The last two qualifiers in the Hex are coming up as the USMNT face Jamaica and Panama. Due to injuries, Klinsmann has a lot of lineup decisions to make. Here's what I would do with the roster:
Jurgen Klinsmann has stated on many occasions that even
though the US has already qualified for Brazil, he still wants to win these
games and selected the roster and will select the starters as if it is a must
win situation. I love that attitude as a fan, and it’s what has made him so
successful in his tenure as coach of the national team. You want to win every
game, and that should always be the number one goal. However, there are other
things that must be looked at once qualification is already locked up and the
games don’t carry significance. To me, these games should be looked at as
friendlies to help in the preparation for next summer.
Initially I wanted to see these two games used to help the
expected starters gel before Brazil and to answer some key questions that we
all have. I wanted to experiment with formations to find the best fit with
Landon, Jozy, and Clint all in the lineup together. And I wanted to continue to
search for the best set up in central midfield—who is the best partner for Michael
Bradley, and should we even be going with the 2-3 midfield? Unfortunately,
injuries (especially the ones to Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey) make it
impossible to accomplish these things.
I also wanted these games to be used to cap tie some of the
younger dual nationals and get a look at others who have a chance to make the
Brazil roster. John Anthony Brooks perfectly fits both of these categories, but
sadly he is another one of the injured players. Also missing with injuries will
be Fabian Johnson (who will definitely start but there is a big debate about if
that will be at LB or LW), potential center back starter Omar Gonzalez, and key
bench player Eddie Johnson.
Right now, the lineup and formation is very up in the air
for the coming games. There are tons of options that the US could use, both
formation wise and personnel wise, but to me the best option is to stick with
the 4-2-3-1 that has been Klinsmann’s bread and butter for most of his tenure.
At the back, it is an almost certainty that we will see Tim
Howard in goal with Brad Evans at RB, Demarcus Beasley at LB, and a central
pair of Cameron and Besler. All five of those players seem to be well ahead of
any of the other players at their position on this roster. Cameron is the one
to watch out of this group, as he continues to try to prove that he deserves a
starting spot on the US national team.
In the midfield, I would like to see a central pairing of
Jones and Beckerman. It will be hard to leave Kljestan out of one of these
spots, but Beckerman did so well against Mexico and gives the rest of the
midfield much more freedom. Jones should thrive in his role playing alongside a
true holding midfielder, as he can play the way he always does but won’t be
taking away touches and runs from Bradley. These are very important games for
Jones who has recently had a rough run of games in a US jersey and was put on
the bench for his club team.
The three advanced midfielders are much harder to figure out.
To me, Bedoya has earned the right to get a good long look as the starting RW,
but with Friday night’s game being played in Kansas City, I think we will see
Zusi get at least 60 minutes. The two of them are battling for that starting RW
spot, so it will be interesting to see who Klinsmann favors and who takes
advantage of their opportunity. I would be very happy to see each get a start.
In the “Dempsey role” I would like to see Mix Diskerud get a chance. He proved
this summer and in September that he has plenty of ability to contribute on the
international level. He is a creative offensive player who will be a perfect
supersub come Brazil. His best spot is as the forward central midfielder in a 4-4-2
diamond formation, and the “Dempsey role” is the closest position to that in
this system. I think the plan was to have Landon play this role with Eddie at
LW, but the injury to EJ combined with the lack of wide players on this roster
will push Landon to what is probably his fourth most comfortable position.
Looking at the roster, Donovan, Castillo, and Bedoya are the only people
capable of playing an effective LW, so I think Jurgen’s hand will be forced to
put Landon out there.
Up top is Jozy. This one is simple. He has learned to thrive
in this system alone up top, and has done a great job with his hold up play for
Sunderland so far this season. His game fits the 4-2-3-1 (as long as the 3 are
getting forward in support) and he is in form right now, so there is no reason
to think he won’t be starting there. Aron Johannsson should also get plenty of
minutes as a supersub in the two games, a spot which I think fits his game
perfectly at the moment.
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