By SBI SOCCER
Growing concerns about Fabian Johnson’s status for the upcoming CONCACAF Cup were alleviated just five minutes into his return to action on Tuesday..
Playing in his first game since suffering a calf injury in August, the U.S. Men’s National Team fullback scored in just the fifth minute of Borussia Monchendladbach’s 4-2 victory against Augsburg.
Starting on the left wing for the Bundesliga side, Johnson smashed a left-footed volley past Augsburg goalkeeper Marwin Hitz for the game’s opening goal.
Johnson’s finish and 59-minute shift in the starting lineup comes at the perfect time for Jurgen Klinsmann and the USMNT, which was forced to play without Johnson in recent friendlies. Johnson’s return gives Klinsmann his top fullback option ahead of October’s crucial CONCACAF Cup clash with Mexico.
Here is the video of Johnson’s goal:
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What did you think of Johnson’s goal? How excited are you by the news of his return? Where would you start Johnson against Mexico?
Share your thoughts below.
Great news. Now we need a couple of more Mexico injuries to even things out a bit.
I like the goalkeeper’s hoodie.
That’s the coach.
Does anyone else feel like he should be playing LM for the NATS??? While i can appreciate his marauding runs from a wingback positiion and also Zardes’ development from the left wing, i still think FJ gives us more from there. I can’t help but think that him being closer to goal gives the US a dimension we don’t have there with his ability to penetrate off the dribble, pick out a perfect pass, class crossing and we’ve all seen his finishing ability which is something Zardes is still perfecting. Comments????
for me it’s less about Not playing him at LM as it is the desperate need TO play him in one of the outside back slots. With DMB out injured, and Chandler still so inconsistent (or consistently not good enough depending on who you ask), FJ has the unfortunate distinction of being both one of our best wide mids AND one of our best outside backs, and we have more viable players (like Zardes) at wide mid.
Exactly. How soon people forget that as recently as the Peru game Zardes was arguably our best player and he did well in both the Holland and Germany games. He didn’t do a lot vs. Brazil, but then hardly anyone did.
I agree, but it depends on who lines up at LB. I think Ream can do the job back there — even if he is not much of an attacking threat, his stay-at-home tendencies would relieve FJ of some defensive obligations. Against a good, disciplined side like Mexico, I think Ream/FJ gives you a better chance than FJ/Zardes.
While Ream may be a viable LB, I would prefer a quicker defender that can match up against the Mexicans. If DMB is not available/recovered from injury than FJ needs to be on the back line IMO.
I believe FJ has played on the right for us. Why not keep Ream on the left with Zardes and move FJ to the right and play him behind Yedlin? Cameron and Brooks in the middle?
Keith,
If DMB is not fit you may get your wish.
However, if he is healthy he will start at left back and I want him there.
He knows the Mexicans very well, is quicker and faster than Ream and presents more of an offensive threat than Tim does.
And there is the x factor of his leadership qualities in what will be a very big game.
However, the U.S. defense is currently so shaky and lacking confidence that FJ is better than any other options we have right now. FJ will be contributing at the attacking front whenever the U.S. has the ball cross the midfield.
Part of the reason our defense has been so poor is our lack of any threat going forward. We are constantly giving the ball away in simple situations and not creating near enough chances. FJ would certainly help with that at LM. Not sure if I’m remembering this correctly or not, but when Jozy was actually scoring goals for us many of them were set up by Fabian while playing LM. Anyone remember the stats there? We really need help all over the wide areas of the field so I don’t think there is a wrong place to put him. LM, RM, RB, LB are all fine with me.
If I’m not mistaken, I believe Fabian had 6 assists to Jozy during that run of goals
Fabian has 8 assists in total for the US,
Ones I can think of to Jozy are against Panama WCQ, Honduras WCQ, then Bosnia, and Nigeria friendlies.
Gotcha… Thought I remember TT saying FJ to JA 6 times during the tune up games
Ronniet,,
Being “closer” to goal does not necessarily increase FJ’s contribution to the offense.
At either fullback position, he is less likely to be closely marked and will have more space to see the field and start things. That’s why you often see guys with Fabian’s skill set at fullback. Guys like Marcelo, and Ashley Young, ..
That is what he did in Brazil when he impressed a lot of people..
I see no reason to deviate from that.
It’s all fine and well to say he’ll have more space to find people and won’t be double teamed from a deeper position but here is the problem with that and comparing him to the likes of Marcelo or Ashley Young, we’re not Brazil or Man U where we have quality all over the field and can maintain possession like they can so in my opinion it’s wasteful to have him deeper. This US team has issues with maintaining the ball and creating scoring opportunities and if you take away probably your best offfensive player you further limit scoring chances for the sake of speed in the back where the objective is to score more goals then the opposition. Mexico ain’t no Brazil, so to expect them to just run by people the way Brazil did is silly. I think Ream would be totally fine there or Beasley if he is healthy
Ronniet
“It’s all fine and well to say he’ll have more space to find people and won’t be double teamed from a deeper position but here is the problem with that and comparing him to the likes of Marcelo or Ashley Young, we’re not Brazil or Man U where we have quality all over the field and can maintain possession like they can so in my opinion it’s wasteful to have him deeper.”
The USMNT is not Real Madrid or Manchester United.
However, that does not change the basic principle involved, i.e that creative players at fullback often have more space to operate than if you deployed them as midfielders.
That is how Fabian and for that matter DMB to a lesser extent were used at the World Cup, where the competition faced was of an acceptable level.
“This US team has issues with maintaining the ball and creating scoring opportunities and if you take away probably your best offfensive player you further limit scoring chances for the sake of speed in the back where the objective is to score more goals then the opposition. Mexico ain’t no Brazil, so to expect them to just run by people the way Brazil did is silly. “
So you are saying if the US does not deploy Fabian as you think they should, the world will end? Playing Fabian at full back does not “take him away” from the offense. That is being overly dramatic.
Mexico are not Brazil but if you let them play, they will beat you. When they are allowed to play their game they can beat anyone.
“I think Ream would be totally fine there or Beasley if he is healthy”
If they are healthy and in form Fabian is the right back and DMB is the left back. JK already announced that and I see no reason to disagree with that.
If you assume Zardes and Yedlin also start, at left mid and right mid respectively , then the US will be able to keep Mexico pinned back because of Zardes’ and Deandre’s speed, willingness to attack and ability to get back and cover for DMB and Fabian.when those guys attack.
The way to beat a rhythm , possession team like Mexico ( think Arsenal) is to either beat them down, foul frequently and intelligently ( Beckerman is the master at that) , overpower them at set pieces and grind them into submission.
Or you can take the ball away and pressure them high and attack them all the time.
The US has done it both ways.
I’d be fine with Fabian at left midfield if :
1. You tell me that you have a better replacement at right back for him. I don’t want Cameron there. He should be at center half where he happens to be playing very well for Stoke right now . Plus he usually does a nice job on Chicharito.
2. You don’t have a problem with moving Zardes out of left mid where he has been arguably, one of the US’ best players for a while now. He’s doing really well there. Why do you want to fix what ain’t broke?
I like Ream as well but unless he beats out Besler for left side centerback the only place where he can start, if DMB is healthy, is at defensive midfielder, which is not a bad idea.
Thank god our best field player is back
One of our best field players. I would still pick Dempsey ahead of FJ and Dempsey missed the last two USMNT friendlies, too.
Dempsey is the US’ best, most dangerous and only reliable scorer..
Fabian is ,fundamentally, a better all around soccer player, the US’ best. .
If you want the best possible USMNT lineup on the field both of them, healthy and in form, have to be playing.
Julian Green scored too,
Good for Green who needs a lot of confidence to continue develop into a player.
Yes! We need him against Mexico.
Great news!