ASN: Yanks Battle Towards Chile in Klinsmann’s 3-5-2

Jozy Altidore appeared good and a number of other others Individuals carried out capably, however the U.S. males’s nationwide group misplaced 3-2 to begin its 2015 marketing campaign. Listed here are Blake Thomsen’s participant rankings.

BY

Blake Thomsen

Posted
January 28, 2015
9:46 PM

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STARTERS

Nick Rimando: Rimando bailed out Jermaine Jones and Steve Birnbaum with wonderful saves at numerous factors, and he additionally made a couple of different spectacular saves. However he ought to have accomplished higher on Chile’s equalizer, guessing that Mark Gonzalez would cross as a substitute of shoot, thus leaving the objective gaping for a simple end.
Score: 5

DeAndre Yedlin: The three-5-2 was virtually invented for wingbacks resembling Yedlin, and he did his job effectively in assault and protection for a lot of the match. His tempo was an asset on either side of the ball all evening, and on a extra medical day he might have added a objective and an help to his spectacular “hockey assist” on Jozy Altidore’s first half objective. The one actual knock on Yedlin’s efficiency was his lack of expertise on Chile’s equalizer, however on the entire, he confirmed fairly effectively. Hopefully Mauricio Pochettino and the remainder of the Tottenham workers have been watching.
Score: 6

Steve Birnbaum: For a primary cap in a very frenetic sport, Birnbaum acquitted himself fairly effectively. He was maybe the perfect U.S. defender within the first half, and a semi-near personal objective was his solely notably shaky defensive second within the sport. Like Yedlin, he might have accomplished higher on Chile’s equalizer, however so might half the U.S. nationwide group. All instructed, not a nasty begin.
Score: 5.5

Jermaine Jones: Oh, boy. In concept, the 3-5-2 with Jones as a form of hybrid middle again/middle midfielder wasn’t a horrible concept. In follow, it was a lot uglier. He was disastrous at monitoring crosses all through the primary half. First, he was caught in no-man’s land (together with Matt Besler) on Chile’s opener, after which he was overwhelmed badly on a debatable offside objective for Chile that may have tied issues up in first-half stoppage time. He additionally had a stunning giveaway that ought to have led to a Chile objective within the thirty seventh minute. He wasn’t significantly better when pushed up into the midfield within the second half. An evening to neglect.
Score: 3.5

Matt Besler: Besler didn’t fairly look again to his finest, however like Birnbaum, he did moderately effectively given the frenetic tempo of Chile’s assaults. He had his share of essential interventions, however he’ll want he did higher monitoring the goal-scorer on Chile’s opener.
Score: 5

Brek Shea: For those who look arduous sufficient, the 90 minutes of this sport can stand as a metaphor for Shea’s profession up to now. The fantastically taken early objective is harking back to his breakout 2011 MLS marketing campaign, and the wayward 85 minutes that adopted signify his previous three years on the membership (and worldwide) stage. On this sport, a whole lot of that was resulting from his unfamiliar place. Shea just isn’t even near a defender, and Chile picked on him in his wingback function all sport lengthy. His defensive contribution left a lot to be desired, however the glorious objective (and his questionable placement on the sector by Klinsmann) retains his score respectable.
Score: 5.5

Combine Diskerud: Diskerud didn’t make an entire lot of decisive contributions, however he did have a really intelligent help on Altidore’s objective. His sport isn’t fairly suited to being a screening midfielder in a 3-5-2, so he didn’t precisely thrive, however it was a reliable sufficient efficiency from the newly signed NYCFC midfielder.
Score: 5.5

Michael Bradley: Bradley began sluggish however got here into the sport within the second half, the place his high quality actually started to point out. His 61st-minute screamer was the width of the crossbar away from future U.S. objective of the yr spotlight reels, and he delivered his share of incisive passes within the attacking half, establishing Lee Nugyen and Chris Wondolowski with presentable capturing alternatives. Additionally, whereas many gamers appeared in need of health, Bradley nonetheless had the vitality to make a 60-yard restoration run within the 93rd minute to thwart a late Chilean counter. Score: 6

Clint Dempsey: This kind of rough-and-tumble, lightning paced sport could have suited a youthful Dempsey, however today he doesn’t fairly have the athleticism to face out in one of these contest. He merely didn’t make a large enough attacking affect to justify his lackluster protection as an attacking midfielder, and he didn’t provide a lot offensively when moved to striker within the second half, both. Score: 4.5

Bobby Wooden: This author thinks that Wooden has loads of potential, however he actually didn’t present it tonight. He was unceremoniously yanked at halftime following a poor first half.
Score: 4.5

Jozy Altidore: The standout Yank on the night, Altidore appeared delighted to be again within the U.S. shirt that has served him so effectively. His objective was brilliantly taken, his defensive effort stood out, and his highly effective foul draw within the second half was a couple of ft away from being a attainable crimson card and penalty. That is the Altidore that U.S. followers know and love, and that is additionally the Altidore that Toronto FC will count on come the start of March. Toronto followers almost had a dream second when Altidore arrange Bradley’s long-range drive off the crossbar.
Score: 6.5

SUBSTITUTES

Lee Nguyen: It didn’t actually occur for Nguyen approaching for Wooden at halftime, which is a disgrace given how effectively he performed within the 2014 MLS season. He couldn’t fairly get his passes to attach, however he did almost rating a superb roller off a Bradley layoff.
Score: 5

Wil Trapp: The sport appeared a bit too quick at instances for the 21-year-old, and he by no means actually settled into his traditional rhythmic passing sport. It didn’t assist that the U.S. midfield was everywhere throughout his second half spell. Score: 4.5

Gyasi Zardes: Zardes did a fairly good job on his worldwide debut—which was a real debut, as he has by no means performed for a U.S. youth group, both. His early touches have been assured, and he did a pleasant job of protecting the ball all through. He almost acquired in a shot at objective from a harmful space through a pointy run, however Trapp’s by way of ball took him barely too extensive. Score: 5.5

Chris Wondolowski: Are you questioning why Wondolowski continues to be with the U.S. group? So am I. To be honest, he delivered a good header off a nifty Bradley cross, however he hardly acquired close to the ball apart from that, and, effectively, he’s a 32-year-old with declining expertise. Score: Incomplete

THE COACH

Jurgen Klinsmann: The sport was undeniably thrilling, however you’d count on a fairly full power U.S. aspect to fare higher towards a Chile group of completely domestically based mostly gamers. Thumbs up for experimentation, thumbs down for yet one more brutal second-half efficiency.
Score: 4

OK, these are our rankings. Now we need to see yours. It is simple with our interactive Participant Scores device. Do it.

Blake Thomsen is a frequent ASN contributor. Observe him on Twitter and let him know what you assume.