I want to see what people think our best starting lineup is right now, in other words if we had a world cup final tomorrow what would be your starting lineup? Here is mine: ----------------Howard-------------- Hejduk----Onyewu----Gibbs----Pearce -------------Edu----Holden----------- Dempsey-------------------Donovan(C) ------------------Adu----------------- -----------------Altidore--------------- Subs: Bradley Beasley Cooper Kljestan Bocanegra Only things I see that could be picked on are Gibbs starting but Boca just doesn't cut it for me, Gibbs is finally back and has played multiple 90 minute games in a row with the Rapids and has looked great. He is just as good defensively and would be better in possession. Also, Edu and Holden could be in question, I love the athleticism and skill Edu has and Bradley worries me with his occasional wreckless dumb tackles, Holden has that vision, finishing and skill to push forward so that we don't have a flat dual d-mid, but also defends very well. Also, Donovan is outwide because, although I like Donovan up top more and I don't love the 4-2-3-1, we do play in it very well, and this is really the best way to get Donovan, Adu, and Altidore on the field together.
interesting, but im gonna disagree -------------howard-------------- churo----gooch--boca*---pearce* duece-------bradley*-----beaz* --------------adu------------- -------donovan--altidore---------- now my *'s are showing who i think we have the talent to replace. if bob goes for neven subotic(spelling??) then he can replace boca in my book, im still a fan of bornstien, and im not sold on pearce yet, edu, klejstan(spelling??) holden, and szetela are also good enough to go in for bradley or and/or adu(if need be). now my toughest pick is with beasley. he hasnt been his best for a while. rogers in my opinion, sucks. zizzo fell off the face of the earth, he tore it up in canada last year, but hes a rw, not a lw. now my bench: guzan wynn bornstien edu szetela kljestan cooper davies
howard cherundelo-onyewu-bocangera-pierce edu-bradley dempsey-donovan-beasley altidore just about 100% sure that lineup wont happen...ever... but i might stop watching them if flippen eddie johnson ever gets on the field again.
Not bad but Adu needs to play, Beasley has been pretty poor, and I don't think Bradley and Edu compliment each other, both play more as d-mid's. I disagree that this isn't something we might see, infact it is highly likely if Altidore starts over Ching.
I like this but Beasley has been poor, it gives Dempsey more defensive responsability instead of letting him be creative and attack, and Bradley I fear would be a card waiting to happen as the d-mid in a diamond. Playing behind a more attacking CM he is good but isolated as a d-mid in a diamond for 90 minutes might be asking for a costly foul or card.
Kevin8833, you win the inaugural award for starting the most line-up threads during the last fiscal year. Now, in the spirit of the thread: --------------Altidore-------------- Beasley-------Adu-----Donovan---- ---------Edu------Bradley--------- Pearce-------------------Cherundolo --------Bocanegra--Onyewu--------- -------------HOWARD---------------- Note that Donovan plays as a pinched in right-sided attacking midfielder, with Cherundolo pushing forward to provide width & service from the right wing. My tactics would call for Edu & Bradley to play box-to-box and not sit back by the halfway line in a Bradley-ball "empty bucket." Also, Adu, Beasley & Donovan must commit to the attack in the way that France's 3 attacking midfielders (Malouda, Zidane & Ribery) did during the 2006 WC. Thus, Altidore won't be fully isolated up front and the gap between the midfield and the front line is significantly reduced. Adu & Donovan would also have freedom for interchanging positions and making diagonal runs at will. Bench: Brad Guzan Jay DeMerit Frankie Hejduk* Pablo Mastroeni Sacha Kljestan Clint Dempsey Eddie Johnson * If healthy, Jonathan Spector would definitely be my choice ahead of Hejduk, but your stipulation called for a line-up if the WC finals were tomorrow. Now, keep in mind that this line-up (including the bench) has been crafted under the idea that we needed our best & most experienced line-up for a game tomorrow. If the purpose of this thread was to project toward 2010, I would incorporate guys like Robbie Rogers, Stuart Holden, Charlie Davies & Kenny Cooper in place of guys like Mastroeni & EJ.
I like this lineup, just not sure how much creativity and attack we would get out of Bradley-Edu but I think they are both capable of getting forward effectively if you let them, bonus points for Howard in all caps!
Howard Cherundolo Gooch Boca Pearce -----------Bradley Dempsey Beasley -- Adu ----------Donovan Altidore
We all know Bob wold put out the same lineup he did against T&T, but here's what I'd put out. STARTERS -------------Howard--------------- Cherundolo---Gooch---Boca---Pearce -----------Edu--------------------- -------------------Bradley---------- Dempsey----Donovan-------Beasley ---------------Altidore--------------- SUBS Adu Kljestan DeMerit Wynne Davies Mastroeni Guzan It's like a 4-2-3-1 accept Bradley is more in a central midfield rol and Edu is more in a defensive mid.field role. I included Davies instead of Cooper because Davies brings raw speed to the table where Cooper is a big body similar to Jozy. I like Adu off the bench because at his positions I'd play him at are more experiened and I already chose Jozy and I wouldn't want to many lesser experienced guys playing in a cup final.
Yep, here you go Prime. http://columbus.crew.mlsnet.com/med..._id=25735&catCode=top_plays&type=v_free&_mp=1
The setup above is how I would line up TODAY in a must-win match. I'd keep Adu as the 2nd half super-sub. On the other hand, I think we are more likely to see this by 2010. Dempsey drops to the super-sub role and Adu joins the XI. Or, depending on form, Donovan plays on the left and Dempsey on the right and Beasley is the super-sub. My concern is Cherundolo's slipping form by 2010. Lastly, if I was the coach, the following lineup is what I would be trying to build toward for 2010: ---------------Altidore--------------- Rogers----Adu----Dempsey---Donovan ----------------Bradley--------------- Pearce-----Edu----Onyewu----Spector ---------------Howard---------------- Key subs are: Boca, Kljestan, Beasley, Holden, and Cooper. I think Cherundolo is slipping now and won't be good enough for the XI in 2 years. I think Bradley, at age 23, will be ready for the solo DM role. I like the speed of Rogers and Donovan out wide and the skill and cleverness of Adu and Dempsey inside, but surging into the box. And I'm still dreaming of a successful Edu conversion into a skillfull CB , although Subotic would be OK, too.
Benn saying it for a while, and have seen a few people post this. I expect to see this in 2010, and I would like to see it now!!! -------------Howard------------- --Dolo---Gooch--Boca-----Pearce-- ----------Edu-----Bradley---------- --Donovan----Adu------Beasley--- -------------Jozy----------------- And have Dempsey as the sub. Now, as of today, it would be the same thing, except move Donovan to the center, and Dempsey to the right. I really would like to se Gibbs given a chance, he has been very solid for Colorado, and would of made a big difference in 2006, had not been for injury.
____________Altidore__________ Beasley________________Dempsey __________Donovan__________ _____Adu__________Bradley ____________Edu__________ Pearce_____Gooch________Dolo ___________Howard_________
Adu so far back in a role he has never, ever played at any level? He's almost a defensive mid! Cherundolo (all 5'6" of him) in a 3-man backline?
No one can doubt that at some future match that your starting XI will be on the field. BUT, I'm not sure about Wynne as sub just now. BB will just use Hejduk as Dolo's back up. Altidore as starter? Maybe a sub, just like Adu. Ching will figure as starter in the near future. You included Kljestan but not Rogers and Holden and that's the trend but it can change so quickly, for instance Rogers. You included Mastro but not Clark. In matches like our last two this round, I expect to see Clark as likely as Mastro. Feilhaber still looms as another central midfielder for us but one more blunder-ful performance like his last in RWnB will get him a snub.
Prime Time often has many good points. He just needs a little more convincing on Rogers. Here is a good blog that explains what Rogers brings to the pitch: http://crewonespot.blogspot.com/2008/09/keys-to-victory-against-nyrb.html
Ever heard of capitalization? And I'm on Bob's nuts because I defend the fact that he's done a decent job so far? Um, okay.
I'm not rooting against Rogers and I like his skill set, but he has to show it at the International level. Many of you will say he hasn't had a chance, but he did at the Olympics and didn't take advantage of that. He'll get another look soon, but if he fails to impress, he could be in danger of missing out on the 2010 squad.