The United States suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Ireland on Tuesday and many supporters were upset at the display. After all, Ireland fielded a B/C team while we started the match with nine players who were on the World Cup roster. But I want to suggest that this game was actually a sign of progress.
Wait, what?
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| Photo credit: SBIsoccer.com |
Klinsmann has preached about implementing a proactive, possession-based
style ever since he was hired as manager. Here is a direct quote from around
the time he was hired as manager:
“I think America always likes to decide on its own what is next. This
guides maybe towards a more proactive style of play where you would like to
impose a little bit the game on your opponent instead of sitting back and
waiting for what your opponent is doing and react to it. It always depends,
also, on your opponent. If you play Brazil or Argentina, you might play
differently than maybe a country in CONCACAF, but it is a starting point if you
say we want to start to keep possession, we want to start to dictate the pace
of the game, we want to challenge our players to improve technically in order
to keep the ball. All those components you have to build into your training
sessions and have to build it into the curriculum for the youngsters because
the earlier they start with that type of work, the better it is.”
We saw that style that Jurgen has been talking about during this game. This
game was never about winning. It was obvious that Klinsmann had given orders to
the team to strictly work on keeping possession and try to play out of the back.
It was manifested in Hamid rolling the ball out to the fullbacks and passing it
to the center backs under pressure; doing short corner routines to try and work
the ball into the box; all midfielders at one point or another dropping deep to
collect the ball. Klinsmann's message was clear: keep the ball on the ground and try to keep possession.
Perhaps the best example of these instructions being followed to the utmost was Fabian Johnson trying
to play out of the back in the corner surrounded by two Irish attackers,
resulting in Ireland’s second goal.
Should he have just cleared it? Maybe. It
would have been the easiest thing to do for sure. Taylor Twellman agreed on the
broadcast:
“Well it’s a little thing. Fabian Johnson, yes he’s facing his own end
line… Jurgen Klinsmann is not going to be happy with that. If anything that ball
needs to be cleared 30, 40 yards into the stands. You cannot lose possession in
that moment because then Kyle Beckerman and Mix Diskerud are out of the way.”
But I want to suggest that Jurgen appreciated Johnson trying to keep
possession in that moment. It was unfortunate that we conceded a goal as a
result of it but he had the right mindset in trying to pass it out. After all,
it most likely would have found either Bedoya or Diskerud, who were right
there, had it not been for Johnson losing his balance while passing.
Say what you want about Alexi Lalas, but I believe he was right about
this incident:
No problem conceding goal. Johnson looks for help & commits to playing out of back. Possession teams don't kick it into the stands. #IRLvUSA
— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) November 18, 2014
If you want to transition to possession team you have to be willing to fail and still go right back to the well. These are games to do it.
— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) November 18, 2014
No. Precisely when you don't. RT @GrantWahl If he has 2 guys breathing down his neck in that spot? Of course he should put it out of play.
— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) November 18, 2014
There is nothing revolutionary or evolutionary for a #USMNT player to be safe and kick the ball out if play when faced with pressure.
— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) November 18, 2014
The goal is, in that moment when Johnson has the ball, to have every player not even considering the option of him kicking it out of play.
— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) November 18, 2014
These friendlies right after a
World Cup are the perfect time to try and implement changes and experiment. It’s
not about winning these games, it’s about becoming comfortable with the style
of play and positional expectations of the manager’s system.
On the Irish broadcast of the game, the announcers noted the style the
U.S. was playing. At the 41’ mark, one of them (apologies for not catching his
name) noted the following:
“We’re seeing here exactly how Klinsmann has really stamped his authority on this team and the way he wants the game to be played – playing from the back. You know… Hamid, not in any rush to just clear it up field, there’s a good movement in front of him, the center halves are splitting end to end of the 18 yard box… Beckerman, more often than not, dropping in to try and get on the ball and they’ve managed to get out of it very, very well.”
“We’re seeing here exactly how Klinsmann has really stamped his authority on this team and the way he wants the game to be played – playing from the back. You know… Hamid, not in any rush to just clear it up field, there’s a good movement in front of him, the center halves are splitting end to end of the 18 yard box… Beckerman, more often than not, dropping in to try and get on the ball and they’ve managed to get out of it very, very well.”
It was clear to them that we were trying to play out of the back under
pressure. Again, this had to have come from strict orders from Klinsmann to do
so.
We also don’t quite have the players yet to play a fluid, possession-based
system. Specifically, the midfield and defense don’t have the technical
quality, though there are signs of progress. Kyle Beckerman has fantastic
positioning and reads the game well but can’t keep the ball in tight spaces. He
frequently clears the ball instead of looking to pass out of danger. Omar
Gonzalez has terrible distribution and always plays long balls. Beasley hoofs
it as well and has a terrible first touch. Wondo doesn’t have any technical
ability whatsoever.
But there is hope. John Brooks
has solid distribution and looks to be a real stud. Mix has repeatedly shown
that he has the technical ability to keep possession in the middle of the
pitch. Lee Nguyen showed some flair in his brief appearance. Rubin and Wood,
though rough at times, have shown glimpses of this desired technical ability.
We have players starting to come through the system that do in fact have the
technical ability that is required to play the way Jurgen wants.
Jurgen has clearly told the team how he expects
them to play and they did exactly that. It didn’t go smoothly but that is
expected when you are imposing a new style upon players who have never really
been exposed to it. This friendly was a perfect outlet to practice this
possession-based style. It’s better that we are making mistakes in these friendlies
than in competitive matches further down the road. Keep the big picture in
mind. Yes, we lost the game, and yes, it wasn’t a pretty score line. But this
friendly literally doesn’t count for anything so we need to calm down. It’s all
part of the ongoing process of becoming a proactive, possession-based team.
