For years, Clint Dempsey has been the U.S. Men’s National Team’s most consistent attacking option. On Friday against Colombia, he was the team’s most active attacker yet again, but his role remains up for debate as the U.S. continues through the Copa America.
Dempsey was far and away the USMNT’s most creative forward in the 2-0 loss to Colombia in the Copa America opener. In total, Dempsey fired seven of the USMNT’s 12 shots, while also mustering both of the team’s shots on target. Overall, it was an eventful day for Dempsey, who repeatedly tested goalkeeper David Ospina, but just could not best him.
While Dempsey proved the best option on the day, it remains questionable if he should remain the primary striker going forward. If the USMNT continue to play in a 4-3-3, Dempsey’s inclusion pushes the team’s most in-form forward, Bobby Wood, to an unfamiliar position on the wing while limiting his chances inside the box.
Heading into Tuesday’s match against Costa Rica, Jurgen Klinsmann has several options when it comes to deploying Dempsey. He could keep the status quo with Dempsey as the team’s center forward, while pushing Wood to embrace a role that still remains a bit new. He could swap Dempsey and Wood, allowing Wood to play in his familiar forward role while allowing Dempsey to tuck in and pick up the ball in deeper areas.
Or Klinsmann can opt for a formation change, playing a two striker set. It would require a bit of shuffling, including Gyasi Zardes deep and hypotehtically putting Alejandro Bedoya or Darlington Nagbe out wide, but it would give the USMNT options in attack that were lacking against Colombia.
Finally, Klinsmann could go for a more drastic option and utilize Dempsey as a super sub. A front three of Christian Pulisic, Wood and Zardes is one that could certainly cause problems, while also leaving Dempsey as a late game-changer should the match call for it. However, Dempsey’s role with the team remains much bigger than his play, as the veteran forward serves as the embodiment of the team’s desired never-say-die attitude.
How would you utilize Dempsey? What should his role with the USMNT be going forward? Pick your preference in the latest SBI Reader Poll:
[polldaddy poll=9438598]
In my opinion, the only reason Dempsey is playing is because he has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. nevermind he can’t defend or run anywhere average fast. Can he score and maybe win us game? always. Can he make the team better, nope, playing him is like playing with 10.
He’s not a 9. He’s not a 10. He’s not a winger or wide forward (anymore). He’s a second striker. Using him any other way hurts the team.
Klinsman’s apologist?
We need goals. Dempsey scores goals; he starts as a second striker.
We need grit. Dempsey brings grit.
Wood
Dempsey
F. Johnson – Nagbe – choose between Jones/Bradley – Pulisic
Castillo – Brooks – Cameron – Yedlin
Dempsey’s best days were when he was not the focus of the offense, and was allowed to roam, find the game, and score poacher goals off of rebounds and crosses from wide positions. We do not have anyone who can cross the ball, and now he is the focus of the defense which puts too much pressure on him. On top of that, he shows almost no desire to press on defense and his antics kill our new concept of possession soccer.
I would rather try other options, it is time to see what else we have up top. Why give kids trials in games that do not matter and then say they do not have the experience. Here is the chance, give it to them and then we will know who should be up top. The problem is that my job is not on the line if we lose this game, JK’s may be, so he will play Demps no matter what.
I think the us has too many players doing the same thing and truly lack balance. (Wood/ Zardes) should be the high pressing forward that can also stretch and link play. (Dempsey/ Bedoya) should work off of wood underneath. Wing play one play wide and cross the ball (Zardes / Zusi) and the opposite side (Fabian/ Pulisic) cut in and create. Center mid Bradley stay home, play simple, be a ball winner and shift to balance the shape. (Jones /Nagbe) be the roving connecting 8. Wing backs one (Besler) stays home 90 % of the time and when forward, play an early cross. The opposite (Yedlin) get forward all day. Better balance in team shape would correct the transition problems that have not been addressed since the world cup. Simpler roles for the players should lead to better job performance.
Deuce’s best performances with Fulmham came when he was the left midfielder making late runs while the defense was occupied with the strikers.
I would switch to a narrow 4-2-3-1 with this current group.
_________________Wood_________________
___Pullisic_______Dempsey_____Bedoya____
___________Nagbe____Bradley____________
Johnson____Brooks____Cameron______Yedlin
________________Guzan__________________
This would give Dempsey a chance to push up with Wood in the attack, and Nagbe some room to push up also. Bradley then sits in behind. Pullisic is a better option than Zardes because he can stay wide left or come inside to combine and has a much better 1st touch. Likewise Bedoya is going to be a little narrow. Yedlin and Johnson will have room to add to the attack on the outside when the space is there.
Dempsey should be a super sub.
His work rate is low and his does not have good chemistry with the other players on the attack. Give the opportunity to a Darlington Nagbe (as a withdrawn forward) or to a younger player with a high work rate. This can help create scoring opportunities and/or breakdown the opponents defense.
Unfortunately for Dempsey, he is slowing down a little, and he has become a little bit predictable. His experience is best suited as a late game sub where he can take advantage of the opponents heavy legs and position himself for a threatening shot on goal. Its time to move on…
Why do people always keep Jones out their lineup he is always the most reliable midfielder in all the big tournaments at the end of the day …Bradley on the other hand….
I think it’s gotta go something like this.
—–Wood—zardes
Dempsey
Nagbe—————-Bedoya
——– –bradley—-
Fj-brooks- Cameron- yedlin
——guzan
It would be nice if we could put FJ in the midfield I just don’t know how to safely do that. Maybe try Castillo in the back during the last group game. I don’t hate Castillo but there is no doubt he can be a liability defensively. As for gyasi he surprised me against Colombia in a sense his first touch wasn’t AS wild and he did a pretty good job coming back to the ball. Creativity in the final third is what we need and I feel gyasi is only effective going forward at full speed, options are limited up there currently so he gets the nod.
A couple of feet either way, and Deuce could have scored twice against Colombia – once from the run of play, and once on a free kick. As Arena said, he tries [stuff].
My worry is that those used to go in, and now they are just missing, is it a trend or just a couple of misses? He needs to score to be included, otherwise he can seem like an empty spot.
He needs to be on the field in my opinion. At least for the rest of this tournament, and probably until we (hopefully) qualify for Russia. Nobody else is showing a killer instinct and really forcing the issue (Pulisic is hopefully going to be that guy). A young Clint would have taken the opportunities Zardes and Wood have been given and forced his way into the spot already. Wood showed good form for his club this year (which means nothing at the end of the day) but when he’s on the field he doesn’t jump out at me, at least not yet. I think maybe some people are getting confused because Bobby and Gyasi are a lot younger and more athetic than Clint so that must mean that they are better options. They aren’t right now to my eyes, and it’s a tough situation because Clint is 33 and shouldn’t have to be doing this anymore.
But dont you think Wood is being played out of position?
Wood should be the man. Its his time. Move over Dempsey. If this was any other country they would be screaming for Dempsey to get outta of there. But only here in our soccer society we tend to hang on the older guys way too long. First with Landon and now with Dempsey.
Other countries have players better than a 2nd division German league player who doesn’t really do much when he plays for the national team to force the older guys out
Altidore’s injuries have lead to Deuce playing a role that doesn’t suit him. If he starts he needs to play underneath Bobby wood as a second striker otherwise sub him on.
Just imagine where we’d be if Altadore wasn’t injured? I shudder to think. On another totally different note…. Look at where Mexico is compared to where we are right now and tell me we aren’t failing
Father time waits for no man. Deuce in no different.
Dempsey is still a starter and should be ahead of Bradley. I cant understand why nobody mentions the fact that time and time again the player that shines the most during friendlies is Bradley but fades in the games that count. The second goal against Colombia came from a mistake he made. His decision making during games that count are terrible. Jones is a better 10 that Bradley. Go back look at games where we have top opponent and look at Bradley success rate.
Your analysis is correct. The problem is Bradley not Dempsey. Dempsey is still a starting striker until someone can take his position. This is probably his last tournament though.
Assuming the same 11 start, why not just play a modified 4-4-2 diamond? It keeps the same midfield triangle, which seems to be our best midfield configuration, and pushes Zardes and Wood up to their natural striker positions. Dempsey can sit underneath them and create/make killer runs into the box. Granted, we have to rely exclusively on Johnson and Yedlin for width. But both Wood and Zardes were drifting into the middle against Colombia and Dempsey was dropping back. This way at least we’d have two guys up front to hold the ball up.
Left bench and bring him in as a super sub on the right bench in minute 70.
From a previous thread: I like Gary’s suggestion of a withdrawn foward. Dempsey should not be our out and out striker with his tendencies to track back and (hate to say it) his diving.
We need a relentless precence up top that constantly put pressure on the back line. No better time like the present with Altidore out to give Wood a chance and (stay with me here) Zardes to play their more natural roles.
This would require us to move away from the 4-3-3 but I feel like Dempsey is still worth having on the pitch in some capacity.