Flashes and questions define Josh Gatt’s U.S. debut

It was long awaited, but on Wednesday, we finally saw Josh Gatt’s U.S. Men’s National Team debut. The 21-year-old winger, much-discussed among USMNT fans since making his mark in Norway, started on the right in Russia, slotting in on the attack’s right in Jurgen Klinsmann’s 4-3-3.

Making his debut – on the road, against tough opposition – you’d expect Gatt to struggle. At times he did, but the bigger picture was an encouraging if mixed bag. Against a team that’s in the middle of an impressive qualifying run, Gatt was able to show a number of qualities that could position him as an alternative to Brek Shea. With the effort and awareness he showed over his 63 minutes, Gatt already looks like a good late-match (defensive) option for CONCACAF’s final round of qualifying.

MORE: What we learned from the U.S.’s trip to Russia

Here’s the good, the bad of Josh Gatt’s senior national team debut:

PLUS COLUMN

Speed, width, movement - Oh my, an actual wide player. Where did this come from?

Since the start of World Cup qualifying – when we began seeing less of Brek Shea on the left – we haven’t seen true wide players for the U.S.  Gatt, however, provided a legitimate wide (if imperfect) presence on the right, showing flashes against a opposing player (Dmitri Kombarov) who, as a converted midfielder, was more than capable of following him up-and-down the flank.

Gatt also added some much-needed speed to a team which lacks attackers who can blow by a defense. Twice Gatt was able to get on balls lofted behind the defense, and while Russia’s back line isn’t known for its light feet, the Molde winger would be one of the U.S.’s better options against similarly vulnerable defenses.

Ability to move across the pitch - Thirty minutes in, Gatt left his right wing and moved to the left, with Klinsmann’s front three of Gatt, Herculez Gomez and Jozy Altidore showing more fluidity than we’re used to seeing from U.S. attackers. Early in the second half, Gatt was even seen dropping back for a ball from a central position, hinting he may be able to challenge the slower players that tend to occupy a team’s central defense.

Defending -  We saw it in the third minute. As the U.S. defense pushed after a corner, a ball was swung in from Russia’s right targeting a man that seemed open wide of the far post. Gatt, however, made up the ground and helped kill an opportunity before it came off, effort that was saw replicated throughout his hour of play.

MORE: USMNT Man of the Match – Michael Bradley

MINUS COLUMN

First touch - Like his teammates, Gatt was having trouble managing the passes played to him. At one point early in the first half, a pass up to him went right off his foot and out of bounds for a Russian throw in. It could have been the ball, the field, or the conditions – who knows? For whatever reason, the U.S. had trouble with their first touch. Gatt was no exception.

No aggression in attack - His runs off the ball? Some where very good. With the ball, Gatt showed no aggression. There were multiple times where he had his many isolated and should have taken him on. It never happened. Once, it seemed Gatt was setting up to attack Kombarov, but got the ball caught in his feet. That happens to everybody, but on Wednesday, it was exemplified Gatt’s attacking contributions.

No crossing - Near half time, Gatt got a ball wide of Kombarov and had a perfect chance to take a touch toward the goal line before putting in a cross. Instead, he cut the ball back to the middle. It was the most egregious but not only time Gatt avoided playing a ball into the box.