Losing Lopez is a blow. However, when he came on against Haiti we also switched the formation, and I think that played as much of a role in the overall team improvement.
I actually like this line up a lot. Putting Villareal and Joya in the best spots to succeed. Hopefully Keisewetter gets the nod this game as he and Cuevas will be fresh.
Third. Just get into the freaking World Cup. Don't care how, don't care about style points, just win this game tonight. It will (hopefully) be a vastly different team with guys like Salgado and Zimmerman coming back from injury, maybe the Yedlins or Sortos of the world showing something in MLS in the next few months, and perhaps some of the dual nationals- Brooks, Henley, Hurzeler (?), etc. coming aboard. Plus it won't be Tab's first tournament as a head coach and you've gotta think he's learned a ton of lessons this go round.
My lineup: ------------------------Cropper----------------------- Miller-------Stanko------------O'Neill-----Ocegueda ------------------------Trapp-------------------------- ---------------Gil---------------Villareal-------------- Joya-------------------------------------------Cuevas ----------------------Kiesewetter--------------------- I'm worried big time about the defensive deficiencies of this midfield. Really ripe to get caught on a counter, so I considered Torre at CB to move Stanko up into the midfield, but I did like how Stanko and O'Neill's chemistry got better against Costa Rica. I'm not really willing to mess with that now, too risky. Lopez's suspension worries me a bit.
I liked Villarreal as a #9 and Joya as a #7. However, I also think the centerback pairing should be kept intact, so. . . . There's no good response to Lopez's suspension.
------------------------Cropper----------------------- Miller-------Stanko------------O'Neill-----Ocegueda ------------------Trapp-------------------------- ------------------------------Villareal-------------- Joya---------------Gil----------------------Cuevas ----------------------Kiesewetter--------------------- I went with pretty much the same line-up except for moving Gil up into a more attacking role. Which is where he's been in the first two games. Eventhough I like Kiesewetter I would be surprosed if he starts
It probably won't help my opinion of our quality of play that I'm watching Real and Barca right now..
Unless I'm mistaken, Villarreal has played a second striker position with the Galaxy in reserve games as well as on the wing where he played with the first team. So putting him in the 10/advanced CM slot in a 4-3-3 is less out of position then putting Joya as an 8.
If Real can keep the game how it is, it may show you that playing the Barca style doesn't mean you're any better than those that don't. Which would be good to keep in mind for the game that might well be Route 1 the whole way later tonight.
------------Kiesewetter Villareal------Gil -----Joya --------------Trapp----Stanko Ocegueda-Torre-Oneil-Okwuonu ----------Cropper
-----------------Cropper------------------- ---Miller---ONeill--Torre---Ocegueda--- -------------Stanko--Trapp---------------- -------------------Gil----------------------- ---Joya--------Villareal---------Cuevas---
Is it too late to call in JAB? edit: ^ Wish we didn't have to start Boyd-O, but otherwise that looks good. Wish we could fit Cuevas in somewhere. I know it was one game but the dude obviously has real speed that I think we need to integrate out wide.
Cuevas had a good game against Haiti, but there isn't any evidence outside of that one game that he's a better option than Joya.
Please just win this game. Will thankfully not be watching of following it. Just want to see a W next to US later when I check.
Yup, that's why I said maybe, I think it's a wash and there isn't that much of a difference between the two.
Lineup Cuevas-----Villareal---Rodriguez ---------Joya---Gil ----------Trapp Ocegueda-O'Neill-Stanko-Okwuonu --------Cropper I'm guessing Mario is out wide only because that is how he's played against Costa Rica and Haiti often enough. This is basically the Haiti lineup, except for Ocegueda is in for Torre.