Robust performances from Walker Zimmerman, Benny Feilhaber, and Jorge Villafana will give U.S. coach Bruce Area loads to consider because the Yanks put together to face Honduras in March.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
February 04, 2017
6:40 AM
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THE UNITED STATES males’s nationwide workforce wrapped up its annual January camp with a good however unspectacular 1-0 win over Jamaica in Chatanooga. The workforce improved upon its efficiency from the uninteresting scoreless draw in opposition to Serbia 5 days earlier, however Bruce Area’s squad continues to be a piece in progress.
Sadly, there are not any extra video games between now and the must-win World Cup qualifier on March 24 in opposition to Honduras. So this sport was an necessary event for Area to get to know his gamers. Listed below are my ideas on the win.
Gamers ignored by Klinsmann Shine
The standouts have been those that Klinsmann incessantly mentioned, “there are others ahead of him” when requested by reporters the place they stood throughout the workforce.
Benny Feilhaber and Darlington Nagbe are amongst this group. Nagbe was the Man of the Match on Sunday and Feilhaber was the very best participant within the sport Sunday, delivering a cultured help on the gam’s solely purpose.
And there is extra: Dax McCarty was MIA underneath Klinsmann however had a stable displaying in opposition to Jamaica, enjoying many sturdy passes and serving to within the possession sport. Jorge Villafana was a starter for Santos Laguna most of 2016 however didn’t earn a glance from Klinsmann. He, too, did nicely in opposition to Jamaica. And Sebastian Lletget, fully ignored by the earlier U.S. coach, was one of many largest winners in January camp.
The workforce nonetheless has a protracted option to go, however Area shortly expanded the participant pool, which isn’t any small feat.
Zimmerman has a path into the highest 23
The central protection place is just not as settled as Area would love. Sure, John Brooks is a transparent starter. However Geoff Cameron has not performed in months because of an harm and it is going to be exhausting for him to interrupt again into Stoke’s beginning unit.
After them, it’s broad open. Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler, and Steve Birnbaum have been subsequent in line underneath Klinsmann however there actually is not a transparent pecking order. Walker Zimmerman might very nicely set up himself as a prime backup on a U.S. workforce the place the primary selection starters are incessantly injured.
Zimmerman is youthful than the opposite gamers however he his efficiency in opposition to Jamaica was the very best of the three central defenders in camp—beating out Birnbaum and Chad Marshall.
Area is nicely conscious of what Zimmerman can do and is aware of that FC Dallashas been a western convention energy the previous two years. It will not be shocking to see the Georgia native on the roster in opposition to Honduras in March and doubtlessly on the sphere if both Cameron or Brooks are unable to play.
Will Fabian transfer to midfield?
When ASN interviewed Fabian Johnson this previous month, he made it clear that he needs to play within the midfield for the US. That’s his greatest place and that’s the place he shines for Borussia Monchengladbach.
It is comprehensible why Klinsmann performed Johnson at left again as none of his different choices appeared able to dealing with the job and no coach needs to have such a vulnerability on the backline. Area would possibly really feel the identical means.
The query now: Did Jorge Villafana do sufficient to offer Area confidence to push Johnson into the midfield? After Greg Garza struggled in opposition to Serbia, Villafana did nicely off the bench in that sport and once more impressed in a beginning position in opposition to Jamaica.
It’s unattainable to say but how Area feels about this challenge and he has most likely not made up his thoughts but. However the bar is low and if Villafana can a minimum of be serviceable at left again, transferring Johnson to the midfield is a big enhance to the workforce. He’s arguably the very best American participant and a perfect state of affairs for any coach is to construct the workforce round its greatest participant and permit him to do what he does greatest. Putting Johnson at left again to fill a gap is a waste of expertise.
If Villafana can deal with the left again place, it should make this January camp very efficient.
Who performs the No. 10?
With Jozy Altidore and Bobby Wooden prone to begin collectively in a variation of the 4-4-2, how does Area line up the central midfield? Bradley is prone to sit deep, so who will play in entrance of him and actually run the offense?
Sacha Kljestan began on this spot Sunday in opposition to Serbia and had some respectable moments though that formation and gradual lineup appeared to harm his possibilities. In the meantime, Feilhaber was simpler Friday in opposition to Jamaica.
In a scenario the place Johnson and Pulisic are on the wings, it’s also potential Nagbe might play the No. 10.
Feilhaber didn’t disappoint and was a transparent winner this January camp, however Area has some powerful decisions to make over the following six weeks.
