Dempsey and Donovan: A posiitonal dilemma?

Overlooked in the wake of the U.S. team's recent loss to Brazil was Bob Bradley's deployment of Landon Donovan on the right flank, a position Donovan has not played very frequently in the past. Long regarded as the U.S. team's top attacking threat, Donovan's shifting to a right midfield role could signal a significant change in the national team's long term plans for one of its best players.

If you're thinking that the move was just a temporary one, think again. Donovan could wind up making a permanent national team move to the right flank because there is someone else who has shown an ability to perform better than him at forward.

What position are we talking about exactly? The second forward position. Who is the player standing in Donovan's way now? Yes, of course, Clint Dempsey.

With Bob Bradley grooming Michael Bradley and Benny Feilhaber as the central midfield tandem of the future, the U.S. national team's formation leaves Donovan with two options, playing as a forward or right flank. Now Dempsey and Donovan can be used together as forwards but the impending arrival of Jozy Altidore (and the potential maturation of Eddie Johnson) could leave the lineup with just one free forward spot for Dempsey or Donovan.

So why Donovan instead of Dempsey on the right wing? Donovan's speed and work make him better suited for the role and Dempsey has shown to be a better finisher, making him the better option up top.

I spoke to Dempsey about what role he's best suited for and he had plenty to say. Here's what he told SBI:

On what position he prefers with the national team:

“In a 4-4-2 I like playing up top honestly,” Dempsey said. “Whether I’m a target or I’m more of a free roll underneath the target forward, that looks the best.

“Right now, the way you look at it, we play a 4-4-2 and our two center mids are more holding mids. They get involved in the attack but at the same time, most of the time they’re really just holding down the fort, collecting loose balls, winning challenges and keeping possession for the team."

On the perception that he is best as a right winger:

“I wasn’t looked at as a right winger until the World Cup,” Dempsey said. “I never played right wing. If you look at the Revolution, I played attacking mid, defensive mid and forward. With the national team, when I first came in, I was playing an attacking mid or center of midfield.”

When I got to Fulham initially that was the position I was playing but as you can see, they moved me up top,” Dempsey said. “Anywhere I’m going to be near the goal is where I want to be. I love scoring goals, there’s not a better feeling than that. I love attacking and wherever I can do more attacking than defending is where I want to be.

“Obviously, for your team you have to do both on any team that you’re on,” Dempsey said. “That’s just the modern game these days, but I’d rather be in the attacking third more often than not.”

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If you recall, Donovan said some similar things about where he prefers earlier this year. He prefers a free role behind the forwards, but such a role doesn't exist if Bradley is going to use two holding midfielders from the Bradley,Feilhaber, Clark and Mastroeni stable.

Can Donovan excel on the right flank? His crossing leaves something to be desired but he can go at defenders and he can certainly handle the defensive component of the position. It doesn't hurt that no quality right midfield prospects have emerged. Lee Nguyen is a prospect but he still seems a year or more away from being an impact player at the position. Now if Donovan gets some crossing lessons from David Beckham the United States could be in pretty good shape.

What do you think? Where would you like to see Dempsey and Donovan used? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[fcphillyboy19]

Clint is a much more reliable performer/finished than Landon. For the time being, you keep the guy who's getting goals up top. Dempsey is fearless and creative, maybe not as fast as Donovan, but definitely has an edge that I don't see with landon.

I'm not saying bench donovan but assuming he keeps Benny and young bradley/clark in the middle of the field, Donovan should be out wide. In order to excel out there, he needs to go at people more frequently and develop his crosses. Plus having Dempsey up top gives the wings a taller target to hit and poses match up problems for defenders.

[Brad]

I love Dempsey up top. He's our best finisher whether we like it or not and he has creativity on the ball to beat people. Donovan only brings speed. Have you EVER seen Donovan put a move on anyone? I'm not a Landon basher, I think he could develop into a great right winger if Becks can teach him how to cross the ball with at least a bit of accuracy.

I think Dempsey is going to become a great forward at Fulham. He's been there less than a year and he looks like he's going to be filling in for McBride until he comes back and might actually supplant McBride as he's getting close to collecting Social Security. Playing in the EPL is only going to make Dempsey better. What's playing for LA going to do for Donovan???? Exactly...

[Brad]

Oh, FCPhilly brings up a good point. Donovan CANNOT head the ball. Even with that forehead, he cannot manage to put the ball on frame. Dempsey doesn't have that problem. Yet another + in the Clint category.

[Trex]

Dreaming of the future and SA 2010...

------Altidore---------Dempsey------

--------------Feilhaber-------------
Beasley---------------Donovan/Convey
---------------Bradley--------------

Spector/Pearce-----------Cherundolo
-----------Gooch-----Boca-----------

----------------Howard--------------

I think I like what I see.

[Ed Ho]

Ives,

Thanks for the post. Do you think that Bradley will continue to play a 4-4-2?

A year ago, I think the concensus was that the US had too many wing midfilders - as a strength (Beasly, Donovan, Convey, Dempsey, etc), but with Bradley and Fielhaber emerging as the core of the new squad, should we consider moving to a different formation?

[centrejack]

Keep Donovan on the flank - I think that Dempsey's natural nose for goal coupled with his ability to be a playmaker makes him deadly when paired with a target forward up top. however, it is interesting that he is beginning to show success as a target forward for Fulham.

Donovan has more speed which could make him more dangerous than Dempsey on the wing. If he does continue to improve his crossing - and he is improving - then He could keep an attacking left back at home all game.

The beauty of Clint and Donovan however, is that they can flip flop in a game depending on the opposing teams strategy and personnel.

Think about how effective we will be if Jozy fulfills the potential that we all see in him. We will have speed on the wings with DMB and Donovan, paired with aerial ability a Clint and Jozy in the middle. If Benny can develop into a good attacking mid and Bradley can have great performances more consistently (a la Brazil). We will have a fairly potent 2/3 of the field covered. Now the defense, thats another story....

One more note on Clint and Jozy pairing up top. Clint is becoming a better target forward, and Jozy has been incredible with his back to goal this year... I think they could be more potent than a big powerful guy little fast guy pairing.

[Jim]

I think it is too soon to write Rico Clark out of the DMid picture and his offensive ability change the lineup significantly.

One thing overlooked here is that Dempsey and Donovan can switch in and out of their positions easily causing problems for other teams tracking back on defense, especially as defenders tire late in the game. That could be interesting to watch during a game.

[jensph]

Where's Adu in the 2010 line up? Somehow I thought he'd be ready as an attacking mid by then.

[Dan W.]

With all this new competition and the fact that his automatic spot on the USMNT is starting to be in jeopardy, this might be what finally gets Landycakes to Europe to actually fulfill the potential he has.

[Tony M]

It's amazing. If DOnovan is invisible, but makes a couple of plays, we here that he had a crap game.
If Dempsey disappears and makes one play, he's a hero. Which pretty much describes what happened in Brazil.

I love both players, but fan reactions to them are silly. Dempsey more reliable? I'd say they are about even. (Remember who started the play that ended in Dempsey's goal? Yup, didn't think you did.)

The split you are talking about probably makes sense. Donovan, contrary to popular opinion, is able to create more than Dempsey which leaves Dempsey remains free to be opportunistic in the middle. Another advantage is that both players will feel comfortable switching up to create match up problems and instill a little unpredicability. It is probably the best use of both right now.

[Uncle Dave]

Donovan fed Clint with a beauty from the right . . . Beckham got the same treatment. I think its the right thing to do

[Chicago Millonario]

Donovan needs to shut his mouth. I'd rather see Bradley sack up and bench this baby.

Doesn't really answer the question, but it's true, right?

[smokarz]

for a change, i would love to see the US move away from the 4-4-2 formation and try a 3-5-2 or a 3-6-1. i see these formations alot in Euro club footbal, and i believe AC Milan won the Champions League with these formations. also, i prefer these formations due to the of lack quality defenders/strikers that we currently have, and it seems that we have more midfielders and not enough spots in the 4-4-2 formation.

this is what my 3-5-2 would look like for the 2010 cycle.

jozy-dempsey

beasley-feihaber-adu-bradley-donovan

??-??-??

i leftt the 3 defenders blank since i am not confidence of any one being locked in those positions. gooch/boca in the center did not impress recently, and bornstein on the left seems questionable.

in this formation we have adu playing behind jozy and dempsey with bradley and feihaber as the defensive mids.

and here's my 3-6-1 with the same cast.

jozy

beas-feihaber-adu-demp-brad-donovan

??-??-??

again i left the defenders blank. with this formation we have adu and demp playing attacking mids behind jozy while feihaber and bradley still play defensive mids.

of the two formations, i like the 3-6-1 more as both adu and demp will be more successful playing behind the forward.

[Frankn the Frowner]

I HATE the idea of playing to holding mids at the same time. Whats the point? We'll continue to have no creativity from the midfield. Adu should definetly be groomed as the attackign midfielder, we have no other player like him. Pair him in the middle with either Rico/Feilhaber or Bradley. I'm starting to like Dempsey up top, gotta get used to LD on the right though.

[Frank the Frowner]

Pardon all my typo's, I'm tired.

[Braden]

This is not a problem when we play CONCACAF opposition because we can line up with only one holding midfielder:

Target F Dempsey

Donovan
Beasley Right M

Feilhaber/Bradley

However, when we want more cover by adding an extra holding midfielder we either end up fielding a bad right midfielder who can't cross the ball, or benching either Donovan or Dempsey.

I would rather see Dempsey up top and sit Donovan until later in a game if his ego can handle it because we need a guy on the right who can cross.

[fcphillyboy19]

Definitely didnt mean to imply Donovan disappeared. All im saying is with beasley down the left (or maybe Adu or convey) and donovan down the right, we'd have great speed. I just honestly feel more confident when Clint gets the ball in a scoring position than I do with Donovan. Landon and Cherundolo had a great hook up down the right side that ended in that goal.

My main argument for Dempsey up top is the size and ability to break down defenders. Donovan plays his best in space where he can use his speed, whereas Dempsey is slightly better in traffic or in a position where he runs onto a ball near the goal.

[Jon G]

I don't think this will be much of a dilemma, as Jozy Altidore and Freddy Adu come up the ranks.

I could see a front 6 like his come the 2010 WC:

---------Jozy----Dempsey--------

----Adu---------------Donovan---
-------Bradley--Feilhber---------

[Al]

Well, play 4-5-1 instead, then. Dempsey and Donovan can both be attacking mids.

[smokarz]

yes, i don't like the idea of having to holding/defensive mids in the game at the same time, however with 3 denders in the lineup and without any defensive mid help, i would not think they can hold off better oppositions for more than a half. it's not like we have world class defenders on our side.

[smokarz]

Jon G,

while i agree having Adu and Jozy in the line up, i would never sit beasley while having Donovan in the game. i much prefer first team Euro club experience adn Champions League exposure over an MLS starter whose team is in the bottom of the league.

[Andrew]

I think most people are getting too caught up in positions and formations. Put the best 11 on the field and they'll sort it out. The attacking players should have a free role; the benefit of having two holding MFs is that they can cover when your "right midfielder" pinches in or stays high. It can be a box midfield, the Christmas tree, or whatever. As long as the threats like Dempsey and Donovan have the freedom to create and interchange, the US should not lack for chances.

[Josh]

I'll agree with some of the posts that argue Dempsey is a better scoring threat--his superior height and heading ability account for a lot of this...but on the other hand I'd like to see Donovan get a little more credit. As far as the national team goes, Donovan is our all-time leader in assists and goals (tied). He isn't completely worthless.

It's true that his career would benefit from some time overseas, but he isn't as terrible as some of you are suggesting.

[mbrose]

In his early interviews after taking over as head coach, Bradley came down strongly on the side of building his formation around the best players. I'm not sure that I completely agree with this approach, but if you take him at his word, he should definitely be playing Donovan behind the forwards "in a free role".

LD has consistently shown how dangerous he can be in this position. He can make runs and take on players 1 v. 1, and has come up with some big goals for the team. This is definitely where he creates the best chances.

[greene]

I would like to see us get away from a rigid 4-4-2 with two holding midfielders.

I would like to see a formation where both of them play as attacking midfielders/withdrawn strikers.

I think the key for both Clint and Landon is limit their defensive responsibilities. Landon disappears frequently on the right, but that has a lot to do with him having to track back. If we are going to play with 2 d-mids than that should give us the defensive cover.

My lineup would be:

EJ
Dempsey--Donovan
Beasley
Feilhaber
Bradley
Pearce Cherundulo
Boca---Gooch

That could leave us unbalanced on the right – but Cherundulo on the right does well getting forward and in providing crosses that can enable us to play with some width.

Defensively Feilhaber would have to shade more to the right as well to provide more cover.

But this to me gives us much more bite in the attack.