TheNearPostIt has to be asked because Landon may not even be playing professional soccer come the end of this winter. I thought Landon functioned best with a target like Brian Ching, but then he started to gel with Robbie Keane. I think that he seems to do best with a partner that can set up him almost as often as he sets them up. Landon has a great passing eye and delivers excellent service, but this guy is still one of the fastest players around and can finish with the best of them. He makes the right runs and is usually first to the ball. Brian Ching was most definitely a target, but he could also play some good passes and hold the ball up incredibly well. Keane as well is not just a finisher/runner. He assisted Donovan's goal in the 2011 MLS Cup final quite brilliantly, and should have had an assist in this year's final, were Landon to have finished the sitter.

The key with this system is partly about how the opponent decides to defend. If the opponent plays deep, Landon will come deeper for the ball and drift to the flanks, looking to supply Dempsey and the midfield runners with some good crosses. However, if the defense is playing a high line, then Clint Dempsey should be the player dropping into the midfield, while Landon looks to make runs into the channels and spring the offside trap.

Another important part about this lineup is the role of Sacha Kljestan. His job is to be a pressing and linking midfielder. Defensively, he will look to press the opposition's designated defensive midfielder, should they have one, and deny him time on the ball. This is very important because it then draws that player away from Donovan and Dempsey, giving those two the freedom of the space between the opponent's defense and midfield. In general, the attack of the U.S. should frequently be to play the ball into the unmarked Donovan and/or Dempsey, then move off of them. With those two free, it should draw the opponent's defense out of shape trying to close them down, opening up spaces for the midfield runners to exploit.

07.12.2012