J Hutcherson of USSoccerPlayers serves up a critical review of the U.S. national team’s strategy (or lack thereof) in the wake of its 4-2 loss to Brazil on Sunday. He says that this team has proved to be at its strongest in and in front of goal, in central defense and midfield. “It gets dicey everywhere else,” he says, adding that putting one or two defensive midfielders in the center while hoping the wings can generate offense along the flanks is not the strategy, not “for an unmatched forward set,” with only “one international class forward” (presumably Landon Donovan-who these days is playing right midfield).
He adds that Sunday’s performance was “another 90 minutes of unbalance,” in which a clogged middle invited the Brazilians to attack out wide — a dangerous strategy against a team with players like Ronaldinho, Robinho and Kaka, who enjoy attacking from out wide.
Hutcherson says U.S. coach Bob Bradley’s strategy was puzzling because, “nobody crafts a midfield better than Bob Bradley, and he’s at his best with five.” However, there’s no way the U.S. could play with three at the back, he says, which would mean withdrawing one of the forwards to play a 4-5-1. But who is confident and strong enough to play the role of lone striker? No one, says Hutcherson, adding that Sunday’s tactics should now be open to discussion.