, and he starts for Club America in the center of the defense. Despite some complaints amongst the American fan base, Alvarado is totally legit.

 

Midfield Three: Dillon Powers, Michael Bradley, Sebastian Lletget

Center Midfielder: Powers

Center Midfielder: Bradley

Attacking Midfielder: Lletget

 

This is two center midfielders where one is a defensive midfielder by trade plus an attacking midfielder for some more creativity and goalscoring ability. This is a great combination in the midfield.

Paris Saint-Germain uses something similar with Marco Verratti, Blaise Matuidi, and Javier Pastore, and that midfield is outstanding.

In that midfield, Verratti is really a regista (a deep-lying playmaker), and perhaps that’s really Michael Bradley’s true position.

While Bradley is almost a U.S. National Team centurion, Dillon Powers and Sebastian Lletget are excellent MLS midfielders.

Powers plays either as a Number 8 or Number 10 in MLS, but he’s a modern center midfielder that brings excellent technical ability, non-stop running, and strong defending.

Lletget is skillful and creative with a nose for goal; it’s also helpful that he’s fast and quick as well. For an attacking midfielder, he high presses and tracks back on defense well.

 

Front Three: José Villarreal, Rubio Rubin, Bradford Jamieson IV

Right Wing: Villarreal

Center Forward: Rubin

Left Wing: Jamieson

 

With José Villarreal out right where he can cut in onto his stronger left foot and Bradford Jamieson IV set loose on the left, the National Team has two technical players that could reach or surpass Clint Dempsey’s level.

The United States has been trying to produce players like these, and both of them come out of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Galaxy’s academy.

In the center, Rubio Rubin is a center forward with everything, and he made it in Europe as a teenager.

Villarreal, Rubin, and Jamieson is a real attacking trident, and surpassing Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey should be a goal for them.

Unlike Donovan and Dempsey, these three attackers will have the advantage of having teammates at their level. Donovan and Dempsey didn’t have this benefit; both of them, with a few exceptions, looked around and usually saw players that just weren’t good enough.

Multiple attackers with excellent technical ability and real quickness and speed will be a new look for the United States, and it’s worth noting that Juan Agudelo also has a strong claim as the starting center forward.

 

Post Gold Cup National Team XI:

Brad Guzan; DeAndre Yedlin, Andrew Farrell, Ventura Alvarado, Kellyn Acosta; Dillon Powers, Michael Bradley, Sebastian Lletget; José Villarreal, Rubio Rubin, Bradford Jamieson IV.

The Best American Soccer Players (July 2015)

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Clint Dempsey remains the American soccer player par excellence. (Photo: AP)
Clint Dempsey remains the American soccer player par excellence. (Photo: AP)

 

 

Rankings are hard. Weighing various factors to rank soccer players presents plenty of problems. How you consider skill, position, club, league, and international form leads to controversy.

 

All rankings are biased as everyone values different qualities and criteria differently, but here is World Soccer Source’s rankings of The Best American Footballers for July 2015:

 

  1. CLINT DEMPSEY (Seattle Sounders)
  2. MICHAEL BRADLEY (Toronto FC)
  3. BENNY FEILHABER (Sporting KC)
  4. MIX DISKERUD (NYC FC)
  5. JOZY ALTIDORE (Toronto FC)
  1. JUAN AGUDELO (New England Revolution)
  2. GEOFF CAMERON (Stoke City)
  3. ALEJANDRO BEDOYA (Nantes)
  4. FABIAN JOHNSON (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
  5. ARON JÓHANNSSON (AZ Alkmaar)
  1. DEANDRE YEDLIN (Tottenham)
  2. CHARLIE DAVIES (New England Revolution)
  3. BRAD GUZAN (Aston Villa)
  4. VENTURA ALVARADO (Club América)
  5. JOHN BROOKS (Hertha Berlin)
  1. JOE CORONA (Veracruz)
  2. RUBIO RUBIN (Utrecht)
  3. LEE NGUYEN (New England Revolution)
  4. SEBASTIAN LLETGET (LA Galaxy)
  5. MAURICE EDU (Philadelphia Union)
  1. GREG GARZA (Atlas)
  2. DILLON POWERS (Colorado Rapids)
  3. GYASI ZARDES (LA Galaxy)
  4. JOSÉ VILLARREAL (LA Galaxy)
  5. ANDREW FARRELL (New England Revolution)

 

Injured: JERMAINE JONES

Honorable Mention: ERIC LICHAJ, BRADFORD JAMIESON IV, MATT MIAZGA, TEAL BUNBURY, LUIS GIL, LONDON WOODBERRY, PAUL ARRIOLA

 

 

Javier Pastore, Proof of Number 10s

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If you thought all of world soccer’s Number 10s were gone, then have no such fears. Jorge Valdivia isn’t the last of the 10s.

Javier Pastore is carrying the torch. Someone will take it up after him.

El Flaco is a pure Number 10, and he not only creates and keeps possession, but he’s also full of running and defense. At the peak of his powers Zinedine Zidane was all over the field, constantly involved with everything.

Alternating between Paris Saint-Germain’s Midfield Three and Front Three, the Argentina playmaker has become a key component of the Albiceleste.

The increased running and defending adopted by Pastore has made the Argentine more indispensable, and these improvements in his play have made him more influential all over the field.

Pastore also has a level of speed and quickness that is quite uncommon amongst pure 10s, and this allows him to burst into the penalty box to score and set up goals.

After Argentina’s Copa America semifinal goleada over Paraguay, the Argentine publication, Canchallena, gave Pastore an extremely high rating of 9, an almost unheard of rating.

On the Argentinean National Team and for Barcelona, Lionel Messi essentially plays as an attacking midfielder, forward, and wing at the same time, but Pastore knows how to play with Messi, which makes him not superfluous alongside Messi.

This ability to thrive with Messi was one of the reasons for Pastore’s amazing rating of 9 for the Copa America semifinal.

The Córdoba, Argentina native has done what more playmaking magicians need to do to not be kept out of the starting line-up: run all game and win back possession.

Pastore’s now two-way play hasn’t resulted in a dip in his creativity in his passing and dribbling, and this quiver of qualities has him now fulfilling his promise.

The Argentine knew that coaches, fans, and the media would criticize him if he didn’t change his style of play, and luckily this change didn’t mean that he was no longer the technical genius that made him special.

Many have lamented the disappearance of world soccer’s Number 10s in the style of Zinedine Zidane, Juan Roman Riquelme, and Jorge Valdivia, but Pastore plays in this style, which has delighted the likes of Eric Cantona and Thiago Silva.

With the 2014-2015 season with Paris Saint-Germain and this Copa America, Javier Pastore has officially arrived as an elite attacking midfielder.

Long Live Javier Pastore, and in a world where Number 10s are being pushed out of line-ups and off rosters, may there be more creative midfielders like him.

Who Should the USMNT Start in the Gold Cup?

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By: COLIN REESE

 

Who should the United States start in the Gold Cup, and what formation should the U.S. use?

 

The modern 4-3-3 formation seems best, particularly since a 4-3-3 is the same as the 4-2-3-1. Both formations use two midfielders tasked with the bulk of the recovery of possession in the midfield with three more attack-minded players behind an out-and-out striker or center forward.

 

The Midfield Three

 

Let’s start with the defensive midfielder anchoring the center of the Midfield Three.

 

Is it really necessary to have a midfield destroyer like Kyle Beckerman starting there when Michael Bradley thrives in this role?

 

Sure, Bradley has been outstanding with the freedom to go forward, but doesn’t also starting Mix Diskerud in the midfield afford Bradley defensive cover when he goes forward?

 

Alejandro Bedoya has shown a willingness to track back on defense and recover possession, so a Midfield Three of Bedoya-Bradley-Diskerud should provide plenty of defending and ball recovery.

 

The Front Three

 

If the Midfield Three is Bedoya, Bradley, and Diskerud, then what is the Front Three or attacking trident?

 

Jozy Altidore should start at center forward with Clint Dempsey at left wing, but who plays right wing: Fabian Johnson or Gyasi Zardes?

 

There’s no immediate answer to this question. On the one hand, Johnson is a naturally wide player that uses both feet interchangeably, but Zardes is an MLS forward on the rise that is something of a force of nature.

 

Just maybe Zardes combination of speed, running, raw athleticism, and attacking ability is more valuable that Johnson’s great wing play. Zardes has proven that he plays well in a wide role, and Zardes is more of a worker than Johnson with a bigger scoring threat.

 

The Back Four

 

How about the Back Four? Who should start in the defense?

 

DeAndre Yedlin and Greg Garza are the right back and left back with the qualities that the National Team needs, and Ventura Alvarado and John Brooks check all of the boxes for quality center backs.

 

There’s a widespread belief that Omar Gonzalez should start at right center back over Alvarado, but Alvarado is harder to wrong foot or beat for pace.

 

The fact that Alvarado was caught on the wrong side of his man on a header in a friendly is hardly a reason to declare Gonzalez the more solid defender.

 

Tactical Formation

 

As Brad Guzan is the clear starter in goal, then this USA XI is perhaps the best for this summer’s Gold Cup:

 

Guzan; Yedlin, Alvarado, Brooks, Garza; Bedoya, Bradley, Diskerud; Zardes, Altidore, Dempsey.

 

Conclusions

 

Two observations about this line-up warrant mentioning: 1.) Bedoya and Zardes provide a lot of running and defending on the right side of the field; and 2.) Dempsey’s natural inclination will be to drop deep making Zardes and Altidore a two-man striker force to stretch the defense and high press.

 

The United States is a national team with a roster and line-up still in flux, but this line-up sets the squad up to play a more modern and effective style of soccer that can help the United States to improve on the international level.

 

The Top 10 Copa America Players

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By: COLIN REESE

 

1. Lionel MESSI (Argentina)

The Argentina attacker is the undisputed best player in the Copa America and in world football. Messi not only blazes through seas of defenders off the dribble, but the Argentine can also unlock any defense with his passing and with what Ray Hudson calls his fly’s eye vision. Messi’s peers refer to him as an alien, and everyone knows Messi is the best.

 

2. NEYMAR (Brazil)

The Brazilian and Barcelona forward has reach a level just below Messi, and like Messi, his game is not only based on dribbling and goals but also on exceptional passing as well. Neymar’s star continues to rise, and he’s currently carrying the Seleção on his back. Neymar is known for his individual skill, but he is an outstanding team player that displayed his ability to play team soccer by how he played with Messi and Luís Suárez last season for Barcelona.

 

3. Alexis SÁNCHEZ (Chile)

Alexis Sánchez or Electric Sánchez – another Ray Hudson nickname – uses a low center of gravity combined with speed and technical ability to attack the opposition without mercy. The Chilean forward seems to always stay on his feet or pop right back up to continue to assault opposition defenses. Easily the best player in the EPL last season, Sánchez is among the top 10 players in all of world football.

 

4. Arturo VIDAL (Chile)

King Arthur has to be considered either the top midfielder in the world or amongst the top three or four midfielders. Vidal is a complete midfielder that not only has a knack for scoring goals and burying penalty kicks, but he also runs and defends without tire. The only other midfielders in the Copa America close to Vidal’s level are Javier Mascherano and Javier Pastore of Argentina.

 

5. Javier PASTORE (Argentina)

The Argentina attacking midfielder improved his efficacy and influence by leaps and bounds this past club season with Paris Saint-Germain. Known for his technical ability, vision, passing, and dribbling, Pastore has now become a midfielder that wins back possession, runs all game, and stamps his influence all over the field.

 

6. Ángel DI MARÍA (Argentina)

The Argentina winger attacks with captivating speed and skill, and he has a cannon of a left foot that also strikes with placement and grace. The fact that Di María is starting for a national team with so much competition is a testament to how skilled of an attacker he is.

 

7. Jorge VALDIVIA (CHILE)

El Mago Valdivia is amongst a small few true Number 10s in world football. The Chilean playmaker has a rare ability to orchestrate an attack and play with a level of passing skill and vision that few today can match. Valdivia almost looked like the last of the true Number 10s until Pastore fulfilled his potential this past club season.

 

8. Sergio AGÜERO (Argentina)

The EPL’s top scorer is younger than Carlos Tevez and better than Gonzalo Higuaín, and all of these qualities represent just how talented he is. His goal off a crazed diving header against Uruguay showcased that not only is he skilled and quick, but that he also buries the ball in the back of the net when even half a chance to score presents itself.

 

9. JAMES RODRÍGUEZ (Colombia)

Known simply as James, the Colombian attacking midfielder’s game is still improving and becoming complete but his scoring ability and creativity are world famous. The 2014 World Cup golden boot winner will only get better for Colombia and for Real Madrid. His star is still on the rise.

 

10.  DANIEL ALVES (Brazil)

Daniel Alves is an under appreciated right back that is somewhat of a scapegoat and whipping boy for Barcelona and Brazil fans, but his past season with Barcelona was perhaps his best ever. The Baiano still has several years at the pinnacle of world soccer.

 

The USMNT Is Ready to Use the 4-3-3

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Clint Dempsey (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Clint Dempsey (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

 

By: COLIN REESE

 

The United States Men’s National Team is now ready for the 4-3-3 formation.

 

Attacking at pace proved to be an effective strategy when the United States beat the Netherlands and Germany in what were close games, and Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey, who were both absent from those games, can attack at pace as well.

 

With Michael Bradley free to push the ball up the field with pace and supported by Mix Diskerud, American forwards like Altidore and Dempsey can thrive since both forwards like to play fast and with the ball at their feet.

 

If the United States continues to use a defensive midfielder to free up Bradley and Diskerud to play in more advanced positions, then the United States has a recipe for success in the Gold Cup.

 

A Midfield Three with a defensive midfielder, a center midfielder, and an attacking midfielder isn’t rocket science. Hopefully, the United States continues to start one of each type of midfielder.

 

Anchoring this midfield, Kyle Beckerman or Perry Kitchen will fill the defensive midfielder role in the Gold Cup, and Bradley and Diskerud can sit in front of them in the midfield with Altidore, Dempsey, and either Juan Agudelo or Alejandro Bedoya as the Front Three.

 

Joe Corona is another option at right wing/forward as well, if he in fact makes the 23-man roster.

 

Jürgen Klinsmann and the United States have been trying to play the modern 4-3-3 formation, and this is a 4-3-3 formation that can be successful.

 

Although Klinsmann has a Back Four in mind, the defensive unit is still up in the air for most observers.

 

Based on form and skill, DeAndre Yedlin and Greg Garza should be the right back and left back respectively.

 

In the center of the defense, Ventura Alvarado and John Brooks look to be the best center back tandem despite their miscommunication in marking a few headers that resulted in goals against the Netherlands.

 

Brad Guzan is obviously the clear first-choice goalkeeper, but the sixth player in the Front Six is debatable.

 

Working off the assumption that Beckerman or Kitchen, Bradley, Diskerud, Altidore, and Dempsey should fill five of those six spots, then the question again becomes the Bedoya or Agudelo dilemma discussed above.

 

If you look at skill, athleticism, size, and international performances, then Agudelo is a better player than Bedoya, and Agudelo can play wide or centrally, which helps when using a fluid attacking trident.

 

Agudelo is a key player for the National Team, and he brings the ability to create his own goals and free up others, and he is too valuable to put on the bench.

 

Since Agudelo has been playing frequently as a winger for the New England Revolution, it makes since to give him the right forward spot with Dempsey occupying the left forward spot.

 

As a bonus, Agudelo also provides non-stop running and spirited defending, which helps the USA to recover possession and pressure the defense.

 

This American Front Six would then look like this:

 

Bradley Beckerman/Kitchen Diskerud

Agudelo Altidore Dempsey

 

In the Front Six, Bradley and Diskerud would play in more advanced positions than Beckerman or Kitchen, and Altidore would occupy the Number 9 or center forward spot in what would be a fluid attacking trident.

 

This formation takes advantage of most of the information learned from not only the United States’ most recent games, but it also uses the general information known about the players in the American player pool.

 

Klinsmann and the National Team would be wise to not make wholesale changes in a team with momentum.

 

Since this strategy has worked against top national teams recently, then Klinsmann should simply reinsert Dempsey and Altidore into the line-up with Agudelo at right forward.

 

On a final note, one small technical variation on the 4-3-3 would be to have Dempsey sit deeper than Altidore and Agudelo as a trequartista, which is somewhat similar to Beckerman providing structure to the midfield by sitting deeper as a defensive midfielder.

 

In this 4-3-3, Altidore and Agudelo would be the forwards with Dempsey playing as a Number 10 just behind them, and this puts Altidore and Agudelo in a better position to make runs behind the defense.

 

In either variation, Bradley, Beckerman/Kitchen, and Diskerud are in the midfield while Agudelo, Dempsey, and Altidore make up the Front Three.

 

Same difference.

 

Either way, the United States has a viable formula for success and a formation that makes sense given the personnel and the style of play that the National Team wants.

 

The players and fans responded to the United States going straight at the opposition, and this style of play was a form of defense that put pressure on the opposition the whole game.

 

Here is what the USMNT’s starting line-up in the 4-3-3 could look like:

 

USA XI: Brad Guzan; DeAndre Yedlin, Ventura Alvarado, John Brooks, Greg Garza; Michael Bradley, Perry Kitchen, Mix Diskerud; Juan Agudelo, Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey.