ASN: 5 Causes U.S. Soccer Followers Ought to Give Thanks

There will likely be loads of time for cynicism and criticism tomorrow, and subsequent week, and the week after that. Immediately we give attention to the positives, and American soccer followers have loads to cheer about.

BY

John Godfrey

Posted
November 28, 2013
11:45 AM

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5. The Depth Chart
Check out the present ASN 100. See that high row? These seven gamers are all studs. Go to the row under that now. Extra of the identical. In actual fact, should you simply grabbed the highest 23 gamers on the rating as your 2014 World Cup roster, the squad would seem like this:

GOALKEEPERS
Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Nick Rimando

DEFENDERS
Matt Besler, Geoff Cameron, Omar Gonzalez, DaMarcus Beasley, Clarence Goodson, John Brooks

MIDFIELDERS
Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan, Fabian Johnson, Graham Zusi, Jermaine Jones, Sacha Kljestan, Combine Diskerud, Kyle Beckerman

FORWARDS
Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Aron Johannsson, Eddie Johnson, Herculez Gomez, Terrence Boyd

That is a powerful bunch, with competitors at each place—together with goalkeeper. And with people like Alejandro Bedoya (No. 25), Steve Cherundolo (No. 31), Danny Williams (No. 37), and Eric Lichaj (No. 42) all pushing to make the roster, that is fairly probably the deepest squad in U.S. soccer historical past.

Is it the all time American participant pool? Time will inform. Brazil would be the gauge. However U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann has extra official choices at his disposal than any of his predecessors.

4. A Document-Setting 12 months
In 2013 america males’s nationwide workforce set all-time bests in wins (16), profitable proportion (.761), aim differential (+28), and common targets per sport (2.2). A glass-half-empty man would possibly have a look at these numbers and notice that the People fattened up with a couple of straightforward opponents (Guatemala, Belize, Cuba, El Salvador) in and across the Gold Cup. True sufficient, however the Yanks additionally performed Germany (ranked No. 2 by FIFA), Belgium (No. 11), Bosnia-Herzegovina (No. 21), Mexico twice (No. 20), and Costa Rica (No. 31) thrice.

The People’ document in opposition to these top-tier opponents? 5 wins, two losses, and one tie. Not unhealthy.

The calendar yr might have ended on a little bit of a down notice with the scoreless draw in opposition to Scotland and the 1-0 loss to Austria, however the Yanks will shut out 2013 because the No. 14 workforce on the planet—forward of Croatia, France, Mexico, Russia, and sure, Ghana.

3. This Group Ought to Get Higher in 2014
Imagine it or not, Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, and Landon Donovan have by no means performed collectively since Klinsmann took over the U.S. nationwide workforce in July 2011.

That is simply bananas.

And there isn’t any purpose to consider that this sad pattern will proceed within the coming months. Altidore is out the doghouse, Donovan likes soccer once more and has renewed his vows with the nationwide workforce, and the extraordinarily devoted Bradley and Dempsey could have ample alternative to recuperate from nagging accidents and get again into high type.

Put this quartet on the pitch collectively, give them a couple of weeks to coach forward of the World Cup, and america turns into a way more harmful workforce. Subtract Eddie Johnson from the Beginning XI, add in a sniper like Aron Johannsson, and unexpectedly the U.S. seems to be like a workforce that may give opposing defenses rather a lot to fret about.

2. Aron Johannsson is a Yank
Take a look at his statistics with the U.S. nationwide workforce and chances are you’ll be inclined to shrug. Six appearances, two begins, 213 minutes performed, one aim.
Regardless of these underwhelming numbers, Aron Johannsson already seems to be like probably the most harmful participant within the American participant pool. He’s quick, good, technically sound, and, because the movies under point out, scientific in entrance of aim.

Aron Johannsson (AGF) – Targets in 2012 from Whole Soccer on Vimeo.

Johannsson’s choice to symbolize america internationally appeared like an enormous deal when it was introduced, and it seems to be like a good larger deal now. Will the Iceman see significant minutes in Brazil? He completely deserves to. However whether or not it occurs all comes down to 1 man….

1. Jurgen Klinsmann
He left Sunil Gulati on the altar at the least as soon as, and stored us ready longer than crucial earlier than taking the reins.
He acquired off to a gradual begin with the nationwide workforce, ending 2011 with two wins, 4 losses, and a tie.
He retains scheduling video games in opposition to Canada for some purpose. The video games finish 0-0, and are at all times boring.
He isn’t a tactical wizard, in accordance with Philip Lahm.
He appears to favor Seattle Sounders, and when he calls them into the U.S. nationwide workforce he tends to play them out of place.
He was publicly (and anonymously) humiliated by his personal gamers, a few of whom labeled him a poor supervisor and chief.
And regardless of all of that, america males’s soccer workforce completed first within the Hexagonal and went undefeated in profitable the 2013 Gold Cup. There isn’t any doubt about it—the workforce is on the upswing as we strategy a World Cup yr. The relentlessly optimistic Jurgen Klinsmann has endured loads throughout his 28 months on the job, and he has improved steadily alongside the way in which.

Klinsmann’s dealing with of the Jozy Altidore work-ethic/perspective disaster was perfection. The coach gained. Altidore modified his methods. And it is no coincidence Altidore went on to attain 31 targets throughout all competitions that season.

Klinsmann handled Landon Donovan’s 2013 Cambodian Tour/Profession Ennui Episode equally nicely, giving Donovan the area he wanted and a transparent path again into the workforce.

I do not at all times agree with Klinsmann’s personnel selections, and too typically his workforce’s begin off gradual and need to scramble to get again into video games. However Klinsmann has slowly, certainly, confidently reinvented america nationwide workforce. It is his squad now, and the longer term is vivid.

So inform us, American soccer followers, what are you grateful for? The feedback part is open for enterprise.

John Godfrey is the founder and editor in chief of American Soccer Now.