The big news in soccer last week was the U.S. dropping a 3-2 win at Chile.
The U.S. is in the midst of a five-game winless streak, blowing second-half leads in four of those losses. That’s a disappointing trend for manager Jurgen Klinsmann, who is a fanatic of fitness and expects his players to strongly finish games.
Of greater disappointment, the U.S. has just one win in its last nine games.
The alarming aspect of the loss to Chile is it was fielding a “B” team, lacking stars such as Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez. Just one player, the goalkeeper, was on last year’s World Cup roster.
Still, the U.S., which fielded veterans Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley, Matt Besler and Jermaine Jones was badly outplayed for long stretches.
While it’s true that most of Chile’s players are in the midst of their league seasons and therefore fit and game-ready, while most of the U.S. players are still in the offseason and not fit or game ready, it’s becoming more difficult to live with that reasoning because of the squad’s experience
It’s also true that the U.S. was using an untested, never-before-seen with the U.S. 3-5-2 formation to take advantage of the speed of wings Brek Shea and DeAndre Yedlin on the outside. That duo played well. Shea scored the first goal with a rocket into the lower corner and Yedlin was part of the set up for Altidore’s second goal.
But the three at back was a disaster in waiting and mistakes were frequently made. The 3-5-2 is a formation that is coming back into vogue, partly because most teams have a glut of midfielders and a dearth of defenders, partly because it stretches the field and can create more ways to score.
It’s not one the U.S. will use much going forward. To be effective, midfielders in the system must press the other team when it has the ball and that is a skill that the U.S. players haven’t shown they can consistently do for much of the past decade. Too frequently they watch the ball and leave open space that opponents frequently exploit.
Chile was able to do that time and again, frequently using just two men to beat three defenders.
Klinsmann’s job likely isn’t in jeopardy but some consistency with tactics and formations is necessary. It’s also time for him to begin to decide what he’s going to do with the veterans on the squad, those who may be important to aid in qualifying, but fringe players by the time of the World Cup in 2018.
The team seems to lack chemistry. It definitely lacks an identity.
Sticking with a group and a formation is one way to build both chemistry and an identity.
Klinsmann has some tough decisions to make.
Winners
Jozy Altidore. Though he couldn't score for Sunderland, he once again scored for the U.S. with a terrific right-footed shot into the lower left corner.
Brek Shea. Another player whose time in England could charitably be called a disaster. His goal was also a combination of skill and daring. His late tackle that led to a yellow card wasn't good.
Losers
Bobby Wood. Klinsmann continues to put him in games and he continues to do nothing. His best play may have been tracking back to break up a pass. Not good when you are supposed to be scoring.
Michael Bradley. He played in his deeper role, a role he is more comfortable with, but didn't have much of an impact on the offense or defense. His one good moment came when he powered a shot off the crossbar.
Jermaine Jones. It's one thing to put a player who has just recently switched from midfield to centerback in a four-man back line, which offers him some protection. It's another to put him in a three-man back line where mistakes are more easily punished. He was way out of position on Chile's first goal and frequently moved himself out of position with runs up the middle later in the game.
Winter transfer window: The winter transfer window closed on Monday. A few Americans were involved during the transfer period, which began Jan. 3.
Summing up the moves, both transfers and those who were out of contract, of Americans from European clubs to MLS:
Altidore left Sunderland for Toronto FC.
Mix Diskerud left Rosenborg for New York City FC.
Sacha Kljestan left Anderlecht for New York Red Bulls.
Juan Agudelo to New England.
Shea left Stoke City for Orlando SC.
It’s really hard to argue with any of the moves. While I agree with Klinsmann that it would be nice to see Americans playing for better leagues in Europe, sitting on the bench or not having options for those leagues can be hard to overcome.
The other benefit might be that these players, a few of whom may figure prominently in the future of the U.S. men’s national team, may be able to develop some chemistry and familiarity by playing either with each other or against each other. Doing so may aid the U.S. team, which has begun to look disjointed in recent games.
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