Soccer Time Again!

It’s been a while since I’ve been moved enough to write about the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT).  Ever since beating Holland and Germany back-to-back on the road in June of 2015 it’s been all downhill for USMNT Manger Jürgen Klinsmann.  First there was the Gold Cup debacle which led to a 4^th place finish at home.  Next was a loss to Mexico in the CONCACAF Cup which meant no Confederations Cup for us.  That was followed by two lackluster performances in World Cup Qualifying (a draw in Trinidad & Tobago and a loss in Guatemala).

With that out of the way Wednesday’s match against Ecuador was a MAJOR step forward from the performance in Puerto Rico 3 days earlier.  Against PR we looked like the same disjointed mess we have been for a while, and against a seriously inferior opponent taboot.  That trend continued in the first half against La Tri too.  We couldn't possess the ball or make pretty much anything at all happen on offense.  Our defense was very solid though, especially John Brooks.  Brooks looks to be in MUCH better shape than the last time I saw him.  We were outplayed throughout the first half and were fortunate to be level at 0-0. 

The second half is where the tide started to turn though.  The key sub was Darlington Nagbe for Kyle Beckerman which moved Michael Bradley into the "#6" role he was born to play.  Why this took so long for Jürgen to do I have no earthly idea?  I also don't know if it was a one-time fluke or if he will do it again (he definitely should).  But dang, Bradley playing as a holding midfielder was a revelation as was his connection with Nagbe.  I watch Darlington play every week with the Portland Timbers so I know what he can do.  I was very glad Klinsmann played him in the middle instead of out wide.  His ability to possess the ball in tight spaces turned the entire match on its head.  It makes me wonder why guys who can possess the ball like Benny Feilhaber and Sacha Kljestan have been left out of the USMNT for so long.  Having possession and keeping it made such a difference for us. 

The other halftime sub was Bobby Wood who came in for Gyasi Zardes.  I heard that Wood and Alejandro Bedoya were both rested (also Geoff Cameron will be ready for the Columbia match) but I saw nothing in this game that changed my mind on Zardes.  The good news is that others (talking heads & writers) seem to be coming around to my way of thinking on him.  Gyasi works hard and is a physical specimen but he has no touch, can't finish around the goal nor possess the ball in traffic.  He's just not an international caliber player yet.  I'm sorry to say it, but we were SO much better with him on the pine.  The other two subs that mattered in this match were Christian Pulisic for Clint Dempsey and Bedoya for Jermaine Jones.  

Do you notice anything about those names?  Beckerman, Dempsey and Jones...all the old guard.  They were removed (along with Zardes who just can't play at this level) and suddenly we looked like a whole different side.  That's exactly what I was saying to some friends yesterday.  Why is Jürgen playing the same guys all the time and expecting different results?  I mean Ecuador is good, they are really dangerous, and we took it to them in the second half with our young bucks.  It goes back to something my boy Ben said after the Holland and Germany away “Miracles on Grass;” bench Clint & Jozy Altidore and play Wood & Jordan Morris instead.  At the time I thought it was too early, but that time is clearly right now.  The kids can play and the old guard is fading right before our eyes (literally).  The Copa América has to be used to "blood" our newer young guys.  On that same note, Morris not being on this 23-man roster is a freaking crying shame of an injustice.  Jordan is 21 years old and Chris “I missed the bunny that would have beaten Belgium in the round of 16” Wondolowski is 33.  Taking Wondo over Morris is akin to taking Brad Davis to Brazil over Landon Donovan, flat out inexcusable.

I really liked the 4-3-3 formation Jürgen used against Ecuador.  I know his hand was somewhat forced with Jozy out injured but I hope he sticks with that tactic going forward, albeit with different guys.  Here's my starting 11 for Columbia right now.

                      Pulisic/Wood/Bedoya

                      Nagbe/Bradley/Jones

Fabian Johnson/Brooks/Cameron/DeAndre Yedlin

                               Brad Guzan

The back 5 is essentially set in stone barring injuries, especially with how much Yedlin’s game has improved playing in the Premier League.  After last night I'm not sure how Bradley isn't deployed as a #6 again with Nagbe and Jones in front of him.  If Klinsmann doesn’t stick with the Bradley-Nagbe pairing there's going to be hell to pay in the media.  I wouldn't mind benching Jermaine and maybe sliding Bedoya back and playing Graham Zusi up top on the right wing.  Since Jürgen loves Jones so much he's likely playing no matter what, plus Bedoya is better on the wing anyway.  Not playing Dempsey is extreme but he is slowing down considerably to my eyes and Wood is just a more dangerous player right now.  Clint can be our super-sub along with Zusi and Zardes.  Pulisic doesn't play like a 17-year old at all, and if he doesn't start (which I think he should), he has to be a sub in every match.

USMNT Copa América Schedule

5/28 Bolivia at 5 PM (friendly)

6/3 Columbia at 6:30 PM

6/7 Costa Rica at 5 PM

6/11 Paraguay at 4 PM

(all matches on FS1 & all times Pacific)