Attacking Options: Adu v Feilhaber v Zusi

If we are talking MLS guys, how about Lee Nguyen just for shits and giggles?

Interesting thread BTW!

 

The thing about Nguyen is that he never had any success in Europe.

Feilhaber and Adu at least have some morsels to hang their heads on.

Zusi is a good player and has been in better form and thus is ahead of Adu and Feilhaber. Though, I don't he has enough attacking bite for me.

 

Just wondering where you got the data? The unsuccessful/successful dribbles surprise me as whenever I looked on MLS.com, Freddy had more unsuccessful than successful. I can't say I viewed the chalkboard for all games, but I am surprised it would be that close for him.

 

Good stuff here. Are these our best attacking midfield options in MLS right now, outside of Donovan? I'm trying to think of who else we can throw into this mix for a comparison -- specifically players who have been utilized primarily in the midfield this season and who can deliver incisive passing and creativity from deeper positions.

 

Of the guys who have a realistic chance of getting a call up I can't think of anyone else.

 

Zusi to me, is like Nocerino or Marchisio or Ramires, he's not going to create much for others but his running and drive to attack are very useful for the team. His ball striking may be superior to all of them and should translate to higher levels. He should not be played as an attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 or a similar role. Ideally I'd use him as a RCM and not a #10.

Benny is a poor man's John O'Brien, he has a range of creative passing that can open up opportunities for teammates that others can't. He's a force multiplier, especially if played with teammates who make good runs. He just doesn't have the Ajax drilled consistency that would make him an automatic selection. He can play in CM or on the wing but he has not risen to being an obvious choice to start.

Freddy is someone who when feeling it has transcendent abilities. Personally I think many are stuck in the past when judging his effectiveness when he's not feeling it, his defensive awareness and effort is acceptable for the national team level and he is still a very positive contributor to keeping possession high up the field (like Torres or Holden) even if he's not dropping dimes and breaking ankles. In his last game it seemed to me that he was not being used enough by his teammates, pretty much if your name is not Farfan (who is working his way into the running) you should leave the attacking passes to Freddy. Tactically he has to be played as an attacking midfielder and against an elite attacking fullback/winger combo he will likely be a liability defending wide (unless he's feeling it).


Other candidates:

Kljestan (CM almost only)
Michael Farfan (CM or #10, possibly useful wide)
Mix Diskerud (can play as a #10 or a wide attacker but will slide inside)
Joe Corona (as creative from the run of play as Zusi but his strength may be finishing)


Players in other roles:

Torres (ball circulator)
Pontius (winger/forward)

 

I agree with your general analysis of the trio. I think Zusi gains an advantage over the other 2 based on club style of play; like KC, Klinsmann seems to emphasize fitness and physical play; although on paper, not as much hitting on the break.

Even then, it will still take 2-3 US injuries to get Zusi into contention for significant playing time, and for Feilhaber and Adu it will take many, many more. So comparing the players to each other makes less sense than comparing them to the players Klinsmann prefers, IMO, until Camp Cupcake rolls around.

 

Houston that is an interesting thought putting in a second creator instead of another finisher. Not many coaches would do that, but I like the thought behind it. I guess it depends on who is in the game. Doesn't Jurgen play Donovan as a wing mid now? If so he could move to the inside mid position, and be a platini type creater/finisher. That would be like adding both without making a substitute. Then put in a good wing mid who is dangerous on attack and who can make a good cross.

I have no seen adu play in a long time. But I always thought he is suited for a left wing mid, but there is a question mark on his defense when the US loses possession.

 

The 3 listed players are average, and are not good enough to play on the US Men's National Team at this time.

 

Maybe Rolf?

..and I have seen Nguyen a few times this year and have been impressed with his play. It would be interesting to see where hew stacks up against these 3.

 

I don't want to turn this into a JK vs BB thread, but BB did this exact thing with Benny.

In regards to Donovan playing the creator/finisher... this could be a good idea as long as the wing players are not defensive midfielders.

 

Zusi is a good passer and run really well. He has good striking power as well and is very consistent. Doesn't create for anyone and doesn't have a skill that's elite. I don't see him being a successful in Europe. He has the tools and skill-set to be a consistent MLS All Star.

Benny is what he is. He has good playmaking skill but he isn't not elite at anything but he isn't bad at anything either with good size for position. He is an average player with solid playmaking skills.

Adu is clearly the best of the bunch. He has elite vision, passing, and playmaking ability but his consistency, lack of tools, and size can hurt him at times. He is a much better international prospect for that like a Gio Dos Santos.

1. Adu


2. Benny
3. Zusi

 

I think both Feilhaber and Adu are both best as specialists off the bench. They have limitations that prevent them from being good 90 minutes every game at the international level, but in the right situation as subs or spot starters against certain teams they can be very effective.

One difference I see between Bradley and Klinsmann is that I think Klinsmann values situational/specialist players less, instead focusing more on calling in more well rounded players to challenge for starting spots.

 

yes, seeing all the matches, marfn over adu any day of the week

marfan is way more consistent, adu less so

 

yes, seeing all the matches, marfn over adu any day of the week

marfan is way more consistent, adu less so

 

Farfan is not good. He's below average at best. He looks horrible without Adu as well.

 

Farfan is obviously good if he got picked to the ASG albeit as a late addition but still. He's got better stats this year than Feilhaber... Also Nguyen has been impressive every time I've seen him. Maybe he can get a look too.

 

Just out of curiosity, can you put up Davis' stats next to those three? Houston has played more 4-3-3 lately and Davis has pinched in centrally much more than in the 4-4-2. Honestly, it's not like he was an out and out winger normally as he loves pinching in, but he is definitely playing a much more central midfield role for Houston the last 7 or so games and it has worked extremely well. I would just like to compare his MLS Production next to those guys.

 

this is funny. You like to say that Adu has played so well over the last 2 months. But Farfan has appeared in Men of Match per MLS 3-4 times over that 2 month period, and Freddy only once.

So if Farfan is below average , as you say, what does that make Adu?

As well, Farfan played WITHOUT Adu and was rated the best player
in Philadelphia's win at Los Angeles in the last few weeks....in the middle of LA's 2 month hot streak.

Over the past 2 months, Freddy hasn't even been amongst the top 3-4 players on HIS OWN TEAM (not to mention MLS) ...Philly representing a mediocre team that has played better as of late.

And Freddy should now be 'the solution' for the US Men's National Team? He doesn't deserve
a sniff of the US Men's Nats until he can put in a strong full season, which he is not positioned to do for the 6th or 7th year in a row.

But by all means, let's continue to rate Freddy as follows:

Adu
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Barcelona's midfield

 

Not to burden you with any more work (and I'll open this up to anyone), but since the chalkboard feature goes back to last season, it might also be useful to compare these numbers with those of some of the standout midfielders from last season. Specifically Shea, and maybe even Donovan too since by most accounts he's had a bit of an off year so far when playing in the midfield and has only really picked up his play since being moved up top.

The reason I think that might be useful is that it doesn't appear that we've had any real standout American attacking midfielders in the league this season, so when I look at the stats above I'm not sure exactly how strong or weak those numbers are. Certainly the run-of-play production doesn't look that great either way for any of them -- all three players have only scored one goal and registered one assist from the run of play so far. But, for the rest of the numbers it might help to have a baseline of high-performing starting USMNT midfielders to compare the rest against.

 

First of all, all players need to be 2 way players.
It is just not possible to have a specialist in the modern game.
Klinsmann has made this clear, even at the forward line, in benching Altidore
in favor of Boyd.
For this reason, it is really less a question of ATTACKING OPTIONS (as the thread says),
but rather who is the next best quality MLS midfielder we can bring in....to join the core
on the team. A player who fits to THIS team.

For this reason, if you are going to discuss Adu/Feilhaber/Zusi- you might as well add:

Pontius, Davis, Beckerman, Nyguen, Le Toux (is he eligible?), Shea, Gill, Mapp and even Connor Lade.

There are enough ways to shuffle the current pieces in attack, to add the right quality MLS player who would not necessarily NEED to be an attacker.

On the attacking options alone (in midfield), you would want Donovan or Dempsey having more of the ball than Adu/Feilhaber/Zusi anyway. Even Jermaine Jones or Fabian Johnson is stronger at the moment for just attacking. You could argue even for Bradley in that role.

But again, Klinsmann is building a TEAM, so he needs players that can fully integrate. If anything, even someone like Connor Lade becomes as appealing as Adu/Feilhaber/Zusi simply because the guy contributes without needing the ball and helps his team in important ways, whereas these other guys are still not great at any one thing, and weak in some very apparent and important things.