----------------------jozy dempsey------------AJ-------------LD ----------------bradly--jones fabain---besler--cameron---chandler --------------------howard
GUzan Chandler - JAB- Onyewu- F. J ------------Mix ---------------------Bradley Green----------------------------- Donovan ----------- ------Adu ---------------------Agudelo Adu is there for creative spark that we will need to break down the difficult german defense. No one else can create like Adu in the CAM role that we have. Agudelo is on fire and the 'dore is not. Mix is for distribution and passing, Jones is old. and Green is for pure speed on the flank Dempsey is old so he is a sub this time around, sorry demps Onweyu is for experience and stability and is more reliable than Omar. JAB is the next best thing we have back there - Besler is not international material Guzan is better than howard this time around, howard is tired Subs - Dempsey for Green Altidore for Agudelo Zusi for Donvan
------------Dempsey-------Donovan ---------------------Bradley -------------Jones------------Zusi ----------------------Edu --Johnson-----------------------------Cam ---------------Besler-----Omar --------------------Howard Edu was excellent against Ghana last time out and is brilliant so long as he doesn't have cover a great deal of ground,. Jones likes drifting leftward and doesn't want the 6 role. Was excellent when moved to the left in the 2nd half at Russia. Donovan - will be main striker in addition to dropping down to press in midfield as he needs the exercise. Have to say I had preferred more width in midfield against Ghana but this is safer way to get Jones and Bradley on the field together against the type of opponent Black Stars comprise.
In the 442/451 at Costa Rica. Main difference here will be the use of a diamond midfield and of much better fullbacks.
I really don't think Donovan or Dempsey will be left out of the XI. I'd also be surprised if we actually see the diamond used in the WC. ------------------------------Altidore------------------------------(fingers crossed the sendoff series helps him) ---------Donovan------------Dempsey----------------Zusi------------- --------------------Bradley----------------Jones----------------------- -------Fabian---------Besler------Gonzo-------------Cameron-------- -------------------------------Howard------------------------------------- Who are the 2 people who left MB out?
Donovan no longer has the requisite defensive skills to play on the wing. Against WC competition he can play up top in a 442 or as SS in a 4231. There is no way the USMNT can afford Altidore,Dempsey, and Donovan on the field at the same time, and I wonder why people keep throwing out line-ups like that. Considering current form the USMNT would be better off with Dempsey up top, Donovan in SS spot, FJ at left wing and Beasley at LB. Johnson/Beasley on the left and Zusi/Cameron on the right would provide sufficient defensive coverage to allow Bradley and Jones the freedom to spend some of their attention on offensive transitions. I can understand why some would think FJ should be at LB, but I consider him a strong defensive LM and a weak defensive LB. The combination of Beasley/Johnson is a nice combination of speed and tenacity, while Zusi/Cameron on the right is a good mixture of work rate and grit. A stronger CB tandem would allow more latitude, but unfortunately we don't have it.
Wait.....what? This a troll post? You want a guy who doesn't even have a team to start in the middle of the pitch and another who's done nothing at the senior level to start as well? And Agudelo is on fire? Since when? And that's among a number of other issues with your lineup, starting with Mix not being a DMid.
----------------------Howard ---Cameron----Gonzo----Goodson----Johnson --------------Jones-----------Bradley -----Donovan------Dempsey--------Green ----------------------Altidore
1. Fabian is an attacking fullback but he's less of a defensive liability than Beasley imo. 2. I do wonder if Cameron on the left where he played well last season and Fabian at right back would be better than the usual setup. 3. Ghana don't feature adept attacking fullbacks, dominating possession, and adroit field switches. This is partly why I think the diamond could get serious consideration. 4. Unless something drastically changes at club level, it's tough to see Jozy making the 23.
Even worse - it looks like 1 person wants somebody other than Howard or Guzan to start. And credit, after looking at the list the poster is not an RSL fan.
Against Ghana: -------------------- Jozy -------------- Fabian ------------ Demps ------------- Bedoya ---------------- MB -- Cameron Beasley --- Besler -- Omar --- Parkhurst -------------------- Howard First of the bench: Donovan for Bedoya or Jozy
---------Altidore-----Dempsey----- Donovan-------Bradley-------Bedoya ------------------Jones--------------- Fabian----Besler----Cameron----Chandler -----------------Howard----------------- Yeah, Chandler isn't likely, but on talent alone this is what I'd do as I currently rate him as our #1 RB, slightly above Cam based on club form. And frankly, I'd prefer Cam partnering with Besler than Omar. This backline might be the most athletic we can put out there with recovery speed as well.
Chandler not being able to go (probably), or Steve being retired (and having been injured/declining in ability) is a bigger blow for us than most people on these boards realize imo. Chandler showed poorly in the Honduras match but if he were healthy and getting regular starts, we could slide Geoff into CB, leaving Omar out. This would make a lot of people here feel a lot better about our chances I think. Also, only 58% of people are putting Jozy in their 11? The guy is out of form, but I'll be damned if he isn't our best striker.
That's my hope. It's not likely, but I'll hold out hope until that 30 man roster is released, and if Chandler is on it, I'll keep hoping. A Fabian/Besler/Cam/Chandler backline gives us our best chance at success and I don't really think it's all that close. Anything else is quite a step back IMO, although we might not have a choice. It's not only preferring Cam at RCB over Omar for me, it's also preferring Chandler at RB to Cam as I think Chandler offers far more going forward and while Cam has had some very good success this year defensively at Stoke, Chandler is more athletic and has more recovery speed which given our group is quite important. There's also the fact that Fabian/Cam/Chandler face these level of players almost every week, while any combination using Beasley/Omar/Parky/Evans does not.
Based on votes (close calls with /): Altidore - Dempsey LD - Bradley - Jones - Bedoya/Zusi F. Johnson - Besler - Gonzo/Goodson - Cameron Howard Don't think that's a surprise knowing what we know. Out of what we've got, that's what I'd go with. Knowing our defensive woes my concern with that lineup is one Jermaine Jones. But I just don't see playing Beckerman.
Honestly, my ideal starting line-up is: Altidore Dempsey Donovan Bradley Cameron Zusi F. Johnson Besler Cameron Cameron Howard It's just a question of where to replace two of the Camerons with inferior players. I'd feel much happier if the news about Jones's club form were better, or if Chandler were healthier, or if Gonzalez were in much better form.