The USMNT version of the 4-3-3

One of the questions that have been greatly discussed since Jurgen Klinsmann took over is if we have the personnel, from a player standpoint, to play the attacking style that he wants to play. The 4-3-3 is the epitome of technical possession-based attacking play similar to what Klinsmann has been describing. As such is the case, and with the little information we have available about the new USMNT coach and staff, here would be my projections for what kind of lineup we might see:


Klinsmann's call-ups for the Mexico game seem to place a premium on two things: speed and technical ability. Beasley, Shea, and especially the late inclusion of Rogers seems to suggest that he wants whoever is playing on the left wing to be extremely fast. That Rogers made the team over some other midfielders (Benny Feilhaber in particular), seems to suggest that Klinsmann wants speed in his midfield (I know the conspiracy theory about them playing together with the Orange County Blue Stars, but I don't think that that is why he is on the team). He also included a glut of holding mids in Beckerman, Bradley, Jones, Edu, and Torres. And expect to see Holden added to that list when he is healthy.

All in all, if the 4-3-3 is implemented, I would expect to see speed on the wings (Shea, Donovan, Beasley, Dempsey, Bedoya, etc.), and lots of holding mids in the center of the field. Fullbacks (Lichaj, Chandler, Cherundolo, Castillo, Pearce, Loyd, etc.) need to also be pacey and have the ability to get forward. I don't see Bocanegra playing at LB anymore, he is an offensive liability, and I don't see Klinsmann playing a purely defensive fullback. The number of holding mids that he called in against Mexico leads me to believe that in the even that we do play a 4-3-3, all three mids would be of this mold. Holden is (when healthy) our best midfielder and would definitely be included in the lineup. Torres is most comfortable as a deep-lying playmaker and his technical ability would fit well in this style in any of these midfield positions. Jones, Bradley, and Edu all have distribution issues (as well as Clark, I still refuse to list him in any future projections of the USMNT, maybe someday I will be able to forgive, but not yet), and I honestly think the best option would be Kyle Beckerman. I live in Utah and maybe this is just me being a homer, but I think playing him as the defensive mid behind Torres and Holden would be a combination that could actually keep possession of the ball. RSL plays a possession-based game, one of the only teams in MLS who does, and Beckerman does a phenomenal job of linking play and organizing the midfield. He may not be the destroyer that Jones is and doesn't quite have the motor of Bradley, but his technical ability in tight spaces and composure on the ball is better than either of them, and that would be at a premium in this formation. Other options here are Dempsey, Bedoya, Diskerud, and Donovan.

Up top you put Altidore in the middle to generally wreak havoc with his physical tools, and speed on the wings. Brek Shea plays in a 4-3-3 with Dallas and is lethal from the left wing. He has been on amazing form, and I am hoping he gets a lot of minutes against Mexico to see if he is up to international quality. Donovan is at his best running at defenses, and the wing position would allow him to do this. Deuce led Fulham in scoring filling in out of position as a striker and was our most consistently dangerous player in the Gold Cup. Having him up there would put our best two players in front of the opposing goal, and hopefully get them touches in dangerous areas where they can create and finish.

Orozco's callup and Ream's inclusion in front of other players such as Omar Gonzalez might be telling that Klinsmann truly does want his defenders to be able to possess the ball. It is too bad that Goodson's injury came so late because it would have been good to see who Klinsmann would have replaced him with. I think Ream will become a fixture despite his questionable marking on set pieces and sometimes suspect positioning. His distribution is important to JK, and I think that Klinsmann is banking on his defensive deficiencies improving with added experience before the 2014 World Cup. On the outside, the RB position looks set with Cherundolo for the present and Chandler for the future, although Nuremberg seems to be giving the USMNT a little bit of a runaround with his availability. He should be in the squad for the Costa Rica friendlies according to Steven Goff's piece. I have Lichaj and Castillo in for now at the LB position. Lichaj really raised his stock for the Gold Cup, and if his position in the Aston Villa starting XI were secure I think we'd be seeing him again against Mexico. He is right-footed, but that never stopped Phillip Lahm. Castillo needs to get some playing time, but his inclusion in Klinsmann's first roster only bodes well for his future with the team.