US Men’s National Team – Positional Depth
Hello Everyone,
I came across this interesting op-ed on Big Soccer (bigsoccer.com) and I wanted to share it with everyone and get your thoughts on it. The article was witten by TrueCrew on May 10th, 2009. See the full original article HERE or read below:
1. Outside back.
Starters: RB = Cherundolo, LB = Beasley.
BB’s Backups: Hejduk (both sides), Spector (both sides + CB), Bornstein (LB)
Next Level: Pearce (LB), Wynne (RB), Simek (RB).
Other options: Bocanegra or Orozco at LB, Convey at LB, DeMerit at RB, Eddie Lewis out of mothballs.
Anyone on the Horizon: No one else that I can see.
Left back is the most glaring problem, but Dolo’s injury and Frankie’s age are concerns at RB as well. A healthy Dolo and a healthy Spector would do wonders, as would Beasley showing well at LB. Still, I feel relatively comfortable with Dolo, Hejduk, Beasley, Spector and Bornstein at the top of the outside back pool.
Still, with Hejduk and Dolo on the right, and Spector, I’m fairly comfortable here. The upside isn’t as high as some of the other positions, but there is adequate depth. Problem is, our players are either aging (Dolo, Hejduk), green (Bornstein, Spector, Wynne), or green at the position (Beasley). There doesn’t seem to be a middle ground.
2. Outside Midfielders.
Starters: RM = Dempsey, LM = Donovan.
BB’s Backups: LM = Beasley. RM = Kljestan.
Next Level: Rogers (either side), Rolfe (RM).
Other Options: Adu or Torres outside. Eddie Lewis out of mothballs.
Give them a look: White, Alvarez, C. Clark, W. Johnson, Holden, J. Johnson.
Boy, what a drop off after Deuce, LD, and Beasley. We have virtually no proven performers here at all. If LD is playing up top, or we get an injury, or need a spark late in a game, what do we have here? Not much.
3. Central Defenders.
Starters: Onyewu and Bocanegra.
BB’s Backups: Califf and DeMerit.
Next Level: Marshall, Spector, Orozco, Parkhurst.
Other Options: Edu or Mastroeni at CB. Gibbs or Conrad out of mothballs.
On the horizon: Whitbread, Goodson, Boswell.
Again, beyond the first two we don’t have a lot or proven players at the Nat level. BB seemed to have given Califf the #3 spot, but then sent him home after the El Salvador game. DeMerit hasn’t gotten to play much, and neither have the next level of guys: Marshall, Orozco, Spector, and Parkhurst. BB hasn’t shown much interest in Conrad.
Still, it was only one bad game for Califf, and I do have some confidence in DeMerit, Spector, Marshall, and Orozco. I think we should be able to squeeze one good deputy out of that group. And I do think Edu and Pablo can play back here at need.
4. Forward.
Starters: Ching and Altidore.
BB’s Backups: Donovan (withdrawn forward)
Next Level: Davies, Cooper, Adu, E. Johnson, Casey.
Other options: Donvan. Or playing 4-2-3-1, or deciding to play big/small instead of 2 strikers will impact who gets time here. Like CM, I think the opponent and tactics will dictate.
On the Horizon: Tracy, Findley.
We have three players who have proven themselves here: Donovan, Ching, and Altidore. Though Altidore hasn’t done it over a long period, I like what I’ve seen so far. I like Ching more than most, he is dependable and has a good understanding with LD.
Throw in that this is Adu’s best position (in the hole or as a CAM at the top of a diamond) and we are up to four pretty good options. Between the speedier Davies, bulkier Casey, and the hybrids of Cooper and Johnson, I think we can get a good fifth option.
5. Central Midfield
Starters: Bradley and ??
BB’s Backups: Mastroeni, Torres, Edu, Kljestan
Next Level: Clark, Feilhaber
Other options:change formation and play a more offensive player as a CAM (Donovan, Dempsey, Adu, Holden, etc).
On the Horizon: Holden, Szetela, Gaven.
Though we don’t have a set in stone starter, I’m not too concerned here. Bradley is one of our best players and has a bright future. Pablo is experienced and probably still the best pure DM in the pool, and Edu and Torres both are promising and playing well for high level clubs. Kljestan and Feilhaber have been inconsistent, but have shown flashes of brilliance (hat tricks, Gold Cup vs. Mexico). Throw in Clark’s experience and ability to cover ground, and guys on the horizon like Szetela and Holden and I feel comfortable with a lot of players.
6. Goalkeeper.
Starter = Tim Howard.
BB’s Backups: Guzan and Hahnemann.
Next Level: Perkins, Busch, Hesmer, Pickens.
Other options: Keller or Friedel out of mothballs.
Give a look: Cannon.
On the Horizon: Seitz, Robles, Yelldell.
Do we even need to discuss it? Howard is setting team records at Everton. Friedel and Keller could step in if we had an injury crisis. Hahnemann is an experienced Prem and WC keeper who could be playing in the EPL next year, and Guzan is Friedel’s successor at Villa. And with players like Seitz, Yelldell, and Robles progressing, and MLS producing a nice stream of quality options as well. I’m NOT worried about GK.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE USMNT?
HOW DO YOU LIKE THIS STARTING LINEUP FOR THE US?
WHO IS THE WRITER FORGETTING TO ADD TO THE POOL?
May 13th, 2009 at 7:45 am
I like the idea of giving Colin Clark a look on the left and allowing Torres to play in the middle. Obviously both players have some maturing to do, but I think we’re really thin in the midfield and need to start looking at some other players. I think that we have been piecing together a midfield for years and forcing players to play away from their natural positions.