Our new, more possession oriented system actually hasn't looked half bad overall. It's no secret that our issue has been turning that possession into decent scoring chances. For the most part, the attacking method has consisted of passing from player A to player B and trying to find someone making a run. This hasn't been effective because it is fairly easy for defenders to mark a single player that's looking to get on the end of a pass. In this system that Klinnsman wants to play it is essential that you have players that are capable of taking people 1 on 1 and pulling additional defenders from their position, which is something we haven't been seeing. If you are not able to do this you are not going to be very successful. This is why I think Johnson is more beneficial on the left side of our attack. As of late our best attacking play has come when he is in the final third. He takes people 1 on 1 and navigates the channels as well as anybody on the team. When this happens defenders are forced to leave their positions to cover, leaving attackers with those extra yards of space. Johnson has done it numerous times and the lone goal against Guatemala was just another example. When he was dribbling through at goal the defenders were not able to keep doing what they were doing all game, sitting right on top of their man waiting for him to receive a pass, and instead they were forced to stray their attention from their marker. When Johnson saw this he played the ball to an open Dempsey and he was able to use the space to get a shot off. I know many thought that we could stick Dempsey in the 10 role and he would be the guy breaking down defenses and creating chances, but that's not what he does best. He needs to be the guy that is finding those extra yards of space and getting on the end of passes. He does that at Fulham and it's something that he's been very successful at. Obviously our pool isn't deep with these type of players, but if this system is going to be successful we need a Johnson or Adu type technical player in the attack. Donovan has not been this type of player for us. When he gets open space to run and read the game he is extremely dangerous and tends to make great decisions with the ball. This is his specialty and, excluding the Scotland game, it is something that he has not been given the opportunity to do which has greatly hurt the team. Unless we are able to field technically good players that are able to disrupt defenses game plans, this team will not reach the next level with the current system.
Gatt, Gyau, Taylor, and Adu are all of our dribbler type players. And Adu is more of a central play maker. That's about it. Aside from Adu the rest of them aren't ready for the national team. That doesn't mean we can't call them up and play them anyway, especially someone like Gatt. I mean freaking Boyd is getting caps (no disrespect meant). Gatt and Gyau would have probably left that Scotland team in a wreck with their pace alone.
Some folks are really creating quite the high expectations for some of these players who have never had a cap before. Surely if/when they arrive there will be no place for them to go but down.
Like most people will mention. Gatt, Gyau, Adu and that's about it really. I don't think Gyau or Gatt are ready while Adu is Adu. Taylor is nowhere near this level. I would love to get all these guys up for a game and give them some mins but the Mexico friendly makes that impossible. Hopefully Gatt gets a good move this year and Gyau get some first team mins.
Aside from Gatt & Gyau other talented dribblers include DeLeon, Duka, Span. We just need 2 or 3 good wingers to develop by 2014. Donovans lost a step so I pray a couple youngstera can step up.
No, I just think that that Scotland side was ridiculously unprepared to play. I said they aren't ready for this level but plenty of players aren't when they get their first cap.
Torres. Dempsey. but really you just beat one man then pass it off and keep your run you can cause havoc. when we do that it looks good.