The USMNT may struggle without Adams, but Pochettino has plenty of options to consider in a pair of winnable friendlies
In some corners, Christian Pulisic has been dubbed "Captain America." And that's fine. This is a good thing. Captain America sounds cool. It references Marvel movies. It's a familiar character, and was good fodder for Gazzetta when Milan announced Pulisic's signing.
It gives Pulisic, American soccer's most marketable asset and best player, something of a personality. And let's face it: star players need nicknames.
Except it's also a bit misleading. Pulisic may have the moniker, but he is most definitely not "the captain of America." Instead, that honor – at least in terms of wearing the armband for the USMNT – has often gone to Tyler Adams. And that makes infinite more sense. Pulisic is a star. Adams is a leader.
He does all of the gritty stuff: runs, defends, tackles. He sometimes pops one in from 30 yards. He is the battered and hard-nosed center midfielder that every team craves.
And for the October camp, the USMNT won't have him. Adams is absent from Mauricio Pochettino's squad for personal reasons (he's welcoming a child). It's no doubt a joyous occasion, but it does leave the U.S. with a tactical problem. They are now without their leader and crucial midfield piece.
And with a few other presumptive players also out, Pochettino has to figure out how to piece together the middle of the park. And it might not be so easy.
GettyWhat the USMNT are missing
Adams is the guy the USMNT like to roll out for media duties. He is reliable, the midfielder who will say all of the right things, answer all the questions. He offers insight, but never overshares. He comes across as a nice dude.
But he is far more than just a reliable spokesperson. Adams is, in fact, what makes Pochettino's side tick.
Perhaps the best compliment you can give is that Adams is the epitome of a 7/10. He isn't always the star player, but he has a bad game. Adams receives the ball, and then shuffles it along. He wins the ball back and makes the right pass. He presses at the right times, tackles hard, and only dribbles when the pitch opens up.
Defensively, he is superb. Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth's tactically advanced manager, has deployed Adams as an all action No. 8. The numbers back up his impact. Adams hasn't scored a Premier League goal for the Cherries, but he is in the 97th percentile in tackles among all midfielders, and the 91st in interceptions. Is that all a bit frantic? Sure. But it's the kind of energy they need.
Bournemouth are a far worse side without him, and so are the U.S.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportHow tactics change things
Responding to the issue won't be easy. It is also far more complex than simply plugging and playing. The luxury of Adams is that he is well rounded enough to do so. He can, theoretically, play as a lone No. 6 in a 4-3-3. He could also function in a double pivot in a 4-2-3-1 (something he has looked far more comfortable doing). In Pochettino's 3-4-2-1 experiment last month against Japan, he turned in 66 agreeable minutes as part of a new system.
The issue is, most midfielders don't share that versatility. What the U.S. have, really, is a number of specialists, none of which quite fit the bill. In a 4-2-3-1, coaches tend to need two athletic midfielders who can put in plenty of defensive work. A 4-3-3 typically includes a No. 6 (defensive specialist), No. 8 (back and forth engine) and No. 10 (a playmaker who can get away with running a little less).
Adams works in either system, but 3-4-2-1 shapes are a little different, requiring two midfielders who can do it all. That's perhaps the biggest sticking point for Pochettino. Teams that have successfully played that way in the past have relied on elite central midfielders to make it happen. N'Golo Kante, for example, controlled midfields in Chelsea's 2016-17 title winning team simply by running more than anyone else.
ImagnCristian Roldan keeps his place?
The question is, then: who fills that void? There are certainly some attacking options. Against Japan, Pochettino trusted Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan to do the job. It was a deserved call up for the long time MLS stalwart. Roldan has enjoyed an excellent season with the Sounders, and Pochettino rewarded him. He took full advantage and has been named to the squad again.
He knows that Adams was crucial playing alongside him.
"In our game against Japan, you saw how aggressive Tyler and I were pressing up higher up the field, supporting our front three. It allows stability as well… you have guys behind the ball," Roldan said.
They formed an interesting duo. Roldan is a little more expressive in an attacking sense, and with Adams as more of an anchor, had freedom to roam. He created two chances, Adams created none. He had more touches in the opposition box. Adams, in effect, made him better.
Getty Images SportThe Tessmann experiment
Tanner Tessmann can be something of a polarizing figure. He's an interesting genre of midfielder, and doesn't quite have a position. Lyon use him as part of a double pivot, but entrust the Alabama native with plenty of freedom to roam – which would seem to make little sense given his physical frame and lack of agility on the ball.
But he hasn't quite proved himself as a reliable No. 6, either. His tackling numbers are admittedly low, and his lack of pace can be exploited. He is not the type of player you want for a buzzing, active midfield. But he does offer plenty.
His physical presence alone is sufficient to hold down a midfield in slower games. He is also an adept passer, and effective ball carrier in the right circumstances. Adams is 5-9 on a good day. Tessman is 6-2 on his worst. There are games for Lyon this year in which he has looked like a complete midfielder.
Bringing that form to the national team has been tough. Tessmann was left out of the September squad, and is yet to fully impress under Pochettino. But his skillset could be valuable in the right configuration. Many have called for him to be thrown into the XI in lieu of Adams, especially as the U.S. will expect to have more of the ball against both Ecuador and Australia.
