Ahead of Wednesday night's US vs. Chile clash, five of MLSsoccer.com's editors laid out what they want to see from USMNT against La Roja (6 pm ET, FOX Sports 1, UniMas, Univision Deportes) .
<strong>Editor</strong> |
<strong>What do you want to see on Wednesday night?</strong> |
<strong><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Rosano_0.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"></strong><p><strong>Nick Rosano</strong><br><em>Editor</em></p> |
<p>It's easy to talk about changing systems or a post-World Cup lull, but at some point it must be noted that the USMNT haven't scored multiple goals in a game since their 2-2 draw this summer with Portugal in Manaus. Although Chile are reputed to play some attractive soccer, their Achilles heel is usually defense. <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/clint-dempsey" target="_blank">Clint Dempsey</a>, <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/jozy-altidore" target="_blank">Jozy Altidore</a> and <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/chris-wondolowski" target="_blank">Chris Wondolowski</a> certainly have the experience and poise to make them pay, but will a new system yield the chances they need?</p> |
<em><strong><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Doyle_0.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"></strong></em><p><strong>Matt Doyle</strong><br><em>Armchair Analyst</em></p> |
<p>I'm a great believer in specificity in several spots on the soccer field, because specificity for one player can provide license for another to freelance. The specificity I'm looking for in this one will be <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/wil-trapp" target="_blank">Wil Trapp'</a>s role, which I’m hoping is – specifically – quite a bit like <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/kyle-beckerman" target="_blank">Kyle Beckerman</a>’s role in the World Cup: shield the back line and distribute the ball. Provide order, let the game-breakers make beautiful chaos.</p> |
<strong><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/DiegoPinzon_0.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"></strong><p><strong>Diego Pinzon</strong><br><em>FutbolMLS editor</em></p> |
<p>My biggest frustration with the USMNT is the lack of a consistent and attractive style of play. Yes, I know, the US is known for exploiting the strength of its players, but there are enough talented resources within Klinsmann’s reach. Tonight, <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/lee-nguyen" target="_blank">Lee Nguyen</a> is my man. I’m hoping to see him in a starting role as a Number 10, just behind the forwards, where he can widen the attacking options and function as an axis and connecting point between the ones up top and the hinterland.</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/BENJAMIN_50x50.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"><p><strong>Ben Baer</strong><br><em>Content Researcher</em></p> |
<p>The results of friendlies can sometimes have little meaning, but the style in which a team plays and how a player fits into a certain position are certainly things to look out for. Against Chile, we are likely to see a <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/01/26/armchair-analyst-change-air-usmnt-maybe-switch-3-5-2" target="_blank">3-5-2</a> with <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/deandre-yedlin" target="_blank">DeAndre Yedlin</a> playing as the right wingback. On the left, it's a little harder to decipher. The most likely option at left wingback is <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/brek-shea" target="_blank">Brek Shea</a>, who has very little experience playing in a defensive position. As Shea will be looking to lock down the left-back spot in Orlando as soon as he gets back from national-team duty, his performance on Wednesday night could be a nice preview of what we might see from him in MLS in 2015.</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/AndrewWiebe_0.jpg" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 0px; width: 50px; height: 50px;"><p><strong>Andrew Wiebe</strong><br><em>New Media Editor</em></p> |
<p>Jurgen Klinsmann – <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/01/19/new-england-revolutions-jermaine-jones-adjusting-life-center-back-usmnt-camp" target="_blank">via Jermaine Jones</a>? – could be trolling all of us. Maybe all this three-man backline talk is just a sideshow ahead of tonight’s friendly at Chile. Then again, probably not. The German certainly isn’t afraid to tweak, and perhaps this is how he’ll try to introduce some (pragmatic) positivity following a bumpy 2014, post-Portugal. <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/jermaine-jones" target="_blank">Jermaine Jones</a>, <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/matt-besler" target="_blank">Matt Besler</a> and one of <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/steve-birnbaum" target="_blank">Steve Birnbaum</a>, <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/matt-hedges" target="_blank">Matt Hedges</a>, <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/shane-oneill" target="_blank">Shane O’Neill</a> and <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/perry-kitchen" target="_blank">Perry Kitchen</a> sounds like an interesting tactical experiment for a Wednesday night. How do you like that timing?</p> |
