Did Jurgen Klinsmann Make Enough Changes to USMNT Ahead of World Cup Qualifiers?
The last time we saw the United States men's national team in action, the Yanks disappointed in the CONCACAF Cup against Mexico and in a friendly three days later versus Costa Rica.
The message many preached after the defeats to the USMNT's two closest CONCACAF rivals was one of change. But for the upcoming November World Cup qualifiers, manager Jurgen Klinsmann hasn't done much to freshen up his 23-man squad.
Klinsmann only called in two brand-new faces for the qualifying matches against St. Vincent and Trinidad and Tobago, and he brought in some players who haven't seen consistent time at the club level in recent months.
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Regardless of the squad clad in red, white and blue set to play St. Vincent on Friday in St. Louis, they should come away with three points in Group C. The bigger test of the two games will come on Tuesday, when the Yanks visit Port of Spain to face the Soca Warriors. Earning at least a draw on the road is mandatory for the USMNT to get off to a good start in the group, but there are no guarantees that a point will be earned in Trinidad and Tobago.
Even at the normally consistent goalkeeper position, there are some questions about Klinsmann's selection process. Tim Howard and Brad Guzan will share the No. 1 shirt at this point in the four-year cycle, but neither player is the top in-form American netminder at the moment.
An argument can be made that Bill Hamid is one of the players—if not the player—most deserving of a start over the next week. Hamid singlehandedly kept D.C. United's season alive in the MLS postseason, and at 24, he seems like the right person to take over the starting job ahead of the important Copa America Centenario and the hexagonal round of qualifying. But as long as Howard and Guzan are around, Hamid will be locked into the No. 3 spot on the depth chart.
Klinsmann did bring in a new face in defense in the form of New York Red Bulls and USMNT U20 star Matt Miazga, but one has to think that call-up was made to cap-tie Miazga at some point over the next week to deflect away recent advances from Poland. Sure, Miazga is a solid young player, but we're suspicious of how much playing time he will receive before he returns to his club.
That leaves Geoff Cameron and Matt Besler as the potential center-back pairing to start both contests, but there is the lingering possibility that Klinsmann favorite Ventura Alvarado, who has rarely seen the pitch for Club America since August, will find his way into the starting 11. Even if the 23-year-old starts against lowly St. Vincent, his performance may not do much for the morale in the USMNT camp.
No brand-new faces are around at full-back either as Fabian Johnson, Brek Shea and Tim Ream should man the defensive flanks in some capacity. While those three players are nice options, Shea was hurt for the tail end of the MLS regular season, and Ream hasn't been consistent enough recently for the Yanks to put full trust in him. Instead of trying out new combinations at full back with someone like Eric Lichaj or Jonathan Bornstein, Klinsmann stuck with players who haven't given him results of late.
The same stale issue rears its ugly head in midfield as Jermaine Jones and Kyle Beckerman are both still on the roster despite their ages of 34 and 33. And then there's Mix Diskerud, who lost a year of progression trying to fit in at New York City FC. Things get even worse when you look at the lack of playing time Miguel Ibarra has received at Club Leon.
That leaves Michael Bradley, DeAndre Yedlin, who has started at full back for Sunderland, and newcomer Darlington Nagbe as the most reliable options in midfield. We all know Bradley will give his all in the middle of the park, but where he lines up is crucial to the team's success. Bradley would be better suited as a defensive midfielder on the road against Trinidad and Tobago instead of a No. 10, which is where we believe Nagbe would be a good fit in this particular squad.
The Yanks have been in need of a difference-making creative force in attack for months, and Nagbe is Klinsmann's answer right now. But throwing the 25-year-old Portland Timbers player straight into the fire of CONCACAF in Port of Spain may overwhelm him the first time out. If Klinsmann brought in battle-tested veterans like Benny Feilhaber or Sacha Kljestan for the first two World Cup qualifiers, we would feel much more comfortable predicting the Yanks to earn a positive result.
As for forward, Klinsmann's hand was forced this time around due to the injuries plaguing the position. However, there is some hope that the USMNT boss will move away from the inconsistent Jozy Altidore and give Bobby Wood and Jordan Morris a chance to shine alongside Gyasi Zardes.
Wood and Morris are the top in-form strikers in the talent pool, and they should receive chances up top on Friday in a game in which the Yanks should have three points sealed up by halftime. Starting Altidore may be required on the road, but Klinsmann could also start one of the young forwards alongside the Toronto FC man.
However, given Klinsmann's reluctance to infuse fresh faces into the lineup this year, it is hard to believe someone like Nagbe, Wood or Morris will make a massive impact on the first two Group C contests. If Klinsmann trots out a squad full of veterans for the St. Vincent match, which he very well could do, he will waste a golden opportunity to hand certain players more experience. If he opts for a lineup that is too conservative in Trinidad and Tobago, Klinsmann could also risk another chance to develop his team and earn a positive result.
It is right to be skeptical of Klinsmann at this moment in time. The USMNT have two wins in their last seven matches, and few reinforcements seem to be on their way. Change can happen with the current members of the red, white and blue, but if positive scorelines aren't produced in both World Cup qualifiers in the upcoming week, we will continue to criticize the questionable personnel moves of the USMNT boss until a major turnover occurs.
Joe Tansey covers U.S. Soccer for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter, @JTansey90.
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