Keys for Jurgen Klinsmann to Get USMNT Ready for 2015 Gold Cup
Five friendlies over the next four months lay in front of the United States men's national team in preparation for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
During those matches, manager Jurgen Klinsmann should be able to discover whom he can trust to secure a second consecutive Gold Cup.
Despite the team's current standing on the continental level, it still has plenty of holes to fill in order to fend off challenges from Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama on home soil this summer.
Here's a look at five keys for the USMNT to follow in order to be ready for the Gold Cup.
Continue to Call Younger Players into Camp
1 of 5
With five friendlies on the schedule before Gold Cup action begins at Toyota Park in Texas on July 7, Klinsmann should continue to hand some of his young players action in international matches.
We shouldn't expect to see as many youngsters as we did during the annual January camp, but guys like Steve Birnbaum, Wil Trapp and Luis Gil should be brought along for the team's European excursions over the next few months.
All three of these players have impressed in some fashion in Major League Soccer, and they are all deserving of a permanent spot on the first-team roster.
Outside of the MLS-based players, Klinsmann should also keep a close eye on Rubio Rubin, Emerson Hyndman, Marc Pelosi and Julian Green.
Handing playing time to a few young players ahead of the Gold Cup could pave the way for one of these players to replicate the impact DeAndre Yedlin had at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The potential valuable experience earned by some of the young stars in the talent pool will also prepare them for the Olympics and the U-20 World Cup.
Earning time in a major competition like the Gold Cup, or against top opposition like Denmark, Switzerland, Mexico, the Netherlands and Germany will help some of the youngsters grow into leadership roles at the lower levels.
Keep Switching Up the Formation to Find a Good Fit
2 of 5
Klinsmann is no stranger to experimenting with new formations in an attempt to get the best out of his available talent.
In the January defeat to Chile, Klinsmann opted to use a 3-5-2 with Birnbaum, Jermaine Jones and Matt Besler at center-back. Yedlin and Brek Shea started on the wings in a game in which the Yanks lost 3-2.
While the alteration of the USMNT's formation for each game may seem baffling to some fans, Klinsmann is just looking for a way to get the absolute best out of the 11 players he puts on the pitch.
By switching up his lineup over the next few months, Klinsmann will be able to test a few things out and play some players out of position, which he is quite famous for at this juncture in his USMNT managerial career.
If one of Klinsmann's positional experiments succeeds more than Jones at center-back, or Michael Bradley in an advanced midfield position, he could stumble upon the next great international player for the USMNT.
The changing of formation will also keep some of the Yanks' Gold Cup opposition guessing as to which setup the USMNT will actually use this summer.
Find a Replacement for Jozy Altidore
3 of 5
One of the biggest problems the Yanks have had during the Klinsmann era is the establishment of a permanent back-up option to starting forward Jozy Altidore.
In Brazil, the decision not to bring a true replacement for the Toronto FC forward cost the USMNT a chance of advancing further at the World Cup.
To be fair to Klinsmann, no single player has stood out enough or stayed healthy over the last two years to earn the position. The injuries and lack of club form are the reasons why Chris Wondolowski keeps showing up in a United States jersey.
The 32-year-old Wondolowski has exhausted his opportunities with the national team, as he has failed to capitalize on plenty of chances in front of goal despite his scoring record in MLS.
With Bobby Wood and Terrence Boyd out injured, Aron Johannsson would seem like the first-choice reserve forward, but he has failed to stay healthy recently as well.
That leaves the door wide open for Gyasi Zardes to become Altidore's back-up for the Yanks. Zardes impressed during the January camp, and if he continues to thrive with the LA Galaxy in 2015, he should be a strong contender for a Gold Cup roster spot.
Find DeAndre Yedlin's Best Position on the Pitch
4 of 5
At 21 years of age, Yedlin has the potential to become the next star of American soccer. But before that happens, he needs to find a consistent position on the pitch.
Yedlin was utilized as a right-back by the Seattle Sounders in MLS before his move to Tottenham Hotspur, but he has done well in an attacking role on the right wing under Klinsmann.
Many see the young prospect as an attack-minded player because of the defensive flaws in his game, while others will point to his recovery speed being a key asset as a right-back who does surge forward on occasion.
Until he develops into a trustworthy defender on the right flank, Yedlin might have to be used as a midfielder to avoid any defensive shortcomings in the upcoming set of friendlies.
If he can torch opposing defenses at the international level with his speed in attack in the matches leading up to the Gold Cup, Yedlin could solidify a starting role in midfield.
However, he may be forced to play in the back four if Klinsmann is unable to find a pair of full-backs that have the quality to play consistently for the USMNT.
Discover the Best Full-Back Combination
5 of 5
The biggest hole in the USMNT lineup at the moment is at full-back, where no one has taken full advantage of the international retirements of Steve Cherundolo and DaMarcus Beasley.
Replacing two of the best American players ever was never going to be an easy task, but more questions have been delivered about the status of the position than answers.
There is not a lack of candidates for the two starting positions in the back four, as an extensive list of players has been used in the last 12 months.
Fabian Johnson, Timothy Chandler, Greg Garza, Brad Evans, Geoff Cameron, Tony Beltran, Edgar Castillo and Yedlin are just a few of the options Klinsmann has in the talent pool right now.
Despite the number of talented full-backs available to the USMNT, none of them have left a major impact on the team, or they have been used at a different position.
In an ideal world, Johnson and Cameron would be starting on the defensive flanks with Yedlin on the right wing. But Johnson is on the outside looking in at the club level and Klinsmann seems to see Cameron as a center-back and defensive midfielder.
One other name to keep an eye on over the next few months is Tim Ream, who has played at left-back for Bolton Wanderers this season. If Klinsmann is not happy with his current options at the position, he could look to the 27-year-old.
With plenty of time before the Gold Cup to impress the USMNT brass, at least one of the players listed above must take command of a starting position in Klinsmann's lineup.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
