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Green and Wood display progress as forward partnership

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The U.S. Men’s National Team scored two goals for the second time in 2018 in their 4-2 loss to Colombia on Thursday.

The issues up top have lingered throughout the calendar year due to the integration of new players, lack of chemistry and a weakened depth chart at the position.

During the second-half surge that briefly put the USMNT ahead, Julian Green and Bobby Wood played well in what interim manager Dave Sarachan called a two-forward system.

“I thought both Julian and Bobby had solid nights tonight,” Sarachan said. “Julian is an important player in that position to keep possession and threaten. He certainly is aggressive trying to get to goal. In the first half, he beat a guy and had a good shot. Overall, he had a pretty good night.”

The top moment produced by the pair came on the second goal, which was netted by Wood in the 53rd minute.

Green dug into a challenge at midfield to stop Colombia from creating yet another surge into the final third and then he played a nice ball over to Timothy Weah, whose perfect assist found the feet of Wood.

Although it was a small spell of success, the USMNT forwards gave us a glimpse into how they can play when they actually get time on the ball.

In theory, the forwards would receive more support from the outside backs, but they were occupied with the Colombian attack, as they have been for the last few games.

“I just think tonight we used more of a two forward system with Julian and Bobby,” Sarachan said. “I thought Bobby had a good night tonight holding up balls and bring aggressive. I think the ability in my mind when we can get our outside backs advanced and I think Antonee had the first assist. But when Antonee gets in a good spot and DeAndre gets in a good spot, it allows better numbers centrally and I think in a good part of the start of the second half we had that balance better. Your odds of creating chances go up when you put numbers in front of goal. That was a big part of us being a little bit more dangerous.”

Until Jozy Altidore is eventually called back into the squad, Wood is the No. 1 forward on the depth chart, and it was crucial for him to get on the scoresheet after bagging a brace Hannover in his final club game before the international break.

With Sarachan expected to make a plethora of changes to the lineup for Tuesday’s clash with Peru, Josh Sargent and Andrija Novakovich are options to start in place of Wood, or the interim boss could hand Wood another run out with the opportunity to create more chances in front of him.

As for Green, he’s a serviceable option at the No. 10 slot while Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie are away from the team because of injury.

The German-born midfielder has made improvements to his game by playing in the No. 10 role at Greuther Furth in the 2. Bundesliga, and he’d be a solid depth option when the first-team players make their way back into the squad.

What the USMNT attackers need to show against Peru is an increased amount of time spent in the final third and more shots on goal.

Scoring nine goals as an international team during a calendar year isn’t good enough, and the USMNT are aware of that.

The opportunity is front of Wood, Green and Co. to take advantage of their places in their squad now and they must do that in order to produce a positive result against Peru.

Comments

  1. I’ve been a believer in Green for a while. Always thought he was more of a false 9 which is what Ancelotti thought his natural position was too. He’s not a winger and American media need to stop seeing him as a winger imo. His club uses him more as a either a out and out #10 or as a false 9, very nuanced differences in the positions. We’ve been using him as the center #10 in the 4231 formation which I’ve said earlier in previous posts is a position he is still learning. In Bayern reserves he was a forward and for their senior team a false 9 at least in practice (was cover in case Meuller got hurt) and was used on the wing at Stuttgart. I don’t have ESPN+ so I can’t watch him as much as I’d like at his club. I think the verdict is still out on him as a #10 again I believe based on his playing experience this is a position he’s still learning. I believe he could be a deadly false 9 with the right strike partner and wingers playing around him. He’s a natural finisher in the box, one touch no traps no gathers just one touch is all he needs if he’s free in the box. I think he’s still a work in progress as a #10 though and needs to move up a level at club too. His passing instincts aren’t there for him to be a natural #10 imo. I really rate this guy just think his natural position is more as a false 9.

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    • I agree he isn’t a natural passer as a 10, but he is not afraid to throw one on goal. His shot from outside the box early was nearly in. As a 10 he reminds me of a slower Nagbe but still holds the ball too long.

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      • I thought the same thing when I saw him take that shot “He trys shit”, very Dempsey-esque in his willingness and confidence to try a shot even if unlikely. I like it. I’m worried he may have the same positional problems Dempsey had in that his club managers never quite knew where to use him until he was a bit past his prime and everyone realized he’s naturally a false 9. Green has a long way to go to ever be in the same class as Dempsey but I think the potential is there if he gets to play more at what I believe is his natural position as a false 9. The good news is Dempsey was still playing club with NE Revs at the age Julian is now so even though it seems he’s been around a while he still could make good but I think his next transfer is the make it or break it one on reaching that potential.

  2. Kudos for not making any reference to the fact that Wood is from Hawaii. There seems to be a requirement to work that fun fact into every article that mentions him (like with Ching)…

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  3. We really haven’t seen enough of Novakovich to see how he measures up. He’s done well in Holland and I think he should get the start vs. Peru. We know what Wood can and can’t do, let’s see more of Novakovich,.

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    • Yeah I’d definitely like to see Nova get a start at some point. Hard to learn much about a player the way he’s been deployed so far.

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  4. Woods will always be what he is, a body to fill the position. He has his moments, but cannot make them at all without service. Green has definitely shown more upside when so many forgot about him. He’s not world class, but definitely hasn’t shown signs of digressing.

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