The return of Scoops Callahan

My fellow Americans,

I'm here because I want to discuss something. That thing is the USMNT.

With Jurgen looking to shake things up from the old guard-- switching to a more attacking style of play while mixing in some "Latin flair," as he calls it-- our starting XI set to be in a state of flux for the next few months (we probably won't know his preferred XI until our first WCQ matches).

Giblinho, my friend and colleague, pointed out to me during last night's 0-1 loss to Costa Rica (USA's bogey team?) that we have an embarassment of riches in the midfield, and an embarassment of poverty in defense and attack. So I got to thinking, could we just construct an outfield team of all midfielders?

The answer, my friends, is yes:

Howard

Chandler Edu Clark Johnson

Holden Torres Bradley Shea

Dempsey Donovan

Subs: Guzan, Jones, Adu, Bedoya, Feilhaber, Kljestan, Diskerud

Timmy Chandler is generally labeled as a RM and a RB, so he makes the cut, as does Fabian Johnson at LB. Johnson has yet to nail down one specific position at village club Hoffenheim, but he has featured both in midfield and defense, specifically in the USA's problem position of LB.

Maurice Edu and Ricardo Clark are both converted DCMs, however both have had experience in the center of defense. Clark has recently been deployed as a center-back by his Frankfurt employers, while Edu at least once played as a center-back for the US against the Czechs. He wasn't particularly impressive, which makes this the biggest stretch on the list, but would he be any worse than Orozco?

Stuart Holden is forced outside simply because of his versatility. He has far greater ability to play inside but Jose Torres needs to occupy that central playmaker spot in which he excelled vs Costa Rica, while Michael Bradley will play the hardworking, defensive role he often occupied earlier in his career. At LM, Brek Shea is clearly at home and should be considered undroppable at this point.

Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan up top is something I have always wanted to see (I'm not aware of any past US game where we have experimented with this pairing). Back in the day, Donovan was a speedy striker who made a legitimate impact in South Korea 2002. He still has that breakaway speed, though whether or not he'd be effective as a striker , I don't know. Dempsey up top is nothing new, as Bob Bradley often shifted him forward towards the end of matches over the last cycle. But would pairing him with a short, speedy forward with an eye to pass in Donovan be as effective as with a bigger Jozy Altidore?

I'm well aware this is not our most effective line-up. I just wanted to point out that it is kind of amazing how many quality midfielders we have, especially when compared to our forwards and defenders-- that's 15 listed here (I refuse to include Ricardo Clark as a "quality" midfielder), and arguments could be made for Beckerman, Pontius, Rogers, and Beasley. With all of them fighting for 4, maybe 5 spots, that's an awful lot of unhappy contenders.

I don't know what this is down to, really. You could say that the US's general lack of technique/foot skill explains the lack of forwards, which is probably true. But then how do you explain the dearth of quality defenders, a position in which foot skills are the least important? Shouldn't our country's emphasis on athleticism provide players who can make a read on defense, and react accordingly? This is the one thing that has always baffled me-- the US theoretically should have a plethora of rock solid defenders-- strong safeties and small forwards converted into no nonsense centerbacks. But the truth is that we just don't have them.

Until the day that we do have plenty of solid options at CB and FW, maybe Jurgy ought to look at spreading out our midfield talent into other areas of the pitch.