Four-Four-Two WC Preview Issue - Their Take on the USMNT

[USAin2006]

This is a quality magazine - they know what they are talking about when it comes to the USMNT, relative to some of the English press, who talk about Freddy Adu ad nauseum. Take this quote, could have been lifted off of BS:

"The biggest problem for Arena is in midfield. First, there is no natural right-sided eqivalent to DaMarcus Beasley...and secondly, where best to play key man Landon Donovan? Arena may well kill two birds with one stone and play Donovan out right, but the risk is that he might drift out of the game. The one time Leverkusen flop (yes they say this -- though it should have said two time:)) plays best when he is at the heart of the action, getting possession to put in the killer passes or making dangerous runs.

The alternative is for Donovan to start as a withdrawn striker behind BMB and then have either Clint Dempsey or Bobby Convey, both youngsters who have impressed this season, start on the right."

Sounds exactly like the 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 with a BMB/LD pairing that a lot of us are starting to think makes the most sense. I knew there was a reason I paid so much for my subscription!

They also say this is the hardest group to predict, that anyone can come out of it - which also sounds right, though Ghana have got to get their act together..

[Plan B]

I've always enjoyed their WC/Euro previews, and they did a very thoughtful job with the U.S. analysis, even predicting that we'll get out of the group at the expense of the Czechs. (Their verdict: "Fit, talented, well-drilled, experienced, but no match for Brazil in the second round.")

They also pick Costa Rica to advance.

[dirtskier]

hmm, I might have to dig one up at the Ann Arbor Borders.

(yeah, I pick costa rica to get thru too... )

[Autogolazo]

The biggest problem is the midfield?

How about no true second forward to play off McBride, or no suitable international caliber backup for McBride himself?

The biggest problem with the U.S. is clearly up top.

And P.S.--they must be thinking of the 2002 Costa Rica, cause this Tico team is a faint shadow of that one. It's between Poland and Ecuador.

[Ombak]

The biggest problem is the midfield?

How about no true second forward to play off McBride, or no suitable international caliber backup for McBride himself?

The biggest problem with the U.S. is clearly up top.

And P.S.--they must be thinking of the 2002 Costa Rica, cause this Tico team is a faint shadow of that one. It's between Poland and Ecuador.Between Poland and Costa Rica, maybe. But Ecuador? When did they move their games to the Alps?

[Yankee_Devil]

I would not call the position at which we have most depth a "problem" obviesly these people know very little about the team and did not bother to their homework.

[Hustletown]

We don't have a problem at right mid as far as I'm concerned.

World, Clint Dempsey. Clint Dempsey, World.

Up top is main question area for sure. Let's go EJ!

[Beethovieff]

We don't have a problem at right mid as far as I'm concerned.

World, Clint Dempsey. Clint Dempsey, World.

Up top is main question area for sure. Let's go EJ!

Midfield in general is fine, but I think it is a correct assessment about right mid. Dempsey is not a wide midfielder like Beasley, nor are any of the other midfielders. Despite the inadequacies of certain players, there aren't any other positions where the US is so lacking in tactical options. Sure, forwards are weak, but we have two target men and two faster players. Sure, left back is weak, but we have Lewis and Gibbs/Boca who can play there depending on the situation. If we want a pure wide right mid, though, the option doesn't even exist.

[USAin2006]

I think that many of you are missing the point. Yes, we need a true left back. Yes, we'd like a more ideal strike partner for BMB. Yes, our midfield IS a strentgh. But they are right on about the dilemma as to who to play on the right, and whether or not we should play Lanny as a withdrawn striker.

There are PLENTY of US journalists who don't talk about the team with this understanding.

[Hustletown]

I really like Dempsey on the right because of his unpredictability. Teams we play aren't going to know what to do about him because of his style. I think he has to be in the starting 11 because of his creative flair. Plus, he seems to have a taste for putting the ball in the net against Euro sides.

[luftmensch]

I would not call the position at which we have most depth a "problem" obviesly these people know very little about the team and did not bother to their homework.
I thought they meant problem more like "issue to be solved" than "thing that sucks" (maybe I'm being too generous). Because in our midfield we've got three solid left mids (including Lewis), one attacking mid, one destroyer, two holding mids, a nominal right mid who isn't exactly a winger, and a jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none-who-may-or-may-not-see-any-playing-time. What's the best way to fit all these together? I bet we're gonna see both Beasley & Dempsey lining up on the right in the upcoming friendlies, maybe even JOB and/or Reyna. I'm guessing Bruce will play with it a bit before settling on anything for the Cup. And I can't wait to see how he approaches this "problem."

The forward thing, yeah, that one might actually be a problem.

[aila]

I think it's pretty unlikely that Arena will settle on the right side, I think it'll probably be a game-to-game thing, and it's likely we'll see both Convey and Dempsey start there at some point, depending on the opposition and how Bruce thinks the matchups are. As far as Donovan, playing him up front may be the best option since the forwards are the weakest position, but I wouldn't be at all suprised to see Johnson starting alongside BMB if he shows well during the warmup games. I think playing with only one forward would be a mistake, but maybe that's just me. And if someone like O'Brien gets fit and in form enough to play (BIG if), then the midfield starts getting pretty crowded, Donovan up front might make the most sense (even though he is more suited to an attacking mid role in an ideal situation)...

[russ]

Maybe they don't think forward is a problem because they're an English magazine and figure a proven EPL veteran is enough quality for a team who'll be playing one central striker.

The midfield tactics are a more critical issue than our forward depth in any event.In our first two games,the battle will be won or lost in the midfield.It won't matter if we have a time travel version of 1958 Pele up front -we must win the midfield or the front will get no service in attacking positions.

[Golazo]

As a defense mechanism, I have been conveniently forgeting that our best-case scenario ends with a collision course with Brasil.


Every time I am snapped back to reality about it, I get a little sadder.

[FirstStar]

As a defense mechanism, I have been conveniently forgeting that our best-case scenario ends with a collision course with Brasil.


Every time I am snapped back to reality about it, I get a little sadder.

You are wrong about that-- you are discussing our seventh-best-case scenario. Our best-case scenario sees us play Japan in the second round and moving on to play the Ukraine in the quarters. Second-best would be playing Japan and then running into France. Third and fourth best would probably be Croatia (some argument that Australia may be weaker), and then the same Ukraine/France outcome. Fifth and Sixth, imho, is Australia but is arguably Croatia. These scenarios all pretty much assume the most likely outcomes in the other groups, so there are dozens of possibilities, which put you in the realm of discussing our 40th or 50th best-case scenario.

Anyway, back to our regular programming. I agree with 4-4-2 that the RM issue is a key issue because I see that as more of a make-or-break matter for the US. A BMB back-up is a "break or really really broken" matter and doesn't really merit discussion-- he plays or we go home. Who plays out wide right, though, will have a tremendous impact on what our team looks like and how it performs.

[braun]

The only player that fits the bill at RM is Ralston, who has not totally if last night's game can be taken seriously, recovered from groin strain.

When Quaranta did not look as good as hoped for and was injured, then there was nobody.

Dorman is actually Welsh but could play I think for the US according to the Boston Globe. Nah, Arena's not going to go that far. Dorman isn't good enough, especially in the fiasco last night.

Convey and Lewis (when not filling in for a near-absent LB alternative) can play as wingers but on the left, maybe on the right?

Too bad Thorrington didn't work out.

[bwach]

As a defense mechanism, I have been conveniently forgeting that our best-case scenario ends with a collision course with Brasil.


Every time I am snapped back to reality about it, I get a little sadder.


A chance to see the US in the World Cup against both Italy and Brazil? That's a dream come true as far as I'm concerned. The only thing better would be USA-England.

[Hustletown]

Seeing us play Brazil in the World Cup would be a dream come true for me personally.

I'd love to see it.

[Iplayedforchelsea]

Seeing us play Brazil in the World Cup would be a dream come true for me personally.

I'd love to see it.

Yeah, I'd like for the Nats to get a little belated revenge for Tab (as in knocking them out of the cup, not breaking someone's skull :mad: )

I'm off to Barnes and Noble to read that 4-4-2.

[dabes2]

I personally think anyone who looks at our team and doesn't see left back as our biggest issue has had one too many pints. Gibbs and Lewis may pull it off, but I've got my fingers crossed. Right mid and second striker are the other potential weaknesses, but I see those spots as having options much better able to do the job.

Re: right midfield -- Whoever we throw out there is going to be a very tallented player (Donovan, Reyna, Dempsey, Beasley, O'Brien even). Maybe not a natural right mid swinging in crosses, but remember, this position is going to be supported by Dolo at right back who is a nice crosser from the wing.

And that second striker spot -- i just have faith in EJ, Wolff and Ching to do something special. Can't explain it fully, but I do believe.