Jurgen Klinsmann came out with yet another disappointing lineup to start the Costa Rica game, but at least it was more of a normal formation. The duo of Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley continues to not be successful. Jurgen seems to disagree with how to utilize Bradley and it continues to show in unsuccessful after unsuccessful effort. This is well known by everyone at this point. Klinsmann also still has Yedlin in the doghouse though we could certainly use his speed in this game and definitely on the first half goal. Timmy Chandler continues to not work well in his role.
The US lacked a creator and the speed in central midfield to threaten in the final third of the field and struggled to make connecting passes work. Bobby Wood ran hard, but they just couldn’t get a sequence of passes together.
Credit to Costa Rica they had a good defensive game plan and seemed to contain the US attack well. In attack, Costa Rica took advantage of every opportunity they got and embarrassed the US with a flurry of goals. Many of them you couldn’t fault Guzan for, though he made no special saves to keep the team in.
The US team came out with what seemed to lack energy and I believe this comes from the central midfield duo just not being on the same page. That lack of chemistry and creativity out of the middle of the field dictated the game. The US really lacked a dangerous counter attack when opportunities did come. Fabian Johnson is also playing in the midfield – which is great because it is his natural position and what many have called for; but is a change from what the team is used to and they lacked chemistry. This showed.
The back line seemed extremely vulnerable and had little chemistry. The fact that outside of John Brooks they other three were not US starting regulars. Joel Campbell exposed them and fired at will. He had a brace, but could have done more damage. The only consistent thing about Jurgen’s lineups are his inconsistency. Let’s hope this changes as we move forward.
Jurgen’s constant tinkering is catching up with him. His success last summer when he finally settled into a solid formation and reliable line up with limited changes seems to have been lost on him. When it counted most he decided to go back to his mad scientist mentality and we’re hurting for it. I hope the pressure will wake Klinsmann up and he’ll return to the pragmatic form that has shown is longest stretch of success.
