photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Figuring out how to get Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones and Maurice Edu all on the field at the same time for the U.S. men's national team has proven difficult in the past given their similar playing styles. But head coach Jurgen Klinsmann may have found the solution.
Klinsmann deployed a 4-3-3 formation in the United States' 5-1 win over Scotland at EverBank Field on Saturday night, one in which Edu sat behind Bradley and Jones. And the result was clear to see. The trio of central midfielders dominated a game together for the first time, with Edu helping serving as a blanket in front of the defense while Bradley and Jones got more involved in the attack.
"We worked on that over the last 10 days in training a lot to see how can we kind of get the best out of these guys that are in their club teams really exceptional players but they play really similar positions," said Klinsmann. "And we came up with that in that little scrimmage we had the other day, and it gives us options then playing Landon (Donovan) wide, or giving more freedom actually to go all over the field, as well as a left position player, which was Jose (Torres) tonight.
"If everybody understands his role, and I think Maurice he had more of the job of a No. 6, kind of in front of the two centerbacks to clean things up there and make sure nothing goes through there," Klinsmann added. "Meanwhile, Jermaine and Michael both have the qualities to go forward and they're dangerous going into the box and they love to do that. In the past that was sometimes a bit tricky because when they both only played together and there was no Maurice, then they left some holes behind. Now there was Maurice today and he kept things in order and gave them a bit more freedom. I think it worked out really well."
That it did. Jones and Bradley got involved in the attack constantly and combined with one another often and early, even doing so in the build up to Donovan's third-minute goal. Bradley one-timed a pass to Jones, who quickly fed a streaking Donovan inside the penalty area.
Then Bradley hit a game-winning goal in the 11th minute on a volleyed effort from distance that some circles are saying is the best by a U.S. men's national team player in some time.
"The guy who makes it for me is Jermaine," said Bradley. "Sometimes that ball goes into guys and they're trying to turn or maybe make a play that is too hard for them. He did well just to see that I was moving off of him and laid a perfect ball back and I caught it well. It was a nice little goal.
It was more of the same in the second half. Jones and Bradley played a quick give-and-go at the hour mark that resulted in Donovan's second goal of the game, and Bradley assisted on another Donovan goal five minutes later before Jones headed home a Donovan cross for his second goal for the U.S. team in the 70th minute.
"I think we forget how good (Bradley and Jones) can be when they do go forward, sometimes they like to be a little more comfortable and stay a little deeper, but tonight they really went out on a limb a little bit and took some chances and it came off great," said Donovan. "I thought they were both fantastic and Mo did a great job behind them of cleaning everything up."
The way the trio of central midfielders played against Scotland was a far cry from how they performed in their first match together in March 2011 in a 1-1 draw with Argentina. In that match it was clear Edu, Jones and Bradley did not have the best understanding of how to play off of each other, though to their credit they were going up against Argentina's talented midfielders.
Still, the understanding between them is much improved now and that was clear to see in the three-man midfield Klinsmann deployed against Scotland.
"The more you play consistently together in a similar role obviously you're going to start to learn each other's tendencies and different things that you guys like to do," said Edu. "How you move off the ball and different things like that, and we're similar players so we can kind of play those three positions interchangeably a little bit. But today I thought we did pretty well."
Agreed. Though given how Dempsey talked after the match, I’m not sure he’s convinced he’ll be 100% for Brazil. If not, I’d start Torres and save 90% of Deuce for when everyone else is gassed.
Skilled players DO lose their capabilities. Age, and yes, extreme injuries do limit a player’s future performance. I love football. But let’s be honest, there can be no assumption that what we think Holden could have been is what he’s going to be. He’s most of 2 years w/o a meaningful match now. That’s a lot of rust for any player to knock off.
And as I and others noted before, look @ Charlie Davies. Everyone wanted him rushed back to the WC roster. But he can’t even stay in the 1st XI @ club level right now, and he’s had even longer to recover.
It’s not unfair to say Holden needs to prove he belongs in the National Team set-up again, because he’s going to have to prove he belongs in his club’s Starting XI all over again too.
Eric Cantona. Legendary club player. Legendary bust for France.
Although their injuries weren’t the same, let me introduce you to Charlie Davies. You’re irrational if you don’t think Holden’s prolonged absence from football won’t deeply impact his play once he returns. I’d be delighted if he can reach his pre-injury level, but I’m betting it’s going to be a long, hard road that likely won’t lead to him being Super Stu any time soon.
That is exactly how I felt when SBI first revealed the new shirts and ran photos. I really thought they were ugly. But after seeing them in action against Scotland, they didn’t bother me that much. I’m not saying I love ’em, but I didn’t hate anymore. The numbers, though, should be a dark blue. That would help a lot, I think.
Yeah, Edu looked good. I hope he can find a good new team this summer. He deserves a fresh chance.
Why do you always have to be negative about Stu Holden. You have a long history of being a Holden hater, popping up whenever anyone makes nice comments about him just to knock him down. Did he do something to your dog? Or steal your lunch money? Just leave him alone…
yeah, I’m just joking, GW. I sounded ridiculous with those comments, didn’t I?
A good player is a good player. You live in a fantasy land where a skilled player somehow loses his game sense and capabilities by playing with a different squad. You should play soccer sometime it’s a fun sport.
he was playing pretty good in amsterdam, but then de jong did what de jong does…
Where do you get 3 years? Jones was not in the picture until the end of 2009 and did not really play for the USMNT until 2011. I think the first game the 3 played together was in 2011 so it is just over a year and mostly just a few days at a time.
Glad to see the three of them have figured out how to complement one-another and not take up each others’ space like Jones and Bradley often did earlier in their partnership.
Could be any of them. Stu was one of the top d-Mids in the EPL before getting hurt, MB plays an incredibly disciplined dmid position with Chievo in a league renowned for defensive tactics, and JJ plays dmid for a Champs League side in Schalke.
The role he was playing does not call for displaying a lot of great skill, it does require 100% concentration, some athleticism, a decent soccer brain.
I thought Edu did very in the first 2 and Ok in the 3rd. Any player performing that role will not look all that polished at times, no matter his skill level, there are just so many times where when he wins the ball that he is put under hard immediate pressure that challenges any player. Despite that, Edu connected on 90% of his passes, not too shabby.
I thought Jones did better in the times he dropped back in fighting off the challenges; when Bradley dropped back to win a ball, the Scots seemed to give him more time and space, or maybe Bradley passed quicker when he had to.
Trying to decide if the three have just taken 3 years+ to gel or if its klinnsman’s design but its great seeing this work.
———–11Jozy—–
9Demps——10donovan
8Jones———–7bradley
———–6edu———-
3johnson———–2dolo
—4Boca——-5gooch——
———–1howard——-
I think the silver numbers on the white field must be a rule violation of some kind.
Hoops are okay on long sleeved shirts but not short sleeved ones.
These things have an Aussie Rules football feel to them.
Besides games with bolton and US gold cup team and olympic he was a great addition to the game in the Azteca and England so much potential if he could stay un injured
sam,
Life is not fair.
What you are saying about Holden amounts to woulda/coulda /shoulda/.
JK and most of the USMNT players and fans clearly think a lot of him. But potential and great club performances are no guarantee that a player can replicate them for the national team.
As far as the USMNT goes Holden has proven he HAD great potential and he is very popular, well liked and well respected man.
None of which means a damm thing as far as the roster for the 2014 World Cup is concerned. It’s not a popularity contest.
Right now Holden has to prove he can get on a field and stay there. First things first.
I like the hoops. But the #s suck.
He completed 90% of his passes. Tops on the team on a night their total completion % was absurd (something around 75%). That’s good for Lionel Messi, let alone a US central midfielder.
I’m not an Edu fan either. But he played a man-sized game, and slagging him after than kind of match makes you look a little predisposed to decide it before hand. His rating across the board was 7 and higher. That’s a good shift.
I said on Twitter right after that Howard ought to have claimed that cross. Probably miscommunication between them. But still, Howard’s the one with the experience and the view of the whole field, he needed to take charge, rather than a defender staring at his own goal.
I’m hoping different players, different result.
GW,
What sam said.
Not sure that’s quite fair–he broke out for Bolton during a period when there weren’t a lot of real opportunities to make a mark with the national team, then got hurt. He had pretty clearly raised his game to a level that would put him among the best American players–better than Edu and Beckerman, certainly–and it’s reasonable to think about what might have been.
Now, whether he’ll be able to make it back to that is another question.
Wrong*
I agree I thought they would look better on the pitch. I was wronf
You know, I feel the opposite way. When I first saw them advertised, I said, “those are the ugliest things I’ve ever seen.” When I saw them in action, I thought they weren’t so bad.
The good thing for everyone, though, is Nike’ll have a completely different shirt out next year.
Chain gang ugly
Aren’t you dead?
I hate to be a wet blanket but remember how we all felt after the Under 23’s squashed Cuba 6-0?
I’m hoping this won’t be a repeat of that letdown.
I’m big enough to admit when I’m wrong….
Those shirts really are ugly.
Maybe, but I would say Cameron and Howard being comparatively new to each other may have had a lot do with it.
Howard is the veteran keeper and is supposed to command the penalty box so the fact that the new guy was confused is a little bit on Howard.
I read it the same way and I don’t see how there can be much doubt on that one. Torres had advanced a great deal since the last World Cup and there will not doubt be plenty of work for him as guys get injured or fatigued or just to introduce a new element in a match. Hopefully, he will keep improving and adding new elements to his game.
Big respect for Klinsmann on this one, as he realized what he started with wasn’t working and found a way to build on the strength of the players that he has. Seeing that starting 11 on the pitch makes me even happier then the result.
JJ,
Could you tell me the USMNT game where Stu proved to everyone that he was a sure fire USMNT starter? You know the kind of game like Bradley just had. Or even a couple of games like what Chandler had before he changed his mind.
Because I can’t remember him ever doing that.
He has had great games for Bolton and great games for the USMNT B team in the 2009 Gold Cup. But I don’t remember him ever giving a signature performance or lighting it up as a starter for 90 minutes with the senior A team.
In fact I don’t even remember him ever having a run of games for the senior team like Jozy has had where it was, “well he hasn’t lit up yet but we don’t have anything better at the moment so he will do for now..”
Win or lose the Brazil game will be a good learning experience for the Nats.
Anybody else afraid that, assuming the US keeps playing well, that the game against Antigua and Barbados might throw the Nats’ rhythm off? I mean, playing against formidable opponents then to a nobody team, then back to Jamaica …. idk.
Well while I agree that he gave the ball away a few times, I think your frustration with that element may be distracting you from his incredible speed and ability to close down on attackers. He was a beast against Italy, and maybe even better last night in the defensive role of defensive mid. To answer your question as to why he keeps getting called in, I’d say that the coach, the guy that has been playing the game at a world class level, and then coaching the game at a world class level, sees something you don’t. Don’t feel bad, he’s supposed to. That’s why he gets the big bucks.
Howard was definitely a little lazy on the play.
I was at the game last night, and for the life of me I cannot understand why Edu is on the field. I was never too impressed when I was him on TV prior, but last night solidified my opinion that he’s awful. Gave gave up the ball numerous times. Tried to force it in several times which led to scotland’s counter attack. People around me gave him credit for hustling back after he gave the ball away, but it was his fault in the first place. I’ve been playing and watching soccer for almost 30 years, and I just don’t understand why he’s continually called to the national team.
Not a bad thing… Torres was sharp and creative, if unheralded, last night. Plus, he’s a couple years younger than Deuce.
I must say my ancestors were from Scotland. but the Scots must be the slowest people in the world. Good night there soccer team was slow. I think that we have to give this a little more time. I think bradley is a must and I also like Torres, Edu and Jones if he can stay away from the cards. But when Dempsey is ready one of them must sit. Coach will decide. The old soccer adage was that you must control the midfield to win a game,. I think against most opponents if our midfield plays well we will control the midfield and keep good defensive cover. But against stronger opponents we will not be able to consistently send Bradley and Jones forward like Saturday.
I know Cameron took all the blame for the Scotland goal, late stepping out and then late recovering. But doesn’t the goalie have to command the six when his backline is stepping out on a cross?
It seems like this particular type of 4-3-3 is exactly what we should be going for, so long as we develop outside backs who are capable of getting into the attack and crossing balls in. Part of Dempsey’s success this year at Fulham is the freedom to pinch in he’s given by JA Riise’s overlapping runs. So, if we can assume that our front three will be Altidore, Donovan, and Dempsey, the only real worry will be becoming too narrow. I’m comfortable with Dolo’s ability to get forward, but really think that what the team really needs is a set of wingbacks that can provide width and a bit of an offensive threat…
Holden has been out for nearly two years. Though hopeful, I’m not holding my breath.
Instead of worrying about who fits where in the best setup, we should instead be stoked that we now have a best 13 or 14 and that number will only increase once all our guys are healthy.
That’s the way it looks. As much as I’d like to see Torres in the mid field it looks like JK has made up his mind.
That being said JK knows a lot more about the sport than I do, and you can’t argue with his recent results.
Completely agree. Holden is much better than Torres, Edu, Beckerman, etc. Hopefully he can get, and stay, healthy. My “all healthy” A team would be:
————————- Altidore ————————
————– Donovan —– Dempsey ————–
————– Bradley ——— Holden —————
————————– Jones ————————–
F.Johnson —– Boca — Gooch —– Chandler
————————- Howard ————————
Of course, this is hoping Chandler picks us. He is much better than any other RB’s not named Dolo.
There was an interesting comment made during the telecast last night: we have something like 5 or 6 team captains on the squad (not including Bradley, who seems like a captain in waiting). I can’t help but think this is a positive with respect to Jones, who has a reputation as a loose cannon. Liked the destroyer (Edu) backing up two box-to-box midfielder combo (both of whom have a reputation as defense-first players in Jones and Bradley – but with a fair bit of skill).
“or giving more freedom actually to go all over the field, as well as a left position player, which was Jose (Torres) tonight.” = 1.Dempsey 2. Torres
with the quality we have now it will be difficult for Holden to be a starter. Even making the roster is not a lock. He has a lot of work to do next season. Hope he regains his past form or even gets better.
As much as I like Stuart Holden, he’s going to have to earn his way back to a crowded midfield. People seem to forget that he’s not very experienced at the NAT A-team level. This really is a good thing though. Pushing all of them to be at their best if they want playing time at this level.
I don’t think we’d ever see that combination. Who is the (disciplined) defensive mid in that trio?
Stuart Holden, I thought he was dead?
I can’t wait to see the trio of Bradley, Jones and Holden.