On this open letter to Jurgen Klinsmann, ASN editor in chief John Godfrey proposes a number of choices on the most problematic place for the U.S. males’s soccer workforce—fullback.
BY
John Godfrey
Posted
August 27, 2013
11:11 AM
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Expensive Jurgen,
Dude! Congrats on the 12-game successful streak!
These 4-3 wins over Germany and Bosnia have been each superior, and I don’t actually care should you had a number of Belizean gimmes in between. A dozen. An all-time U.S. report. Fan-fricking-tastic stuff.
And hey—that Aron Johannsson is one thing else, isn’t he? He could appear like Kevin Bacon however he jogs my memory of Justin Timberlake—a flexible expertise on the high of his sport who can rating at will. We want-need-need that man up high. And John Brooks will look mighty effective in a U.S. package by the point Russia rolls round. Nice will get, each of them. Once more, congrats.
So yeah.
Um.
The rationale I’m writing as we speak…the fullback scenario…what are we going to do about it?
I assumed the left facet was settled while you introduced Fabian Johnson into the workforce, and a part of me nonetheless hopes you stick him again there and let him do his factor out of the again. However yeah, each time you place him out on the left wing he seems to be nice too—creating hassle for defenses or flat-out creating targets.
The factor is, if FJ strikes as much as the midfield, who sits? Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones are going to play in the course of your 4-4-2, and Jozy Altidore will likely be beginning at striker—that’s fairly clear. (Proper? Simply wink if I’m proper about this.) With FJ on the left wing, that leaves Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, and Graham Zusi preventing for 2 beginning spots. Can you actually sit any of these three? And if Johannsson retains enjoying like he has been—and I feel he’ll—how do you retain him out of the lineup?
Any method you slice it, beginning FJ on the wing forces you to bench one, and maybe two, of your finest gamers. Brutal.
However there may be one easy solution to preserve extra of your high expertise on the sector subsequent summer season in Brazil: Maintain FJ at left again. Hoffenheim appears to assume that is his finest place. Even when that isn’t the case, he ought to have loads of time throughout the Bundesliga season to hone his expertise again there and get/stay snug lining up within the again 4.
Hey—it is your name. I am simply considering out loud.
As for proper again, I’ve a proposal for you. You are most likely not going to love it, however hear me out earlier than you toss me out. And keep in mind: Simply because a man can play fullback doesn’t imply he ought to.
Listed here are your whole beginning proper backs because you took over the workforce, so as (daring = Hexagonal match; italics = Gold Cup):
Steve Cherundolo, Timothy Chandler, Cherundolo, Cherundolo, Cherundolo, Cherundolo, Cherundolo, A.J. DeLaGarza, DeLaGarza, Cherundolo, Cherundolo, Cherundolo, Cherundolo, Cherundolo, Cherundolo, Fabian Johnson, Parkhurst, Cherundolo, Cherundolo, Cherundolo, Chandler, Beltran, Chandler, Cameron, Cameron, Cameron, Evans, Evans, Evans, Evans, Parkhurst, Parkhurst, Beltran, Parkhurst, Parkhurst, Parkhurst, Parkhurst, Evans.
Or, to place it one other method:
15 Cherundolos
7 Parkhursts
5 Evanses
3 Camerons
3 Chandlers
2 Beltrans
2 DeLaGarzas
1 F. Johnson
You’ve got experimented, which I respect. You’ve got made changes to take care of 34-year-olds suffering from accidents (Cherundolo); power fickleness (Chandler); gamers who spend an excessive amount of time on the bench for his or her membership groups (Parkhurst); gamers who resolve to signify Guam (DeLaGarza); and the brutal incontrovertible fact that Main League Soccer is the alternative of a fullback manufacturing facility. All in all, you’ve got achieved admirably.
However do you discover any names lacking from this checklist?
I do. Eric Lichaj.
You already know him, proper? 5-foot-eleven, 175 kilos, 24-years-old, hails from the sadly named Downer’s Grove, Illinois. Quick. good one-versus-one defender. Little bit of a imply streak. By no means provides lower than a 100%. Not error-prone. Can keep at house or push into the assault.
Lichaj made 23 appearances for English Premier League facet Aston Villa final season. He is now the beginning proper again for Nottingham Forest of the English Championship. 4 video games, 4 begins. He seems to be very, very strong within the place.
English soccer followers are likely to hate all the things, together with themselves, however on websites like this one, all you hear is love for Lichaj.
“There won’t be a Villa fan commenting on here that will have a bad word to say about this guy, sad to see him go, good player who gives everything. Good luck Eric, wish we’d kept you.”
and
“This is a real coup for the Forest. From a Villa fan to you, you won’t be disappointed. All of us are disappointed to have not kept him, but at his age he needs to be getting games. On his day he’s kept Moses and Bale in his back pocket, he has plenty of pace. Getting forward he has a cracking shot as well. As he learns a little bit more discipline he will easily develop into a premier league level talent with the right level of games and coaching. Good luck to him!”
and
“Forest getting a real gem here, especially on a free. Top professional, goes about his business well. Watch out for his long throws, could add a real attacking threat for Forest next season! I was really sad to see him leave Villa, but he needs regular football with WC around the corner! All the best Eric!”
I’ve watched a ton of Villa video games over the previous few years, and I could not agree extra.
Lichaj has eight caps to his identify, Jurgen, however are you aware the final time he performed for america? I do. I appeared it up right here. It was June 25, 2011—when Bob Bradley was nonetheless operating the present, a month earlier than you took over.
Again in Could 2012 you mentioned that Lichaj wants extra video games. Properly, he is bought extra video games.
So what is the holdup? Name him in already.
It would not be the worst factor on the earth if Lichaj joined the workforce in Costa Rica, practiced with the blokes, and bought accustomed to your system. He does not must play, however he must be within the combine. Watch him prepare alongside Evans and see what you assume. Possibly Lichaj does not have what you are in search of at proper again, however he definitely deserves a shot at a place the place you are having a look at everyone underneath the solar.
Evans has achieved an honest job as a stopgap measure, however he is a midfielder. Parkhurst can’t even get into the 18 for Augsburg. Cameron is intriguing however must discover a place, and quick. Chandler? He is far and wide.
It is time to see what Eric Lichaj can convey to the U.S. nationwide workforce, Jurgen. Do it.
Sincerely, JHG
John Godfrey is the founder and editor in chief of American Soccer Now.
