Assessing the USMNT Center-Back Situation Ahead of the Gold Cup

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: April 23, 2015

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With the start of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup just over two months away, the competition for the 23 spots on the United States men's national team roster is starting to heat up. 

The position with the biggest spotlight on it between now and the July 7 opener against Honduras will be center-back, where a plethora of different players can make a legitimate case to start at the moment. 

Entering last week's clash with Mexico, the Yanks already had a crowded depth chart in the middle of defense. But thanks to the strong showings from Omar Gonzalez and Ventura Alvarado, the competition ramped up faster than we expected. 

Currently, the closest thing to a first-choice man in the middle is John Brooks, who, beginning with the World Cup, instilled himself as a permanent fixture on manager Jurgen Klinsmann's roster. 



Ideally Brooks will line up as one of the starting center-backs at the Gold Cup, but who his potential partner will be is a question no one can answer right now. 

Although he hasn't played many games at the position, Jermaine Jones could be in line for a starting role in the back four if he is fully fit. The Jones experiment at center-back has produced its share of nervy moments, but that has to be expected in a situation like that. 

The one thing going against the 33-year-old in the coming months will be his alignment in the New England Revolution lineup. The Revs are at their best when Jones is utilized in a defensive midfield role. Some fans of the national team will tell you they prefer Jones in that position as well.



After Brooks and Jones, the list of names is expansive. But there are plenty of question marks surrounding the play of each center-back candidate. 

Gonzalez and Sporting Kansas City's Matt Besler are both in the mix, but consistency at the international level is an issue for both. The 2...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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