Klinsmann’s USMNT XI vs. The World’s Best XI

by

 

Arturo Vidal. (Photo: Massimo Pinca / AP)
Arturo Vidal. (Photo: Massimo Pinca / AP)

 

The talent pool available to the United States Men’s National Team is the deepest it has ever been, but Jürgen Klinsmann’s recent comments about young American players like DeAndre Yedlin not really being close to the national team picture were disconcerting.

Given Yedlin’s talent-level, youth, and athleticism, not to mention the fact that Klinsmann is using Brad Evans out of position at right back, there is simply no way for Klinsmann to justify his claims that Yedlin might not be ready for the national team for a few years. Yedlin has to be considered for the 2014 World Cup, if the United States hopes to be competitive against the better teams.

As a thought exercise, consider Jürgen Klinsmann’s favored Starting XI and consider who the best players in the world are who would hypothetically play in the same position.

If you make a 4-2-3-1 formation made up of the very best players in the world in the same system that Klinsmann uses with the United States, the overall gap in skill between the Klinsmann’s USMNT Starting XI and a Starting XI made up of the best players in the world in the same system is quite frightening from an American perspective.

This is the single biggest problem with Klinsmann as the coach of the United States Men’s National Team: his refusal to use upgrades at certain positions to improve the national team.

Klinsmann needs to let the kids play. From an American perspective, many of Klinsmann’s roster and starting line-up choices are not the best options at his disposal when one considers the need to field players with the tools to compete with international competition and the best players in the world.

Below is a side-by-side comparison of Klinsmann first-choice players and something resembling the best in the world.

 

GOALKEEPER: Tim HOWARD vs. Gigi BUFFON (Juventus / Italy)

Tim Howard or Brad Guzan are both excellent goalkeepers who excel at the international level. The goalkeeper position is not a liability for the United States. Gigi Buffon is obviously better, but Guzan and Howard are excellent international keepers.

 

RIGHT BACK: Brad Evans vs. MAICON (Roma / Brazil)

This gap in skill is like The Grand Canyon. This isn’t Brad Evans’ fault; Klinsmann has just stuck him at right back and tossed him to the wolves. Evans has proven to be a seaworthy international player who has demonstrated good skill, even if he has oddly been starting at right back for the United States over about five other better options. Insisting on starting Brad Evans at right back is bizarre. Maicon is a force of nature whose right foot has the stopping power of a Georgian Mountain Dog.

 

CENTER BACK: Omar GONZALEZ vs. Thiago SILVA (Paris Saint-Germain / Brazil)

Without question, Thiago Silva is the best center back in the world. Taking nothing away from the fact that Omar Gonzalez represents progress in the ability of American center backs and that his skill and defending eclipses many of the center backs that the United States has used in the past, the difference between Thiago Silva’s ability to defend predators and Omar Gonzalez’s is visible from outer space with the naked eye.

 

CENTER BACK: Matt BESLER vs. David LUIZ (Chelsea / Brazil)

Like Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler’s mobility, defending, and skill on the ball is a nice upgrade compared to many of the American center backs of years past, but he isn’t better than Eddie Pope or Jay DeMerit.

John Anthony Brooks, Shane O’Neill, or Geoff Cameron are all better than Besler when one considers the complete package of defending, athleticism, and skill on the ball. Anyone who has seen David Luiz at center back can see the vast difference between elite center backs and Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez.

It may be unfair to compare Besler and Gonzalez to Thiago Silva and David Luiz, but the United States needs to accept that the elite center backs in world soccer are much more equipped to handle the world’s best attackers than Klinsmann’s first-choice center back pairing. Other American center backs like John Anthony Brooks, Shane O’Neill, Geoff Cameron, and Andrew Farrell have more of the tools needed to excel at the international level.

 

LEFT BACK: DaMarcus BEASLEY vs. MARCELO (Real Madrid / Brazil)

Even if DaMarcus Beasley held his own in CONCACAF, he isn’t even a left back. Marcelo is the starting left back for Brazil and Real Madrid.

 

CENTRAL MIDFIELDER: Jermaine JONES vs. Paul POGBA (Juventus / France)

Jermaine Jones is a high-level defensive midfielder who is a Champions League and Bundesliga veteran with refined technical ability, tireless running, and machete tackles. Nevertheless, Paul Pogba is a total monster who haunts your soul at night. At 20-years-old, Pogba is easily the best French soccer player since Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry, and the best midfielder of his generation, if not the best midfielder in the world.

 

CENTRAL MIDFIELDER: Michael BRADLEY vs. Arturo VIDAL (Juventus / Chile)

Michael Bradley, like Clint Dempsey, is one of the only American players who can swim with the sharks. Bradley’s position is not one of the United States’ weak areas. Nevertheless, Arturo Vidal moonwalks on Michael Bradley.

 

RIGHT MIDFIELDER: Landon DONOVAN vs. Lionel MESSI (Barcelona / Argentina)

This isn’t a weak area for the United States either, but Lionel Messi is clearly better than Landon Donovan. Donovan isn’t part of the talent gap that exists between the United States Men’s National Team and top national teams.

 

CENTRAL ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Clint DEMPSEY vs. OSCAR (Chelsea / Brazil)

Clint Dempsey has essentially been used as a second striker tasked with playing a true playmaker’s role for the United States. Dempsey is used incorrectly by Jürgen Klinsmann, as he has to drop very deep to receive the ball, which leaves Jozy Altidore stranded up top. As a playmaker and creator, Oscar is almost second to none. Klinsmann would be wise to play Dempsey out left with a true playmaker in the center.

 

LEFT MIDFIELDER: Fabian JOHNSON  vs. NEYMAR (Barcelona / Brazil)

Fabian Johnson is an international-caliber winger who starts in the Bundesliga, but nobody is better than Neymar.

 

STRIKER: Jozy ALTIDORE vs. Mario BALOTELLI (AC Milan / Italy)

Jozy Altidore harnessed his athletic and technical potential, and he is still on the rise. Nevertheless, Mario Balotelli is the best first striker since Ronaldo and Thierry Henry. There’s no defender who wants to defend Balotelli. If you’re strong, Balotelli is stronger. If you’re fast, Balotelli is faster. If you’re skilled on the ball, Balotelli is better.

 

Conclusion:

Some of Jürgen Klinsmann’s preferred-starters are excellent international players, but this only applies to Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Landon Donovan, and Tim Howard. The coach of the United States needs to accept that he needs to start swapping out many of his starters for inexperienced upgrades.

The enormous strides the United States has made in soccer and the increase in talented players at every position in the American player pool should be celebrated, but Klinsmann needs to prove that his preferred players are truly the best players the United States has to offer.

If one looks at Klinsmann’s Preferred USMNT XI compared to something close to the World’s Best XI, the talent gap is huge. Below are both Starting XIs listed one on top of the other for the purpose of displaying the disparity in talent:

HOWARD; EVANS, GONZALEZ, BESLER, BEASLEY; JONES, BRADLEY; DONOVAN, DEMPSEY, JOHNSON; ALTIDORE.

BUFFON; MAICON, THIAGO SILVA, DAVID LUIZ, MARCELO; POGBA, VIDAL; MESSI, OSCAR, NEYMAR; BALOTELLI.

 

October 2013 USMNT Roster Proposal

by

 

Joe Benny Corona (Photo: Evan Habeeb/USA TODAY Sports)
Joe Benny Corona (Photo: Evan Habeeb/USA TODAY Sports)

 

Since the United States has already qualified for the 2014 World Cup and since Jürgen Klinsmann is frequently fond of talking about throwing players into the cold water, he might as well use the upcoming World Cup qualifiers to let the new or young talents in the player pool join the Polar Bear Club with swan dives and cannonballs.

As the United States Men’s National Team has already qualified for the 2013 World Cup, Klinsmann should use the final two World Cup qualifiers to test the player pool, in order to see who should start or be on the roster with the U.S.’ strongest players like Tim Howard, Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Geoff Cameron, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore, and Aron Jóhannsson.

On the other hand, another coaching philosophy would be to use a mixture of the best of the most-proven players with new players.

World Soccer Source proposes calling up the following players to test out the depth and talent of the American player pool:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad GUZAN, Nick RIMANDO, Clint IRWIN

CENTER BACKS (4): John Anthony BROOKS, Shane O’NEILL, Andrew FARRELL, Amobi OKUGO

OUTSIDE BACKS (4): Chris KLUTE, DeAndre YEDLIN, Kofi SARKODIE, Kellyn ACOSTA

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS (3): Geoff CAMERON, Perry KITCHEN, Jared JEFFREY

ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS (5): Joe Benny CORONA, Mix DISKERUD, Benji JOYA, Alonso HERNANDEZ, José VILLARREAL

FORWARDS (4): Juan AGUDELO, Terrence BOYD, Mario RODRIGUEZ, Gyasi ZARDES

 

USMNT Starting XI Proposal: 

Guzan; Yedlin/Farrell, O’Neill, Brooks, Klute; Cameron, Joya; Corona, Hernandez, Diskerud; Agudelo/Boyd.

 

NOTES:

Since the United States has already qualified for the 2014 World Cup, there’s no reason to call up Tim Howard, Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Fabian Johnson, Jozy Altidore, or Aron Jóhannsson because all of these players have thoroughly demonstrated an ability to perform at the highest level.

These October World Cup qualifiers should be used to test out newer players who have demonstrated a real potential to possibly improve the United States Men’s National Team.

Geoff Cameron, Andrew Farrell, Amobi Okugo, and Shane O’Neill play at least one more position than where they’ve been designated in the roster listed above. Cameron, Farrell, and O’Neill play center back, outside back, and defensive midfielder, whereas Okugo plays as a center back or as a defensive midfielder.

Since Cameron could use some minutes as a defensive midfielder with the national team, World Soccer Source has proposed calling him up to this roster, which is without many of the regular U.S. starters.

Gyasi Zardes is a striker that has been frequently playing as a wing for the LA Galaxy this season, and José Villarreal can play as a second striker or as an attacking midfielder.

Proven-performers like Benny Feilhaber, Jonathan Spector, Eric Lichaj, and Freddy Adu fall into a different category than the players listed above as players who have performed at the highest level under Klinsmann because Feilhaber, Spector, Lichaj, and Adu are players Klinsmann has simply frozen out of the national team without a clear reason, even when he needed them.

The point of these October World Cup qualifiers should be to see who should start with players like Geoff Cameron, Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore, and Aron Jóhannsson.

The United States needs a right back, a left back, a center back, and a playmaker, but the United States also needs to know the best group of 23 players and the best Starting XI. There’s no way to learn these things without testing out players in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers and friendlies, and the United States has already qualified for the 2014 World Cup, which allows Klinsmann to focus on evaluating players more than the result of the games.

 

The USMNT Best XI: October 2013

by

 

Coming into October of 2013, and since the United States has already qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, here is the Best Starting XI that Jürgen Klinsmann can start for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in October.

Michael Bradley and John Anthony Brooks are currently injured with an ankle injury and elbow injury, respectively, but here is the best Starting XI that the United States could use, if both players are healthy in time.

This starting line-up combines proven-players with players who have shown a real ability to offer the United States Men’s National Team upgrades in certain areas, most notably in the defense and at the playmaker role.

The national team must keep starting its very best players like Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan, and Jozy Altidore, but it should fill the rest of the starting line-up with new players with the tools to compete at the next level.

Here is World Soccer Source’s Best Starting XI for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers:

GOALKEEPER: Brad GUZAN

Chosing Brad Guzan over Tim Howard is a tough decision because Tim Howard excels at making game-saving stops that register high on the difficulty scale. There is some concern that Howard doesn’t always come off his line to collect balls played in the air fairly close to his own six-yard box, but goalkeepers are often judged too harshly. Nevertheless, it’s time to see if Guzan comes off his line better than Howard, and if Guzan is better at saving shots from distance than Howard is. Either way, this choice between two excellent keepers is a toss up, and until Guzan plays more, it will be hard to determine which keeper should start. Starting Guzan isn’t risky, nor is it a drop off in skill.

 

RIGHT BACK: DeAndre YEDLIN / Andrew FARRELL

The time for Jürgen Klinsmann to let DeAndre Yedlin or Andrew Farrell play right back is now. The United States has qualified for the 2014 World Cup, and both Farrell and Yedlin are better than Brad Evans. Both players are more technically-skilled than Evans, and both can stay with faster and more-skillful attackers better than Evans. Although Geoff Cameron can play right back quite well, Cameron has shown how he excels as a midfield destroyer with his tackling, passing, and running, so it’s better to let a natural and explosive outside back like Yedlin or Farrell play right back. Both Yedlin and Farrell are extremely fast and technically-skilled, but Farrell’s tackling is likely better than Yedlin’s (but Yedlin’s defense and tackling are quite good). Time will tell if Yedlin or Farrell is better or if they are just different, and time will tell if Farrell proves to be better suited to be a starting USMNT center back.

 

CENTER BACK: Shane O’NEILL

Just like DeAndre Yedlin and Andrew Farrell are legitimate options for the United States and likely upgrades at right back, Shane O’Neill is an upgrade at center back to both Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler. O’Neill is a better defender and a better soccer player in general, and O’Neill possesses a complete skill-set that allows him to play better defense and pass and dribble out of trouble better than Gonzalez and Besler. Both Gonzalez and Besler have become familiar to American soccer fans, and the recent winning streak makes people afraid to accept the possibility that there is another level above that at which Besler and Gonzalez play.

 

CENTER BACK: John Anthony BROOKS

Assuming he’s healthy, John Anthony Brooks should start at left center back for the USMNT. Brooks is a starting center back for Hertha Berlin at 20 years old, and he was named to the Bundesliga Team of the Week twice already this season. These facts combined with his agility, size, skill on the ball, and athleticism are just too much to ignore, and Brooks showed that he was ready to play international soccer against top competition when he started against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

LEFT BACK: Chris KLUTE

Chris Klute is the best American left back in the American player pool. Klute offers better defending and more speed than Fabian Johnson or DaMarcus Beasley, and Klute is a constant attacking threat who creates a lot of goals. Klute’s defending and attacking skills combined with his athleticism (most notably his world-class speed) make him too good to not incorporate into the national team now. Skeptics will argue that Klute is inexperienced, but since any defender has the potential to make a mistake or be beaten in any game, the possibility that a new defender may be beaten a few times is just an irrational excuse to ignore a talented player at a position where the United States is weak.

 

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER: Geoff CAMERON

Geoff Cameron’s passing, tackling, skill on the ball, and tireless and smooth running make for an excellent midfield destroyer to patrol the back of the midfield, while Michael Bradley has more freedom to attack and drop back as he sees fit. Jermaine Jones also likes to participate in the attack when he plays for the United States, and starting Cameron over Jones prevents a hole from being left in front of the American defense.

 

BOX-TO-BOX MIDFIELDER: Michael BRADLEY

Michael Bradley is a defensive midfielder who was always skilled as a passer and as a defender, and his trademark was his ability to run for the full 90 minutes participating all over the field. Bradley’s passing and technical ability have progressively improved, and Bradley’s forays into the attack and his combination play with Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan make him the ideal player to provide Cameron passing and defensive support deeper in the midfield, in addition to providing the link from Cameron to the attacking midfielders and strikers.

 

RIGHT MIDFIELDER: Landon DONOVAN

Landon Donovan’s skill-level and experience are a vital component of the USMNT, and using Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan together as attacking midfielders gives the United States good passing and excellent attacking in the midfield. Donovan’s speed and his ability to score and set up goals are well-documented. Starting Dempsey and Donovan together should be a priority for Jürgen Klinsmann.

 

PLAYMAKER: Benny FEILHABER

Benny Feilhaber brings playmaking qualities that Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan don’t have. Whereas Donovan and Dempsey are skilled-attackers who can score or help to create goals, Feilhaber is an actual playmaker who makes sure players like Jozy Altidore, Landon Donovan, and Clint Dempsey receive service when they make their runs in the final third. Feilhaber is a proven-performer, and he allows Dempsey and Donovan to focus on scoring goals and combining with Altidore, rather than being tasked with providing all of the playmaking responsibilities.

 

LEFT MIDFIELDER: Clint DEMPSEY

Whether Clint Dempsey is playing as an attacking midfielder out on the left or playing as a second striker, his role is a fluid role built around passing and moving throughout the attack in an effort to score or set up goals. As the best American soccer player ever and the most skilled American player now, Clint Dempsey is an obvious inclusion in any USMNT Starting XI that is looking to have the United States playing its best soccer.

 

STRIKER: Jozy ALTIDORE

Jozy Altidore has shown that he has blossomed into a more-refined striker with improved technical-skill and better movement off the ball; Altidore has also become a more aggressive striker and a more ruthless finisher who can score with both feet and his head. Altidore’s scoring drought with Sunderland is a product of no longer playing for a team like AZ Alkmaar that places a premium on quality passing and good technical play. Sunderland’s poor form doesn’t change the fact that Altidore has become a complete striker who brings skill, athleticism, and size to the front of the American attack.

 

USMNT Starting XI (4-2-3-1):

Guzan; Yedlin/Farrell, O’Neill, Brooks, Klute; Cameron, Bradley; Donovan, Feilhaber, Dempsey; Altidore.

 

Klinsmann’s USMNT Options For October Qualifiers

by

 

Joe Benny Corona. (Photo: MexSport)
Joe Benny Corona. (Photo: MexSport)

 

Despite the possibility of Michael Bradley and John Anthony Brooks still being injured, Jürgen Klinsmann still has a lot of new options for the United States Men’s National Team’s October World Cup qualifiers.

A prudent decision for the future success of the USMNT is for Klinsmann to start many of the proven players who he has chosen to snub in the past, but he should fill the rest of the roster with new players that need to be given experience.

The math on this is simple; Klinsmann has 11 starting line-ups spots that he can reserve for some of the more-experienced American players who he has chosen to not use, and he has 12 roster spots for the new talents in American soccer.

The other alternative is to use the same roster outlined above but start the new players.

If Klinsmann wants to start more-proven players, then this is a topic that can be discussed with specificity.

For example, Klinsmann could start Brad Guzan in goal with Jonathan Spector at right back, Shane O’Neill and Michael Orozco at center back, and Eric Lichaj at left back.

In front of them, Klinsmann can start Geoff Cameron as a defensive midfielder with Joe Benny Corona, Benny Feilhaber, and Mix Diskerud as a line of three attacking midfielders.

Up top, Klinsmann could start Juan Agudelo (if he’s healthy) or Terrence Boyd with Aron Jóhannsson.

The line-up proposed above leaves 11 or 12 roster spots open for Klinsmann, depending on the health of Agudelo.

Starting in the defense, the obvious names are DeAndre Yedlin, Chris Klute, and Andrew Farrell.

This leaves eight or nine roster spots (depending on whether or not Agudelo is healthy) for goalkeepers, midfielders, and forwards.

If there are eight roster spots, calling up Nick Rimando and some other goalkeeper like Clint Irwin, Dan Kennedy, Sean Johnson, Luis Robles, or Tally Hall leaves six more roster spots to fill.

For the final six roster spots, Perry Kitchen as a defensive midfielder, Amobi Okugo as a center back and defensive midfielder, Benji Joya as a midfielder who plays as an attacking midfielder or as a box-to-box midfielder, José Villarreal as a forward or attacking midfielder, Joe Gyau as a winger or forward, and Freddy Adu as midfielder or forward (it’s time for Klinsmann to check in with Adu).

The roster proposed above includes three goalkeepers, four outside backs, four center backs, four forwards, five attacking midfielders, three defensive or box-to-box midfielders (plus Shane O’Neill and Geoff Cameron).

To be clear, the USMNT could start the following fairly-experienced XI below:

Guzan; Spector, O’Neill, Orozco, Lichaj; Cameron; Corona, Feilhaber, Diskerud; Agudelo/Boyd, Jóhannsson.

On the bench, the USMNT would have the following players available:

Rimando, Irwin/Kennedy/Robles/S. Johnson/Hall, Yedlin, Klute, Farrell, Kitchen, Okugo, Joya, Villarreal, Gyau, Adu.

Starting Guzan in goal with Spector, O’Neill, Orozco, and Lichaj forming the Back Four should be a strong enough defense to win or at least they should be strong enough to win.

In front of them, Cameron as a defensive midfielder behind a line of three attacking midfielders (Corona, Feilhaber, Diskerud) should be a midfield with a strong defender and good passer patrolling the back with three creative midfielders helping the United States to maintain possession and set up goals.

Up top, Agudelo or Boyd with Jóhannsson is a potent young strike force who at the very least should cause problems for all but the very best of international defenders.

These forwards still have room to improve, but all three of them are real threats on the international level. There is no reason to think that they aren’t capable of easily scoring against CONCACAF opposition unless they simply don’t receive enough service.

Something similar to the roster and starting line-up proposed in this article combines the best of both worlds for the United States Men’s National Team: more-experienced players that Klinsmann hasn’t favored as starters with new talents who can gain experience and help to strengthen the national team.

On the other hand, if Klinsmann wanted to use mainly new and/or younger players, then he could start the following XI:

Guzan; Yedlin, Farrell, O’Neill, Klute; Cameron, Joya; Adu, Feilhaber, Corona; Agudelo/Boyd/Jóhannsson.

What Jürgen Klinsmann really needs to learn is whether or not he’s been using the best players and if the new talents or some of the out of favor talents can improve the ability of the USMNT to better compete or win at the highest level against better national teams.

The coach of the United States enjoys using the metaphor about tossing players into the cold water, and with the 2014 World Cup approaching next summer, it’s time to see who the best American soccer players are and prepare them for the big stage.

 

 

M’Baye Niang Time For Milan

by

 

M'Baye Niang. (Photo: Reuters)
M’Baye Niang. (Photo: Reuters)

 

With Mario Balotelli suspended for the next three Serie A matches, the time has come to start the 18-year-old 6’4″ French striker, M’Baye Niang, and let him blossom into an elite striker.

Despite being a teenager and even without Balotelli’s suspension, Niang’s special gifts and abilities needed to be unleashed on Milan’s opposition on a more consistent basis sooner. A striker with Niang’s speed, agility, 1v1 abilities, shooting ability, and combination play isn’t something that Massimiliano Allegri can ignore.

Milan need Niang to disrupt defenses with his movement off the ball and his skill on it — all of which constantly threaten the goal. Niang is a great finisher with both feet, even though he received some criticism for having a shot hit off the post against Barcelona in the Champions League last season.

Without Kaká and Riccardo Montolivo, or Stephan El Shaarawy for that matter, a player with Niang’s workrate and effectiveness at putting himself in scoring-positions can help to compensate for a current midfield lacking in creativity, but Niang’s own qualities warrant a starting spot, even with a full squad.

The logical thing for Milan to do would be to start Robinho with Niang in order to facilitate combination play in the attack and to use Robinho as the player to drop back to collect the ball from the likes of Nigel De Jong, Sulley Muntari, Antonio Nocerino, and Andrea Poli who are all playing slightly deeper in the midfield.

For AC Milan’s purposes, even without the current injuries, a striker of M’Baye Niang’s physique, athleticism, aggressive and creative playing style, and world-class technical ability is simply too talented to leave watching the games from the bench.

Of all of the players in world football, finding one who is a faster and smoother mover than Niang who also has trickery and striker instincts that are off the charts is close to an impossible task.

Niang isn’t a raw striker who needs to refine his technical ability, but rather he is one of the best young talents in world football. What Niang needs is playing time: playing time to get into a rhythm and start scoring goals. Any striker who can smoothly execute textbook elásticos and pull them off effortlessly is truly a special striker indeed.

Whatever excuse that Massimiliano Allegri has for not making Niang a core element of his Milan squad in no way justifies the exclusion of a player who wrecks so much havoc in the attack and who draws so many defenders toward him.

None of Milan’s injuries rationalize the decision to not start M’Baye Niang every game they can because his abilities already demand it, and he needs the experience to continue to grow and improve as a striker.

Soon, M’Baye Niang will be one of the elite strikers in the world, and any club would be hard-pressed to find a striker with his combination of elite technical ability and creativity combined with incredibly smooth and superior athleticism inside such a tall and agile frame.

 

Best American Soccer Players (October 2013)

by

 

Clint Dempsey will be the best American soccer player for years to come. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Clint Dempsey will be the best American soccer player for years to come. (Photo: AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

 

This list is based on ranking American soccer players based on skill-level based on their performances at the club level, international level, or both.

In many cases, some of the less-experienced players at the international level have demonstrated a noticeable increase in skill-level and athleticism compared to players that are more experienced members of the United States Men’s National Team under Jürgen Klinsmann.

Ranking players is subjective especially given the difficulty of comparing and contrasting players who play different positions.

 

The Best American Soccer Players (October 2013):

 

1.) Clint DEMPSEY (Seattle Sounders)

2.) Michael BRADLEY (Roma)

3.) Landon DONOVAN (LA Galaxy)

4.) Jozy ALTIDORE (Sunderland)

5.) Benny FEILHABER (Sporting Kansas City)

 

6.) Juan AGUDELO (New England Revolution / Stoke City)

7.) Aron JÓHANNSSON (AZ Alkmaar)

8.) Geoff CAMERON (Stoke City)

9.) Jermaine JONES (Schalke)

10.) Fabian JOHNSON (Hoffenheim)

 

11.) Tim HOWARD (Everton)

12.) Freddy ADU (E.C. Bahia)  

13.) Joe Benny CORONA (Tijuana)

14.) Mix DISKERUD (Rosenborg)

15.) Terrence BOYD (Rapid Wien)

 

16.) Eddie JOHNSON (Seattle Sounders)

17.) Benji JOYA (Santos Laguna)

18.) John Anthony BROOKS (Hertha Berlin)

19.) Shane O’NEILL (Colorado Rapids)

20.) DeAndre YEDLIN (Seattle Sounders)

 

21.) José VILLARREAL (LA Galaxy)

22.) Chris KLUTE (Colorado Rapids)

23.) Gyasi ZARDES (LA Galaxy)

24.) Andrew FARRELL (New England Revolution)

25.) Brad GUZAN (Aston Villa)

 

26.) Jonathan SPECTOR (Birmingham City)

27.) Alonso HERNANDEZ (Monterrey)

28.) Paul ARRIOLA (Tijuana)

29.) Joe GYAU (Hoffenheim II)

30.) Eric LICHAJ (Nottingham Forest)

 

31.) Mario RODRIGUEZ (Borussia Mönchengladbach U-23)

32.) Tony TAYLOR (Omonia)

33.) Brek SHEA (Stoke City)

34.) Michael OROZCO (Puebla)

35.) Sebastian LLETGET (West Ham United)

 

36.) Daniel CUEVAS (Santos Laguna)

37.) Luis GIL (Real Salt Lake)

38.) Gale AGBOSSOUMONDE (Toronto FC)

39.) Dax MCCARTY (New York Red Bulls)

40.) Alejandro BEDOYA (Nantes)

 

41.) Michael PARKHURST (Augsburg)

42.) Lamar NEAGLE (Seattle Sounders)

43.) Maurice EDU (Stoke City)

44.) Perry KITCHEN (DC United)

45.) Graham ZUSI (Sporting Kansas City)

 

46.) Kelyn ROWE (New England Revolution)

47.) George JOHN (FC Dallas)

48.) Amobi OKUGO (Philadelphia Union)

49.) Omar GONZALEZ (LA Galaxy)

50.) Kellyn ACOSTA (FC Dallas)

 

EDIT: Due to a small oversight, Kofi Sarkodie was unintentionally omitted from World Soccer Source’s rankings of the Best American Soccer Players.

 

USMNT: 23 For Brazil (October 2013)

by

 

Chris Klute (arms raised). (Photo: USA Today SPORTS)
Chris Klute (arms raised). (Photo: USA Today SPORTS)

 

Below is a proposal for a 23-man United States Men’s National Team World Cup roster that can be competitive in time for the 2014 World Cup. This is the October 2013 edition of World Soccer Source’s “USMNT: 23 For Brazil.”

Several players like Geoff Cameron, Shane O’Neill, and Andrew Farrell can play multiple positions, and when their names are repeated, they are inside parentheses. Geoff Cameron, Shane O’Neill, and Andrew Farrell can play as center backs, midfield destroyers, and as right or left backs.

In addition to playing his normal position of left back, Chris Klute can also play as a right back or center back.

Benji Joya is on the roster because he is a complete midfielder who brings great technical ability and attacking play along with more defensive grit than the other attacking midfielders.

Freddy Adu is a necessity for the World Cup roster due to his special skill-set and his ability to play in the place of Clint Dempsey or Landon Donovan should they be suspended or injured.

The United States Men’s National Team is going to have to use a young roster along with some of the more established or older players like Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Landon Donovan, Geoff Cameron, and Tim Howard, if the United States is serious about really competing with better national teams in the 2014 World Cup. Merely using players who held their own in qualifying won’t be enough in the World Cup, so the United States will have to roll the dice and call up many of the younger players with the tools to compete against better players from better national teams.

USMNT: 23 For Brazil (October 2013)

GOALKEEPERS: Tim HOWARD, Brad GUZAN, Nick RIMANDO.

CENTER BACKS: Geoff CAMERON, John Anthony BROOKS, Shane O’NEILL, Andrew FARRELL.

OUTSIDE BACKS: Chris KLUTE, DeAndre YEDLIN, Kellyn ACOSTA, *(Andrew FARRELL),  *(Geoff CAMERON), *(Shane O’NEILL).

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS: Michael BRADLEY, Jermaine JONES, Benji JOYA (Box-to-Box Midfielder), *(Geoff CAMERON), *(Shane O’NEILL), *(Andrew FARRELL).

ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS: Clint DEMPSEY, Landon DONOVAN, Benny FEILHABER, Joe Benny CORONA, Mix DISKERUD.

FORWARDS: Jozy ALTIDORE, Juan AGUDELO, Aron JÓHANNSSON, Terrence BOYD, Freddy ADU.

* Already Listed

ALTERNATES: Fabian JOHNSON, Eddie JOHNSON, Jonathan SPECTOR, Mario RODRIGUEZ, Alonso HERNANDEZ, José VILLARREAL, Michael OROZCO, Joe GYAU, Brek SHEA, Will TRAPP, Luis GIL, Dax MCCARTY, Jeremy HALL, Maurice, EDU, Eric LICHAJ, Clint IRWIN, Dan KENNEDY, Sean JOHNSON, Gyasi ZARDES.

 

USMNT World Cup Starting XI:

HOWARD; YEDLIN/FARRELL, O’NEILL, BROOKS, KLUTE; CAMERON, BRADLEY; DONOVAN, FEILHABER, DEMPSEY; ALTIDORE.

 

Notes on the Starting XI:

-7 of the 11 starters are proven international performers (Howard, Cameron, Bradley, Donovan, Feilhaber, Dempsey, Altidore), and John Anthony Brooks (who was recently named to the Bundesliga Team of the Week) is a starting Bundesliga center back for Hertha Berlin.

– The Starting XI is based on a Front Six made up of two defensive midfielders, three attacking midfielders (including a playmaker), and a first striker, and the Back Four includes modern two-way outside backs with athletic and technically-skilled center backs that represent an improvement in the skill-level of the usual USMNT Starting XI.

-It’s still unknown whether DeAndre Yedlin or Andrew Farrell is the better right back. Each player has different strengths and weaknesses, and it’s unclear, at this time, which player is the better right back. Farrell’s speed and technical ability might better serve the USMNT at center back since Yedlin is an excellent outside back that can’t play as a center back.

-Chris Klute is actually right-footed, despite playing left back, but the USMNT desperately needs him at left back. Farrell has been used as a right back this season, so he hasn’t been able to work on being a center back.

– The line-up above is a balanced XI with a more talented and a more athletic group of players than the United States used in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, and possibly the 2002 World Cup as well.

– The Starting XI above has defenders with good defensive instincts and skills combined with technical ability and athleticism, and the Front Six is a balance of various types of defensive midfielders and attacking midfielders plus a striker, which creates a Front Six that can recover possession, keep possession, and score goals.

 

American Soccer Must Embrace Change

by

 

Kevin-Prince Boateng celebrates after scoring on the United States in the 2010 World Cup. (Photo: AP Photo)
Kevin-Prince Boateng celebrates after scoring on the United States in the 2010 World Cup. (Photo: AP Photo)

 

Some American soccer fans need to embrace the concept of change for the sake of improvement because this collective mentality puts pressure on The United States Soccer Federation, The United States Men’s National Team, Jürgen Klinsmann, and Major League Soccer to have higher standards.

There’s no denying the growth of soccer in the United States or the increase in talented American players, but The United States Soccer Federation is going overboard with its level of celebration and almost propaganda during World Cup qualifying.

One thing in particular that was disconcerting was the shirt that Jürgen Klinsmann was wearing that had “Qualified” written across the front of it after the U.S. qualified for the World Cup.

While the players, fans, and coaches celebration after the United States had qualified for the World Cup was understandable and definitely appropriate, that t-shirt was Jürgen Klinsmann essentially going overboard with his bragging about the United States qualifying for the World Cup in the weakest soccer region in the world.

Celebration and congratulations were in order, but Klinsmann’s publicity stunts like the “Qualified” t-shirt, the fist pumps after beating weak teams, and walking down to the field before the 2013 Gold Cup Final was over look slightly ridiculous when he has so much work to do in order to strengthen the United States Men’s National Team at several positions to close the gap with better national teams.

The coach of the United States has continued to refuse to address or correct the issues with the weaknesses at the outside back positions and the failure to incorporate a playmaker to balance out his two-man defensive midfield.

He has also not evaluated enough center backs to really know who the best American center backs are. There are some real concerns with the ability of Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler, and Clarence Goodson to handle better attackers.

When the United States beat Bosnia and Herzegovina, John Anthony Brooks and Geoff Cameron were starting at center back, so there’s no way to know how Gonzalez and Besler would have done.

The counter-argument to this is of course that the U.S. beat Germany’s B Team when Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez were starting, but anyone watching that game could see that Germany was clearly not trying very hard until the U.S. went up 4-1, at which time Germany quickly scored two goals in a matter of minutes without any difficulty.

The problems with the United States Men’s National Team are not with the player pool, but U.S. Soccer and American soccer fans need to acknowledge that the sort of line-ups that Klinsmann uses and the lack of balance and/or talent in his rosters in certain areas will be a major problem in the 2014 World Cup.

It is a time to celebrate the growth of American soccer and the influx of young and talented players, but the rosters and line-ups that Klinsmann has been using will not get the job done in Brazil against top national teams.

Klinsmann himself has said that the 23-man roster that he uses in the World Cup will look different than the 23-man roster than he is currently using, but he has also shown a tendency to not really mean what he says.

Now is the time for Klinsmann to incorporate the new players that are needed to bolster the roster, and even if he doesn’t start them in the final two World Cup qualifiers, then he still needs to have them among the 12 non-starters on the roster.

The recent snubbing of Chris Klute and Shane O’Neill from MLS’ 24 Under 24 rankings, the ranking of Juan Agudelo way down at the sixth position on the list, or the ranking of José Villarreal at 11th show that even many of the employees of MLS are not adept at judging talent, and this recent list demonstrates a larger problem with the inability of some Americans to recognize talent and to recognize the need to support players with a level of skill that is closer to the skill-level of other national teams, in order to beat the better national teams.

On the bright side, the United States is really close to closing the gap with better national teams with the exception of teams like Brazil, Germany, Spain, Italy, etc, but changes will have to be made to get closer to those teams.

With roughly one year until the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, there is plenty of time to season better players and strengthen weaknesses.

 

Depth Chart: USMNT Second Strikers

by

 

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

 

World Soccer Source considers Juan Agudelo and Aron Jóhannsson to be first strikers also known as number 9s, and for this reason, neither one is listed on the depth chart below.

Depth Chart: USMNT Second Strikers

1.) Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders)

Clint Dempsey plays a similar position to Robinho, Thomas Müller, Jérémy Ménez, or Neymar in that they are attacking midfielders or forwards without being out-and-out strikers like Mario Balotelli or Jozy Altidore. As long as Clint Dempsey isn’t deployed as a lone striker like Spain has done with Cesc Fàbregas, Dempsey’s positional name isn’t as important as him being included in the USMNT Starting XI as an attacking midfielder or a second striker. Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey have developed a nice partnership up top, and seeing both players starting together highlights the difference between a first striker and a second striker. Of all the American players, Dempsey is the player who can best play off a first striker in a supporting role, which not only helps the first striker be less closely marked but also draws defenders away from Clint Dempsey. Given the fact that the Texan is the best American player and given his penchant for scoring goals and disrupting defenses, Clint Dempsey is the best second striker in the American player pool.

 

2.) Freddy Adu (E.C. Bahia)

Freddy Adu is ranked above Landon Donovan as a second striker because Donovan is best used out wide where he can use his speed to run at defenders and cut inside from out wide, but Adu is more adept at playing final balls and setting up goals than Donovan. Obviously, Donovan has a much higher amount of assists for the United States, but he’s played in a lot more games. Donovan excels at using speed to beat defenders and attacking from wide positions, but Adu has a more refined ability to play passes of a higher degree of difficulty that unlock defenses. As far as 1v1 abilities, Adu possesses probably the best ability of any American to beat quality defenders off the dribble, and Adu knows how to put the ball in the back of the net. Adu’s aggressive playing style and skills combined with his ability to take risks forces defenders to leave a first striker like Altidore unmarked as they turn their attention to the penetrating dribbling and quick passing of Adu. Donovan has better stats and accolades to his name, but using Adu as a second striker doesn’t exclude starting Landon Donovan at the same time.

 

3.) Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)

Landon Donovan is more suited to start out wide as a winger or just as an attacking midfielder starting out wide than he is as a second striker because starting out wide allows Donovan to receive the ball and beat defenders with pace down the sideline, quickly combine with his teammates from a deeper position, and use his speed to cut inside towards the penalty box, which causes Dempsey and Altidore to be open when the defenders run over to mark Donovan. Along with Dempsey, Donovan is the best American soccer player, but using Donovan as a second striker doesn’t maximize his speed in the same way that starting him in the midfield does because up top Donovan would be waiting to receive service rather than sprinting at defenders from a deeper and wider position.

 

4.) José Villarreal (LA Galaxy)

José Villarreal is ideally suited to play as a second striker because it allows him to use his technical ability and trickery to support a first striker and draw defenders away from a first striker. Villarreal will continue to improve, but the 20-year-old is a member of a group of young American players who are demonstrating that the United States is producing more technically-skilled players than it used to. Villarreal’s general play for the Los Angeles Galaxy and his goal against Real Madrid make him too talented to not be part of the discussion for inclusion on the United States Men’s National Team. When Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan stop playing in four or five years or more, the USMNT will be in good hands, as long as Villarreal is playing.

 

 

The World’s Best XI (2013)

by

 

Paul Pogba. (Photo: AP/LaPresse)
Paul Pogba. (Photo: AP/LaPresse)

 

World Soccer Source’s World’s Best XI

Disclaimer:

This list includes some criminal snubs of players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

There is no excuse for snubbing them, but the reason that there were snubbed is because World Soccer Source believes this XI to be a more complete and well-balanced team without them.

This is extremely controversial, but World Soccer Source didn’t snub them for the sake of controversy; the intention was to have a balanced midfield and attack that included box-to-box midfielders like Arturo Vidal, Paul Pogba, and Kevin-Prince Boateng who are exactly the type of players needed to win back possession in the midfield and heavily contribute to the attack.

With the exception of Julio Cesar and Hulk, one could almost just select the Starting XI for the Seleção in the 2013 Confederations Cup Final and essentially have the World’s Best XI.

Here is World Soccer Source’s World’s Best XI (Formation: 4-1-2-1-2):

 

GOALKEEPER: Gigi BUFFON (Juventus/Italy)

Gigi Buffon, along with Iker Casillas, has long been recognized as the best goalkeeper in the world, and he shows no sign of slowing down.

Snub: Iker CASILLAS (Real Madrid/Spain)

 

RIGHT BACK: MAICON (Roma/Brazil)

With Maicon’s return to the Seleção and his excellent form at AS Roma after serving a prison sentence with Manchester City, Maicon the Marauder, reclaims his spot as the most terrifying right back in the world. The Brazilian combines fantastic and intimidating defense with inspired runs down the sideline. Of all the right backs in the world, Maicon is the one that defenders really do not want to see coming at them. Stong, skilled, and fast, Maicon also brings with him a tendency to smash outside of the foot shots from distance that are usually dipping, swerving, and on target.

Snub: Daniel ALVES (Barcelona/Brazil)

 

CENTER BACK: Thiago SILVA (Paris Saint-Germain/Brazil)

Thiago Silva is internationally-recognized as the best center back in the world. A totally flawless defender with blazing speed, graceful defending, and technical ability. Easily the best center back in the world.

Snub: Raphaël VARANE (Real Madrid/France)

 

CENTER BACK: David LUIZ (Chelsea/Brazil)

There was a time when people criticized David Luiz for being a walking yellow card, but the Brazilian defender has become a more elegant tackler while still being the most technically-skilled center back in the world along with Thiago Silva. After David Luiz played his first game with Chelsea, no one made any comments about David Luiz being a soft Brazilian defender who would have trouble adapting to England again. David Luiz’s goal-line sliding save against Spain in the 2013 Confederations Cup Final was impossible.

Snub: DANTE (Bayern Munich/Brazil)

 

LEFT BACK: MARCELO (Real Madrid/Brazil)

The best left back in the world without question. Marcelo used to be somewhat lacking in his defensive abilities, and he used to be one-footed. Not any more. Marcelo is very hard to beat with pace, and he has developed a knack for dispossessing opponents only to take the ball and dribble and pass his way out of the back without losing possession. No left back in the world rivals Marcelo in the attacking category.

Snub: Mattia DE SCIGLIO (Milan/Italy)

 

CENTRAL MIDFIELDER: Paul POGBA (Juventus/ France)

The French phenomenon is so complete that no one knows what midfield position he is really playing. He isn’t a trequartista or a true number 10, but Pogba is a complete midfielder and a freak of nature. While not as athletic as Mario Balotelli, Pogba is an incredibly athletic and technically-skilled midfielder with no flaws. Standing at 6’4” with zero body fat, Pogba combines power with elegant passing and ball control. Pogba is so good that World Soccer Source selected him over Andrea Pirlo, who himself is one of the greatest midfielders to ever play the game.

Snub: Andrea PIRLO (Juventus/Italy)

 

RIGHT MIDFIELDER: Arturo VIDAL (Juventus/Chile)

The Chilean is a ruthless midfielder who defends without mercy and without being reckless. Vidal is as talented on the ball and in the attack as he is as at defending, and his style of play has earned him the nickname, “The Warrior.” Vidal is an essential component to making a Starting XI to beat any opponent because, like Paul Pogba, he is a totally complete midfielder who would start for any team in the world, including the Brazilian national team.

Snub: RAMIRES (Chelsea/Brazil)

 

LEFT MIDFIELDER: Kevin-Prince BOATENG (Schalke/Germany & Ghana)

Underrated and underappreciated, Milan fans are now seeing just how good Kevin-Prince Boateng is, and Milan fans are missing him. Boateng has proven that he can make a huge impact in any game against any opponent, and his playing style is one of the most unique in the world, as he combines trickery with physicality powered by a crazed mentality to win. Boateng is another complete midfielder who can score with either foot, take defenders off the dribble, and emphatically dispossess opponents with fantastic slide tackles. Boateng plays very much like a Brazilian, and Boateng’s unique combination of skills makes him a player who is ready and able to face any opponent at any time. Boateng has a fantastic collection of golazos to his name, and until he played for Milan, only Jürgen Klopp and those who had played with him knew just how good he was.

Snub: PAULINHO (Tottenham/Brazil)

 

PLAYMAKER: RONALDINHO (Atlético Mineiro/Brazil)

Ronaldinho is still way too good to keep off a World’s Best XI, and probably no footballer ever has been as technically-gifted as Ronaldinho. When Ronaldinho is inspired to play, no one in the world is better than he is. Ronaldinho’s vision and technical-ability is unmatched by anyone, and even now he continues to provide strong performances and a steady stream of goals, assists, and highlights. Until Ronaldinho is no longer physically-fit to compete at the same level, Ronaldinho remains the greatest playmaker and the most-talented player in the world. Ronaldinho’s ability to never suffer a serious injury is often over-looked by critics who call him fat and past his prime. The ability to avoid injuries is a testament to his fitness and longevity as a player. Avoiding injuries while being hacked and fouled so much is truly an art form.

Snub: OSCAR (Chelsea/Brazil)

 

FIRST STRIKER: Mario BALOTELLI (Milan/Italy)

Mario Balotelli is the best first striker since Ronaldo and Thierry Henry. There’s never been a footballer with Balotelli’s athleticism, and his physique has never been seen before in world soccer. The scariest aspect about Balotelli is that not only are his technical ability, physique, and athleticism basically better than everyone else’s, but he is a merciless competitor with ice in his veins. Balotelli brings everything to the first striker position: a sniper’s accuracy, a perfect first touch, unmatched speed and strength, and a full arsenal of tricks and striking techniques. The Italian prodigy is famous for his penalty kicks due to the fact that he’s never missed one in a competitive match and due to the fact that he looks into the goalkeeper’s eyes throughout the entire process of approaching the ball to strike it. Balotelli is the King of the Paradinha, and no defender in the world can really contain either his skill, his athleticism, his size, or his strength. The Milan striker and Italian number 9 shouldn’t be dismissed as just an incredible athlete with great technical skill because his technical skill matches any footballer on the planet. After UEFA Euro 2012 and after the 2013 Confederations Cup, most of Balotelli’s harshest critics faded to black.

Snub: Zlatan IBRAHIMOVIC (Paris Saint-Germain/Sweden)

 

SECOND STRIKER: NEYMAR (Barcelona/Brazil)

Neymar is not only the best Brazilian footballer since Ronaldinho Gaúcho but the best footballer of any nationality since Ronaldinho as well. Neymar’s 1v1 dribbling abilities and tricks surpass those of Pelé, Diego Maradona, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi. In his first games with Barcelona, Neymar has been more dangerous and effective throughout matches than Messi, but Messi continues to have the ability to finish free kicks or score anything when there is a glimpse of the goal. With Barcelona, the Brazilian has been displaying his passing and his ability to improve his teammates, but he has also displayed the ability to penetrate European defenses and create scoring opportunities for himself better than Messi. Neymar’s performance against Spain in the Confederations Cup Final and his seamless transition to La Liga and European football show that Neymar is poised to have a breakout season in just his first season with Barcelona. As an attacker, Neymar’s ability to leave any opponent for dead is unmatched, and his finishing with both feet is off the charts. The Brazilian is without a doubt the greatest player of his generation, and he will only continue to improve and collect trophies and individual awards.

Snub: Thomas MÜLLER (Bayern Munich/Germany)

 

OTHER SNUBS: Lionel MESSI, Cristiano RONALDO, Andrés INIESTA, XAVI, Philipp LAHM, Luiz GUSTAVO, Franck RIBÉRY, FALCAO, Robert LEWANDOWSKI, Mario MANDZUKIC, Jordi ALBA, Leonardo BONUCCI, Giorgio CHIELLINI, Daniele DE ROSSI, Tony KROOS, Mario GÖTZE, Blaise MATUIDI, David ALABA.