I will get into specifics later this week but before that we should focus on the US team’s overall performance. Afterall, despite all there hype, there are at least 2, maybe 3, 4, or, 5 games after they play England this Sat (5 games means the semi finals, so they theoretically could play 6 but let’s not get ahead of it).
There are two, alternating pieces to this; one is the key players (no real surprises) and what they need to do to be successful while the other is overall team components.
Formation: Bob Bradley experimented with some lone striker, 451 play during the Turkey game. He could look to utilize this if he wants to try to clog up the midfield force opposition to play wide. It didn’t work too well offensively but in a game where they will not force the issue from the beginning, it might be useful (Read vs England this Saturday).
Of course, he has been loyal to his 442 for a while now, and that seems to suit their counter-attacking style best. They are most dangerous when catching other teams too far forward and are able to strike quickly. I say, don’t mess with what works.
Michael Bradley: with a history of accumulating Yellow Cards and the occasional Red, his personal battle to keep his temper in check is very important. He missed last years Confederations Cup Final due to a Red card vs Spain. While playing with 10 men is never ideal, this is more about the player that Bradley Jr. has become. He is integral to this team and his ability to stay on the field is of the utmost importance.
Additionally, after two successful seasons in Germany he could be on the verge of another step up. A strong performance here would go a long way in pushing that along. He is excellent at retrieving possession and starting the team on the attack, while his long runs with out the ball into dangerous areas always seem to cause excitement. He seems to have a strikers sense for the goal as well, which him get on the score sheet once or twice. Basically, he is the most complete player on the field and this tournament will be an excellent indication of just how far he has come.
Playing as Favorites: the US has had difficulty in the past when they are expected to win. They seem to play down to their opponents and subsequently make things much more difficult on themselves. They will come into their 2nd and 3rd games as the favorites and whether or not they take the game to the Algeria/Slovenia will determine how much the American soccer fan sweats.
The US seems to be a little unsure of themselves when given the opportunity to dominate possession. They don’t do to well in small spaces or in playing large portions of the game near the oppositions goals against a well organized defense. If Algeria and or Slovenia sit back and attempt to beat the US at their own counter-attacking game, it will be interesting to see if they US can adjust and really own the game.
Jozy Altidore: as the striker with the highest level of international experience and most talent, the need for goals does fall to him. His youth will serve him one of two ways here; either he embraces the environment, takes a liking to the atmosphere and channels it into strong performances or he gets lost in all the media and hype and fails to even get on the scoresheet.
Personally I expect big things from him. His experience in SA last summer got him used to the environment, while a year in the EPL taught him exactly what high level performance consists of. His main challenge will be to keep his head in the game, even when he goes long periods with out seeing the ball.
He has struggled some on the club level but he has always performed for country. A strong showing in South Africa (read: multiple goals) should see his stock rise again.
The Midfield: Bradley and Donovan are fixtures and will likely play close to every meaningful minute of the tournament. With the strong showings of Buddle and Gomez, along with Findley’s speed, it is likely that BB will utilize Clint Dempsey in his normal position on the flank opposite Donovan. This only leaves 1 spot open, however it is a spot with a lot of variation possible.
There has been limited news about Ricardo Clark after he limped off last weekend so who starts this weekend is still a mystery. You have to believe that it will be him or Edu though when BB prefers to be defensive. Jose Torres and Stuart Holden will be pumped to make an impression when the team needs to go offensive. Also look for Damarcus Beasley to be employed if Bradley does employ Dempsey upfront.
Clint Dempsey: Probably the most dangerous player in front of goal, he will surely be required to come up with big goals to see the US through. No one can doubt his work ethic on the field, but my one concern is his penchant to try and do too much with the ball, getting caught in possession. He is best when making darting runs towards the top of the box and beating defenders one on one.
His creativity and fearlessness in front of goal have endeared him to the Fulham faithful and while he is the cause of much debate here in the States, most of it is misguided. Expect to see the Texan bring his ‘A game.’
Defensive Health: This has been a major question mark since Oguchi Onyewu tore his Patella Tendon last October. He has been a little tentative since returning and while he swears he is ready to go, there are only a few teams that would provide more of a test than England.
Jay Demerit, while physically fit for 90 minutes, has seemed to struggle with his judgement over the 3 warm up games. His eye injury resulted in some crazy cornea replacement, and he has admitted that his judgement has been slightly off. His grit and toughness are needed in a back line but he must play within himself and not make any glaring mistakes.
Wayne Rooney can make any CB look dumb, while Peter Crouch is like a freaking hawk in the air (ok, that might be a bit much). Either way, we will know within 45 minutes what kind of shape the back line is in.
Landon Donovan: The 2002 World Cup was his arrival, the 2006 version signaled he just wasn’t ready, and now we are on the precipice of his 3rd/probably defining World Cup. Despite being the 2nd choice captain, this is his team. The US will concede goals at the back, every team does, but it is how they work offensively which will determine how far they go.
His ability on the counter attack is World Class but he must play within himself when opponents give him space and invite the attack. Players like him who excel in the wide spaces tend to love the counter attacking style the US plays, however when this isn’t possible he must adjust, be patient, and pick his spots.
He always seems to be on the verge of ripping one from outside the box and occasionally his unselfishness hurts. I would love to see him take a few chances from 18 yds+ and I hope he will be rewarded, he’s due. My guess is that we see a whole new level of Landon Donovan this month, one that the Brits only got a glimpse of this past winter.
Others:
Speaking of Mr. Donovan:
1)Apparently he has been the focus of the British media leading up to Saturday.
2)He also makes an appearance on the Dan Patrick show and was apparently a great guest, unfortunately I haven’t had the time to listen yet.
3)NYTimes Goal Blog also takes a look at him and he recognizes being in a different place today than where he was the past two world cups. I would be really worried if he thought he was was the same as that 20-year old from 2002.
An ESPN roundtable with some editors on how far they expect the US to go. I do really enjoy this style as it provides numerous different viewpoints, some you are bound to agree with and some you aren’t.
As stated, Onyewu and Jozy both claim to be all ready to go. A good sign but we won’t really know until about 3:15 on Saturday.
John O’Brien continues his awesome blog at NYTimes.com, this time addressing changes in team training as the tournament approaches with a very fresh approach.
Leave a Reply