During this four-part series, I will:
Part One: Analyze the Weaknesses
Part Two: Offer Solutions to the Problems
Part Three: Find the Strengths
Part Four: Apply a Formation that Applies to Part's One-Three
The 4-4-2 under Bob Bradley simply put, blankets our weaknesses. Now, there is a lot to be said for Coach Sweatpants' realization of the USA's weaknesses and bolstering them, but it leaves our midfield and attackers without the necessary support to properly and dangerously construct attacks. First of all lets identify the weaknesses and Bob Bradley's stop-gap for them:
Lack of Speed in Central Defense
Lets look at our centerbacks from the World Cup roster; Oguchi Onyewu, Carlos Bocanegra, Jay DeMerit, and Clarence Goodson. First thing that comes to mind is size, strength, and aerial ability. However, what they boast in height and physicality they lack in speed and acceleration. Jay DeMerit, the 1v1 specialist in the middle, is probably the quickest of the centerbacks, but he is more akin to sucking the attacker in and forcing an error. Bob Bradley compensates for this by normally dropping two deep central midfielders just in front of the centerbacks. This allows four players to cut down the space for the oppositions two strikers, but on a quick release and counterattack, both central midfielders are caught well behind, usually from having to defend on the top of their box.
Lack of a Solid Left Back Option
Not picking on Bornstein alone this time. Carlos Bocanegra, Heath Pearce, DaMarcus Beasley and the aforementioned Bornstein all have had their shots over the last cycle, and none have impressed to the point that they were automatically penciled in as starters on the left side. In the Confederations Cup Bob Bradley used the speed of Landon Donovan and Charlie Davies on the left flank to keep opposing midfielders and ambitious, forward-coming defenders honest. A good strategy to be sure, but the Davies injury scuttled any chance of that becoming a permanent fixture in the US' strategy. At the World Cup Bornstein acquitted himself decently enough to not to be noticed too much, especially against Algeria, but against Ghana he dropped off to his usual unreliable self. And with Dempsey stationed on the left, that offered Bornstein little aid and was pretty much left to fend for his own. Though both Ghana goals came down the middle, many attacks were generated from the Bornstein defended left flank.
Lack of a True "Destroyer" in Central Midfield
Until the arrival of Jermaine Jones, which who knows when that will be with the latest fiasco, the US will have to deal with using Michael Bradley and/or Maurice Edu in tandem as a "destroying duo/box-to-box" midfielders. Depending on the opponent sometimes both are necessary to completely thwart opposing attacks. Then they must decide who will be the one to break up-field and support the attack, again depending on the opponent, sometimes both move ahead. Bob Bradley finally realized his mistake of playing Ricardo Clark, the closest thing we have to a true "destroyer", who has actually made an appearance. But he's sloppy in his tackles, slow in his reactions, and poor in possession. Bob Bradley's solution, was to use the two deep lying central midfielders, deleting a potential attacker in the process. Bradley and Edu are more box-to-box midfielders, not central defending midfielders.
Lack of Two Solid Options at Forward
For some reason, Bob Bradley continued to trot out Jozy Altidore and Robbie Findley in the World Cup. Hoping that Davies Lite would produce like Davies is a bit to much to ask. Sure the idea is that the speed opened up by Findley's running would provide Altidore with the proper space to work with, since Jozy is not a prototypical hold-up forward. The reason Altidore performed so well during the Confederations Cup, at least for the last three matches, was because Davies knew what runs were dangerous, how to draw defenders' attentions with his speed, and he knew what was expected. Findley's runs seemed almost aimless at times during the World Cup. This is a problem that Bob did not address. Hurculez Gomez does his best work coming off the bench and Edson Buddle is a 90-minute forward, not one whom much can be expected of if only given the chance to play only 20 minutes.
END PART ONE
I'll be back tomorrow with Part Two.
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