Relative Strengths

Friday, May 28, 2010 | View Comments
Czech Republic v United States


With the 23 now selected, the focus moves to who the US will be starting come June 12. While there are questions about the fitness of several key players for the US, there are a few players who are locks to start if healthy; Howard, Onyewu, Bradley, Donovan, Dempsey, and Altidore. Donovan’s and Dempsey’s ability to play multiple positions makes it hard to set them in the lineup, but the positions for the other four are obvious.


This leaves a few positional battles in the starting lineup. Each option has his own strengths and weaknesses. Bob’s ability to match his lineup’s strengths against that of his opponent’s while hiding the weaknesses of those players will determine the success of this team in the World Cup. I would expect to see slight tactical differences throughout the final warm-ups and the tournament itself to exploit these players’ strengths.


I’ll start with the one positional battle where the competitors are so similar that there is virtually no difference. If healthy, either Bocanegra or DeMerit will line up next to a healthy Onyewu. Both are defensive leaders, both are good in the air, both are a little slow. Because of his role as captain, Bocanegra will be on the field, but whether that is as a center back or a left back remains to be seen. If he’s shifted wide or Onyewu is incapable of going, DeMerit will be there. This is a positional battle that will be decided by tactical decision elsewhere on the field or by injuries, not because the players bring a different skill set.


Left Back

The position that will help determine Gooch’s partner is left back. Here there are differences that can be exploited:

Bocanegra – better positional awareness; better leadership

Bornstein – faster; better going forward

Spector – field knowledge of Premier League right wingers

Of the three options, Bocanegra offers the best defensive and leadership option. Some of Spector’s offensive ability is lost by moving him to the left, but his knowledge of the English players in particular may be exploited June 12. Bornstein provides the best option going forward on this side, but is the worst of the three options defensively. Against a mediocre offense or with appropriate help, Bornstein can be the most effective choice.


Right Back

Another position affected by the choice at left back, Spector moving to that side, makes Cherundolo the obvious pick. However, beyond that there are still differences:

Cherundolo – veteran leadership; better positioning (offensively and defensively)

Spector – better long ball; better crosser

Depending on the composition of the rest of the backline, Cherundolo’s experience may trump Spector’s potential. If injuries result in Goodson and Bornstein being in the lineup together, having another veteran presence would be a must. However, in a purely counterattacking formation, Spector’s ability to deliver the long ball could outweigh Cherundolo's experience.


Defensive Midfielder

This is the one position where it doesn’t matter what shuffling goes on around it, the analysis will remain the same:

Clark – Stays at home more often; more time paired with Bradley

Edu – Gets forward more often; more fluid on the ball; picks up garbage goals

If Edu’s description sounds like it also applies to Michael Bradley, it’s because it does. Because of this similarity in style (though Edu is a destroyer rather than disruptor, like Bradley), some of Edu’s advantage over Clark is lost when paired with the coach’s son. Also, with the limited mobility of the starting center backs (even more so with their injuries), a defensive midfielder who stays at home may be preferred. But, whoever doesn’t start will play an important role because neither of the two are fit enough to play the position as the formation demands for three full games.


Side Midfielder

This may be the most complicated position, because its options allows Bob to mask weaknesses in the other areas. Donovan will almost assuredly line up in one of these two slots, the other is a big question mark:

Beasley – bigger scoring threat (than Holden); tracks back well defensively

Dempsey – best all around

Holden – better creator; better crosser (than Beasley)

If Dempsey doesn’t move up top, he’s the obvious starter. If he does move, then tactics becomes involved. Does the lineup need more defense, more creativity, or more goal scoring? The two left mid options of Donovan and Beasley both provide necessary defensive cover for whoever is playing left back. But forcing Donovan to track back as much as is necessary on the left limits his offensive potential. Moving him to the right relieves some of that pressure (see the amount of defensive work done by Dempsey compared to Donovan in the Confederation Cup). The other side of the equation is balancing creating chances versus scoring goals. By pairing Altidore and Dempsey, there are two players up top very capable of providing assists. Adding Donovan and Bradley, there may be more providing than finishing on the field. In this case, Beasley skill set is a better fit. However, Beasley is probably not fit enough to play 90, which would necessitate bringing in Holden and switching Donovan to the left for the last 20 to 30 minutes. If this move is coupled with fresh legs up top, Holden’s crossing ability becomes lethal.


Striker

Finally, there’s striker. The three options each bring a special skill set:

Buddle – Donovan knows his positioning well; physical presence; best holder

Findley – speed, speed, and more speed

Gomez – excellent scoring record as a sub

If Altidore and Dempsey are the starters, any sub will be situational. Buddle, to slow the game down with a lead while having the scoring ability to extend a lead; Gomez, as supersub if a goal is needed; and Findley, if his speed can be exploited. If Dempsey stays in the midfield, the most likely compliment to Altidore is Findley. With Findley’s speed and Altidore’s strength as weapons in a war of attrition against the opponent. By moving Dempsey up top and bringing in Gomez during the final 30 minutes of the game, Bob would attempt to exploit a worn down backline. While this would be the ugliest way for the US to play, if the US backline can hold, it would probably be effective.


Beginning tomorrow, we’ll begin to see what Bob is thinking about tactics. Different opponents will call for different skill sets. What weaknesses show themselves tomorrow and what changes can be made to cover them will go a long way toward telling us what to expect in June.
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