Why did you turn to a 4-5-1 formation? I know Jozy getting injured against Jamaica took out our best striker, by a wide margin, but why does that mean putting someone out top alone. If anything, Agudelo or Wondolowski need a partner in attack. They're not the type of strikers to play alone. The only U.S. striker who has the capabilities to play alone successfully is Altidore. So why in his absence did you not replace him with a midfielder and not a striker? Another problem was you didn't call the best inform striker we have. Charlie Davies is recovered and scoring goals like mad for DC. He should've been on the roster.
Then there's the starting line-up against Mexico in the final. Not only did you not even bother to start an actual striker, none of the six midfielders you started actually played the role. Dempsey is definitely capable of playing that role, but he was never the most forward midfielder. It really seemed as though there was a lot of confusion as to who should fill what role. Bedoya and Adu both were playing RM. Donovan seemed to be playing CAM, which is a role he's capable of playing, but he really belongs out wide. Dempsey was on the Left. Bradley and Jones played a central holding role. It was really just a cluster fuck in midfield.
There is a reason why no one's ever used a 4-6-0 formation. It's because it doesn't work and no one with even a rudimentary understanding of Soccer strategy would ever try it. It's surprising that we even managed any goals yesterday. It was lucky that for the first time in this tournament our guys actually finished efficiently.
What made it most evident that this team is not progressing is the failings in defense that have been a signature of tenure as manager. It is either lack of talent or poor coaching. If it's that the players aren't good enough, why have failed to bring in new defenders to try to improve this problem? There are plenty of good defenders eligible defenders who haven't gotten a real look under your regime. However you've stuck with roughly the same group of defenders. I don't think that's the case though. I think those are the best defenders that our nation has produced an they are more than good enough.
It is clear that good defending is not the priority of the coaching staff. There is an absolute lack of discipline. There isn't any understanding of who should have which responsibility. The frequency of defensive errors by this team is unacceptable.
It's unfortunate that our Soccer Federation felt that you getting the team into the knockout rounds was good enough to give you another stint. If it were up to me, you'd have been let go then. We can't afford another wasted four years. I hope the painful underachievement since The World Cup by this team will be enough to open their eyes and bring someone new in. Our window is closing. This cycle will be our last/best chance and you have become a hindrance to greater achievement.
-Michael
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