It's the time zone difference which is the issue, not hours on a plane. But either way, these guys have done it many times and your adrenaline gets pumping leading up to the game.
After thinking on it a couple days, the only change I would make from the starting XI would be to sit Williams and play Edu as the guy shielding the back four. Williams isn't playing well enough, and that's a role Edu can execute. You could also talk me into sitting Jones, provided his replacement wasn't Williams or Beckerman.
Let's play a game: USMNT - Jigsaw puzzle a) The purpose is to win. To win we need goals. Who scores goals? Dempsey. We want to put him in a position to score goals. He is almost 30. We know his game. He is a "withdrawn" central striker. 2nd striker. He plays off a central, forward (target) striker. Let's put a target forward, central striker in front of him. We have been using Altidore some, are there better candidates or is Altidore a good one to draw heat off Dempsey so he can score? b) we can no longer play 433 because we have opted for 2 central striker. The 6 in the 433 goes and we play with 2 d mids instead. Let's put Bradley and Jones there, the 2 cm's we have been using in Klinsi's tortured 433, and drop Klinsi's prefered 6, Danny Williams. c) Neither Dempsey nor Jozy are considered "creative" in the attack, altho their short game aint bad, as befits 2 central strikers. We should look, then to the wide players, on the wings to create. However, they have to be scorers as well because otherwise opponents cud just lay off them and cover the only two scorers, Jozy and Dempsey, conveniently situated in a blob in the middle. That would especially be so as the cm's lack a 6 behind them and thfore shud stay back in defence except for obvious situations when opponents are leaving a vacuum forward, "cheating" as it were. I would suggest EJ and Dono, because both can score goals. d) back line - who are the good players and how to fit them so we have the skills we need: wide defence and offence from the fullbacks, plus a good aerial game and passing out of the back and some scoring from the back 4, in addition to solid defence. Fab is an assist machine and I wud put him at rb so he can combine with creator Dono and fire assists into the enfilade (wiki it) of EJ's aerial game at the far post, target Jozy and opportunist Dempsey. The other fb needs to stay back in defence and the ideal for that on the left side is Cameron with his defence in the open field, pace, physical presence and experience gained at Stoke. Gonzo scores (Hedges does too) and Besler passes well (Hedges too) so Gonzo and Besler it is with John and Hedges in the development squad. We just built a team. Game over. Fab gonzo besler cam ----- Bradley. Jones. ------Dono. Dempsey. Ej. ------------ Jozy.
We might need to bring Goodson back in for these next two qualifiers. Only CB playing regularly at high level. He'll hopefully have three regular season games with Brondby under his belt before Costa Rica match. Wouldn't start him against Mexico though. Also have to seriously consider bringing in Orozco and Beasley for Mexico match, not to mention Joe Corona and Castillo.
Gonzalez does not look ready to me and this is too important a match so can't see starting him. Plus, with a Cameron/Gonzalez pairing, Howard is probably keeping an eye on them more than he normally would his CB's and that can be a distraction from him doing his own job. Give Howard at least one CB that he can feel confident of what he will do.
Jozy sucks at the lone #9. It's not about effort, he just stinks. Not good enough in the air and his touch isn't good enough. If he's on a team that plays the ball on the ground and possesses the ball a lot, it can work. But we aren't, so he isn't.
I would like to see Geoff/Edu and Eddie Johnson as subs (I'm on the fence about giving Eddie the start over Herc). Geoff for the most tired looking central mid at about 65-70 min. I'd like to see Eddie in for the most ineffective striker anywhere between 60 and 75 min. There should be a dedicated D-Mid. I don't think Jones will "follow orders" the whole game so it has to be Bradley and if Edu/Geoff comes in that will be his role regardless of who he subs in for. Problem: we need speed AND experience at outside mid. So Chandler provides the speed and Dempsey the experience. Dempsey has done well at left mid before, but if Herc, Altidiore, Eddie can't score then of course Dempsey has to move up - which leaves poor options for left mid. Fabian has to get more involved in attack (picking the right moments of course). I admit that Zusi may need to get involved. But Chandler is very fast and I think he would do a great job providing the width we miss so much. The backline has to be built around Boca until he gets wheeled off in a wheelchair. Experience trumps the liabilities of "old age". I have nothing against Geoff, but I think the team would benefit from building up Gonzalez's confidence and besides Geoff is a legitimate D-mid option. If Dempsey moves up top Eddie is potential left mid option. Herc Altidore Dempsey Bradley Jones/Edu Chandler Fabian Boca gonzalez Parkhurst/Cherundolo
Let's get some width. Assuming no Dolo and no Landon. ---------------Howard-------------- Parkhurst--Cameron--Boca--F. Johnson ----------------Edu----------------- ---------Bradley----Jones---------- Dempsey----Gomez-----Beasley
If anyone saw Beasley last night it is clear that he still has the ability to come on as a sub and make a difference. CALL HIM UP.
I wish we had a friendly available to us, but I think Klinsmann needs to find balance. Balance between the defense and attack, balance within the attack, balance in defending. The #1 issue I see for the USMNT under Coach Klinsmann is spacing. Things are either too congested, or we have someone who's swamped and all alone. The striker is too far removed from the midfielders, the midfielders don't offer enough width, the wingbacks are treated as outlets rather than wingers. We need to get away from this amorohous blob midfield. We need wingers who provide width. Our midfielders aren't good enough to cut through a crowded defensive midfield. We're not Spain. By using wingers we for defenses to protect more real estate. I like his idea of having a dedicated defensive midfielder. That was probably Bradley's biggest error in strategy. But the two central midfielders in front of the DM have to be far more balanced. Meaning if that one of them goes forward, then the other needs to be a bit further back in reserve. Either to defend against a counter, or for a late run into the box to finish an attack. On the outside, those play makers on the wings have to stay near the wing, and our wingbacks need to stay back and allow them to take risks on the ball when the attacking mids are on the ball. When they do cut in, that's when our wingbacks need to bomb forward - and the back line needs to cover, which means the other wingback should be back as well. We shouldn't have BOTH outside mids cutting in, and both wingbacks bombing forward at the same time. At striker, if you want to use a real striker, then he needs to get the ball in a position where he has options - regardless it if it is back to the goal or facing goal and running. He shouldn't be getting the ball, and then be the focal for 3 or 4 defensive minded players. That's balance. -----------------Besler------------Cameron------------------- ----Chandler---------------------------------------Johnson--- --------------------------JJones---------------------------------- ------------------Bradley---------Dempsey---------------------- ------Donovan*---------------------------------Shea------------- -------------------------Jozy/EJ---------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- *Obviously assuming if he's still part of this national team. I'd go right to Josh Gatt is LD isn't availible. Zusi just doesn't do it for me. Zusi:Klinsmann :: Bedoya: Bradley
I agree with Rob Stone: One thing we could always count on was speed and defense. If our expanded pool included our traditional strengths (which it could with the right tweaking), then I would feel much better about the future...Of course width and crossing came with that speed.
Frankie Hejduk provided definitely width and speed. Looking dangerous isn't the same thing as being dangerous.
On second thought, this is what I'd do if Donovan isn't availible, -----------------Besler------------Cameron------------------- ----Chandler---------------------------------------Johnson--- --------------------------JJones---------------------------------- ------------------Bradley---------Sacha------------------------ ------Dempsey--------------------------------Shea------------- -------------------------Jozy/EJ---------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Whoever changed the title to include "6 PM EDT (8 MDT)" doesn't understand how time zones work. Hint: the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
I put this in the Besler thread, but I think it belongs here too: USA vs. Antigua & Barbuda Bocanegra Goodson win USA vs. Guatemala Clarence Goodson (Geoff Cameron, 46), Carlos Bocanegra (capt.), tie USA vs. Jamaica Clarence Goodson, Geoff Cameron loss USA vs. Jamaica Geoff Cameron, Carlos Bocanegra (capt.) win [COLOR=#000000][SIZE=14px][COLOR=#544d4d][FONT=Arial]U.S. Antigua & Barbuda [/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR]Clarence Goodson, Geoff Cameron, Carlos Bocanegra (capt.)(LB) [B]win[/B] [COLOR=#000000][SIZE=14px][COLOR=#544d4d][FONT=Arial][COLOR=#000000][SIZE=14px][COLOR=#544d4d][FONT=Arial]U.S. vs. Guatemala [/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR]Geoff Cameron, Carlos Bocanegra (capt.) [B]win[/B][/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][SIZE=14px][COLOR=#544d4d][FONT=Arial][COLOR=#000000][SIZE=14px][COLOR=#544d4d][FONT=Arial]USA vs. Honduras [/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR]Omar Gonzalez, Geoff Cameron,[B] loss[/B][/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR] [FONT=Arial][COLOR=#000000][SIZE=14px][COLOR=#544d4d][FONT=Arial]Bocanegra 4-1-0 , 0-2 without him[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT] [COLOR=#000000][SIZE=14px][COLOR=#544d4d][FONT=Arial]Cameron 3-1-2[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][SIZE=14px][COLOR=#544d4d][FONT=Arial]Goodson, 2-1-1[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][SIZE=14px][COLOR=#544d4d][FONT=Arial]Gonzalez 0-0-1[/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR]
A better stat might be USA vs. Antigua & Barbuda Bocanegra Goodson ONE GOAL CONCEDED USA vs. Guatemala Clarence Goodson (Geoff Cameron, 46), Carlos Bocanegra (capt.), ONE GOAL USA vs. Jamaica Clarence Goodson, Geoff Cameron TWO GOALS USA vs. Jamaica Geoff Cameron, Carlos Bocanegra (capt.) ZERO GOALS [COLOR=#000000][SIZE=14px][COLOR=#544d4d][FONT=Arial]U.S. Antigua & Barbuda [/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR]Clarence Goodson, Geoff Cameron, Carlos Bocanegra (capt.)(LB) [B]ONE GOAL[/B] [COLOR=#000000][SIZE=14px][COLOR=#544d4d][FONT=Arial][COLOR=#000000][SIZE=14px][COLOR=#544d4d][FONT=Arial]U.S. vs. Guatemala [/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR]Geoff Cameron, Carlos Bocanegra (capt.) [B]ONE GOAL[/B][/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR] USA vs. Honduras Omar Gonzalez, Geoff Cameron, TWO GOALS
The worst part about the single fixture dates is that if you lose, you have a month and a half of hand wringing to read on here before we can get the taste out of our mouth. Can't wait for Costa Rica.
Anyone know when teams will release players for March FIFA dates (22-26). Since 22 is Friday, I am wondering if we will have a few more days (Players in town on 18th, Monday) of real practice to get organized.