News: USA vs. Mex - April 2014 (Phoenix, AZ)

But what happens when Rimando lets in a soft looping shot over his short head in the April friendly vs Mexico?

 

Then I'll put on a tinfoil hat before coming back to this thread.

 

No, there are already a few.

https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/...-thread-part-ii.1847474/page-17#post-29386983

https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/official-its-time-for-guzan-thread.1993622/

 

I do think it will be quite interesting to see who gets the goalkeeping minutes for the US on these non-FIFA date friendlies in Feb and April. Maybe the #3 GK slot for the US 23 to Brazil isn't settled yet.

 

So then those who want to carry on the goalkeeper debate should post there. This is a US v. Mex pre match thread.

 

So, who do we expect to take the field in this April friendly that hasn't been confirmed at this point?

Please do not include any GKs in your answer as to possible rosters.

 

Haha ^^

 

Does Wondo get a shot against Mexico? Has he ever played against them before?

 

I doubt it, and nope.

 

if we are able to call in Mexican based players... my roster right now looks to be:

GK: Rimando, Johnson, Hamid
FB: Beasley, Evans, Yedlin, Parkhurst
CB: Gonzalez, Besler, Goodson, Orozco
DM: Bradley, Beckerman, Diskerud, Edu
AM: Donovan, Dempsey, Zusi, Davis, Torres
FW: Wondolowski, E. Johnson, Gomez

Honorable Mention: Hall, Harrington, Castillo, O' Neill, McCarty, Corona, Arriola, Feilhaber, Alexander, Gil, Magee

Starting XI: First Half
------------------Wondolowski*--------------------
Dempsey----------Donovan-------------------Zusi
---------------Bradley-----Beckerman*------------
Beasley*---------------------------------------Evans*
-----------------Besler------Gonzalez--------------
-----------------------Rimando-----------------------

*Beasley, Evans, Beckerman, and Wondolowski get subbed at the half.

Starting XI: Second Half
---------------------E. Johnson*------------------------
Donovan--------------Dempsey--------------------Zusi
-----------Bradley (Edu) 70---------Diskerud*------------
Parkhurst*-----------------------------------------Yedlin*
----------------Besler-----Gonzalez (Goodson) 70-------
------------------------Rimando-------------------------

 

Maybe not to start, but considering we'll likely have to use a Camp Cupcake style roster I think he'll at least come off the bench

 

If it's just MLS and Liga MX players, here's my stab at it.

GK: Rimando, Johnson, Hamid
FB: Beasley, Castillo, Parkhurst, Evans
CB: Gonzalez, Besler, Orozco, Goodson
CM: Bradley, Beckerman, Edu, Torres
AM: Donovan, Dempsey, Zusi, Corona, Davis
FW: Wondo, EJ, Gomez, Magee

 

I agree with this.
Some people wanna see the "sexy pick" as our 3rd GK'er, some young guy like Cropper from Europe.
And I don' watch that much MLS but everytime I watch Rimando the guy impresses the hell out of me.
He may not have the measurables but if something were to happen to Howard and Guzan, I have to be honest, I wouldn't lose any sleep over Rimando having to start in a World Cup.
The guy is a gamer.

 

As for this game, I don't get the big deal.
It gives some of our young guys like Besler and Gonzales another big-stage to prep.

 

Damn, wish it was a better team. Might as well play Panama.

 

University of Phoenix stadium? Shoot, I didn't know online universities had stadiums.

 

Good to see somebody is paying attention. My only quibble with big nic: he can be a little shaky in the first minutes of a game. I would like to see him start in Ukraine, give Guzthe 2nd half, leave Timmy in Lpool because he has nothing to prove/gain from an appearance in Ukraine.

 

No. In some ways, Nic is actually better than Guz. E.g., Nic is more experienced and I actually prefer experience in a World Cup situation.

 

Guzan did play in Azteca though. That counts for a lot in my book.

 

I don't have an axe to grind with Howard or Guzan, but when people make the statement "Rimando is a big step down from them" I get perplexed. Name one single bad game he's had with the National team? Their only comeback is "He's not playing in Europe, therefore he's not as good". Well, damn that's it....he has to be inferior.

Do people even remember how hard it was for Howard and Guzan to get work permits? And they were getting caps. How many caps was Rimando getting until recently? Hardly any....

I've seen enough games where both Guzan and Howard got shelled in national team colors. I've yet to see Rimando get ripped up. He may well be inferior to them, but he hasn't shown it.

 

Agree and Guzan makes some bad mistakes out of inexperience, getting caught out of position. I figure Howard is our best keeper in form, which he usually is, but Guzan is not the clear favorite over Rimando. My problem is with SJ at #4 which is insanity. SJ is not ready at all.

 

There is no clear #4 at all. Hamid can be as inconsistent as anyone. Tally Hall is okay, but I'm not sure he'll be good enough for the big games. There is no one around like Marcus Hahnemann.

 

I don't think Mix will be available.

 

Interesting to see you have Wondo and Donovan paired together to start and then after half you have Dempsey/EJ. I also think those are natural forward tandems for chemistry. I think there is a chance that Magee plays in a wide mid position and maybe we see Corona/Castillo and Arriola at some point