Compelling Soccer

A month ago, the US looked to have solved what had long been it's longest running hole, lack of dynamic strikers. Sure in the past the US has had some decent guys and even a pretty solid target man in Brian McBride. But creativity and forward have never really been words that go together when describing US forwards. That changed with Jozy Altidore and Charlie Davies. The US finally had a pair of guys who could survive a bit without solid midfield play and create on their own. We saw that at times in qualifying.

However Davies' injury means, barring a miracle, he's out for the World Cup. That means Altidore will have to be paired with someone else up top. Who that someone is will be heavily scrutinized over the next eight months. Unfortunately, the options are not pretty. Here's a list of potential candidates:

Conor Casey (MLS)
Brian Ching (MLS)
Kenny Cooper (Bundesliga 2)
Jeff Cunningham (MLS)
Robbie Findley (MLS)
Jon-Paul Pittman (Eng League One)
Eddie Johnson (EPL)
Mike Grella (Eng League One)
Jemel Johnson (Eng League One)

Like I said; less than inspiring. Casey has skill, but is limited. He's slow and lacks a great first touch. Ching is a stiff at this point. Cooper probably is the most talented of the group but is still untested at the top international level and may have issues with how he aides in offensive flow. Cunningham is having a great year in MLS (after Cooper's departure) but is 33. I doubt he's suddenly found international form at this point. Pittman, Jemel Johnson and Grella are all in League One in England. Grella and Pittman are having the most success though neither is setting the world on fire. Given that Bob Bradley seems hesitant to call in anyone playing abroad on that level, I would suspect they get passed over. Eddie Johnson's the dark horse here, but that depends on whether he can get himself into enough action at Fulham to see time as a frequent sub or get a loan deal elsewhere.

There is also the midfield move up top possibility, in which case Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan enter the fray. But you may not want to take them out of the midfield as they are not the most easily replaceable. Even those who were calling for Deuce's head have to admit that Stuart Holden is may things but "as good as Clint Dempsey" is not one of them. So while either one of them is probably a good option up top, you lose too much in the midfield to put them there.

The other option is changing the formation. Could the US consider a 4-5-1, a 3-6-1, a crazy 4-3-3? The latter seems crazy but there may be some logic to it. However we'll explore that in the coming days. First we'll stick with the basics: how would things look if the US stuck to the standard 4-4-2?

To begin I'll lay out that this is the formation with two holding midfielders. This is likely what Bob Bradley is going to do no matter how much me or anyone else who blogs screams bloody murder about it. I'll also say this assumes that Oguchi Onewyu and Jay DeMerit are back, which pushes Carlos Bocanegra to the left back spot and Jonathan Bornstein to the bench. I'll also put Steve Cherundolo ahead of Jonathan Spector because Spector maybe in a bit of a playing time crunch at West Ham. Bradley favors those who get PT over those who don't.

I'm going to indulge in Eurosnobbery for a moment and give the second forward spot to Cooper. He's playing in the Bundesliga 2, having success and is the most talented forward not named Altidore on the US roster. Given the opportunity, I think he'll find his way onto the score sheet enough times in the US friendlies and earn his place.

---------Cooper------Altidore------------

--Donovan--------------------Dempsey--

--------Bradley-------Torres--------------

Bocanegra--Onewyu--DeMerit---Cherundolo

-------------Howard----------------------

This alignment is the highest upside I think we can hope for right now stands now. Cooper could be a player and it leaves Donovan and Dempsey in their strongest spots. Bradley remains a holding mid because right now he's the best one the US has until proven otherwise. Torres goes in at the other holding midfielder spot over Ricardo Clark and Benny Feilhaber, as I suspect while he may not be as good a defender as say Clark, his passing should more than make up for it.

But let's say for a moment that Cooper nor anyone else is capable enough at striker. What happens if we move one of the mids up top?


---------Dempsey------Altidore------------

----Bornstein----------------Donovan------

--------Bradley-------Torres--------------

Bocanegra--Onewyu--DeMerit---Cherundolo

-------------Howard----------------------


I prefer Dempsey to Donovan because while Donovan has more experience as a striker, I think he's harder to replace in the midfield than Dempsey. That and Dempsey likes to play like a forward anyway. I'm also going with Bornstein in the midfield and leaving Holden on the bench. Why? Because I don't think Holden works as on the wing. I'm not sure Bornstein does either, but it's him or Robbie Rogers right now. While Rogers had a nice performance against Costa Rica, I'm not prepared to give him the starting role yet.

There also is the possibility that Freddy Adu can find his way there. Seriously, if Dempsey or Donovan move up top, he's the highest upside guy the US has. Should he gets regular PT in Portugal or some where else, then I'd move Adu into the starting XI over Bornstein (or Holden, if you are so inclined).

So that's it if the US employs the the 4-4-2 they've been using. Should the US go to a diamond set up of the 4-4-2 with an attacking mid and holding mid, then it would look like this:


---------Dempsey------Altidore------------

----------------Feilhaber-------------------

-------Adu---------------Donovan---------

----------------Bradley--------------------

Bocanegra--Onewyu--DeMerit---Cherundolo

-------------Howard----------------------

From what I understand, Feilhaber is good in the true attacking midfielder spot. Unfortunately, I don't see the Danish league on a regular basis, so I have no idea on how good he actually is. But at this point, assuming the empty bucket/two holding midfielder style is what the US is going to play, Feilhaber has to be behind Torres at this point. The funny thing is I feel as though the US has a lot of players who would enjoy this formation; as it requires the left and right backs to get involved in the attack. In Cherundolo, Spector and Bornstein, the US have players who are comfortable doing just that. I'd be really curious to see how they'd look in the Friendlies with this set up.


The last one; the all upside 4-4-2

---------Cooper------Altidore------------

----------------Donovan-------------------

-------Adu---------------Dempsey---------

---------------Bradley--------------------

Spector---Onewyu--Bocanegra---Cherundolo

-------------Howard----------------------

I fully admit this one is a long shot right now. A lot of guys have to get PT and prove they deserve it. But talent wise, this is probably the best lineup he US can put out, right now.

So those are my thoughts on the 4-4-2 set up. Feel free to give your own. Tomorrow, a look at the 4-5-1.