Your Ideal Lineup?

[passtheblizz]

Here is mine...

---------Keller
'Dolo Boca Gibbs Spector
Donovan JOB Dempsey Lewis
Johnson Beasley

Spector is amazing and needs to play somewhere ASAP. Donovan hasn't shown that he can really be a playmaker in the middle. JOB can. Dempsey would be the workhorse in the midfield... Lewis and Beas both need to be on the field, but clearly Eddie is better suited for the wing at this point. I don't really like Donovan on the right that much, but since Cherundolo goes forward so much, Landon could pinch in. In my opinion these are the best all-around players we have.

[eplkewell]

You can't be serious about starting Spector. Dolo, Pope, Hejduk, Onyewu, Convey, Gibbs, and Boca are all better defenders than him. You can maybe claim that he deserves a starting spot once he gets real minutes in a meaningful game for us and plays well.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

You can't be serious about starting Spector. Dolo, Pope, Hejduk, Onyewu, Convey, Gibbs, and Boca are all better defenders than him. You can maybe claim that he deserves a starting spot once he gets real minutes in a meaningful game for us and plays well.
Pope isn't going to be better for much longer, and you could almost say the same for Convey as for Spector. But I would like to see Spector sub in during a qualifier rather than start. Prove himself. As for passtheblizz's post, I would rather Beasley play on the wing, and Donovan in the forward position. Maybe put boca on the wing and keep Gibbs in the middle joined with Onyewu.

[nobody]

What the heck...here's my ideal as of now, assuming everyone is healthy and all that...in other words, basically impossible and a pipe dream...

Donovan Johnson
Beasley Obrien Pablo Reyna
Boca Gibbs Gooch Dolo
Keller

[scaryice]

Friedel, O'Brien, Gibbs, Onyewu, Cherundolo, Mastroeni, Reyna, Lewis, Beasley, Donovan, Johnson

[AShotByBalboa]

Friedel, O'Brien, Gibbs, Onyewu, Cherundolo, Mastroeni, Reyna, Lewis, Beasley, Donovan, Johnson

Bingo!

[subbuteo]

Keller
Obrien, Bocanegra, Gibbs, Cherundolo
Beasley, Obrien, Obrien, Donovan
Johnson, Johnson

[twenty]

You can't be serious about starting Spector. Dolo, Pope, Hejduk, Onyewu, Convey, Gibbs, and Boca are all better defenders than him. You can maybe claim that he deserves a starting spot once he gets real minutes in a meaningful game for us and plays well.

You can't be serious about Convey being a better defender than Spector.

[twenty]

ideal lineup:

----------------------Keller
------------Onyewu---------Gibbs
Cherundolo---------------------------Spector
----------------Reyna-----O'brien
Beasley---------------------------------Lewis
----------------Johnson--Donovan

[UChicagoSoccer]

Keller
Obrien, Bocanegra, Gibbs, Cherundolo
Beasley, Obrien, Obrien, Donovan
Johnson, Johnson

Ronnie OBrien (OB1) wouldn't play for us and Leighton O'Brien (OB2) is too old and only plays for the reserves. But Johnson and Johnson would be cool. It'd be fresher than a baby's bottom. Too bad he didn't go to the U-20s. Oh, and you have dolo and OB2 on the wrong side.

PS: This is sarcasm, if you didn't catch on. I get what you're doing.

[Cweedchop]

I'm going with both a 3-5-2 and a 4-4-2

3-5-2:


----------------------------- Keller --------------------------------


Gooch ---------------------- Gibbs --------------------------- Boca


--------------------- Reyna ------------ Mastro --------------------


Beas ----------------------- Donovan --------------------------- Lewis


------------------- Johnson ------------ McBride ---------------------




4-4-2:



---------------------------------- Keller --------------------------------------


Dolo -------------- Gooch -------------------- Gibbs ------------------- Boca



-------------------- Reyna ------------------------- Mastro -----------------




-------------------- Donovan ------------------------ Beas --------------------



------------------------------ Johnson -- McBride -------------------------------

[Bring Back Fabian]

Keller(Even tough i love howard)
dolo-pope(for now)-gibbs-boca
reyna mastro
beasley donovan
EJ Mathis

before i get verbaly assualted for thei line up, let me remind you that this is your individual ideal line up. mathis is probably our most creative forward, and i would lvoe to see what ej's runs could turn into with not only beasley and donvan playign him balls, but mathis also.

[kal-el]

Keller
Cherundolo Onyewu Gibbs Bocanegra
Mastroeni O'Brien
Donovan Beasley
EJ Ching

This shifts easily into a 3-5-2:
Keller
Onyewu Gibbs Bocanegra
Mastroeni O' Brien
Cherundolo Donovan Beasley
EJ Ching

[NBlue]

this is fun

for this match, i'd go with:

-------------KK------------
Dolo--Boca--Gibbs--Convey
-----------Dempsey-------
Ralston----Landon---DMB
------Mathis----Johnson---

Very attack-oriented formation with Landon required to get back a lot and help on defense which I think he can do but isn't frequently asked to do.

If you're looking for out best XI against an unnamed opponent, i'd probably go with:

----------------KK-----------------
Dolo-----Gooch----Gibbs-----Boca
DMB----Pablo------Landon--Lewis
----------EJ---------BMB----------

[United20]

First Team, running a 3-5-2. I want the best talent on the field, and that are starting for their teams. O'Brien is on the rebound (again) is just too talented and no too many on the US team can match his skills. Although, Dempsey had a below-average performance against England - he just makes things happen. The only way he is going to get better is by playing. Start now. Gooch is phenominal talent - he is the best ball-handling defender we have and he is a GIANT. Between Keller and Friedel is a luxury and I would take either (even bring in THo). .........................Keller........................
.....Gooch............Gibbs............Boca.....
...........O'Brien..............Reyna.............
Donovan............Dempsey..........Beasley
..............EJ.......................McBride.......

[rgli13]

my realistic starting 11 (presently) would be...

(4-4-2)
keller
dolo pope bocanegra obrien
donovan reyna mastro beasley
johnson mcbride


my ideal starting 11 looking forward would be...

(3-4-3)
howard
onyewu boca gibbs
dolo obrien mastro beasley
dempsey johnson donovan


in my dream of that lineup theres lots of overlapping and shifting. dempsey and donovan would play as withdrawn strikers, and would be able to connect down the wings with dolo and beas, who can also stay wide and feed the middle.

donovan and beasley on the same side allows them to play off of each other, which has always shown so much promise.

dempsey helps fight for balls up top, and ej would have a wealth of service with those four outside of him.

obrien would direct things in the middle, with mastro alongside to hold possesion- and both can drop back for defense, as well as beasley and dolo closing down the opposing wings.

it would be safe to say we will never see anything close to that, but its a nice dream, imo.

[CSG05]

---------------------------------Keller
-----------Cherundolo------Gibb-------Onyewu--------Bocanegra
-------------------------------Mastroeni
--------------Gaven---------O'Brien----------Beasley
-------------------------Donovan------Johnson

[regulator]

--------------keller

cherundolo ---gibbs----bocanegra

------mastroeni----reyna--
gaven------donovan------beaseley

------johnson----mcbride

[GOOOOOLZ]

i like this formation for us,

..............................................Keller

Dollo....................... Ferdinand.............Bocanegra.............John O'brien

..............................................Reyna

ShaunWrightPhil.......................Lampard............................Edi Lewis

...........................Johnson..........................DMB.

[Heathens '87]

Keller - skilled and, most important, he is motivated.

Cherundolo - experienced, quick, and playing well.
Gibbs - young, strong, quick, and getting better every game.
Onyewu - like Gibbs, but stronger. Must play to develop.
Bocanegra - not ideal, but has the experience to hide his weaknesses outside.

Mastroeni - a perfect marriage of player and system.
Lewis - joins the attack with deadly crosses.
Beasley - in more of a withdrawn forward role.
Donovan - we're as good as Landon dictating the attack.

Johnson - brings the speed we need up front.
McBride - never quits, and his experience will calm things up front.

Five on the bench - Howard (experienced back-up), Berhalter (experience if needed to spell Gibbs and Gooch), Convey (flexibility between defense and the midfield), Reyna (can spell anyone in the midfield), Ching (McBride is a bit old)