USMNT Build Out Patterns
As the national teams continues to advance in the tournament, the style of play becomes more clear, taking in consideration a) that verbal and non-verbal communication improves after every game and training session & b) with the addition of the more experience players to the roster: Bradley, Altidore, Dempsey, Nagbe, & Howard.
In this article we are going to try to analyze and break down some of the patterns the team is showing when building out from the back.
Despite the changes in personnel the system of play has been the same in the group stage as well as the quarter final. With a Line of four in the back, two center midfields (key on the build out), and two outside midfielders.
The preference is to build out with the ball under control and build through the thirds but the direct route is also an option often use especially with the type of forwards up front who can hold the ball or win the headers (Dwyer, Altidore, and/or Agudelo).
BUILD OUT (ZONE 1)
As mentioned before both center midfields play a key role on providing support to build out. Both Kellyn Acosta and Chritian Roldan alternate in dropping either in between the center backs or supporting behind the first line of pressure.
The center midfield tend to have keep their position more rather than to show a lot of mobility. One sits in the midfield as a holding mid in front of the center backs while the other CM pushes up trying to create space for the outside mid or Forward to drop and receive (video)
Positioning wise the back line and the center mids show a lot of tactical rigor by keeping their positions. Full backs provide width by sitting next to the line, looking to stretch the 1st and 2nd to create passing lines in the center of the field.
From the back four, the center backs (Gonzalez, Beasler & Hedges) tend to be the ones in charge to start the build up looking to connect with the full backs or direct with the forwards. The CMs are responsible to show to elaborate and distribute the game.
During the Gold Cup USMNT has been a team that does not take risk in the build out phase, they do to secure the possession with secure passes. That means playing a long direct ball or playing back to the goalkeeper when needed. Either Guzan or Howard are only used occasionally when needed to clean the play rather than using them constantly to build out, switch the play or to find the free man. With some pressure GK would look for the direct route as first option.
DIRECT PLAY
Another very often used option is direct play. Either one of the center backs, Full backs (RB) and/or Roldan /Bradley are in charge of driving the ball looking to link with one of the forwards.
Usually those long direct balls are targeted to the outside areas looking for the references: a) one of the strong forwards (Jozy/Dom/ Juan) that could hold the ball and layoff with the midfielders facing the goal or b) targeting the runs by the faster forwards or outside mids (Morris/Zardes/Arriola) behind the back line (pic)
The team does not appear to be a strong side winning 2nd balls, especially if the long ball is coming from deeper positions as the players are mostly position wide and stretch out (pic). Closer to the attacking area USA tends to be a stronger side collecting flicks or layoff balls from the forwards as that is one of its strong suits
The best scoring opportunities for the USMNT out of direct play came when either Omar Gonzalez or Michael Bradley had time and space to drive the ball in behind the back line for the forwards diagonal run.
