Friendlies might not imply a lot within the grand scheme of issues, however Friday’s boring recreation didn’t do a lot to boost ASN tactical analyst Liviu Hen’s confidence within the U.S. nationwide group.
BY
Liviu Hen
Posted
November 16, 2013
10:24 AM
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WITH CLINT DEMPSEY and Fabian Johnson out by damage, the US as soon as once more did not put a cohesive beginning lineup on the sphere on Friday. Jurgen Klinsmann’s group appeared uninspired in assault within the scoreless draw, solely coming near scoring towards the top of the sport.
It nearly appeared like a return to the early Klinsmann days of enjoying three defensive midfielders. Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones held in entrance of the again line, whereas Sacha Kljestan roamed in entrance of them, solely reluctantly pushing ahead. Eddie Johnson tucked in alongside Jozy Altidore, and Alejandro Bedoya offered the one actual large outlet.
Scotland maintained a extra balanced formation, though Barry Bannan tucked in barely on the precise facet as properly, leaving room for DaMarcus Beasley to foray ahead as he often does. Ultimately, Scotland appeared a lot because it has over the previous couple of months: harmful at instances, however by no means taking the sport by the scruff.
No Width Results in Overcrowded Center
Klinsmann balanced personnel properly on all sides. Brad Evans didn’t get ahead a lot, which is why a pure large participant akin to Bedoya was his very best associate. On the left, Beasley all the time overlaps, so enjoying a extra central winger was acceptable.
Nonetheless, Friday’s recreation offered one other instance of why Eddie Johnson isn’t efficient in that function. He needs to push too far to the within, often within the goal striker’s house. His lack of tactical self-discipline confirmed, as he wandered across the discipline wherever he wished, with out making a lot of a stamp wherever.
Johnson solely accomplished one ahead go, and that was inside his personal half of the sphere. In the meantime, he crowded the midfield and made it tough for the U.S. to create sufficient spacing in central areas. Overloading the center works when it’s accomplished as a deliberate technique to unlock different components of the sphere, however with Bedoya as the one large risk, it made the U.S. straightforward to defend.
After some time, Johnson stayed within the center, and Kljestan pushed out to his authentic spot, however the Anderlecht man isn’t any extra a winger than Johnson. Jones pulled to the left flank at instances as properly, notably when Beasley wanted cowl defensively or assist shifting ahead.
Again Line Nonetheless a Massive Trouble
The most important concern for the U.S. continues to be the again line. Specifically, Evans had his arms full with Craig Conway—who?—on Friday. The English second-tier winger made Evans look silly on a couple of events.
Right here, Evans can not take all of the blame. Geoff Cameron makes an ill-advised sprint ahead from the again line to attempt to break up a play, and Beasley by no means actually tracks again after he sees his teammate get beat. Nonetheless, it’s Evans’ physique place that almost turns one mistake right into a aim.
Not as soon as did he look over his shoulder to see the place Conway was. Evans clearly knew he was there as a result of his first intuition was to show and dash towards him as soon as the ball was performed large.
There was no want for him to chase the ball. Steven Fletcher is working throughout the protection, towards Evans’ facet. The overcompensation towards the center to fill in for Cameron—maybe as a result of he thought Fletcher would attempt to dribble previous Omar González—gave Conway sufficient room that he may have taken a contact earlier than capturing.
Minutes later, Conway blew previous Evans on the dribble. Within the second half, Evans was fortunate to not see a yellow card when he took down the Scotsman with a poor sort out. If the World Cup rolls round with Evans nonetheless beginning at proper again, get able to see Tim Howard make lots of saves.
Once more, Conway performs within the English second division. Think about what world-class left wingers like Cristiano Ronaldo, Andre Schurrle, Thiago Motta, or Neymar would do to Evans. If the U.S. needs to be taken critically as a soccer superpower, then that’s the extent Klinsmann should play to, not CONCACAF or UEFA groups that didn’t qualify for the World Cup—and Evans isn’t the precise particular person for the right-back spot.
Seeking to the Bench Once more
Because the Gold Cup, and notably since Klinsmann has been afforded the flexibility to experiment along with his lineup, second-half changes have offered large sparks for the U.S. On Friday, the response was a bit extra subdued than typical, however it was nonetheless there.
In a recreation crying out for wingers to take gamers on, Brek Shea was a welcome sight. The match was good for his ability set, and it confirmed, as he bought across the exterior and offered a pair harmful crosses into the penalty space.
The spotlight substitution, as soon as once more, was Aron Johnannsson’s introduction. He fills the No. 10 function properly when Dempsey is out, and he was far simpler than Kljestan in the identical spot. Kljestan might play Champions League soccer, however it’s onerous to argue that he deserves to start out in a complicated place greater than a participant having the sort of season Johannsson is having fun with at AZ Alkmaar.
Johannsson misplayed simply three passes towards Scotland, drifting everywhere in the discipline to seek out the ball and maintain the U.S.’s rhythm in assault. The distinction between the best way he and Johnson drifted was within the goal of motion: Johnson appeared misplaced, whereas Johannsson made himself harmful.
The Icelandic-American had two photographs from contained in the penalty space and almost scored regardless of coming off the bench; Johnson by no means touched the ball inside 25 yards of aim.
Operating Out of Time
The clock is ticking. After the pleasant at Austria on Tuesday, the U.S.’s time earlier than Brazil turns into much more restricted. As a substitute of a number of gamers making Klinsmann’s life tough with choice selections, many have come up brief of their fleeting alternatives to earn a World Cup roster spot.
A number of the similar questions stay: Who will the surface backs be? Can key gamers within the pool—Steve Cherundolo, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Fabian Johnson, Jozy Altidore—regain well being and good kind main as much as Brazil? Will Timothy Chandler ever play for the U.S. once more?
Johannsson and Bedoya have stood out in the previous couple of video games as contenders. Relying on Dempsey’s scenario, whether or not he recovers from accidents and goes on mortgage and begins enjoying properly once more, Johannsson may begin. Bedoya is in a extra crowded spot, with Donovan, Joe Corona, and Graham Zusi, however he has proven properly sufficient to deserve a spot as of this second.
Nonetheless, with seven months to go, the image appears to be getting cloudier reasonably than clearer.
Liviu Hen is ASN’s tactical analyst. He’s additionally the Cascadia regional contributor to SoccerWire.com. Comply with him on Twitter.
