TheNearPostClint Dempsey has always exhibited excellent intelligence in his movement, particularly to create space for his teammates. That to me is an important trait of a false nine. The principle here is the same as what I had posted for the Dempsey-Donovan pairing. Defensively, Altidore drops into the midfield while Dempsey stays up top as the lone striker, making the USA a 4-4-1-1/4-2-3-1. When the USA wins the ball back, Dempsey drops deep or drifts wide to free himself up or drag the centerbacks out of position, while Altidore, Donovan, Shea, and/or Jones sprint beyond him in an attempt to exploit spaces Dempsey might make in the backline.

The general problem I've seen in the Klinsmann era is that with us becoming the more proactive side that takes more control of the game, we have to figure out how to make spaces in our opponents' lineup. When we were a more counter-attacking side, we quickly exploited spaces opponents naturally created by pushing numbers forward. Now, we have to find a way of creating that sort of space. I think using Dempsey's clever movement is possibly our best way of doing that, because he's been at his best when he's given that kind of freedom.

22.11.2011