7/16 Gold Cup USA vs Jamaica Pre Game and PBP Thread [R]

[Wile Coyote]

I can not get excited about this game personaly...and sadly I have not been excited about the Gold Cup at all I have only watched the costa rica game and the cuba game... This cup is a freindly cup at best Concacrap is a joke...
I will begin to bother with this as soon as the nats make the semi finals...

With that in mind Jamaica should be a walk in the park USA is 5 times superior than jamaica I see no reason why the US team cant put 4 to 5 goals away...

I know its hard for the nats to pump themselfs up for jamaica but the boys should trash jamaica early on and cruse the rest of the way......

[Davids26]

I think this match against Jamaica will be tough. If we have our full complement of players, no doubt I think we win this tournament easily. Attacking wise we haven't looked too spectacular except for about a 3 minute span at the end of the Cuba match...

Luckily the experimentation is over and I expect a 2-0 win today.

[scaryice]

I can not get excited about this game personaly...and sadly I have not been excited about the Gold Cup at all I have only watched the costa rica game and the cuba game... This cup is a freindly cup at best Concacrap is a joke...
I will begin to bother with this as soon as the nats make the semi finals...

It's not CONCACAF's fault that they have a bunch of islands and small countries. This has actually been a pretty exciting tournament as a whole, the USA games have been some of the least exciting.

[Jabinho]

It's not CONCACAF's fault that they have a bunch of islands and small countries.If we got a big boat with a very heavy chain and hauled all the islands to one..
Nevermind..
Galaxy/USA fans can't lose today.. If the USA wins .. great.. If we lose .. well we get Donovan back for Real Madrid.. ;)
I expect an exciting match today (USA is due for something that keeps us awake) and hopefully some better finishing from the USA.
If it goes to PKs Keller will be the difference and make up for a couple of USA misses.. ;)

[reddog694]

http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=200166&itype=4129

The players most expected, but based on the diagram, not in the formation expected.

3-4-3....very interesting...

[kennytt]

No Dempsey??? Too inexperienced?

[Ronaldo's Idol]

I like everything about this lineup but the defense. Pulling Cherundolo up to midfield I think is a great idea, but our back 3 are exposed and basically all of them are relatively slow (not sure about Gooch, but he's in the middle so speed isn't as much of an issue for him).

Perhaps this might work better with Gibbs and Bocanegra available, defensively. Or even Spector. But Vanney and Conrad? I just hope our offense dominates because we will be very very vulnerable to counter attacks up the wings.

[scaryice]

3-4-3....very interesting...

I don't really trust the diagram.

With Pope hurt, Conrad is really getting a nice run with the team.

[Lord15]

The Jamaican defense is cheese. We're gonna go after them, but worst case senario we've got 6 guys that are good defensively out there.

Conrad-Gooch-Vanney
Cher-Mastro-Obrien

I think this is really a 3-3-1-3

[reddog694]

I don't trust the diagram either really. It reminds me of the '3-4-3' in the qualifier where Convey was a "left wing" and Beasley a "forward". Didn't really turn out that way all the time.

But I think it's interesting nonetheless that either Bruce or US Soccer purposely decided to display it that way.

[Nelziq]

I think the more lilkely explanation is that the formation is just wrong. What happens is that coachs release the starting 11 and analysts sort of guess what the strategy is going to be. In this case, the lineup is a bit different than usual so it could be working in a couple different ways. I think for sure in a knock out round game that Bruce wont be playing with 3 in the back. This means one of two options are likely.

1) 4-4-2 with Beasely as striker
This formation has only one person out of their natural position and plays to BA's established system.

Cherundolo-Conrad-Gooch-Vanney
------------Pablo---------------
Ralston----------------JOB------
----------Donovan--------------
----Wolff------------Beasley-----

2) 4-5-1
In this formation O'brien's creativity is taken advantage of in the middle of the park. A bit more conservative but plays everyone in their best positions. Make lack finishing with only Wolff up top, but if Donovan, Beasley and Ralston can get forward that shouldnt be a problem.

--Cherundolo-Conrad-Gooch-Vanney-
-----------Pablo-----JOB------------
--Ralston----------------Beasley-----
--------------Donovan---------------
--------------Wolff------------------

[kbsj]

Jamaica has a vastly improved team, expecting this to go to PK's.

[Nittany Meteo]

Any IM PBP in the works? Thanks in advance.

[Bluecat82]

I thought 4-5-1 when I first saw this lineup...

[Dixie]

I'd appreciate pbp as well

[Supermanram]

Honestly this cup has been really exciting for me. My friends are really into it as well. I guess its the kind of tournament that some will love it and some will hate it. Honduras vs Costa Rica was a fantastic game. GO USA!!

[willykirk]

well I'm watching, so i'll fill in best I can...

wile coyote, glad to see you care enough to start a thread.

[XaviusX]

I created an AIM CHATROOM for this match: 'BIGSOCCERUSAvsJamaica'

[dark knight]

Kick off.

[willykirk]

and we're away... reggae boyz kick off. man its good to see JOB on the field.