ASN: 5 Keys for the U.S. Forward of Large Honduras Match

American Soccer Now contributing editor Brian Sciaretta presents up his insights on the most important U.S. males’s nationwide crew contest because the 2014 World Cup. That is going to be an enchanting sport. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
March 23, 2017
7:50 PM

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WITH ZERO POINTS from its first two World Cup qualifiers and a current wave of accidents inflicting all kinds of roster strife, the US nationwide crew may have its again to the wall in opposition to Honduras—a crew that shall be motivated to land a devastating blow in opposition to certainly one of CONCACAF’s giants.

The lengthy checklist of American gamers unavailable as a consequence of accidents, suspensions, or private issues consists of: Fabian Johnson, Bobby Wooden, DeAndre Yedlin, Timothy Chandler, Brad Guzan, and Jermaine Jones. On high of that, there are official questions in regards to the availability of Jordan Morris (ankle) and Clint Dempsey (solely not too long ago recovered from an irregular heartbeat).

Honduras clearly smells blood and Friday’s match at Avaya Stadium (10:30pm ET; FS1, UniMas) would be the greatest intestine test the U.S. males have confronted in years. Listed here are my pregame ideas.

The Veterans Should Take Cost

It would not be shocking to see among the newer U.S. gamers rise to the event in a sport like this. To me, the most important questions revolve across the lock starters: John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Tim Howard, Michael Bradley, Christian Pulisic, and Jozy Altidore. Each single certainly one of these gamers has considerations heading into the sport.

Brooks, perhaps probably the most gifted American central defender ever, comes into the sport on the heels of an absolute stinker in opposition to Costa Rica. Geoff Cameron may play out of place at proper again and he has solely not too long ago returned from an extended layoff as a consequence of a knee harm. The identical could be stated for Tim Howard.

Michael Bradley remains to be making an attempt regain his pre-2014 World Cup type and Jozy Altidore desperately wants to attain an essential purpose. Pulisic is on the trail to turning into a particular participant however how he’ll fare at his age stays an open query.

If these gamers all carry out as much as their capabilities, the U.S. ought to have a superb evening. If not, it could possibly be ugly.

THe Backline is unsettled

There are such a lot of alternative ways U.S. boss Bruce Area can method the backline and it is going to be fascinating to see the way it all unfolds. Proper now, the one lock starter in a identified place is John Brooks, who will begin at left-central defender. Every thing else is a little bit of a thriller.

Whether or not or not Cameron begins in central protection or proper again will come right down to how Area values the Cameron-Brooks pairing that was superb on the Copa America Centenario. If Area pushes Cameron to proper again, how does he view a pairing of Brooks with both Omar Gonzalez or Walker Zimmerman? This assumes that Area received’t wish to pair Brooks with one other lefty in both Matt Besler or Tim Ream.

Pairing Brooks with Zimmerman or Gonzalez presents dangers. The Brooks-Gonzalez pairing was a catastrophe in opposition to Costa Rica final November. Was that only a blip or do these two not play properly collectively? As for Brooks-Zimmerman, is the FC Dallas mainstay nonetheless too new to the crew for this sort of sport? 

At proper again, it’ll come right down to Cameron, Michael Orozco, and Graham Zusi. If Area desires to proceed with the Brooks-Cameron pairing, then Orozco should begin at proper again.

Then, at left again, DaMarcus Beasley, Tim Ream, Matt Besler, and Jorge Villafana are all competing for the beginning. Ream and Besler are usually central defenders. Beasley and Villafana have performed restricted minutes in 2017, though Villafana featured in one of many January camp friendlies and managed to play for Santos Laguna proper earlier than the worldwide break.

In a single sense, probably the most optimum backline can be Villafana-Brooks-Cameron-Orozco. Not ultimate however it in all probability presents he fewest dangers. Central protection is the place that you would be able to least afford to make a mistake. Then once more, Area may go for one thing totally different as he has seen these gamers in camp all week.

Making sense of the midfield

If the U.S. goes with a 4-4-2, you realize Michael Bradley and Pulisic will begin within the midfield. If it goes with a 4-3-3 (or 4-2-3-1), then Bradley begins within the midfield and Pulisic performs one of many wing positions.

Among the many possible begins within the midfield are Alejandro Bedoya, Darlington Nagbe, Sebastian Lletget, Dax McCarty, Kellyn Acosta, and Sacha Kljestan.

McCarty solely actually is smart if Area goes with two holding midfielders to play alongside Bradley. Acosta stays probably the most in-form MLS-based midfielder though it could be shocking to see him begin in a sport like this. Bedoya looks as if a safer wager along with his expertise, though will he play centrally or on the surface?

Does Kljestan’s omission from the orginail roster, and late inclusion as an harm alternative, imply he’s only a backup? Maybe, however who is aware of how the assorted accidents have altered Area’s pondering?

It might be price noting that certainly one of Area’s best-ever teaching strikes got here in 2002 when he named Pablo Mastroeni to the World Cup crew—as an harm alternative for Chris Armas. Area proceeded to begin Mastroeni within the World Cup opener, and Mastroeni promptly shut down Luis Figo, the reigning FIFA World Participant of the Yr. So harm replacements usually are not essentially bench gamers, a minimum of when Area is concerned.

Can the U.S. assault out extensive?

The most important concern on this sport, nonetheless, would be the means to generate offense from out extensive. Can both Orozco, Cameron, or Zusi assault from the fitting again place and work properly with the midfield? Zusi is probably going the most effective crosser however how properly does he actually learn the sport for granted again?

From the left again spot the query is identical. Beasley and Villafana are extra skilled on the place however each could possibly be rusty contemplating how little enjoying time they’ve obtained in current weeks. If Area goes with both Ream or Besler, neither will possible push ahead a lot. How would that have an effect on the left wing’s means to create with none assist from the left again shifting ahead?

Wanting into the midfield, Pulisic appears to be like promising however who will he mix with? Can Nagbe and Bedoya stretch the sport if enjoying exterior reverse Pulisic?

If the U.S. can assault from exterior, the sport within the center additionally opens up. If it may possibly’t, then the U.S. shall be simple to defend.

The U.S. likes to play the underdog

Whereas it is perhaps a little bit of a stretch to say the U.S. is the underdog on this sport, expectations for a World Cup qualifying dwelling sport have by no means rbeen decrease. Thankfully, that is perhaps an enormous increase.

At its core and in its historical past, the U.S. thrives when it’s the underdog. It did so at profitable World Cups in 2002 and 2014, and once more final yr within the Copa America Centenario.

The Yanks’purpose on this sport is just three factors and Area actually doesn’t care how ugly the crew has to play so long as it ends in victory. For him, bettering the squad’s model will come later. That’s the reason he’s going with a veteran crew that features gamers who 1) know methods to win and a pair of) will not get annoyed in a CONCACAF sport the place issues can get ugly.

However decrease expectations are inclined to deliver out the scrappiness in American groups. That’s not a long-term answer however for now, it’s all that’s wanted.