Who's up top vs. Guatemala?

[hansel]

I'm just looking at the roster here, does anyone think that either Twellman or Cunningham will get a start tonight? I wouldn't mind giving Twellman some serious minutes and seeing if he can do something.

http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=233706&itype=113&iCategoryID=0

[MLSNHTOWN]

IF EJ is healthy...we will probably see Twellman and GAM. Cunningham on at the 60th minute mark.

If not, I would expect to see Twellman and Cunningham.

[rgli13]

id really like to see ej and twellman together.

ej is about as close to a lock as anyone not named bruce arena can predict, and i want to see how twellman can do. im not sold on him being able to be a "target' guy for us, or even winning enough balls to compliment ej- but hes earned the chance.

im in the minority here, but i just have no love for cunningham. either i need to get over his "selfish" rep or he shoulndt have earned it in the first place...either way i just dont have any strong (positive) feelings for him as a nat. seems to be a less team oriented roy lassiter, imo.

[Dr.Phil]

EJ and Cunningham



i think Arena will start Cunningham because he put him in the 91 min

[St. Patrick]

GAM and Twellman, otherwise Twellman and Cunningham.

[regulator]

i think the USA desparately needs a GAM-type forward (athletic, has pace, can make something happen out of nothing, not scared to take on defenders 1 on 1) as opposed to a borghetti or mcbride type player (needs the ball delivered to them, good instincts near goal). this is especially true for the world cup, because the competition is so fierce at that level that u can't just be waiting around for the defense to make mistakes. for this, i think it would be good for Bruce to see what cunningham has to offer with the nats, as he is the type of player that could make an impact in the WC (a la beasley, donovan, GAM) as opposed to the mcbride-type player (such as twellman). don't get me wrong, mc B still needs to be there, but the explosiveness factor belongs to cunningham, not twellman. for this reason, i think twellman and cunningham should start (not cunningham and GAM together, as their styles of play would probably conflict); that way, bruce can see what both of them bring to the table.

the final 4 forwards , assuming twellman and cunningham both perform well in the next few months:

GAM, mcbride, twellman, cunningham (i consider beasley and donovan mids, not forwards).

[LittleMaradona]

i think the USA desparately needs a GAM-type forward (athletic, has pace, can make something happen out of nothing, not scared to take on defenders 1 on 1) as opposed to a borghetti or mcbride type player (needs the ball delivered to them, good instincts near goal).
From the USMNT games that I've seen GAM play, he hasn't created on his own really. He's done very well finishing on the end of good set-ups from his teammates. From what I've seen of Cunny, your description of GAM-type forward fits him more than GAM.

[KevTheGooner]

Twellman's GOT to get the nod along with EJ (if healthy). This game is a great set-up for TT and will give him a vital chance to show if he deserves a ride to Deutschland next year. THis is the second toughest away game for us in qualifying...and we STINK in Europe so we need to blood our best talent in these "cauldrons" to see if they'll hack it next year.

[eneste]

i think Arena will start Cunningham because he put him in the 91 min

I wouldn't look too much into this. Cunningham came on for garbage time because he is a fan favorite in Columbus. If US-Mexico was in New England I bet Twellman would have come on instead.

That said, I would really like to see an EJ/Cunningham top two.

[crusio]

I want to see Cunningham..........

[Dynamo Kev]

My view is- in top international soccer you have to at least one really good quality to excel- whether it be speed, crossing, etc... Twellman is pretty good in all areas.. Jeff has speed to burn.. Twellman could do well in CONCACAF and MLS but I don't see him troubling too many international defenders.. I'd go with JC before TT tonight and for the remaining run up to WC06..

[MetroShawn5]

From the USMNT games that I've seen GAM play, he hasn't created on his own really. He's done very well finishing on the end of good set-ups from his teammates. From what I've seen of Cunny, your description of GAM-type forward fits him more than GAM.

I totally agree. As much as I love EJ, he hasn't proven he can really go at a defender 1 v 1 at all. Cunningham is very dangerous in that situation.

I hope Bruce goes with EJ and Twellman (who really deserves shot) and brings in Cunningham for EJ in the 75th minute. EJ is still not 100% fit after his injury and he has all but solidified his spot on the team. There is no reason for him to go the full 90.

Whatever the lineup, lets hope the young guys come out hungry and pull out a result! :D

[bsucio9]

I totally agree. As much as I love EJ, he hasn't proven he can really go at a defender 1 v 1 at all. Cunningham is very dangerous in that situation.



All the more reason that Bruce goes for EJ. This game is about seeing what young talent can do. If they haven't proven an aspect of their game, they best hope to get the nod tonight and show Bruce that they've improved that part.

[Onionsack]

personally, i like the Donovan-Twellman connection...they seem to work well together which is really the most important thing when picking a strike partnership.

But if Donovan is rested, which i beleive he should be, then Twellman-EJ is good too as long as EJ is fully fit..if not then Cunningham.

[Adam Zebrowski]

I think EJ and twellman are naturally complementary and agree they're the way to go...

cunningham on at minute 75 or so...

donovan at attacking mid seems the fit given the available talent....

[ECRedSoxFan]

Am I the only one on this board that isn't totally ga-ga over Eddie Johnson? It just seems to me that he has been more of a "right place, right time" kinda guy than anything. I know there is something to consistantly being in the right place, but I would like to see him do a little more to create his own opportunities before I say he's a mainstay in our frontline, like some of you seem to assume once he is healthy. Just my opinion...

Cheers

[Martin Fischer]

Am I the only one on this board that isn't totally ga-ga over Eddie Johnson? It just seems to me that he has been more of a "right place, right time" kinda guy than anything. I know there is something to consistantly being in the right place, but I would like to see him do a little more to create his own opportunities before I say he's a mainstay in our frontline, like some of you seem to assume once he is healthy. Just my opinion...

Cheers

No offense, but I disagree totally. EJ combines the ability to get behind defenses like Josh Wolff in his prime, hold the ball like Brian McBride and finish at the international level (at least before his injury) like Taylor Twellman does at the MLS level. I also can't think of a forward who is better than him at running at defenders out of the group of Twellman, Ching, McBride and Casey. I think he is at least equal to Wolff and Cunningham at getting by defenders.

EJ has by far the best upside of any capped US forward.

[Dr Jay]

IF EJ is healthy...we will probably see Twellman and GAM. Cunningham on at the 60th minute mark.

If not, I would expect to see Twellman and Cunningham.


Its Twellman and Cunningham.

LD and Ralston both start...on the bench.

[IMOX77]

Its Twellman and Cunningham.

LD and Ralston both start...on the bench.
Is this your guess or do you know this?