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Who should the USMNT start vs. Guatemala?

USMNT Lineup vs Mexico (Getty)

 

By FRANCO PANIZO

Five days and one game are all that separate the U.S. Men’s National Team from the start of its CONCACAF Gold Cup title defense, and head coach Jurgen Klinsmann is likely to make the most of that remaining time and fixture.

The U.S. will have its final tune-up before the start of the Gold Cup on Friday, as the Americans host Guatemala at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. The friendly will give Klinsmann one last opportunity to assess the state of the team before next Tuesday’s tournament opener, and also a chance to see which players might best comprise a starting lineup.

Ideally, Klinsmann would be able to toss out his preferred group from the onset on Friday so as to give it a game to fine-tune things. But the fact that his European- and Mexican-based players are coming off of vacations complicates things, and could lead to him going with a more in-form starting eleven that does not necessarily include all of the U.S.’s top talents.

One thing Klinsmann will certainly be looking closely at is how the Americans perform in the formation he trots out. The U.S. had success in June’s friendlies vs. the Netherlands and Germany, but did so by using two different tactical looks. Klinsmann could be inclined to go back to one of those formations, but may consider something else entirely given that key veterans Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, and Alejandro Bedoya are all returning to the fold after missing those wins on European soil.

Who will start for the U.S.? Here is a lineup we could see starting against Guatemala:

Projected USMNT XI vs. Guatemala

Some thoughts:

The only guarantee Jurgen Klinsmann has made so far is that Brad Guzan will be between the pipes. The 10 players who line up in front of him are more of an unknown, though the back line could consist of Fabian Johnson, Omar Gonzalez, John Brooks, and Timmy Chandler.

Some fans will not be happy with Chandler starting given his rough outing at right back against Germany last month, but what was overlooked was how much he improved defensively when moved to left back. With Greg Garza just brought into camp as a replacement for Brad Davis, Chandler seems the safe bet to start on the left side of the defense while Fabian Johnson mans the right like he did at last summer’s World Cup.

Centrally, Klinsmann will have to choose from Omar Gonzalez, John Brooks, Ventura Alvarado, and Tim Ream. While it has been Brooks and Alvarado who have earned the recent looks, Gonzalez should slot back in given his experience and form. Brooks has more familiarity with Gonzalez than Alvarado, and seems more likely to partner with the LA Galaxy defender because of that.

How the U.S. looks in the midfield and up top will be a subject of much debate. Klinsmann has both Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley on the roster for the first time since the winter camp, but how the German-born head coach wants to fit them on the field could be the ultimate deciding factor in how the Americans come out.

Dempsey has normally been given the freedom to drop deep and serve as a No. 10 of sorts, but Bradley has shown in recent games that he is making strides in becoming the type of attacking player that Klinsmann wants him to be. Bradley’s improvements in final third have made for a more confident veteran, and that combined with Klinsmann’s desire to see Dempsey score goals this summer could mean that Dempsey is used as more of a striker partner next to Jozy Altidore.

If Bradley is given the playmaking responsibilities, Klinsmann will need to figure out who best complements the Toronto FC Designated Player. Alejandro Bedoya seems a shoo-in for an outside spot due to the way he played this season with FC Nantes, and Kyle Beckerman also appears to be a lock given his defensive range and tidiness on the ball.

That leaves one outside midfield spot open, and Klinsmann may be tempted to go with Gyasi Zardes after seeing the youngster have good moments vs. Germany. Zardes starting would mean that the talented likes of Mix Diskerud, Graham Zusi, and Aron Johannsson are left on the bench, but Klinsmann has said he intends to make full use of his six substitutions vs. Guatemala to see which reserves can strengthen their cases for starting spots.

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What do you think of this USMNT lineup? Hoping Klinsmann goes with another formation? How would you fit Bradley and Dempsey on the field together? Agree that Chandler gets the nod at left back?

Share your thoughts below

Comments

  1. I’m gonna go kinda crazy and predict the return of the 3-man back line.

    Gonzalez, Brooks and Ream (the “oh snap” JK unexpected twist selection) in front of Guzan. Two defensive midfielders, Beckerman and Morales, in front of them with Morales slightly higher up at kickoff and on restarts. Three attacking midfielders and two forwards, Zusi and Bedoya on the left and right respectively, with Bradley on the point. At forward, Zardes and Dempsey. Zardes as the chaser and Dempsey as the poacher.

    Reply
  2. I want to see this:

    —–Jozy—–Johanson
    Zardes—Dempsey—Bedoya
    ———-Bradley—
    FJ—Brooks–Omar—Chandler
    ————Guzan
    Subs:
    Yedlin on for Dempsey with moving Bedoya centrally.
    Mix for Jozy, with Zardes pushing high.

    Reply
  3. So given the expected bunker… I actually think we’ll get a back 3… But other than Brooks, Bradley, Guzan and Altidore, I have no idea where JK will go.

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  4. I say go with the back 5 that’s on a streak. Why screw it up.
    Klinger, Becky, JJ and Ali. Solo in goal.

    but let MB90 keep the armband.

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  5. Once, just once I’d love to see Zardes, Johansson, and Altidore as a front three all running at goal.

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  6. …………..Jozy………………
    …………………Deuce…………
    ………….Bradley…………………..
    ..Fab………………………..Bedoya
    ………………Beckerman……………
    Garza……JAB……Alvarado…..Chandler
    ___________Guzan___________

    Reply
      • I’d still like to see MB as a DM with a green light for box to box. With Beckerman as the other (I think the 4-2-3-1 fits us best right now – if we could find a good ACM), that should be safe.

        I’d move FJ back to LB and Dempsey to LW – where you know he isn’t going to stay, but those two used to make that work fairly well.

        ACM – I think Diskerud given the players we have. I’d still like to see SK tried in that role. He first touch and passing vision is really superior among our pool of players. He just lacks speed and physicality. But an ACM doesn’t need speed when he has speed around him. The physicality part will always be an issue, but it’s not like Jones is going to play ACM anytime soon.

  7. Zardes is really a strker, and plays on the wing rarely for the Galaxy, he is only a fair crosser But, JK likes him on the field for his ability to track back and make runs and passes from deeper in midfield. I would like to see him paired with JA up top just once,

    Reply
    • Yea I’m not sold on Zardes in this spot in this projected lineup.
      JK did a LOT of experimenting the last 6 months, partially to see people in different spots, and partially due to player availability. Who knows what we’ll see..
      I still think he replaced Davis with Garza to move Fabian back into the midfield

      Reply
      • You might be right but I hope not. FJ is probably the best corner we’ve ever had, but he seems less effective starting from midfield.

      • Someone can please fact check me but I think he had 6 assists during the last qualifying cycle.
        He also started to get the starting nod this past year at his club when he was in the midfield…
        We shall see

      • not disagreeing persay but i’m curious how many of those 6 assists were when he was playing defense . just a thought. I personally prefer him in defense fwiw

      • Yea I was wondering the same thing, I just remember TT saying something like that in reference to FJ being Jozys best friend due to the number of assists he had during qualifying.
        Vegas puts the over under at 4.5 as the left mid

      • He’s a pretty good mid, too, but we have other options there. Defense remains our weakness. I’m not sure how many of his assists were as a defender or midfielder, but no matter the answer I’d still prefer him on defense.

        This is a flip from 20 years ago, when defense and goalkeeping was pretty much all we brought to international games. Remember the 1-0 losses to top teams like Brazil and Germany? Now we can score multiple goals on anyone; but anyone can score multiple goals on us. Sure, some of that is because we’re not sitting back as much as we used to – all the more reason we need quality defenders.

  8. i’d rather see Mix or Zusi in Zardes’s spot. these teams (up until the later rounds) are going to bunker and passing is going to be more critical to unlocking them than speed/athleticism.

    if we get an early lead, they’ll open up and attack. bring on zardes then to counterattack.

    Reply
    • Agreed, the ability to get open and/or find teammates with good passes in tight spaces will be more important than speed. Dribbling in tight spots is OK, but it will too often lead to 1v4 situations which usually does not work out so well. Mix, Bradley and Bedoya are probably the best trio to make passes to unlock the defense.

      If the referee is not kind to Jozy, who at times can look more like a brute than a soccer player, JK may decide to bring in Wondo to find open spaces in the crowd and poach a goal.

      I am not sure how I think Dempsey will fare in these games in whichhe will be fouled a lot; he seems to tolerate that less well as he has gotten older, of course, that might just get him fired up enough to score that is the best kind of retaliation.

      Reply
    • You don’t earn a spot with your club play. You earn a shot at winning a USMNT spot. In training.

      You earn a spot by playing well for the USMNT. Bolton is a different team.

      Reply
      • +1. Club and international play are different. You get the interview (I.e call up) because of your club play. You get the job (seeing the field) by your NATS play. “Calm on the Ball” Ream needs to show he can consistently play at the international level.

  9. I really don’t think Omar Gonzalez waltz’s back into the starting lineup, and I honestly hope he doesn’t.

    I know Tim Ream has looked under par at times in his NATS appearances, but winning Player of the Year for Bolton two years running is a heck of an achievement and I’m eager to see how his game has grown since.

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    • Old Man River…. Concur @ Gonzo! I feel however that Brooks and Alvarado should be paired as much as possible in every opportunity until they wear out their effect. This tandem at CB could be lights out for years. Also would like to further the connections with Zardes and Johanson (Walter and Wood) as much as possible. These kids are a possible scoring machine leading into the future. I’m also of the opinion of playing Yedlin off the bench in the midfield where his speed especially going forward can be deadly, and specifically because he’d not have the onus to having to fall back so often.

      In all, It’s my hopes that JK will continue to develop speed and youth leading forward. Factors that showed positives in the last European friendly’s tour.

      Reply
  10. We just beat Holland and Germany with few of the projected starters. If this group fails to impress, like the Euro group did, then JK needs a serious wake up call and needs to reevaluate who his starters should be

    Reply
    • “We just beat Holland and Germany with few of the projected starters. If this group fails to impress”……
      Sorry revo we have Alti-noscore and a pissed off Dempsey (Stripped Captaincy from him) up top and Bradley in the midfield, a set-up that hasn’t looked dynamic from time in memorial. Don’t expect anything too impressive……

      Reply
      • ….you almost got me with that comment……lol, but I have lost hope. Adu is playing for KuPS’s Fourth division team (Fourth Division!!!!) and the complains are the same: skill but no fitness

      • “Alti-noscore”

        Nickname makes sense as he’s only 5th on the all-time US scoring list.

      • if you think one goal in every 3 international matches is something to brag about then that shows our problems right there
        If Wondo or Zardes or Wood were selected up top, even though they couldn’t score to save their lives for their clubs, but miraculously played 80 games as forward for the USMNT I guarantee you they’ll have more than 27 goals each
        …and if they played for Sunderland they’d score more two goals in 2 years

  11. They SHOULD start:
    __________Jozy___________
    ________Dempsey_________
    Fabian___Bradley___Bedoya
    ________Beckerman_______
    Garza__JAB__Omar__Yedlin
    _________Guzan__________

    They WILL start:
    ___________Jozy____________
    _________Dempsey__________
    Zardes____Bradley____Bedoya
    _________Beckerman_________
    Fabian_JAB_Alvarado_Chandler
    ___________Guzan___________

    Reply
      • The serious answer is anytime JK thinks he needs someone to find spaces in a packed defense and score a goal. Probably not in a US-Mexico or US-Costa Rica game since those teams will most likely play soccer rather than just defend with 10 in the penalty area and pray for a counter attack goal.

        Also, a good possibility if Dempsey or Jozy pick up a yellow in the first couple games.

  12. First match is a much needed win. Switch Johnson for zardes and put yedlin at right back and I would feel more comfortable.

    Reply
    • GUA is not in Gold Cup, this is a friendly. First match July 7 vs. HON in Texas. Yes, we ought to win that one.

      Reply
      • to clarify, GUA is not in our group and this is not a Gold Cup game….GUA is in the tournament, but it doesn’t start until the 7th

      • My bad I knew it wasn’t gold cup. Not sure what I was thinking but thanks for correcting

    • Be exposed as a weak right back?
      Seriously though, he’s so good coming in as a sub and blowing by people, I wouldn’t put him in the starting line-up yet unless you really need to.

      Reply
      • I’d like to see Yedlin as a RB at times. Now would be a good time to test him out. He was good against MLS competition, he will be fine against Gold Cup competition. Oh, and he did pretty well against Belgium too.

        I think against the teams that bunker, Yedlin should be used as a RB to provide more in the attack. The super-sub wing role is good against high level teams, which aren’t really in the Gold Cup.

      • I think you beat defensive teams with patience and repetition. You’ll have a lot of possession and opportunities to scoring opportunities via relative conservative direct attack. What you don’t want to do is get caught up field and give up chances for counters. Six years ago, Spain controlled the field against us and basically schooled us on possession, yet we won 2-0. The reason is because, I believe, we won the battle of wills. Defensive teams invite the opponents into their half in defense phase, hoping to create space for counters. Possession teams, by contrast, invite their opponents into their half when they have ball. They’ll try to frustrate opponents with a lot of meaningless passes between defenders and mids, and wait for the other team to chase, creating spaces for penetration. What we don’t want to do against a team that bunkers is lose defensive shape.

        I love attacking defenders, but when it disrupts the other team; not when that’s what the other team is hoping you’ll do.

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