Tomorrow the US will take on Nigeria in what will be their final tune up game available to watch. They will play Belgium once in Brazil, but that is a closed-door scrimmage. Nigeria is a team that will do a very good job preparing us for Ghana, as they have very similar (shaky) defenses as well as team speed and player mentality. The one major difference is that Nigeria runs a 4-3-3 with a heavy reliance on their front line wingers while Ghana is a more central based attack.
It will be a very good test for the United States and could lead to a big confidence boost headed into the Ghana game for an already confident bunch.
Here is the lineup that I would like to see put out there, with an explanation (to both the player selection and formation) below as always. http://americansoccernow.com/matches/104/starting_xis/10348?is_new=true
Defensively, this unit needs time to gel and gain communication, so I am trotting out the same back 4. Fabian was my MOTM against Turkey, and began to get a good understanding with Zusi on the right flank, so it will be nice to continue to develop that. Cameron wasn’t anything special against Turkey but he was solid and is key in locking down the right side and has done very well playing passes out of the back. I really like Matt Besler as a player—especially his speed against fast teams, so he gets the start next to Cameron. However, if he has a lackluster 1st half (to follow his 2 sub par games against Turkey and Azerbaijan), I would like Brooks on for the 2nd half to see if he can continue the high level he showed last week and maybe earn a surprise start against Ghana. Chandler and Beasley are still very much in competition for the LB spot, and although Chandler wasn’t great against Turkey he gets another shot due to having the higher ceiling (but I could very easily see Beasley start or the two players split halves). Also, with Dempsey on the left, I would prefer to have the player who is more experienced both at defense (Beasley is a recent convert from midfield) and against high level players.
In terms of the front 6, I’ve altered the formation to be somewhat of a combo between the 4-4-2 diamond and the 4-2-3-1. This formation does a couple of things for us.
1- Centrally: It gives us a true holding midfielder without sacrificing chance creation in the midfield. It will allow us to dominate the possession and center of the field.
2- Bradley: It puts Bradley into a perfect role. I almost look at it as either a 3 level central midfield with Bradley in the heart, or a diamond with Bradley in the middle of it.
What this allows is for is Bradley to be essentially free to roam wherever he wants (however, he will have some defensive responsibilities on the left to support Dempsey). In the 4-2-3-1 he is relied on too heavily as a defender while in the 4-4-2 diamond he is pushed too high to be comfortable, as he is at his best when making runs out of the midfield. This formation gives us the best aspects of his role in both formations and fuses them into one while taking out the downsides.
3- Talent: It puts 5 of our 6 most talented offensive players on the field at the same time, with only Johannsson—who I still see as the United States’ first ever supersub—on the bench. Other forward/midfield bench players will be Jermaine Jones, Alejandro Bedoya, Brad Davis, Julian Green, and Chris Wondolowski. None of those 5 give more to this team offensively than Mix Diskerud.
4- Beckerman: Jermaine Jones is a better and more talented player than Kyle Beckerman. However, for the role that the two players are being asked to play for the US, Beckerman is clearly the better option in my mind. The defensive shape is much stronger due to Beckerman’s positioning and reading of the game. He doesn’t go for balls that he cannot win, which means he doesn’t get himself caught out of position forcing a center back to step up and a fullback to fill in for the center back, opening up tons of space out wide for the other team. He also has a calmness about himself with the ball at his feet that you just don’t see from Jones. Jones is a much more talented player going forward, no doubt about it. However, from the holding midfielder we need somebody who will be where they are supposed to be and doesn’t turn the ball over, 2 things that plague Jones. Beckerman not only helps out the defense, but he allows Bradley the freedom to roam wherever he wants whenever he wants.
There are also a few concerns about this formation, which I understand and will attempt to address.
1- Dempsey: This is probably the biggest problem most people will have with this lineup. It moves Clint further away from goal and gives him defensive responsibilities that he hasn’t had up to this point. I get that. Although he has been playing for the past year at either forward or in a CAM role, the best spell of his career came at Fulham when he was playing on the left side of midfield. There might be some concerns about him defensively, but that’s why I have Bradley shaded over towards the left in the above graphic (and Dempsey higher than Zusi). I think that Diskerud and Bradley are both smart and responsible enough players to cover for his shortcomings. Additionally, it isn’t like the US will be replacing a defensive stud on the left. Against Turkey, Brad Davis was shockingly bad tracking back and the defending on the left flank was plain and simple awful.
2- Altidore: This formation puts Jozy back up top by himself. He played as the lone striker all year at Sunderland and I don’t think anybody needs to be told how that worked out. However, this formation doesn’t leave him on an island. Dempsey will play higher and more central than the typical left winger, Diskerud will take over the role that Bradley has held over the past 3 games, and Bradley will be higher than he typically is in the 4-2-3-1. Against Turkey, Jozy played a near-perfect game (only thing missing was a goal) for a hold up forward. He won balls, held possession, created chances (including a beautiful ball to Mix inside 12 yards), made good runs, and opened up lanes for others. If he plays that same way this formation will work beautifully.
This formation allows the two best players (Fabian Johnson and Michael Bradley) on the USMNT to play in the roles that they are best suited for, which is HUGE for a team that isn’t loaded with talent. Johnson will get to play the exact role that he was so effective in against Turkey, and Bradley will be freer to go box-to-box than he ever has been in a US uniform. Jurgen has always said that he wants the US to play an attacking, possession-based game and this is the best way to do it.
Regardless of tomorrow’s result, it will be good for the United States to get used to a team that plays with speed. Just remember folks, the only games that matter are the ones that start on June 16th, everything up until then is just preparation. Having said that, I am predicting a 2-1 victory and Jurgen to not use my lineup. Enjoy the weekend and the last USMNT game before the World Cup.
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