The Fallacy of Position Listings

[tab5g]

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_280933.html

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/team/squad.html?team=USA

US Soccer has the USMNT roster as 3GK-8D-8M-4F (with Mastroeni in M)
The official roster at Fifa is listed as 3-9-7-4 (with Mastroeni listed as D)

Does this matter at all? No.

But I think it does point to a strong characteristic for the squad: versatility.

Many players (by my count 13 of the 20 field players on the roster) could realistically be used by Bruce Arena in another line on the field during the World Cup, if the situation warranted.

2 Albright, Chris D/M/F
17 Beasley, DaMarcus M/F
3 Bocanegra, Carlos D
6 Cherundolo, Steve D/M
11 Ching, Brian F
13 Conrad, Jimmy D
15 Convey, Bobby M/D
8 Dempsey, Clint M/F
21 Donovan, Landon M/F
12 Gibbs, Cory D
19 Hahnemann, Marcus GK
1 Howard, Tim GK
9 Johnson, Eddie F/M
18 Keller, Kasey GK
7 Lewis, Eddie D/M
4 Mastroeni, Pablo M/D
20 McBride, Brian F
5 O'Brien, John M/D
14 Olsen, Ben M/D
22 Onyewu, Oguchi D
23 Pope, Eddie D
10 Reyna, Claudio M/D
16 Wolff, Josh F/M

Are there any disagreements with this assessment, or recommended modifications?

Does this versatility signal a strength of the squad?

Or, is it a weakness – are the versatile players on the US roster lacking skills (because they have played various roles in their careers) that are generally associated with WC players at their primary (listed) position?

[JeffreyWyatt]

Both Pope and Gooch could probably be adequate forwards...

[USvsIRELAND]

Both Pope and Gooch could probably be adequate forwards...

Gooch goes up front for Standard Liege when they are losing I believe.

[wingzero13]

in tournament like the world cup it is important to have players who can play many positions. things like injuries, sudden changes in tactics, and fatigue require flexibility. donovan said in one of the podcast interviews that they can only predict so much of how the czechs were going to play. if they set up in a certain way and realize during the course of the game that a different tactic is necessary then it helps to be able to push donovan forward or move beasley out wide, or drop masto as another center back. being able to change on a whim is an incredible advantage.

your concern with versatile players being good at several positions as opposed to being excellent at just one is understandable.

i think this only really effects a player like albright who doesn't have that many years under his belt as an outside back. i doubt he'll play anything else but outside back at this tournament but changing positions in the middle of his career could prove to be his weakness. eddies lewis might also fall into this category. this doesn't mean they aren't good enough to represent the US as defenders, it just means that they don't have all the wisdom that years of experience at one position might give you.

the old veterans like olsen, reyna, job, etc have moved back and forth for years and know how handle themselves in multiple positions so it shouldn't be a problem.

i think Arena did a good job of picking players who are excellent at one position and good at another one. donovan is an excellent attacking mid and a good forward, lewis is a good defender and excellent outside mid, etc.

i've never known EJ to play in the midfield. i know he's played winger before. where did you see him play in the mid and how did he perform?

[MarioKempes]

Mastroeni will never play defense, according to Arena, but your point is well taken.

[freisland]

I don't know how much it matters. It's nice to have, say, Gibbs or JOB, who, if they had to slot into the LB position (assuming JOB's WC ready in general) are of high enough quality they could well be there on their own merits.

But the idea that Aldark is a WC quality Forward or that Convey is a WC quality back in a 4 is off the mark. The better list probably indicates those players who can play two positions at which they would likely be in the WC 23.

YES: JOB, Landon, Lewis, DMB (in a 4-3-3. I wouldn't put him up top in a 2, but Bruce might)

Maybe's would include Aldark and Convey in a 5 mid (if you believe he's good enough for a back 3 or 4) Dolo in a 5 as well. Reyna at RB (tho only in very specific situations) Dempsey and DMB as strikers. Wolff as middie? - can't say I've seen enough to have strong opinion.

Not likely are Pablo (D), Aldark (F)

Dunno, but I doubt it - Wolff (M), Johnson (M), Olsen (D)

[CbR]

you can even break it down further with someone like Beasley who can play RM,LM, and spot foward duty.

Same with REyna...RM, CM

Donovan RM,CM,F etc.......

[sidefootsitter]

Mastroeni will never play defense, according to Arena, but your point is well taken. Well, if something happens to Cherundolo, I don't want to see Albright at right back.

Bruce better either switch to 3-5-2 or play Mastro at RB ... otherwise it's going to get pretty fugly.

[Red Star]

I believe that Gibbs played midfield for Bruce once already.

[Li mu bei]

Almost any of the midfieldfers could play forward, e.g., Lewis.

Regardless, nice post.

It would be interesting to examine our group opponents' rosters to see if they have built in a lot of flexibility in thier roster selections.

[Sachsen]

USA now = Holland in the 70s

Total Voetbal, baybee! ;)

[freisland]

USA now = Holland in the 70s

Total Voetbal, baybee! ;)

Just keep us out of the hottub before the final ...

[NaMusa75]

I think you're being quite liberal in your assessment. Most of the back-4 and the defensive-mid guys can usually play each other's position in a pinch, the attacking-mids and strikers can play each other's position in a pinch. Whether or not they do it just as well as they can their normal position on an everyday basis is the question.

In my mind, there are only 2 or 3 guys on the national team that can do this: Donovan in M/F, Mastro in D/M, and probably Lewis in D/M. The other guys you have in multiple positions is laughable.

[DiscoWarrior11]

In my mind, there are only 2 or 3 guys on the national team that can do this: Donovan in M/F, Mastro in D/M, and probably Lewis in D/M. The other guys you have in multiple positions is laughable.

If we're losing 1-0 in the Q'finals, I can see Cherundolo or Lewis moved up to mid, Albright (if he's in) being moved to M/F, and possibly even Gooch up top. Not all at once of course... but yeah, this would be a drastic situation.

I'd say Donovan and Lewis are the only ones who can see time out of their starting position in the group games. We saw Wolff at attacking mid against Germany before his injury, so to me he wouldn't be a surprise to see somewhere in the midfield if needed. I'd be surprised to see Mastroeni moved back to defense considering we'll probably have 2 or 3 center backs waiting on the bench, and that I wouldn't want to see Mastroeni out of the midfield.

[cleansheetbsc]

Tim Howard scored a nice goal in that Nike / Wayne Rooney commercial. Put him down as a forward.

[VBSoccerFan]

Tim Howard scored a nice goal in that Nike / Wayne Rooney commercial. Put him down as a forward.

Shouldn't this be on the Eddie Pope at Forward thread?

[clashcityrocker]

If Brad Friedel was still on the team, he could play all four lines.

At once.

And he could ref, too.

Hell, he could sleep in and send his left testicle out to whup the Czechs on its own.

;)

[NaMusa75]

If we're losing 1-0 in the Q'finals, I can see Cherundolo or Lewis moved up to mid, Albright (if he's in) being moved to M/F, and possibly even Gooch up top. Not all at once of course... but yeah, this would be a drastic situation.

I'd say Donovan and Lewis are the only ones who can see time out of their starting position in the group games. We saw Wolff at attacking mid against Germany before his injury, so to me he wouldn't be a surprise to see somewhere in the midfield if needed. I'd be surprised to see Mastroeni moved back to defense considering we'll probably have 2 or 3 center backs waiting on the bench, and that I wouldn't want to see Mastroeni out of the midfield.

We're saying the same thing, just in different ways.