The U.S. Men’s national team wrapped up a 27 day stretch of internal evaluation, future planning and overall orientation to the Klinsmann way, otherwise known as the yearly January training camp. As previous camps, the training camp wrapped up with a pair of friendlies, this year’s opponents included an Iceland team made up of a lot of domestic league players and a Canada team full of MLS and NASL players. Based on reports from camp and the two friendly games, here are five observations I concluded:
Jozy Altidore is determined to have a strong 2016
Two goals in the first two games of the year is as good a start as anyone could ask for and Jozy scored the opening goal for the U.S. against Iceland and the game-winning goal in the 89th minute against Canada. The two goals brought his career total for the national team to 33, only one behind third place Eric Wynalda.
Outside of scoring the two goals, Altidore looked like a different player on the field as he was constantly engaged in the game by tracking back for the ball, his off ball movements, and he repeatedly was a threat in the box. Arriving a week early to the January training camp and looking visibly trimmed down only continue to prove that the 26-year-old U.S. striker is looking forward to a busy and productive 2016 that includes World Cup qualifiers in March, September, and November; the Copa America Centenario in June, and a second season in MLS with Toronto FC.
Ethan Finley MUST become a regular USMNT call up
He may have only played 63 combined minutes in the two friendly games against Iceland and Canada, but Finley showed enough to warrant his call-up to the January training camp. Finley notched the assist in the game-winning goal by Jozy Altidore against Canada, only a minute after coming on as a substitute. Finley’s abilities are no secret to Columbus Crew fans, who have been advocating for Finley to get a shot with the national team. Finley’s 2015 season warranted a call-up to the national team, unfortunately, he didn’t get it until 2016, but better late than never. Finley’s 2015 season included a 12 goals and 13 assists stat line. The assists were good for fifth best in MLS. Not bad for a guy not named Kei Kamara.
Finley’s abilities on the field, his success at Columbus, and the moment of brilliance he produced against Canada, have all convinced me that he now needs to become a permanent staple of the U.S. team going forward.
Kellyn Acosta impresses
The 20-year-old FC Dallas Midfielder made his senior team debut in these friendlies by starting both games against Iceland and Canada. The more impressive part is that he played left back in both games despite playing in the midfield for his club team. Klinsmann and the coaches have been pleased with Acosta according to reports and it seems to set up the opportunity for Acosta to see more senior team call-ups in 2016. Acosta is not new to the U.S. soccer system. He has been playing in it since his U14 days and has already represented the U.S. in three youth level World Cups: 2011 on U17 and 2013-2015 on U20. He may also find himself playing in the home and away Olympic Qualifier against Colombia in March since he is age eligible for the U23 squad.
USMNT fans are fully aware that there is a fullback deficiency in U.S. Soccer and Acosta has the opportunity to solidify a position where the team has struggled to find consistency. Acosta’s January training camp performance has obviously impressed U.S. coaches enough that he was one of seven players that started both games. Klinsmann has a history of finding young MLS players in January and rewarding them with year-long caps. Last year, Gyasi Zardes played in 19 of 20 U.S. Men’s national team games after making his debut against Chile on January 28. In 2014, Seattle’s Deandre Yedlin impressed in January camp and went on to star at right back in the World Cup for the team. Acosta has a good opportunity to become 2016’s U.S. rising star.
Jordan Morris fits the description
This is nothing new for U.S. fans: Morris actually burst onto the international stage when he scored his first goal against the team’s biggest rival, Mexico, last April. He again became U.S. Soccer’s version of royalty after he announced in December he would be going pro. His every move was tracked while soccer fans waited to find out his ultimate professional destination. U.S. fan bases divided between Morris’ two opportunities. He had the choice of staying in the U.S. where fans could watch him grow into an eventual American soccer star with the Seattle Sounders, or go overseas and make fans proud to have an American performing at the highest level with Werder Bremen in the German Bundesliga.
Now that he has made his decision to join Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins with his hometown Seattle Sounders in MLS, the two friendlies showcased some of the excitement behind the “Morris Machine.” Morris displayed skill on the field that no other U.S. player seems to have or developed yet. His first touch on the ball always seems perfect, his off the ball runs and spacing always put him in a position to receive or track back for the ball, and his on-field IQ seems to be off the charts. It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to imagine him moving on to bigger and better things in the future, such as MLS Cup champion or USMNT Captain.
Diskerud and Bradley midfield doesn’t work
Can we call this experimentation dead now? As great an idea as it was having two possession based midfielders who can control the game from the midfield at the same time, it hasn’t worked with Mix Diskerud and Captain Michael Bradley. The team has looked disjointed each time the experiment has been performed. Neither player has been able to control the game when the other is on the field. This seems to have occurred for reasons such as Klinsmann’s constant formation changes, no consistent playing time together or playing out of position.
Diskerud has been billed as a #10 midfielder since his arrival on the USMNT, and while he has shown flashes of skill, he has not put those moments together consistently enough. Bradley is the proverbial chameleon on the field in that he can play as an attacking midfielder, a holding midfielder, or defensive midfielder. The U.S. benefits most when Bradley touches the ball, which is why his best roles are in the attacking half of the field. Unfortunately, Bradley is often asked to play in a defensive midfield position when both he and Mix are on the field as he is the better of the two in that role.
If Diskerud can’t take control of the game when Bradley is a defensive midfielder, then I say time to make him Bradley’s permanent backup or replacement at this point and end any foolish formations or lineups that include both players on the field in the future.
The January training camp is a tone setter for the upcoming year. Seeing players like Kellyn Acosta, Tony Tchani, Ethan Finley, Brandon Vincent and David Bingham make their U.S. international debut provides an excitement for the future of the national team and players that may become key contributors in the upcoming Copa America Centenario this summer, World Cup 2018 and beyond.
