USMNT Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann announced his 23-man roster for the upcoming international period. The U.S. will travel through Europe, taking on Denmark on Wednesday, March 25 in Aarhus. They will then travel to Zurich to take on Switzerland on Tuesday, March 31. Breaking down the midfield shows Jurgen continuing his experimentation with an interesting but consistent medley of characters.
Road to Gold Cup: USMNT Midfield Breakdown
Historically, the USMNT has taken predominantly domestic players when playing in the Americas and predominantly European based players when playing overseas. Lately it has been a little more muddled and of the 8 midfielders Klinsmann has brought, 3 are U.S. based. Undoubtedly Klinsmann will try and keep at least a 4-person midfield, demanding a great amount of effort from the wide midfield. It is curious to see DeAndre Yedlin in the back based on his current usage out wide in recent National team games. Sadly we will see no Lee Nguyen, Kyle Beckerman, Mix Diskerud, Luis Gil, Perry Kitchen, Marc Pelosi, Dillon Serna or Will Trapp but what we have gives a preview into the players Klinsmann wants to see become National team regulars.
Michael Bradley – Not much needs to be spoken of the man who has been a mainstay in the midfield of the US for almost 9 years, which is incredible since he is still only 27. While an injured foot was likely the cause of a mediocre world cup for Bradley, he is back in full health now. One has to wonder why he is coming to the game, but the assumption must be to see how he can collaborate with the abundance of new faces on the roster.
Alejandro Bedoya – The next closest mainstay in the USMNT lineup, Bedoya started all 4 games at the past years world cup and has been a mainstay for FC Nantes for the past two years. He is Klinsmann’s dream come true as far as ascent through the world leagues – from Boston College to Sweden to Scotland to France. He has been incredibly consistent and dependable while critics may point out while serviceable he has also not been the dynamic wide midfielder we absolutely cannot live without.
Julian Green – The great news about Green is his wonder goal vs Belgium. Unfortunately, that’s the last good news he has had. He went from Bayern Munich to Hamburger SV and hasn’t started for them despite the fact that Hamburger has to pay Munich every time he isn’t listed in the game day 18! Here is hoping a magnificent performance against the Danes or Swiss will restore confidence from the Hamburglars of Germany or at least promote interest this summer for a transfer before he becomes the next Freddy Adu.
Fabian Johnson – After a stellar World Cup, Fabian transferred from Hoffenheim to Borussia Monchengladbach. While struggling to start early, he has caught his stride and has started in his last several games. Klinsmann has slotted him in both midfield and defense and there has always been a question mark as to what his ideal position is. The fact remains he was one of the best Right backs in the World Cup, one of the best right backs in the Bundesliga and the main reason Barcelona has been scouting him for years.
Danny Williams – Danny Williams has been away from the USMNT for about a year now. He injured his knee in the USMNT’s 1-0 win over Ukraine last March which caused him to miss out on a World Cup spot and would later force him to miss the first 14 games of the season with Reading. However, the former Freiburg product has since returned to the pitch in November, making 26 total appearances and helping his club set up an FA Cup semi-final matchup with Arsenal. He has been with the USMNT for 3 years but the 27 year old has come into his own lately and it could be an exciting return for yet another German-American a strong midfielder.
Miguel Ibarra – Miguel is a curious case for Klinsmann. He plays in the NASL for Minnesota United and was the MVP of the league last year. While their season has not started yet, Klinsmann clearly believes in Ibarra and he showed strong flashes of speed and skill against Chile and Panama in the last cycle. While many have pushed for Ibarra to move to the MLS, Mexico or Europe, no intentions to that have yet been shown. A fascinating player out wide for the US, one whom seems tailor made to the vision for the position as ascribed by Klinsmann.
Alfredo Morales – Morales is a curious case. He has been invisible thus far when he has entered the pitch for the Stars and Stripes but has been starting as a defensive midfielder for Ingolstadt now for the past year and has been spoken warmly of by Klinsmann for his aggressiveness and bite. It is something we have yet to see for the National Team, as the only focal point for him up to this point has been his hair-do.
Gyasi Zardes- Zardes is the most exciting player of this midfield roster. He was dynamic last year for the L.A. Galaxy, was scintillating against Panama and Chile earlier this year, and may be a mainstay for a while. The ‘Ghanian Skunk’ (the name will catch on) is fast, tall, strong and willing to put in the extra effort and dirty work to make his mark. Klinsmann sees him as a wide midfielder rather than a striker and he may have good reason. Zardes can break down a defender one on one and if he can play the role the way Klinsmann expects it, his radar on the international scene may get brighter yet.
The roster is an interesting combination for Klinsmann, but the midfield is strong. What is curious is that there only seems to be two central midfielders and both of their best positions are Defensive. Bedoya, Green, Ibarra, Johnson and Zardes are all definitive wide midfielders. Danny Williams has played inside occasionally and it must be assumed it will be Bradley and Morales or Bradley and Williams in the middle. Hopefully, one day the reliance on German born Americans will diminish as we promote American born players but until then we will see the vision of Klinsmann realized in the current form. The Danes and Swiss will punish the US if they break form but Klinsmann has clearly learned from his past by emphasizing the wide midfield role. The plethora of wide midfielders insinuates Klinsmann will have no problem running them ragged and then bringing in a new fleet when they have lost their legs.
It will be an intriguing two match ups and we will see what year four of the Great Klinsmann Experiment has to offer. Here is hoping to fine performances and compelling victories.
