I think is the opposite, he is too slow to keep up with fast teams, but if he can catch up to the play, he seems to make the right decisions.
Cue HoustonHoya's favorite Klinsi quote from the Fall of 2011 about how Beckerman displayed all the qualities he was looking for in a #6... JK's most consistant change from the prior coach has been the use of a #6 to screen the CBs. I happen to think it's his best change so far. He's used a #6 in every game, including the Slovenia game, where Beckerman was clearly the #6, and also clearly struggled with the speed of play and individual 1v1s.
In other words he's not looking for a destroyer--an actual 6--to play the position, but is instead just looking for a deep-lying mid. Otherwise he would use actual 6s like Edu, Jones, or Williams in the 6 spot instead of deploying them as pressing mids or in Williams' case as some kind of a touchline defender.
But he HAS used Maurice Edu there, as recent as the Guatemala game, in fact... I understand what you're saying, but I'm not sure Klinsmann is so averse to putting someone like Edu in that spot...
JK has started Edu as the #6 in 3 out of 5 matches in the recent "5 match tournament". In the other 2 matches, JK played Bradley as the #6 v Brazil and played dual #8's v Canada (IMO a total disaster). Beckerman has played backup minutes to Edu. As of right now in the center 3 of the 4-3-X (2-1/1-2/3) Edu is the starting #6, MB the #8, and JJ the #10.
Good pickup. I'd quibble in that the formation was 4231 with both Edu and Bradley sat deep. Bradley got forward slightly more. http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-06-12-gua-v-usa/chalkboard http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-06-12-gua-v-usa/formation I'd also make point for the benefit of some of the others that my exchange with Bolivianfuego is more about the skillset players are bringing to various parts of the field rather than nomenclature. Jones, Edu, and Williams bring different skillsets to the deep position compared to players like Bradley and Beckerman who seem to be #1 and #2 there when everyone is healthy and in form.
I would say Jones is more like Bradley and Beckerman than Edu and Williams in regards to the #6 role. Bradley, Jones, and Beckerman are not only better on the ball but have a much better understanding of simply how to play the ball out of the back. The way to shield and turn and the proper touches to take that can create vital/space time on the ball. While it's tempting to stick a guy like Edu or Williams in that six role, as a side that looks to have more control of the ball and the game these days, we might need to put one of the other three in that spot.
To me Jones is a destroyer with a nicer skillset than the other US mids or like the poster Lascho described 'a much better Ricardo Clark'. He didn't look comfortable initiating the attack in the 5 game stand(except for the Scotland match) in the way of deep-lying mids like Bradley and Beckerman. Guess the analogy I'd use would be that Julian de Guzman. TFC tried to make him the playmaker but he's not a playmaker no matter his pedigree.
I guess we are going to disagree how much help he gave in his 45 min. I also watched the game more than once.
You said "scores like a forward." The numbers can't tell us if he is a good or great player, or will be, or what position he should play, but they do tell us he doesn't "score like a forward". Just say that you got a little carried away and be done with it.
I think you both got carried away. While I'm not sure he can score like a forward, I'm not sure it's necessarily worth it to chase the phrase with a pitchfork and torch.
Perhaps not. But I am not sure that you are adding much of value by acting as the school marm here especially when I think we could all air our differences of opinion better if the ridiculous hyperbole was eliminated from the conversation. Just to be clear, I could very well be wrong and Fabian Johnson could be a great midfielder for the USMNT (though he is unlikely to score like a forward). Time will tell.
Right. I personally am just expressing what I feel about him. His skills, style, and ability to me.... fit that position. He has shown too that he can at times, finish like the best of em'. This is my opinioon though, and I am just going on PURE idea. It's ok to disagree with that. I think he has the ability to be a 'classic' 10 if he wanted to, compared to Riquelme or one of my favorites, Marcelo Gallardo (during his limited time for DCU and River). While his vision may not be as good, if you put him in the right place, he'll be able to finish similarly to both. Again though, this is my opinion. I know in europe, players like that don't really exist anymore. The creativity most of the time is coming from the wings. Put him in the right place, and he'll be able to score like a 'dempsey' or 'Donovan' if you want to compare him to players in our pool.