Sands & Stripes
In his national team debut, James Sands showcased his improved passing and positional flexibility that has the potential to have a lasting impact on Gregg Berhalter's tactical approach.
Ronny Deila was perplexed.
After getting snubbed by Jason Kreis for the United States Men’s National Team Olympic qualifying roster, there were major questions about where James Sands- Deila’s play everywhere starlet defender- fit into the USMNT picture.
“To me,” Deila told the media in a pre-game press conference in May, “it’s a mystery that he’s not on the National Team.”
For Deila, it was incomprehensible how Sands, the lynchpin of his tactical gameplan, could be overlooked. Not only does Sands’ positional flexibility allow the Pigeons to morph between a three- and four-man backline without a defensive substitution, but his tranquility on the ball aiding the build-up and his ability to mollify counterattacks allows for an uninhibited NYCFC attack.
Former NYCFC manager Dome Torrent also orchestrated his defense around Sands in the middle. In an exclusive November 2019 interview with The Outfield, Torrent said that he could see Sands playing as a defensive midfielder in a single or double pivot in Europe, but that his best position for NYCFC was as a centerback in a three-man backline.
“For me our best defense is when we play with [a three-man back line]: [Alexander] Callens, [Maxime] Chanot, but Jimmy here [in the center],” Torrent said. “He's mature. He's in control all the time. And he controls [Callens and Chanot].”
“When you are in trouble,” Torrent recalled telling his veteran centerbacks, “pass the ball to Jimmy.”
Under Deila, Sands has continued to blossom. He is no longer just a safety valve stabilizing the backline for Torrent, but a dangerous passer of the ball. In 2019, Sands had the 8th worst passing G+ in MLS. Now, he’s the 6th best.
The Sands national team mystery was at least partially solved on Thursday with Sands getting his first ever NT start in the middle of a three-man backline versus Martinique where he exhibited the same calm, controlling demeanor that has exemplified his play for NYCFC.
It was Sand’s coming out party as the national punditry realized for the first time that “The Guy From Rye” was more than just a solid player-- he’s the best ball-playing defender in what could be a golden generation of USMNT talent.
However, given the stylistic and philosophical congruence between USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter and New York City FC, it was surprising it took the current passing improvement for Sands- who was left off both the U20 World Cup and Olympic qualifying rosters- to get a legitimate shot on the international stage.
There has been a special affinity between NYCFC managers and Berhalter. Patrick Vieira and Dome Torrent, both who battled against Berhalter’s Columbus Crew, rated the Englewood, NJ native as one of the best coaches in MLS.
“I really like the way [the Crew] play football, I really like the way [Berhalter] wants them to play,” Vieira said before a 2016 showdown. “I really enjoy watching them play because they have a clear philosophy, a clear way to play.”
Dome was equally as effusive after a 2018 NYCFC loss. “They have a clever coach,” the Catalan gushed. “I love this coach.”
It was easy to see where the love for Berhalter came from. All three managers had similar machinations for what they believed the beautiful game should be: attacking possession-based soccer that was built up from the back.
However, when Berhalter took over the USMNT in December 2018 in the wake of not qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1986, there were major reservations about whether his vision could be implemented on the international level.
This was something that even a Berhalter-champion like Dome in his The Outfield interview questioned whether a roster littered with relics from the Klinsmann-grifter era of American soccer could play the beautiful game that Gregg wanted:
“Right now [Berhalter] doesn’t have the right players to play in this style….
I liked [Gregg] when he was at Columbus. He had the players. They played four-in-back all the time with a fullback that could go inside. [The players] make a difference because you have to be able to control these players or you will 100% be in trouble. They had a quality in their build-up...
The United States can play possession, 100%. But the most important thing for me is to play with the right players when you want to play in this style. Maybe you need to play with the small and fast players in between the lines. Maybe you need another striker, not Zardes, not Altidore. It is as simple as that.”
Dome Torrent to The Outfield, November 2019
As prescribed, Berhalter has spent the last couple of years gut renovating the USMNT roster to be able to play his possession-style of soccer. In this year’s CONCACAF Nations League Final victory against Mexico, only Christian Pulisic remained from the starting XI that had lost to Trindad & Tobago during the 2018 World Cup Qualifying puto desastre.
The next generation of USMNT stars, lead by the likes of NYCFC academy product Giovanni Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig), Sergiño Dest (Barcelona), and Weston McKennie (Juventus), have replaced the Michael Bradleys and Jozy Alitidtores.
But, there still remains an alarming gap. Tyler Adams, when healthy, is the definitive starter in defensive midfield. Adams is as pivotal to Berhalter’s possessional style as Fernandinho was for Pep Guardialoa’s Manchester City and Sergio Busquets has been for Barcelona.
However, “when healthy” has been a frightening descriptor for the Stars & Stripes. Adams only made a single sub appearance during the Nations League with back injury, and the plethora of players that filled in at defensive midfield did not actually play defense.
After his performance versus Martinque, it’s easy to see how Sands could fit in the role as defensive cover for the perpetually-injured Adams. Berhalter’s possession-based attack could depend on it as the United States looks beyond CONCACAF competitions towards the elite competition they (hopefully) will face in the 2022 World Cup.
The versatility for Sands to be able to fill in at defensive midfield, and any centerback position on a three- or 4-man backline gives more flexibility in roster selection1 and simultaneously gives Berhalter- who has been married to the 4-3-3 his entire USMNT managerial term- the ability to seamlessly deploy a second tactic. Being able to deploy a back three is not only tactically trendy, but could be a gamechanger in an international knockout competition where the ability to make an adjustment in a single game can have momentous consequences.
Regardless of what Berhalter decides to do, it’s hard to imagine Sands staying stateside much longer.
“If I have the opportunity to [manage] in Europe, “ Torrent told me with a smile, “the first player I will buy will be Jimmy.” ❧
Image: Gustave Courbet, The Calm Sea
Jettison Tim Ream and Jackson Yuiell into the sun.