US vs Costa Rica @ Denver Friday 3/22 10 PM EDT (8 MDT)

Experience in Mexico may not mean anything vs CR.
Whitbread if uninjured, good idea.
Besler is as raw as Gonzo.
Dolo won't be there. Parkhurst, instead.
Feilhaber? Would love it, but unsure as JK is.
Beasley? Will be cut down by CR's backs far from the box.
Dempsey is a forward or withdrawn in whatever formation JK musters.
Agudelo, don't think so.
No enthusiasm for EJ.
Think up some alternates.

 

It would be nice to have at least one player from the Rapids on the roster against CR, perhaps to use as a late-game sub. (They would assumingly already be acclimatized to the high altitude). Buddle is most likely option, but Tony Cascio and Kamani Hill might also be decent options off the bench as wingers.

 

As much as I would enjoy that, I don't think any are there yet. Keep in mind that RSL (FSL to us) is within a 1K feet of our altitude too.

 

What I meant is that I am not predicting anything shocking. Its quite clear that Williams had an awful game and is out of favor with his club team. We have a few other options at DM, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him not called in for Klinsmann. EJ might be a bigger omission, but I don't think he played well, and I don't think he is as much of a lock as everyone assumes he is. If we had any real wingers, he probably would have started, and might not have even seen the field.

 

USSF didn't do the team any favors by scheduling this match in Denver as it adds 5 hrs to the flight over a match on the east coast. Guys in Europe play on Sunday the 17th, get on a flight Monday the 18th and fly between 12 and 16 hrs depending what country they are in, and then get a jet lagged training session on Tuesday, a more normal session on Wednesday with game on Thursday. At least they won't have to deal with the humidity and it is at home. If this match was played at CR instead of Denver, I would be tempted to do like BB did in 2009 and use more MLS/MX players than usual and let the Euro's recover for the important home match. But, JK has to get the win at home so can't go experimental. Maybe JK can use his star power to recruit sponsors/donors to pick up the Euro guys in private jets and bring them in to minimize the effects of travel.

 

Guys are coming from Rome and Germany as well.

 

----------------------Howard------------------------
Chandler----Cameron----Boca----------Johnson
------------------------Edu------------------------
-----------Williams--Bradley--Jones--------------
-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------Dempsey------
-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
----------------------Gomez-------------------------

After Dempsey scores, bring in Kyle beckerman for him to secure the 1-0 win. Play him with Edu, like this:

---------------Beckerman-----Edu------------------
----------Williams---Bradley---Jones--------------

Let's see who pierces that.

 

Rome to NY is less than 10 hrs. Rome to Denver is closer to 15 hrs. Not minimal.

As far as the altitude prep for Azteca, it takes 2 weeks minimum to adjust to physiologically adjust to altitude. It is usually better to just show up at altitude the day of the game from a physical standpoint. One thing is that they will gain a period of adjustment for ball flight at altitude before going to Azteca.

 

#1 Priority should be placed on protecting the back line. The back four and the goalkeeper are making too many mistakes to go without the prioritized cover.

No narrow midfield.

Include at least on true touchline midfielder to provide width both ways.

If Bradley and Jones are started then Jones slots in at the 10 spot. Otherwise one sits.

Play with a real destroyer. Whomever is in form and available out of Edu and Williams and maybe even Cameron.

Revert back to the 4411.

 

I'm going to ask this question: did Michael Bradley mail in his performance in protest
of the roster selections?

It is well known that ballack went to Jk and told him he needed to play deeper to link the field
and support the defense. Eventually jk relented. Could the same thing be going on here?

 

This team is very unhappy right now. I am not saying he sabotaged the match
but he was clearly not himself out there. Jet lag etc might be the cause.
Just thought I'd ask the question because it looked very bad out there in the midfield
and midfield transition defense not to mention the horrible defensive play.

 

They need more motivational speakers.

 

Pierces that? Honduras.

The analysis of the game says they bombed up and down the wings at will. You take off Jozy and put an extra dmid in. That was my idea from the get go but Edu plays centrally and they were running over the wings wide.

 

I'm not sure why experience in Mexico should mean a damn thing

 

Quick turn around, jet lag, heat and humidity will make anyone look less than perky. Lots of guys looked like they were pacing themselves to ensure they could make it through the match. MB was the only CM to go 90' and it was a lot of ground to cover in those conditions. But, I wonder when players found out Boca was benched. Unless he was less than fit, I wouldn't doubt that this at least caused some eyebrows to be raised and doubts in the mind of some players..

 

Honestly, I hope we go with the same backfield. It's our future for the most part. It's not bad, just wasn't ready to be trotted out after such a sort time.

 

Two lineups to try:

Chandler-Cameron-Bocanegra-Castillo
------------Jones-Bradley
-------Johnson-Dempsey-Johnson
----------------Altidore

---Feilhaber-Edu-Cameron-Torres
Williams-Beckerman-Evans-Kljestan
----------------Bradley
----------------Jones

The best part about the second one, is that he's already used most of those guys in those positions. I think Jones and Feilhaber are the only ones in completely new spots.

 

JK probably, won't use either of those starting XI vs CR, if he's learned his lesson in Honduras.
If not, then perhaps, you will be along with JK, a Houdini.
Parkhurst is better than Chandler at RB. JK won't ever consider Feilhaber at RB.
Beckerman? He will definitely make it a loss vs CR.
Evans, Kljestan, and Williams? No.
Edu in back instead of Boca? No.
Torres at LB? No.
Jones as a lone forward? No.
Gomez is better than EJ, who has no right being on the field, especially off-season.
There has to be someone JK can put at LM besides Fabian who should be at LB.
The 2nd lineup has no Dempsey. Not smart. Suicidal, even.

 

I'm pretty sure it was a joke.