Onward and upward: Looking to Jamaica

Nice win for the US, got the monkey off the back, but I'm ready to move on. Should have a full-strength squad available for the September qualifiers, so let's start assessing the lineup. I've got a 4-4-2 of sorts.

-------------------Altidore-------------------
------------Dempsey---------------------------
Johnson----Bradley----Jones-----Donovan
Lichaj-----Cameron-----Gonzalez-----Dolo
------------------Howard---------------------

Obviously the player that stands out here is Gonzalez, but I'd like to see what he's got. I'm not ready to count on Bocanegra and Goodson for 2014 (or even Cameron for that matter), and the US needs to start establishing some younger depth at the CB position. We've only seen Omar in one or two friendlies, so I think these next qualifiers would be the perfect time to roll him out in some games that are manageable from an opponent standpoint, but are still important and matter because they are qualifiers.

Chandler's last chance! This is what I'm looking forward to, the moment of truth...

If Chandler decides to show up (highly doubtful), there's no way he starts. I wouldn't even play him in the first qualifier. Maybe give him a run-out in the home leg.

-----------Altidore-------Gomez--------
Dempsey----Bradley----Jones-----Donovan
Johnson-----Cameron-----Boca-----Dolo
------------------Howard---------------------

This is my ultra realistic lineup.

I'm sure he won't start, but he needs to be cap-tied if he shows up. Also, there is no way Gonzo & Lichaj start vs Jamaica, these guys haven't been on the team long enough for such important games.

I never say never to anything. Not with Klinsmann in charge. And again, I just posted what I would do.

Need to make sure that there's no let-down after this game. Would suck to have Jamaica sneak one by us.

Klinsmann knows World Cup qualifiers are important and Jamaica can be no slouch. I don't see him starting two players who haven't played an international match in over a year.

That's fine. Again, that's my preferred lineup.

The 4-2-3-1 looks to be the go-to formation on the road, with the high pressure applied in short bursts and the attacks building from there and off of counters straight down the middle.

It'll be the same lineup in Jamaica as it was in Mexico, with Dempsey, Bradley, Bocanegra and Cherundolo coming in for Williams, Beckerman, Edu and Castillo (with Fabian moving to left back). I think he'll throw Shea and Altidore into the fray late against tired legs, which should maximize their effectiveness, and probably remove Jones for Edu as needed to save his legs for the home tie or save him from his second yellow.

It's worth noting that I think Klinsmann will give Torres another chance, as we should certainly have more of the ball against Jamaica - although I could see a scenario where he is held out until the home leg, where we are certain to have most of the ball.

In that case, Klinsmann could opt for Danny Williams (which leaves the US quite unbalanced) - but my pick would be Zusi - he showed tonight he can put in the defensive shift and serves a great dead ball to boot.

If Geoff Cameron isn't in the starting XL, I'd be SHOCKED.

I'll be in cbus, can't wait.

This is how I see the Jamaica 23 now.

Howard, Guzan, Rimando
Bocanegra, Cameron, Fiscal
Cherundolo, F Johnson, Castillo
Bradley, Jones, Edu, Beckerman, Torres, Williams
Dempsey, Donovan, Shea, Beasley
Altidore, Gomez, Boyd, Wondolowski

Only 3 differences from the June WCQ group - Onyewu, Goodson and Parkhurst drop out. Shea and Orozco Fiscal receive their reward for their triumphant returns.

The 23rd spot is tough. More defenders seem logical, but the versatility of Edu and others means it doesn't necessarily have to be one. IMO, Beasley seems the logical beneficiary, especially since Klinsmann was willing to give him 45 at Azteca.

GK: Howard, Guzan, Rimando
DF: Cameron, Ream, Bocanegra, Goodson, Dolo, Chandler, Lichaj, Johnson
MF: Donovan, Bradley, Jones, Williams, Pontius, Shea, Edu, Corona
FW: Altidore, Dempsey, Gomez, Boyd

If Chandler says no, Castillo would be the next choice. Otherwise, I feel like thats a good mix of chances for young players combined with our best players. Maybe Torres gets another chance in that case Corona or Pontius might not get the call, maybe Lichaj gets snubbed again, but this is what I expect.

First XI:

GK: Howard
RB: Chandler
CB: Cameron
CB: Bocanegra
LB: Johnson
DM: Jones
CM: Bradley
LW: Shea
RW: Donovan
Second Striker: Dempsey
CF: Altidore

I think that 8 of the 11 spots in the lineup are pretty much locked up. RB, LW and CF are the only positions under question, IMO. I think Chandler is clearly the first choice over Dolo if he accepts the call up, but he had rejected a call up many times, so who knows? I think LW is a question mark. Torres struggled at LW today, Beasley was horrible as well, so that position is really up for grabs. I think Shea deserves another chance. Give him a chance, he isn't going to kill you on the LW. I think CF might also be up for grabs. JK really like Herc, not that he is bad, but I think Jozy should be the clear #1 CF, although I am not sure that Jozy has a lock on the position.

Jamaica is going to beat us in the air for a goal or two.

That said, I hope we score three to negate it.

This to me is our best lineup, but I doubt that JK sees it that way. The only hope for something like this is if Cameron's performance gives JK confidence in his defense and allows him to drop the extra dmids. I think the best that could be hoped for would be this lineup with either Torres or Edu or Williams replacing Shea, either in a 4-3-3 or with Williams out as an "attacking" right mid again.

Shea shouldn't be starting.

Look, I would rather have Shea over Torres but if we are playing a team where we will dominate the possession, I have no problem playing Torres over Shea. However, if we are playing Mexico, Torres is useless. He plays no defense at all, and is just a non factor if the ball is not constantly at his feet. I don't know why but JK likes to add an extra DM in every game. Williams is a DM or a defender, same with Edu. Jones is a destroyer not a box to box midfielder. I really want to see an extra creative winger like Shea, Corona, Gatt, Gyau or Pontius, just someone that can create some offense, what we saw from Williams tonight was downright pathetic offensively. No more extra defensive midfielders, Shea and Donovan contribute enough to the defense to the point where we don't need that extra DM.

This is our ideal lineup...love your picks at defense and I think we bring in Lichaj as a sub around the hour mark. Don't know about Shea though that's the only pick that's a little shaky.

I like it. I hope we have enough healthy and in-form attacking options that it will be unnecessary to continue with the three or four defensive mid alignments.

My guess with Jamaica (and I think Torres worked himself into the dog house against Mexico).

Don't think so. JK has shown no inclination to play Dempsey in even a quasi-wide position - and seems to be running away from a 4-3-3, even preferring to play Williams as a right mid.

Personally, I think Beckerman in there is a joke, though JK probably sees it differently.

considering Mattocks can out jump a goalkeepers outstretched arm. They beat El Salvador 2-0, and it sounds like the El Salvador fans showed their "class" after the second goal.

Let's see what Omar has got in a friendly or two before throwing him in with another new CB (who admittedly had a great game). For an away game in Jamaica, I'd love to have our captain on the field unless he's really out of form from the Scottish 4th division. I assume he'll have a new home by September.

This is a good team with Boyd off the bench if either guy tires or we just need a different look.. You could also throw someone else (other than Daniel Williams) at LM and Dempsey up top with Altidore. To be fair, Gomez doesn't deserve to be benched though. Frankly, this team should dominate Jamaica (when we're at home) and hopefully also get a win on the road.