How might England’s principal group rivals, USA line up in South Africa this summer?
Plan A: At the Confederations Cup last year, USA settled upon a pragmatic 4-4-2 with the traditional target-man/pacy striker combination. Jozy Altidore is the powerful forward: he’s hardly been prolific for English Premier League strugglers Hull City this season, but has provided indications of his ability and value to a team. Charlie Davies provided the pace last year in South Africa. However, whilst he is back in training with French side FC Souchaux, following a serious car accident last year, he may not make the World Cup. If Davies cannot make it to South Africa, the replacement could be Conor Casey. The problem with an Altidore/Casey pairing is that they both offer target-man attributes. It could therefore be preferable to move Clint Dempsey from midfield to centre-forward. Dempsey has played in central attacking positions this season for Fulham and could be a better complement to Altidore than Casey. If coach Bob Bradley places Dempsey in attack, then Stuart Holden (if fit) or Jonathan Bornstein could take up the left-sided midfield berth.
Plan B: If Davies is not fit in time, then Bob Bradley may decide that it would be more effective to play Landon Donovan centrally. Donovan could support the attack under a 4-4-1-1: this approach enables USA’s key player to exert optimum influence. Up against European or South American sides at World Cup 2010, this approach might help to prevent the US from being overrun in central-midfield areas as Donovan can drop deep to disrupt the opposition’s deep-lying midfielders. With Donovan linking midfield and attack, Michael Bradley will be less obliged to advance into positions which could leave the US defence exposed. Benny Fielhaber or Sacha Klejstan could fill the gap vacated by Donovan at right-midfield.
Plan C: If the US are looking for a significant but workable departure from their 4-4-2 template, then they could opt for a six-man midfield. This approach was used with some success by Guus Hiddink’s Australia at World Cup 2006. A 3-6-1 configuration could stifle the very best sides, such as Brazil or Spain, which tend to play a 4-2-2-2 formation. Under 3-6-1 the team measures up to the Brazil/Spain approach man-for-man in central-midfield. In addition, the security of the three-man central defence allows the wing-backs/wide midfielders to push forward to prevent the opposing full-backs from advancing. The 4-2-2-2 presents a narrow but flexible midfield, with the full-backs offering consistent attacking width. If the full-backs are penned back then this seriously restricts the breadth of the formation. In the Confederations Cup, Charlie Davies made runs in behind Sergio Ramos which limited the Spanish full-back’s scope to support attacks. Under this 3-6-1 formation, Dempsey can push forwards down his flank, as a robust central-midfield and central-defence provide the counterbalance for his advanced positioning. Donovan can also break wide down the right to keep the left-back defensively occupied.
Edu will most likely start over Clark, but the 3-6-1 with Dempsey-Fielhaber-Bradley- Donovan at midfield with Edu-Spector behind them would be fantastic. Considering both Edu, and Spector have shown well at CB as well it’s not far fetched to believe the could handle CDM. Boca-DeMerrit-Gooch behind them would be a very formidable lineup in the absence of Davies.
I think this is good stuff with the different options. I think the US is going to choose the conventional 4-4-2 Plan A option but with different players in those positions. Dempsey and Altidore paired together up top with Donovan and Holden playing the midfield wings and Bradley and Edu playing central midfield