The United States had a roller coaster road during the Gold Cup this year. From the loss to Panama, making the Gold Cup Final, taking a 2-0 lead, and then blowing it to let Mexico win 4-2. To me one thing was clear during the tournament, the United States has many gaps and a lot to improve on. No team should give up a 2-0 lead like that. Solid defense would prevent that from happening and superior teams around the world are able to hold those kind of leads.
That leads us to the main issue with the United States and it comes down to defense. The US defense looked horrible against Mexico. Even while the US was up and scoring, Mexico was getting some great opportunities against the defense. A huge problem the US defense has is it's lack of big time players with European experience. They are not seeing the top notch moves until situations like this and it causes them not to know how to handle it and miss little tricks that top forwards are trying against them. Another common problem is the lack of offsides that the US draws. The back line is not doing a good job communicating and forcing players to get offsides. Too many runs are allowed to happen because of the lack of coordination by the back line. Opposing offenses are getting wide open runs against the US and setting themselves up for easy goals. I do not know if it is because of a lack of talent, bad positioning, or what is truly going on, but it needs to be fixed or the US has no chance of ever being a top team.
The other part of the team that is hurting the defensive aspect of US soccer is the lack of ball handling by the midfield. The US does not have as much possession as other top teams have forcing them to play more defense and giving up and more opportunities. The midfield also does not get back enough and help on the defensive end providing help that a weaker defense needs.
I think with the defensive issues that the United States has that it is time for a new head coach. I love the job that Bob Bradley has done with the team. What the US did during the World Cup was incredible and a great experience for the players and the fans. In my opinion it is time for a fresh face and some new ideas. A defensive minded coach who really can help sure up the defense and find the right players to give the US the one piece that it is missing from being able to truly compete with the elite around the world. Time will only tell if that will happen, but I think that is what is needed for the US to get to the next level and make 4-2 losses to Mexico into 2-0 wins.
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