The first lengthy U.S. national team camp for Jurgen Klinsmann came and while the two friendlies linked to the week-long camp failed to produce a win or tie, or even a goal, the matches gave Klinsmann, and U.S. national team fan plenty of insight into the state of the current national team player pool.
It’s tough to come away being overly positive about a stretch that saw the team shut out twice, and it’s safe to say Klinsmann’s post-game smiles will start to fade if the goals don’t start coming, but there were some clear-cut positives to draw from Klinsmann’s first three games in charge and the new faces he has given chances to.
No, not all the players Klinsmann has turned to have stepped up, but even those who have failed have helped the new U.S. coach figure out who to keep giving time to, and who he can drop out of the picture.
So what are the most important things we learned from the recent U.S. national team friendlies? Here are the biggest keys to take away from the recent matches against Costa Rica and Belgium:
Jose Torres is ready for a bigger role
Jose Torres (left) has proved he deserves a chance in the future. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The most impressive of the newer faces Klinsmann took a look at, Torres has a poise on the ball, an ability to hold the ball and vision found in few American players. Those traits have Klinsmann eager to give Torres a more important role and the young midfielder looks capable of handling it.
What needs to be made clear about Torres though is that he is not an attacking midfielder. He circulates the ball well and does well to see a variety of passing outlets, but isn’t a player who will make his living delivering the killer pass in the final third. That player has yet to be identified, but those labeling Torres as such a player are mistaken. He’s a gifted midfielder who can serve as a valuable catalyst, and should only get better with more experience.
Edgar Castillo and Robbie Rogers are not ready for primetime
Odd man out: Edgar Castillo (left) has failed to shine at left-back for the USA. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
When Bob Bradley chose not to take a second look at Edgar Castillo after seeing him briefly in 2009, there were serious questions asked about why Castillo hadn’t been given another chance. When Klinsmann handed him a start against Mexico it looked like Castillo would have his chance to prove he should have been a part of the national team all along.
Two starts and two struggling efforts later, Castillo reminded us why he has struggled to catch on with a team in Mexico the past few years. He’s got some attacking qualities, and it could be argued he’s more midfielder than fullback, but is generally inconsistent and a defensive liability. Against a Costa Rica side that never tested him defensively, Castillo still struggled to contribute to the attack and instead became a turnover machine.
Robbie Rogers never really climbed above the role of sub under Bob Bradley, but when he scored against Colombia in Klinsmann’s first match there was a brief feeling that he might be ready for a larger role. Two starts and two weak efforts later, Rogers looks like a player who is still nothing more than a national team sub against lower level CONCACAF competition.
Jurgen Klinsmann isn’t afraid to experiment
Whether with the variety of formations he’s used, or the way he has moved around players like Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and even Timmy Chandler, Klinsmann is ready to try a plethora of approaches to help figure out the best approach for his current squad.
The fact he was willing to try Timmy Chandler at left back less than a week after stating he didn’t want to play players out of position shows Klinsmann is flexible enough to go against personal preferences if it means solving a squad problem.
Timmy Chandler is worth a longer look at left back
He isn’t naturally left-footed, and at times it was clear he was a relative newcomer to the position, but Chandler showed more than enough from his run at left back against Belgium to warrant a further look there.
Why? He’s athletic enough and a good enough one-on-one defender to hold down the defensive responsibilities of the position, which is more than has been said for previous holders of the position. He doesn’t look totally comfortable delivering left-footed service, but he does get forward well, something that could have been better utilized had Brek Shea read his runs better.
Chandler does look like the right back of the future, but with Steve Cherundolo playing at a very high level, it only makes sense to get Chandler on the field somehow, and if he can solve the long-standing problem at left back, Klinsmann will take a major step toward building an improved squad.
Jozy Altidore is getting better, even if the goals haven’t come yet
The critics were out in force when Altidore finished goal-less in his two appearances with the national team. What was ignored amid the struggles of the U.S. attack was the fact Altidore showed clear signs of improving in some very important areas.
Altidore’s ability to shield defenders and hold up the ball and find teammates was sharper, and his passing was much better than it has been in the past. He nearly helped set up a goal against Costa Rica when he sprang Brek Shea, who’s dish to Landon Donovan should have resulted in a goal.
Fatigue got the better of Altidore, who managed just 45 minutes against Belgium, but the signs were there of improvement, even if the goals didn’t come. It’s clear the chance to play regularly for Dutch size AZ Alkmaar, and score goals, has him playing with confidence and he remains the top forward option in the U.S. national team pool.
Kyle Beckerman is good enough for the international level
Laughing matter: Kyle Beckerman has impressed under Klinsmann. (Photo by Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Getty Images)
The most impressive of the MLS contingent during the Klinsmann era, Beckerman has displayed the tools and quality that have made him the focal point of Real Salt Lake’s success in recent years. This wasn’t Beckerman’s first foray with the national team, but the improvement in his game from 2009 to now is clear to see.
Beckerman was extremely impressive against Mexico, and proved it wasn’t a fluke by playing well yet again vs. Belgium. He’s earned respect from teammates and Klinsmann and should continue to get calls as the team moves closer to meaningful matches.
The competition for playing time in a defensive midfield role is strong, with the likes of Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones and Maurice Edu, but Beckerman clearly went from MLS player with no real chance of cracking that rotation, to solid candidate for a long-standing role on the U.S. team.
