Who will be the back four vs Costa Rica

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by deuteronomy, Mar 18, 2013.

  1. deuteronomy Member+

    Member Since:
    Aug 12, 2008
    Location:
    The Outer Banks of NC
    Club:
    Los Leones FC
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    United States
    Here are the possibilities +Maurice Edu (caps/goals)

    DEFENDERS (6): Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake - 0/0), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City - 0/0), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/England - 6/0), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy - 1/0), Clarence Goodson (Brondby/Denmark - 5/0), Justin Morrow (San Jose Earthquakes - 0/0)


    Is It's going to be interesting. . .

    1. Not sure why Tim Chandler is not here, I am sure we will find out.
    2. Fabian Johnson and Steve Cherundolo are recovering from injuries.
    3. Long term Captain and team leader Carlos Bocanegra is not getting time at his club.
    4. Costa Rica's forward pairing are probably the best in the Hex Brian Ruiz/Alvaro Saborio
    5. Most have speculated that JK waited too long to address the CB pairing (plenty of places to discuss this, however).
    6. This, our first home game in the Hex, is pretty much in the "Must Win" category. It is against an
    opponent we should defeat, given our aspirations toward qualifying.
    7. And yes, we also are going to go with a new goalkeeper, Brad Guzan (who thank goodness has been playing "lights out" for Aston Villa.)

    So, I guess, what are the best options?

    If it were me . . .

    Cameron . . . Edu . . . .Goodson . . .Morrow

    I thought Omar appeared suspect in Honduras.
    aw072760 repped this.
          
  2. FirstStar Hustlin' for the USA

    Member Since:
    Feb 1, 2005
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    Time's Arrow
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    It's not going to be pretty. We already have issues with width- we are going to be REALLY narrow in these next two games.
  3. soccerfan BigSoccer Supporter

    Member Since:
    Mar 13, 1999
    Location:
    New Jersey
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    United States
    anyone know why not Sean Franklin, to me he is more consistent then Omar and contribuits a lot to the attack
  4. TrueCrew Member+

    Member Since:
    Dec 22, 2003
    Location:
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
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    United States
    We are thinking alike. Though I'd go with Beasley at LB. Or we could very well see a 3-5-2 with Cameron and Beasley as the wingbacks and 3/4th of Edu/Goodson/Besler/Gonzo as the 3 in the back.

    -----------------Guzan----------------
    -----Good/Gonzo---Edu---Besler---------
    Cameron---------------------------Beasley
    -------------Jones----Bradley-----------
    ------------------Dempsey----------------
    ------------Gomez-------Altidore---------
  5. scott47a Member

    Member Since:
    Feb 6, 2007
    Location:
    Austin, Texas
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
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    United States
    I think Ives is on to something with his speculation about Beasley in the back.
    If I had to venture a guess I would say

    Cameron-Gonzo-Edu-Beasley
  6. MarioKempes Member

    Member Since:
    Aug 3, 2000
    Location:
    Raleigh, NC
    That's pretty radical. This game could be a disaster or a revelation. Can't wait till Friday! This qualifying round is some kind of rollercoaster.
  7. jeff_adams Member

    Member Since:
    Dec 16, 1999
    Location:
    Monterey, Ca
    Hopefully Costa Rica plays Roy Miller, who's worse than anyone we've called in.
  8. Reccossu Member

    Member Since:
    Jan 31, 2005
    Location:
    Birmingham
    If the US wins this game it will be on guts. The backline is worse than I could have imagined. This is a backline consistent with a players strike. Ugh.
  9. exref Member

    Member Since:
    Aug 1, 2009
    Location:
    Louisville, KY
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
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    United States
    No, on Beasley. We've been sorely lacking a LW, Beas has been playing it for his club. That's the width and attach minded player we need in midfield. I'd go with Morrow--Gonzalez--Edu--Cameron.
  10. jeff_adams Member

    Member Since:
    Dec 16, 1999
    Location:
    Monterey, Ca
    A better fit would be Brek Shea. Size, speed and youth. He could play the same role that Fabian plays by pushing up into the midfield and actually taking defenders on with the ball (plus overlapping). Beasley's age and injuries have slowed his acceleration. Brek can still motor up and down....
  11. comoesa Member+

    Member Since:
    Aug 13, 2010
    Location:
    A place with a beautiful duwang
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    United States
    Shea can't play LB. He still isn't cutting sharply really on his left foot. At least it looked that way the last time I saw him.

    I wouldn't over think it. Just play Morrow there. He actually plays there with his club ans is strong and fast and isn't coming off any injuries.
    Editor In Chimp repped this.
  12. SpencerNY Member

    Member Since:
    Dec 1, 2001
    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    I didn't know the gameday line-ups were out already.
  13. dwsmith1972 BigSoccer Supporter

    Member Since:
    May 11, 2007
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
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    United States
    In an otherwise solid debut for Stoke, Brek was tentative and poor defending as a left mid. I know its not apples to apples but it doesn't make me confident that he would be decent defending as a left back.
  14. Taeshan New Member

    Member Since:
    Mar 13, 2013
    Club:
    Yeovil Town FC
    Hopefully they put the three actually capped defenders with Morrow on the left. The attack part of the game might very well be better than our defense lol
  15. Reccossu Member

    Member Since:
    Jan 31, 2005
    Location:
    Birmingham
    Do they need to be? The lineup has to come from this roster.
  16. SpencerNY Member

    Member Since:
    Dec 1, 2001
    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    I see a plenty capable back-four amongst that roster. Even if they all made me nervous I don't think JK had a lot of other obvious options. Christ, most of our European based defenders either seem to be injured or pulling splinters out of their butts.
  17. sidefootsitter Member+

    Member Since:
    Oct 14, 2004
    This sounds like a 3-in-the-back lineup. Beasley can wing it on the left. Cameron can do that on the right.

    Defense might be Goodson/Edu---Gonzalez---Besler.

    But JK will probably play Geoff on the right and ... hmmm ....

    Edit : Beasley's not called up, duh ... Shea may have to play as a left wingback, Cameron as the right.

    But it's not too late to fire Klinsmann and Perez.
  18. Reccossu Member

    Member Since:
    Jan 31, 2005
    Location:
    Birmingham
    Then you are just more optimistic than I am. The confluence of injuries and splinters is worse than I thought it would be and I have trouble finding a back four that looks remotely like a WCQ lineup from this roster.

    Could be that's just me.

    Doesn't mean they can't do well enough, but I think that fighting spirit may be the best weapon this group has going for it, so jk should maximize that.
  19. SpencerNY Member

    Member Since:
    Dec 1, 2001
    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    Ok, that makes sense to me. I had taken your post as another "OH GAWD, why didn't JK call in X, 'cause we'd be rock solid with X out there", with X being some Euro bench-rider or some other MLS superman. I think we'll need some of that fighting spirit for this one, but it's also nice that every one of those call-ups has been getting buttloads of playing time at their respective clubs.
  20. comoesa Member+

    Member Since:
    Aug 13, 2010
    Location:
    A place with a beautiful duwang
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    I don't see a back three out of this lineup. A lot of these defenders have probably never played in that formation in all of their careers and Klinsi has yet to use it with the national team.
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  21. SCBozeman Member

    Member Since:
    Jun 3, 2001
    Location:
    St. Louis
    I'm sorry?
  22. IndividualEleven Member+

    Member Since:
    Mar 16, 2006
    LB: Morrow
    CB: Gonzalez
    CB: Edu
    RB: Cameron

    Not need for 3 man backline experiments. Beasley would make an interesting attacking midfielder. That's the position I saw him play with Puebla.

    Shea needs to be getting minutes at club level to be in the discussion.
  23. Gorky Member+

    Member Since:
    Jul 28, 2006
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    NYC
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    New York Red Bulls
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    This is probably what we'll see. It should be good enough.
  24. cpwilson80 Member

    Member Since:
    Mar 20, 2001
    Location:
    Boston
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
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    United States
    What's more, I don't think any of the midfielders play with a back three, either, and that's equally important from the perspective of defensive shape.

    This is a tough situation, one compounded by Bocanegra's absence. I think Cameron and Edu somewhere in the backline are a must. I'd rather to see Morrow over Beasley at Left Back.

    After that, I still haven't processed this roster...
    deuteronomy repped this.
  25. swedust Member

    Member Since:
    Aug 30, 2004
    This was my thinking as well.

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