Jurgen Klinsmann loves to try players at different positions. This habit has been a staple of his tenure as U.S. national team coach, and has produced successes such as DaMarcus Beasley's evolution into a left back, while also giving us failed experiments like Jermaine Jones' turn in central defense, and head scratchers like Jose Torres at left back.

Fabian Johnson and DeAndre Yedlin know all about that, having both played multiple positions for Klinsmann in recent years. Johnson has mostly settled in at right back, a position he starred in for the U.S. at the World Cup. Yedlin also has settled into a regular role on the right wing, a position he first patrolled at the very same World Cup.

As the next World Cup qualifying cycle prepares to kick off on Friday, Johnson and Yedlin look ready to stay in those same roles for Klinsmann, but there is a very good argument for the pair to swap roles.

Johnson has enjoyed considerable success playing on the left wing for German Bundesliga side Borussia Moenchengladbach since his transfer there after the 2014 World Cup. He has been very effective in that spot, providing speed and service on the flank and the sort of technical quality we simply haven't seen from other U.S. wing options, Yedlin included.

You can understand why Klinsmann likes having Johnson at right back. The reality is Johnson is the best American option at four different positions. He's the best wing midfield option on either side, and best fullback option either side. So why move him into a left midfield role?

For one, it's where Johnson is playing on the club level, and giving him some continuity could help maximize Johnson's contributions. Second, the U.S. attack has been stagnating in recent months and is in dire need of some consistent contribution from the flanks. Gyasi Zardes has produced at times, but he's a natural forward. Johnson has played on the left wing before for the U.S. and done very well there. In those perofmances, the 27-year-old has shown a good connection with Jozy Altidore in the attack.

There is also the fact that Johnson has looked less and less effective at right back during the past year. He hasn't been able to duplicate his World Cup form at the position since he left Brazil, and you can't help but wonder whether that has anything to do with the fact he doesn't play there at all for his club, and maybe he's just not into being a defender anymore when he's used to being an attacking player in one of the best leagues in the world.

Then you have Yedlin. He has started to earn regular playing time at right back for Sunderland, and is drawing respectable reviews at the position and gaining invaluable experience playing in the pressure-packed English Premier League. It is no secret Yedlin left MLS for Tottenham still needing to learn quite a bit about playing right back, and particularly about defending. After spending a year mostly training with Tottenham, and not playing much, Yedlin badly needed regular playing time to help him develop his defensive qualities. He is starting to receive that playing time now, and facing top competition at that. The experience he's getting will only expedite Yedlin's education at the position.

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