Maybe it's because of the level of competition awaiting at Copa America, the lingering memories of a disappointing 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, or more recently the erratic results in World Cup qualifying. Whatever the reason — and there are certainly understandable reasons — U.S. national team fans in general seem to be less than excited about their team's chances at this summer's Copa America.
There are a growing number of American players doing their part to try and change that sentiment, and as Copa America draws closer, the U.S. player pool boasts as many in-form players as we have seen a U.S. team have in a long time.
From goal-scoring forwards, to goal-creating midfielders, to improving defenders, Jurgen Klinsmann has to be sitting back with a big smile on his face as he watches so many players step up to make his decisions tougher as we get closer to the deadline to submit the final Copa America roster.
Remember when you couldn't think of two American forwards producing goals on a regular basis? Now we've seen Bobby Wood just finish a dream season in the German second division, Jordan Morris catch fire during his rookie year in MLS, and Gyasi Zardes become an assist machine with the Galaxy.
How about a time when wide options were scarce? Wonder kid Christian Pulisic gains more and more confidence with each appearance Borussia Dortmund gives him, suddenly looking like a viable Copa America option despite his age. Meanwhile, Alejandro Bedoya is wrapping up his season at Nantes in style, preparing for a likely move this summer, as well as a return to a major role for Klinsmann. Throw in the likes of Darlington Nagbe and Zardes, and Klinsmann will have various options to handle flank roles.
Worried about the central midfield? Jermaine Jones is turning back the clock with his dominating form with the Colorado Rapids, easing concerns about the fact that he's 34 years old and ready to play a major role this summer. Then you have Michael Bradley settling into a defensive midfield role with Toronto FC that many U.S. fans have been waiting to see him adopt on the national team level.
Remember when DeAndre Yedlin's move to Sunderland was roundly panned as risky and a mistake? Yedlin has become a regular starter during Sunderland's race to avoid relegation, endearing himself to Black Cats fans and boosting his transfer value heading into a summer that will likely see him sold by Tottenham for a profit.
All this optimism might seem foreign when discussing the national team. After all, the last time we had this sense of a pool growing stronger was back in 2012, when, among others, Clint Dempsey was enjoying his best season at Fulham, Jozy Altidore was scoring goals for AZ Alkmaar, Herculez Gomez was thriving at Santos Laguna and Jermaine Jones was playing regularly at Schalke.
Of course 2012 was also marred by the U.S. failing to qualify for the Olympics, but the first half of that year, at least for senior U.S. players, was as good as it's been until now.
Just think back to a year ago, when there was a clear sense of skepticism about the U.S. team's quality heading into the Gold Cup. Those concerns proved to be warranted as the Americans endured an embarrassing fourth-place finish.
So does that mean the U.S. will tear through Copa America, and advance out of a very tough group? Not necessarily, but Klinsmann's key players stay healthy, there is no reason to think the U.S. can't make some noise this summer given the good form so many American players are in.
Are there things to be concerned about? Sure there are. Klinsmann has to choose starting central defenders, Fabian Johnson is nursing a groin injury the U.S. will pray he will be healed by next month, left back remains a mystery, and both Tim Howard and Brad Guzan enter this summer with question marks.
Rather than dwelling on the potential negatives, consider these five positive player trends to consider as the U.S. stands just three weeks from kicking off Copa America:
DEANDRE YEDLIN KEEPS IMPROVING AS SUNDERLAND'S RIGHT BACK
It has taken Jurgen Klinsmann a while to come around to the idea that DeAndre Yedlin was better suited as a right back than as a wing midfielder, but Yedlin has offered more and more evidence with each passing game for Sunderland. No, he isn't a lock-down defender, but he has grown tremendously and has improved his positioning and clearly become stronger to handle the rigors of the English Premier League.
Given Yedlin's run at Sunderland, it's tough to see him not being Klinsmann's starting right back, and that's a much less scary proposition than it was last year.
THE FORWARD POOL IS SUDDENLY STOCKED
Bobby Wood and Jordan Morris had breakout years in 2015 in terms of making their mark on the national team, and now both have enjoyed stellar runs of form that bode well for their involvement in Copa America. Throw them in with veterans Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore, as well Pulisic the prodigy, and you suddenly have a solid stable of forwards.
Altidore's lack of goals might lead some to believe he's not producing, but the reality is he is playing well and helping TFC enjoy a strong start to 2016. Dempsey is 33, and his role might be on the verge of diminishing with the national team, but he's still dangerous and fearless in big games.
Skeptics will point to the fact that this quartet consists of three MLS players and a forward from Bundesliga 2, but confidence can work wonders on forwards, and Wood has already shown he can score against big teams (see Netherlands and Germany). Also, if you consider Pulisic a forward, as Klinsmann does on his roster list, then it makes the U.S. forward pool that much stronger.
JERMAINE JONES STILL HAS GAS IN THE TANK
Raise your hand if you saw Jermaine Jones stepping into the Colorado Rapids midfield as a playmaker and thriving. Jones may be 34, but he's moving amazingly well, and playing with the kind of energy Klinsmann will need him to have in order to survive a group including Colombia and Costa Rica.
The jury is still out on just where he fits in midfield. Would Jones be willing to play as a pure defensive midfielder for the U.S. after enjoying the freedom of a playmaking role for the Rapids. Wherever he plays, he looks like someone ready to have a summer to remember.
BRADLEY EMBRACING DEEP MIDFIELD ROLE ON CLUB LEVEL
Give Greg Vanney credit for deploying Michael Bradley in a defensive midfield role that just might convince Klinsmann to use the U.S. captain in a much deeper spot than he's used to. It's a role many have long envisioned for Bradley even if Klinsmann hasn't been one of those people. Bradley has been an integral part of TFC's impressive start to the season, and is doing it in a deep midfield role.
Will Klinsmann look at where Bradley has played for TFC and decide it's time to play Bradley there in Copa America? Maybe not, but Bradley has shown this year that he should eventually play in a deeper role for the U.S., and that change might happen as soon as this summer.
GYASI ZARDES IS IMPROVING AS A PASSER
Never a player lauded for his touch and technical ability, Zardes has shown serious improvement in his passing this year, which is good to see given his past struggles with making the right pass and keeping possession.
Zardes has four assists in MLS play this season, tied for second-most in the league. That's after helping set up goals in World Cup qualifying in March. He still may not have the cleanest touch there is, but he's clearly improving, and if he can carry that success over to Copa America, he could very well enjoy a starting role at Copa America.
- Goal