Gold Cup: Blame for Historic U.S. Debacle Against Panama Falls on Bob Bradley
By Ty Duffy
The U.S. does not start slowly, nor do they have a habit of starting slowly. They started in the wrong formation and make a clear habit of starting in the wrong formation. It was clear the U.S. needed to control the match and break Panama down. Bradley opted for a defensive 4-4-2. He assumed the talent advantage would get them through. It didn’t.
Offensively, the U.S. could neither hold the ball nor move it. U.S. fullbacks don’t overlap well, preventing movement down the wings. Neither Jones nor Michael Bradley is a naturally facile distributor, blocking movement down the middle. Dempsey and Donovan were wandering across the pitch, searching for the ball.
This left the U.S. with two marooned strikers. The only way to serve them was launching long balls and praying. Panama was so concerned U.S. defenders could do this accurately, they didn’t bother pressuring them. This is why the U.S. only creates scoring chances on set pieces and counterattacks. Watching them “pick apart” Panama’s defense was like watching a 17-year-old fumble with a bra.
Defensively, they could not cover the defense. Jones and Bradley were too narrow in the middle. Assigning Landon Donovan a quadrant of the field to track back and defend is a spotty proposition. Panama had oodles of space, letting them dribble and pass right through the midfield, and right by the stodgy back four.
Looking at the bench, why include Adu in a 23-man squad if you can’t trust him as an impact sub in a match screaming for his technique and creativity. If he can’t do it against Panama, he can’t do it.
The Americans could not assert themselves or exert any level of control, against a team they should have manhandled. This was a function of the formation they played most of the game. When Bradley adjusted after 60 minutes, things stabilized.
Here are three changes I would make ahead of Guadeloupe.
Take off Agudelo and Move Dempsey behind Altidore. Whether it’s focus or fitness, Agudelo can’t go 90 minutes. He can be replaced by another winger, perhaps Bedoya, allowing Dempsey to move into the middle. Dempsey is the best, most creative American player. He needs to be in positions where he can touch the ball and influence the match the most. This would also leave Agudelo is a bench option to run at tired defenders in the second half.
Break up Bradley and Jones. They may be the two best central midfielders, but their talents overlap rather than compliment. They cover the same space, make the same runs forward and pick out the same passes. It’s a less gifted Wade/LeBron dynamic. They don’t play with each other. They take turns doing the same thing.
Against overmatched teams, Bradley can serve the defensive role with another midfielder (probably Kljestan) handling the distribution. Against better teams, Edu can play a straight, defensive role in front of th eback four, allowing Bradley freedom to make his marauding runs forward.
Move Bocanegra to central defense. The back four clearly isn’t working, a major reason is a lack of experience in the middle. The captain is no longer a dynamic player there, but he’s seasoned and stable. He’s also less apt to be caught out there than against speedy wing players as a left back. A faster fullback would also offer the U.S. more going forward.
Barring an improbable loss to Guadeloupe, Bradley’s job should remain safe, but the brutal efforts against Spain and Panama have shifted perceptions of him. It’s no longer enough to show why he should not lose his job. He must show why he should have it.