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Diskerud delivers another strong USMNT showing to boost case for starting role

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By FRANCO PANIZO

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — On a night when the legendary No. 10 said goodbye, the current No. 10 showed he might be capable of helping fill the crater-sized hole being left behind.

Mix Diskerud continued to show he is making strides in his development on Friday night, putting together an impressive and silky smooth 90-minute performance in center midfield in the the U.S. Men’s National Team’s 1-1 draw with Ecuador. It was not just the way Diskerud positioned himself and took his goal in the fourth minute that opened some eyes, but also the way he accurately sprayed a wide range of passes to teammates and the manner in which he hustled to defend.

The grit and tenacity demonstrated on the defensive side of the ball were especially welcome signs for U.S. fans, as the 24-year-old midfielder has been judged in the past of being too frail to be a full-time starter on the international level.

He looked every bit an impact player against the Ecuadorians, however, and most of the Americans’ best plays throughout their dominant opening hour involved him.

“I felt like at least for the first 60-65 minutes I thought the whole team did well and I was a part of that,” said Diskerud.

Used as a central midfielder in a flat 4-4-2 formation, Diskerud was active from early on. His passes were accurate and well-weighted, he covered lots of grounds, and scored his fourth international goal on a nice little sequence that came while hundreds, if not thousands, of U.S. fans were still in bumper-to-bumper traffic trying to get into Rentschler Field.

The strong individual start helped Diskerud deliver the type of outing many expected from him this summer, when he was chosen for the World Cup roster before failing to see any time in the tournament in Brazil.

“Mix is growing,” said U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. “The message to him after the World Cup was, ‘If you want to break into this team as a starter one day, you’ve got to step it up. You have to become more aggressive, you have to challenge more one-against-one situations, you have to become more physical.’

“Can he play? Absolutely. Does he have tremendous vision? Yes. But he needs these other elements on the international stage to break through and I think he’s working hard on this. Also in training, and every time I see him doing that, he gets a little compliment.”

For Diskerud, the key is now being able to translate that type of showing when paired with more of the U.S.’s regulars. He has left his stamp in his last two international appearances, but that has come with more established veterans like Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones absent from the lineup.

Diskerud could be given a golden chance to further stake his claim on Tuesday, as the Americans host Honduras at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida, with both Bradley and Jones back in the mix and expected to start.

Impressing there could go a long way in helping him break into a U.S. lineup that is being experimented with ahead of the 2015 Gold Cup, but it likely will not be enough to convince Klinsmann.

“The challenge for all these players that you see from the younger side is consistency,” said Klinsmann. “That is for us the biggest challenge. Not showing it one game, (but) showing it in the next game, too, and then next month as well and showing it in their club team.

“We build this consistency over an entire season, obviously, over 11 months. We always see the talent that players have but can they move with that on a consistent basis? … It’s about, ‘Okay, am I able to go every four, five days with the same pace, same rhythm, same aggressiveness?’ He’s working on it, so I was pleased, obviously, with his performance.”

One commendable act that Diskerud did on Friday was trying to feed the retiring Landon Donovan for a goal. Donovan was playing in his farewell U.S. match, and Diskeurd admitted afterward that he was making a conscious effort to try and tee up the legend.

While an assist was not in the cards, Diskerud did share a few words with Donovan prior to the game. Diskerud would not say what their brief conversation was about, but it may well have revolved around the No. 10.

Diskerud had said back when he made the World Cup team and Donovan didn’t in May that he was just temporarily using the 32-year-old attacker’s number, and that he would return it in due time. Friday was that time.

“I exchanged a couple texts with Landon and that’s going to be between us,” said Diskerud. “But no hard feelings and I was happy to give the No. 10 back.”

With Donovan riding into the sunset, the No. 10 is up for grabs once again and Diskerud may very well be the one to claim it if he can continue to perform like he did on Friday.

“I thought Mix, the last few games, has been our best player,” Jozy Altidore said of Diskerud. “He’s in the middle, he’s everywhere, his tempo, the way he’s passing the ball, the way he’s moving around the box is very clinical.

“I think he’s growing. This is what you see when a player’s growing. It’s fun to watch because he’s been part of the program for a while and he’s taken his chance.”

Comments

  1. So I am a bit confused about Mix. I’m not confused that he is a good player but why is he still plying his trade in Norway. It seems like he has put together enough of a resume with the US to get some interest from some lower table teams in the bigger leagues of Europe. Wouldn’t that mean a nice pay raise and a chance to take his game further? what am I missing as to why this hasn’t happened?

    Reply
    • Mix left Staebek , his original club and now BB’s, and went to the Belgian league for a bit. For whatever reason it did not work out and he came back to Rosenborg.

      So the answer to your question is he tried and he failed but maybe next time.

      Reply
  2. What happened with Mix and Columbus? Since they just signed Kamara I am assuming that means they have given up the allocation that would have allowed him to be signed in January?

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  3. It will be interesting to see which players are preferred in midfield as we go forward with adding the 4-3-3. I would think Mix would definitely be in the rotation going forward.He’s starting to spray it around like Stu pre injuries…he’s probably already as good or better than pre-injury Stu in the attacking third. Like JK states he needs to add some grit and endurance to round out his game. We’ve been so accustomed to two center mids, with a 6 and an 8 or playing three Dmids. Depending on the opponent we face we’ll still have that capability, but we’ll see how soon or often JK plays the 4-3-3. I wouldn’t mind seeing MB and Cameron, in the deeper centermid rotation and MB and Mix in the box to box rotation if/when we play with two center mids.

    Maybe with GW’s blessing we can go with younger options and move on from JJ prior to the Copa.

    Reply
    • Mr SpectorNB4,

      You got any candidates?

      Don’t say Mikey, he’s never been an enforcer and he’s not one now. I love Mikey but he’s not intimidating he just scowls a lot. The rest of SBI used to love him too but since his World Cup performance everyone has quickly jumped off the ” Mikey, has supplanted LD as the US’ most important player and must be the next US captain” bandwagon. Typical of USMNT fans. Like rats leaving a sinking ship.

      Maybe you don’t remember the USMNT being pushed around a lot by physical and talented sides like Ghana and Germany, looking like boys vs men, but I do.
      Sure the USMNT had the occasional tough guy, Pablo, Chris Armas, Gooch, Rico and so on but they were never had the talent to go along with the menace like Jones.

      Or the other way to deal with the intimidation problem is to have all your players be physical and aggressive all the time, like Germany and Ghana.

      Reply
      • Haha you remembered.

        MB doesn’t have the physical presence that JJ has but I think he could play well in a deeper role. I think that’s his natural role, deep lying distributor. Williams could potentially bring a nice physical edge, but the guy I’d really like to see in that role would be Cameron. I think we have the flexibility now to give him more minutes there.

        Regarding getting pushed around at the WC. That’s what we face historically. We rarely have players that are both physically strong and also technical and skilled…for us it’s usually one or the other. We improve at a glacial rate in that area. Other WC teams are stacked front to back with those players. I think we’re making progress though. As JK says we need to bring the nasty…everybody on the team should have the ability and mindset to set the tone physically…send a message when necessary.

        It will be interesting where the current mid starters go when we go to 4-3-3…maybe we’ll get an idea against Honduras…maybe MB in the middle with JJ and MIx on his left and right?

      • MB does well playing a deeper role because he is best when he has 1 or 2 more seconds on the ball and he is world class at long balls over the top that hit the target in stride. I also agree that he is not a pure DM as he does well going forward and has the legs to cover box to box. Long story short MB is the poor man’s Pirlo.

        Going radical I wouldn’t mind seeing a 5-3-2 or a 3-5-2 tried for the US. Chandler, Johnson, and Yedlin could pay the wings, Altidore and Dempsey up top and Mix, MB, and Green working the middle.

  4. Breaking! Slovakia up on White Russia 1-0 in 78th minute. They have already beaten the 2 strongest teams in their group, Ukraine and Spain. Holy Cow.

    Where is the Sunday soccer commentary post?

    Reply
  5. I wish we used him in front of Jones and Bradley at the world cup. With landon on the left, dempsy in the middle, and bedoya on the right. I think this would have been a better line-up than what we showed.

    Reply
    • Landon wasn’t at the World Cup? What? I haven’t heard that before, everyone claims to be so knowledgeable and yet no one has mentioned that in like four months.

      Reply
  6. Mix is a good player. Bradley is fading fast and I think it will be either him or JJ on defensive mid. On attacking mid, it could be one of many if JK were to give others a chance to compete.

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  7. Been a big fan of Mix since I saw him play in one of those January camps in LA several years ago. Liked how he was composed on the ball and his vision of the game (which puts him in the right place at the right time like against Equador). The other thing is that he reminds me of my sons when they were that age and playing soccer (once a mom, always a mom).

    Reply
  8. With the way we play i think its hard to fit mix and MB90 in the same lineup, while still getting the most from bradley, my 11 for honduras
    ——————–Altidore—————–
    —Bedoya—–Deuce———Zusi——
    ————-Jones——Bradley———-
    Garza—–Besler—–Orozco–Yedlin
    ——————Rimando—————–
    I wana see ibarra, corona, mix, morales, chandler and ream get some time

    Reply
    • In order for Garza and Yedlin to make runs and overlapping runs in the offensive half it is necessary for Jones and Bradley to fall back as Centerback’s and play defense with Besler and Orozco to cover the gaps. Do you want Orozco and Besler to cover the outside back positions? Do you want Jones and Bradley to drop back as Centerback’s?

      The Jones and Bradley positions in this formation and many formations like it in the past takes away there talent and puts them in positions that muffles there skill. Jones and Bradley double team well with defenders. If you really want to have attacks come from the outside backs it’s a good idea to have players in the DMF position than can also double duty as a CB. Two players come to mind: Edu and Cameron can both play DMF as well as CB. It’s also very wise to have your original CB’s with blazing speed to cover the outside back positions. Besler and Brooks have that speed. Jones and Bradley need to play a more offensive role. If you have no blazing speed on the outside you can deploy a box formation, but it would be wise to play compact and overload the wings in order to take advantage of attacking the open space on the opposite side: keeping the other team off balance. Bradley or Jones would be the ones making runs to the opposite sides of an overloaded wing to maintain possession and attacking open space. That is getting the most out of Bradley and Jones and they know how to play that role. Question is: can JK put this all together the right way?

      Reply
    • Chandler was terrible on defense. Going forward he played better but he lacks the vision to regularly play on the wing. He’s a slower and older version of Yedlin. Timmeh made far too many stupid decisions against Ecuador on D — just like he did against Turkey. He is not a long term solution for the MNT until he avoids the face-palming stupidity that ruined his defensive play.

      Reply
      • I was impressed by Garza. Ream started poorly and played a little better after, especially his key block, but I think he’s probably better as an outside back. Gonzo is an enigma. He plays well in one match, poorly in the next two to the point you write him off, then plays well in the following match, followed by a mediocre performance. IMO, he needs to get out of the MLS and play at a higher level if he wants to be consistent.

  9. I will be somewhat shocked if Mix isn’t starting against Honduras. Personally I want to see Mix and Bradley start their partnership, and have Jones as a sub going forward.

    Reply
    • I want Bradley to get his mojo back first before we start talking about him pairing with anyone in a new role. If there was ever a player that needed to earn his way back into the starting IX after a lackluster run it’s this guy. As far as I’m concerned the depth chart for the number 6 jersey is currently Jones, Beckerman and anyone else that can pry it from their cold dead hands. If you’re looking to a future where MB sits at the base of the diamond, he’s gonna have to play those two guys for it first, and recent form being the indicator he’s third on my depth chart.

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  10. Needs a bigger club. Has the potential to be the attacking CM in the 4-3-3 or the CAM in the 4-2-3-1. Also needs to get stronger as a person. The USMNT cannot sacrifice a tackler for a pure AM. He needs to be able to tackle, which I was glad to see more of against Ecuador.

    Reply
    • Some players take longer than others to develop.

      Mix always had the skill now he’s developing the power.

      Mix seems to have picked up a lot from JJ and Mikey. Hopefully he can do well at Rosenborg and earn a move to a more competitive league.

      Reply
      • He also seems to be good for about 60 minutes. By the end of the game, he was clearly done…he was lurching around, heavy-footed, obviously didn’t have any burst or hop left in his legs…in that score by Valencia the Ecuador attacker drove right by him and left him sort of flopping around in his wake, which had happened a couple times prior to that and was a glaring red-flag there were problems brewing in the center of the park.

        JJ and especially Michael Bradley may not be as elegant technically as Mix but they’re iron men, some of the best-conditioned guys out there, and they’re still running while the more…easy-going players are dropping like flies.

        Mix gets THAT in his game, he’s ready to start for us. Or just about anybody.

      • Like I said, power.

        Before the World Cup most on SBI hated Jones and did not understand what he brings to the game with his power. Basically its doing what you described, still doing the beast mode thing at 90 minutes.

      • It was weird how unappreciated the man was before the WC. Against team that rely on power like Ghana, he was vital.

      • Count me as NOT one of the ones who saw him in an unappreciated light. Jermaine Jones has shown, and proven with Schalke, that he is a beast and has the ability to actually get stronger as the games gets tougher. MB has shown this trait as well (albeit not in the last WC). We are fortunate to have those guys, to say the least.

      • The problem is if he paces himself, he won’t be as good. If he hustles like we saw in this past game, he is not going to last 90.
        Not sure if his “engine” can improve.

      • Which is why JJ starts until somebody else proves they can do what he does.

        The man is giving the Revs that something extra to help make them a contender for the MLS Cup

    • Definitely needs a bigger club,right situation, and proper training! He seems pretty calculated with his career path but needs to throw himself into a competitive club environment. He could grow into the offensive possession mid Bradley is not. With Bradley developing into more of the JJ crusher role.

      Reply
      • This is my hope as well for this cycle. Bradley is, obviously, far more comfortable in a defensive role but was forced higher simply because we had no other options. If Mix can grow into the CAM role, then Bradley slots in behind, and we have quite a “spine” to build around.

      • With the 4-3-3 we’re headed towards we’re essentially going to be playing three center-type mids anyhow, with the width coming from the outside forwards and the wingbacks. Plenty of room in that setup to integrate both Bradley and Mix.

      • The time is coming when those 3 CM’s will be a fluid group. I expect to see JK field a midfield that includes Diskerud (Creative type of Box to Box CM).
        Bradley (Pure Box to Box CM)
        Williiams (Defensive Box to Box type).
        Others options will push these 3, but for the moment these are the 3 I expect to be leading the charge after 2015. Gil, Powers, Trapp, Kitchen, Stanko & Canouse should all get a chance over the next couple years.

      • Fabian will be played as either the starting RB or LB. At this point he is the only established outside back we’ve got. Chandler & Yedlin will fight it out for the other starting back. The other will be on the bench…as an impact sub.
        Will really depend on if JK goes with a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 formation.

      • I think that MB is best either as a DM or as a B2B middie. He really got better in the niceties of those roles in Italy. He’s not learned the CAM stuff that well.

    • At Rosenberg he may be one of the best players on the roster. In Germany, France, England, or Italy he is just a roster player where everybody has the same skill level. It would be a challenge for him in those leagues to become one of the best players on the roster. The question is how hungry he is. He is showing signs of hunger. The biggest difference between smaller weaker leagues and bigger stronger leagues is the mental adjustment. It’s more of a mental challenge in Germany, Italy, and England, but it brings out the best in a player.

      Reply
      • its a risk.. but id love to see him make the jump. that drive/mental adjustment is what will push him past other cm’s of similar abilities.

        I can see him in the Bundesliga but another try in Belgium or Holland wouldn’t be bad. im surprised Jurgen hasn’t pushed this on him yet.

      • I think that him climbing the ladder at Lyon or Nantes or Bordeaux would be great for him. SPG and Maeresille and Monaco might be a bit too “big time” just yet, but there are many places in Ligue 1 that would make a perfect next step for Mixx. Same goes for Belgian Juliper (Anderlecht or Brugge), Eredivisie (Twente, Alkmaar, Heerenveen), or some of the lower table clubs in Bundesliga Stuttgart, Freiburg, Augsburg) or Serie A (Genoa, Chievo, Parma, Atalanta). All would be a good jump

  11. I am enjoying watching Mix’s game evolve. Really hope he gets some minutes with the “first” group (Deuce, MB, JJ, Jozy) vs HON.

    Reply
      • It would depend on formation, but yes there is some overlap with the existing personnel. Given JJ’s age, I would imagine the driving need is to find a two-way player in CM, and then figure the best way to incorporate either as an understudy or as a tactical sub/shift.

        But I could be totally wrong.

      • I think the Ecuador game showed mix is not the person you want playing MB’s role. Mix is creative and not someone you want in the holding mid or defensive mid role. Can he do an adequate job there, yeah probably. But he is not as good there as Jones, Bradley, Edu, Beckerman, Cameron and several others.

      • MB and JJ are basically both box to box mids. Bob Bradley and Jk have tried to make JJ a #6 but with mixed results. JJ should be the player to be replaced but JJ hasn’t slowed down and his playing better than MB. Which begs the questions… when is JJ going to be phased out? or when is MB going to be demoted from the starting 11?

      • ideally i would prefer Mix in a more advanced role, while MB was more of a holding almost DM role. They could play the same position though.

      • Bradley is more of a deep playmaker where I see Mixx as more a poor man’s Landon to play slightly under the forwards. That you conflate the two wanders into my concerns with whether JK knows how to put out there 3-5 mids who have well defined roles beyond an empty bucket approach. You can have Bradley breaking legs and freeing Mixx to sit under Jozy and Dempsey and create. Bradley can also do the playmaking but his willingness to do dirty work gives us tactical versatility with him. We need not shove off CAM talent to leave Bradley there — where he stunk in Brazil. Maybe he needs to give way to younger attacking players and he handles more dirty work now.

    • I don’t know if he needs to start but his penchant for scoring important goals suggests he should be at least a supersub, both him and AJ. That Wondo keeps getting used in more that role — where he tends to run hard for the team but not score like we need — suggests JK doesn’t quite get it.

      Reply

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