Game 1 Strategy & Formation question - USA v. Czech

[OCKlinsmann]

The all important game 1.....what will BA do?

Forget about individual players for a moment...What is the formation, what is the game plan?

I have seen a lot of 4-3 -3 bandied about to get our most "offensive" formation, but I just don't see it happening.

I see a 4 - 5 - 1 with a lone McBride
or a 4 - 4 - 2 with EJ and McBride.

Remember this is the match that largely determines our fate. 4 years ago we were lucky to get a goal in 3 minutes, that opened the game up for the next 45 minutes and allowed for a more offensive mindset than was probably originally intended. Remember the first 90 seconds saw 11 men behind the ball...until we managed to get the ball out of our half.

Given Bruce's comments about a lot of "Grind it out" 1 - 0 matches at this year's WC, and the difficulty of our group......how defensive do you see his formation and his strategy? Do you think it will be screw "joga bonita" Ima gonna grind out games one by one just like Greece in 04?

What is Bruce's mindset. A defensive counter-attacking strat a la Mexico 05, or a more offensive get men forward and get them forward early strategy a la Germany 02.

I'm just curious, because BA does have a thing for surprises. I'm sure we'll see pure Vanilla through late May. What does June bring? Again my question is not so much about players as it is about what Bruce's game plan and formation...what's his worldview for how he envisions getting through the first game...what does he have to do?

[Raulduke]

It may just be me, but I hate single striker formations like the 4-5-1. I think if it's not the traditional 4-4-2, it will be a 4-3-3 and look like this:

------------------Keller
Dolo--------Gooch---------Gibbs----------Lewis

Reyna-------------Pablo------------Obrien/Convey

Beasley----------McBride-----------Donovan

The problem with a 4-3-3 against a team like the Czechs is that it will quickly break down into a 4-5-1 with everyone other than McBride staying behind the ball because our midfielders will not be able to keep possession from the more technically blessed Czechs. Then you will have guys making metal errors and playing constantly out of position.

The midfielders in any game determine the flow, or who enjoys the bulk of possession. You can try to influence this by formation, for example playing the 4-5-1 to get an extra midfielder, but that clogs the field and makes your attacking options much more limited. It can work well defensively, but you don't want to play a whole 90 minutes just being a target.

The greatest advantage the US will have is overall speed, you need space to make that work and I think we can achieve the most space and maintain a decent amount although not a majority of the possession with a 4-4-2. But then, I always like to play to win, not just hang on for a draw or respectably close loss.

[tbgh]

I can't take credit for this, as someone else put it on BS originally, but this lineup is a little out of the ordinary and might be useful against Czechs or Italy.

-------------Keller-------------------
-------Pope--Gooch--Gibbs-----------
-Cherundolo---------------Lewis/JOB-
--------------Reyna------------------
-Dempsey/JOB-----------DMB/Convey-
---------------Donovan--------------
---------------McBride---------------

It's a 3-5-2 that can shift to a 4-4-2, 4-5-1, or 3-6-1 very easily. Reyna is the key to this formation along with Lewis or JOB. We'd be dependent on them both defensively and to link the ball to our attackers. Advantages are that it puts our best players on the field and takes advantage of JOB's, Lewis', and Dolo's flexibility for both defense and attack. I'm not enough of an expert to know how this would work against a team with excellent interior passing, but I'm sure someone on here will tell me.

[Raulduke]

Pope is too slow to play an outside position, guys would be beating him around the corner all day long. Dolo would have to stay back to defend crosses so much it might as well be a 4 man back line.

[Dr.Phil]

I think it will be a classic 4-4-2

Gooch will be a must for this match

Cherundolo--------Gooch----Pope---Lewis

Dempsey----------Reyna----------Beaz

---------------------LD--------------
---------McBride----------EJ

[OCKlinsmann]

I can't take credit for this, as someone else put it on BS originally, but this lineup is a little out of the ordinary and might be useful against Czechs or Italy.

-------------Keller-------------------
-------Pope--Gooch--Gibbs-----------
-Cherundolo---------------Lewis/JOB-
--------------Reyna------------------
-Dempsey/JOB-----------DMB/Convey-
---------------Donovan--------------
---------------McBride---------------

It's a 3-5-2 that can shift to a 4-4-2, 4-5-1, or 3-6-1 very easily. Reyna is the key to this formation along with Lewis or JOB. We'd be dependent on them both defensively and to link the ball to our attackers. Advantages are that it puts our best players on the field and takes advantage of JOB's, Lewis', and Dolo's flexibility for both defense and attack. I'm not enough of an expert to know how this would work against a team with excellent interior passing, but I'm sure someone on here will tell me.

I can't conceive of a formation where Reyna is the Destroyer, sole central defensive mid? He's just too slow....now with help from Maestro...maybe. Besides, BA will want to use Reyna for his vision in creating attacks a little further up-field. I do see a 5 man back field as something BA might pull out of his hat as your formation seems to suggest with Dolo and Lewis doing numerous overlapping runs.

To be honest though, I don't see Gibbs and Pope on the field at the same time...so a 4 man back seems most probable....and as for a 3 - 6 - 1? I think there is legislation prohibiting such a formation.

[Raulduke]

I would replace Pope with Gibbs and Dempsey with OBrien if he's fit, but other than that, It's what I would go with.

[OCKlinsmann]

I think it will be a classic 4-4-2

Gooch will be a must for this match

Cherundolo--------Gooch----Pope---Lewis

Dempsey----------Reyna----------Beaz

---------------------LD--------------
---------McBride----------EJ

Reyna alone in the central mid??? Really? No Maestro?
That's 2 times in like 6 posts...maybe I underestimate Reyna's abilities?
So what is Bruce's strategy with this formation and lineup.......I guess that's the crux

[Raulduke]

Pablo is probably a better defender, but Reyna is a technically superior player who can better help the US maintain possession. So while Pablo is a better defender, having Reyna in will mean the Czechs have the possession less and don't need as much defending.

[BenC1357]

I would hope that Bruce has learned that playing back, defensive with only 1 forward has ALWAYS cost the US teams. World Cup 98, at Costa Rica, etc. We must come out with at least two forwards. We must use our speed and pure unadulterated brashness (Donovan, Beasley, Convey, Dempsey) to go at teams. I'm not saying to go about it in an undisciplined fashion, al la Costa Rica vs. Brazil in World Cup 02, but don't sit back and hope for a gift and pray to keep the other team out of the net...

I have two lineups, one if JOB is healthy and one if not...

w/ JOB, Donovan is actually the second forward, not an Amid, but him and McBride don't play exactly side by side either.

--------------Keller----------
Cherundolo-Gooch-Gibbs-Lewis
--------Reyna----JOB--------
Dempsey--------------Beasley
---------------Donovan------
-------McBride---------------



w/o JOB, played more like a 4-3-3

--------------Keller----------
Cherundolo-Gooch-Gibbs-Lewis
Dempsey----Reyna-----Convey
---Donovan---------Beasley--
------------McBride-----------

[OCKlinsmann]

Pablo is probably a better defender, but Reyna is a technically superior player who can better help the US maintain possession. So while Pablo is a better defender, having Reyna in will mean the Czechs have the possession less and don't need as much defending.

Tell that to Nedved and Rosicky, who are perhaps a bit more accomplished than Reyna and may have a say in who is doing the possessing.

Don't get me wrong...sometimes the best Defense is a good offense.....but then again giving up an early goal due to a lack of a defensive midfielder would be catastrophic. There are times when it's clear that BA asks his team to get up field early in the match...but is that the strat he wants against the Czech's

[Raulduke]

I haven't seen Rosicky, but I have seen Nedved in recent games with Juvy and I have to say what he seems best as is fouling anyone near him and faking fouls.

I though Zambrouta was going to kill him with a look on a few occasions.

[OCKlinsmann]

I haven't seen Rosicky, but I have seen Nedved in recent games with Juvy and I have to say what he seems best as is fouling anyone near him and faking fouls.

I though Zambrouta was going to kill him with a look on a few occasions.

I watched both of his recent red card matches...Nedved, prior to the cards was arguably the best player on the pitch in both matches...notwithstanding the fouls.

He seems to be having a bad card spell, but at the end of the day..he's 10 times the offensive threat Reyna will ever be. That's not an insult to Reyna who I think is fantastic, it's just a compliment to Nedved who is still a very real force.

[Raulduke]

I don't have any doubt that Nedved is better than Reyna. What I'm saying is that the US needs a steady player with enough technical skill and mental toughness to maintain some possession and not simply dump the ball down field willy nilly every time a player from the opposing team gets next to him.

And, I will make the prediction that if the Czechs control the possession at a 60/40 clip or better, we are almost guaranteed a loss. With that much possession, they will score.

[OCKlinsmann]

I don't have any doubt that Nedved is better than Reyna. What I'm saying is that the US needs a steady player with enough technical skill and mental toughness to maintain some possession and not simply dump the ball down field willy nilly every time a player from the opposing team gets next to him.

And, I will make the prediction that if the Czechs control the possession at a 60/40 clip or better, we are almost guaranteed a loss. With that much possession, they will score.

I don't disagree other than with the original premise, which was that Reyna would be sole central defensive midfielder...which I think is a disaster.

[quitoamature]

1. i am postive the CB will be gooch and gibbs. bruce says that is his favorite parring
2. Beaz will start. he has experience in big games over convey.
3. mastro will start, cause you can be sure he will be great on defence.
4. EJ will play, maybe not start, but alot of BS'ers say Cech R. is slow. and i think late in the game Ej can stretch the feild to give LD, Beaz or Depmsey room to attck.

The game come down to three things
1.clog the middle/masto, reyna, donavan
2. shut down the baros & the tall guy(?)/ gooch, gibbs
3. burn them on the flanks/ beazley, donavan, dempsey, cheredolo

start 4-5-1 maybe change to 4-4-2 late in game

[Maximum Optimal]

The Czechs are a very skillful attacking team. They are genetically incapable of playing a safe, conservative style. They don't have as much speed as we do. I think these considerations suggest that our best strategy will be to emphasize the counter and to use our speed in doing so. This means lightening up the defensive responsibilities of our speediest midfielders (Beasley and Donovan) so that they can be as dangerous as possible on the counter. This is one match I would start Donovan in midfield almost regardless of the form of the forwards. The way the Czechs play will result in a lot of open midfield play, and we want Donovan there to take advantage of the space.

If we want Beasley and Donovan to be our main weapons on the counter, this means the other two mids (which I hope will be Reyna and Mastroeni) will have to be 90% dedicated to defense. I think those two would complement each other well--Pablo bringing more defensive bite, Reyna being more disciplined in his positioning and also helping to maintain possession.

I think the wide defenders will be encouraged to play the way they usually do under Arena. To provide offensive width and occasionally be part of the counter. In the end though, I expect the Czechs to have most of the possession and most of the match to be played on our side of the field. This means the outside defenders are really going to have to defend in this one. It's not gonna be like playing Guatemala.

[marmand]

1. i am postive the CB will be gooch and gibbs. bruce says that is his favorite parring
2. Beaz will start. he has experience in big games over convey.
3. mastro will start, cause you can be sure he will be great on defence.
4. EJ will play, maybe not start, but alot of BS'ers say Cech R. is slow. and i think late in the game Ej can stretch the feild to give LD, Beaz or Depmsey room to attck.

The game come down to three things
1.clog the middle/masto, reyna, donavan
2. shut down the baros & the tall guy(?)/ gooch, gibbs
3. burn them on the flanks/ beazley, donavan, dempsey, cheredolo

start 4-5-1 maybe change to 4-4-2 late in game

Did BA actually said that Gooch and Gibbs are his favorite pairring? I want to see that article?

[Raulduke]

I don't disagree other than with the original premise, which was that Reyna would be sole central defensive midfielder...which I think is a disaster.

I understand what you're saying, but the only way to get that lineup on the field is to use Donovan as a forward, which I'm opposed to doing. I think there is a basic trade off between your way and mine. Mine is a bit more ambitious offensively and assumes that Eddie Johnson can be a serviceable forward.

I just think that for every bit of defensive help you gain by having Pablo on the field, you lose the utility of having Donovan at forward and since he's one of our best 3 players, I want him to have the ball as much as possible. It's quite possible, especially against teams like the Czechs and Italians that playing Donovan at forward will mean he has little to no impact on the game at all.

[Dr.Phil]

Reyna alone in the central mid??? Really? No Maestro?
That's 2 times in like 6 posts...maybe I underestimate Reyna's abilities?
So what is Bruce's strategy with this formation and lineup.......I guess that's the crux



LD would be the AM