Tactical Analysis
Back to Front: A USMNT Tactical Game Plan
The recent rash of injuries has hit the U.S. hardest in defense. How many options does Jurgen Klinsmann have? How many players will he have to play out of position? ASN tactician Liviu Bird gives his take.
HEADING INTO WHAT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann called a must-win game against Costa Rica on Friday, injuries have decimated the American defensive corps. The team won’t use it as an excuse, but there is no denying it is a difficult situation.
At the same time, anything less than a win in Denver against Los Ticos would be unacceptable. Even with a depleted squad, the U.S. has the talent to defeat a spotty Costa Rica that tied El Salvador at home in the semifinal round of qualifying. And despite only being able to call in six true defenders, lineup options are far from limited. Nine players total have played in the back for club or country in the recent past.
As the ongoing debate about experience versus youth rages on, it bears added poignancy with the current defensive situation. That duality could play out in two World Cup qualifiers just four days apart, first against Costa Rica and then in Mexico.
Beating Costa Rica has to be the main focus of the next two games. Winning home games is the hallmark of a successful path to the World Cup finals. The easiest way to ensure that happens is to put players on the field who have been in big games and found success. Maurice Edu started at center back the only time the U.S. has ever defeated Mexico at Estadio Azteca. It doesn’t get much bigger than that, even if it was a friendly. Couple that fact with Klinsmann’s praise for Edu in his media conference call on Tuesday, and he is a lock to start. Geoff Cameron’s emergence as a key part of Stoke City’s stingy defense, as well as previous success with the U.S., makes him another sure starter. Clarence Goodson anchored the central defense with Carlos Bocanegra at the 2011 Gold Cup, through good (scoring off a set piece against Panama) and bad (scoring an own goal in the same game, a 2-1 loss). Klinsmann has favored him in the past, starting him six times in 2012, including four CONCACAF semifinal matches. Finally, DaMarcus Beasley is used to the Latin style of play, as he plies his trade for Puebla in Mexico. His past experience as a left back was an experiment in a similar situation: former coach Bob Bradley put him in that spot in 2010 World Cup qualifying when pickings were slim. Beasley is not an ideal defender, but he is a better option than Justin Morrow, who is the only true left back on the roster. Brek Shea also has sporadic experience on the left side of defense, and both he and Beasley would provide an attacking threat from outside back that Klinsmann has been so keen to develop.
Klinsmann has shown a willingness to throw players in unfamiliar situations. Depending on the result against Costa Rica, a match at Azteca may be a time to do just that. Things change if the result against Costa Rica turns out to be unfavorable. If the U.S. finds itself needing points at all costs against Mexico, scenario No. 1 applies once more. However, if all goes according to plan and the Americans can breathe a little easier heading into the gauntlet that is Azteca, it would be a perfect time to experiment. Omar González and Matt Besler could be the starting central pair of the future, so let them see what it means to play in Mexico. Justin Morrow and Tony Beltran are the only true outside backs on the roster, and they were presumably called in to get experience. As Klinsmann said in his conference call, and ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman said about the match in Honduras, players are only inexperienced until they get experience. All players retire eventually, and the current best-case starters are no exception.
The ideal lineup for both matches likely lies somewhere in between the two options above. Too much youth could lead to directionless players; too much experience wastes a learning opportunity. That’s why my starting back four, if I’m Klinsmann, has both elements. González deserves a chance to bounce back from a disappointing performance in Honduras because it will only help his confidence to prove he can play on the highest stage. He is likely to be the first name on the team sheet in the near future, so getting him games now is crucial to the transition. As for Edu, Klinsmann basically said without being explicit that Edu would get a start. He had high praise for Edu’s resurgence at Bursaspor. Edu’s play in Mexico in August showed that he could play center back, after a time in which many wondered if he fit into the team at all anymore. Cameron has played right back for Stoke on multiple occasions, and he really has to be somewhere in the lineup based on current form. It’s also tough to see Morrow and Beltran playing well, to a point that moving players out of position to play outside back is a better option. That’s how Beasley finds himself at left back. He has been playing regularly for Puebla—although not at left back, but training repetitions might ease the transition—and is used to the style Costa Rica and Mexico will bring to the matches. He also knows what it’s like to transition to an unfamiliar position for the national team.
Between the Sticks
The one spot where there should be no debate is in goal. Brad Guzan will start in place of an injured Tim Howard, which may actually be for the best considering Guzan’s club situation. For Aston Villa, every match is a must-win situation. Any letdown could ultimately be the result that sees the club’s season end in relegation from the English Premier League. As such, Guzan is familiar with both the stress of needing points and the pressure that comes with facing multiple attacks on goal every game. In Villa’s last five matches, Guzan has faced 48 shots on target. He put in a 10-save performance when powerhouse Manchester City defeated his team 1-0. Everton sits in sixth place (one spot out of the Europa League) compared to Aston Villa’s 17th place (one spot above the relegation zone). The pressure in each of those situations contrast sharply; at the end of the day, failing to make Europe is a little different than failing to stay in the top flight. Guzan is ready—and he might be better equipped than Howard to play behind a weak defense.Back Four No. 1: Experience Gets Results
DaMarcus Beasley, Clarence Goodson, Maurice Edu, Geoff CameronBeating Costa Rica has to be the main focus of the next two games. Winning home games is the hallmark of a successful path to the World Cup finals. The easiest way to ensure that happens is to put players on the field who have been in big games and found success. Maurice Edu started at center back the only time the U.S. has ever defeated Mexico at Estadio Azteca. It doesn’t get much bigger than that, even if it was a friendly. Couple that fact with Klinsmann’s praise for Edu in his media conference call on Tuesday, and he is a lock to start. Geoff Cameron’s emergence as a key part of Stoke City’s stingy defense, as well as previous success with the U.S., makes him another sure starter. Clarence Goodson anchored the central defense with Carlos Bocanegra at the 2011 Gold Cup, through good (scoring off a set piece against Panama) and bad (scoring an own goal in the same game, a 2-1 loss). Klinsmann has favored him in the past, starting him six times in 2012, including four CONCACAF semifinal matches. Finally, DaMarcus Beasley is used to the Latin style of play, as he plies his trade for Puebla in Mexico. His past experience as a left back was an experiment in a similar situation: former coach Bob Bradley put him in that spot in 2010 World Cup qualifying when pickings were slim. Beasley is not an ideal defender, but he is a better option than Justin Morrow, who is the only true left back on the roster. Brek Shea also has sporadic experience on the left side of defense, and both he and Beasley would provide an attacking threat from outside back that Klinsmann has been so keen to develop.
Back Four No. 2: Blooding the Newcomers
Justin Morrow, Matt Besler, Omar González, Tony BeltranKlinsmann has shown a willingness to throw players in unfamiliar situations. Depending on the result against Costa Rica, a match at Azteca may be a time to do just that. Things change if the result against Costa Rica turns out to be unfavorable. If the U.S. finds itself needing points at all costs against Mexico, scenario No. 1 applies once more. However, if all goes according to plan and the Americans can breathe a little easier heading into the gauntlet that is Azteca, it would be a perfect time to experiment. Omar González and Matt Besler could be the starting central pair of the future, so let them see what it means to play in Mexico. Justin Morrow and Tony Beltran are the only true outside backs on the roster, and they were presumably called in to get experience. As Klinsmann said in his conference call, and ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman said about the match in Honduras, players are only inexperienced until they get experience. All players retire eventually, and the current best-case starters are no exception.
Back Four No. 3: Writer’s Choice
DaMarcus Beasley, Maurice Edu, Omar González, Geoff CameronThe ideal lineup for both matches likely lies somewhere in between the two options above. Too much youth could lead to directionless players; too much experience wastes a learning opportunity. That’s why my starting back four, if I’m Klinsmann, has both elements. González deserves a chance to bounce back from a disappointing performance in Honduras because it will only help his confidence to prove he can play on the highest stage. He is likely to be the first name on the team sheet in the near future, so getting him games now is crucial to the transition. As for Edu, Klinsmann basically said without being explicit that Edu would get a start. He had high praise for Edu’s resurgence at Bursaspor. Edu’s play in Mexico in August showed that he could play center back, after a time in which many wondered if he fit into the team at all anymore. Cameron has played right back for Stoke on multiple occasions, and he really has to be somewhere in the lineup based on current form. It’s also tough to see Morrow and Beltran playing well, to a point that moving players out of position to play outside back is a better option. That’s how Beasley finds himself at left back. He has been playing regularly for Puebla—although not at left back, but training repetitions might ease the transition—and is used to the style Costa Rica and Mexico will bring to the matches. He also knows what it’s like to transition to an unfamiliar position for the national team.
