Starting XI vs. Morocco

[TheRightPants]

BA going for a 4-3-3, with Wolff and DMB in what looks to be a slightly reserved attacking role.


http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_280975.html

[blacksun]

Good find. I'm very surprised that he's going to play 3 forwards.

[NASL Fan]

This might be close to our starting line up vs. the Czechs...

http://images.ussoccer.com/Images/cms/ussf/StartingXI_USAvsMAR.jpg

[Stogey23]

I think DMB will be fairly withdrawn and it will look more like a 4-4-2 with a 2-2 box midfield.

[IndividualEleven]

Arena is revealing nothing. :)

Good to see O'brien get the start.

[grandinquisitor28]

I don't understand why Wolff is starting. 1 goal from the field of play in his last 22 appearances. How hard is it to confuse what that means? Is this a last gasp effort for him? Whatever it is, it sure isn't helping GAM who needs time to work with the first XI. I don't see how Wolff's inclusion helps in anyway whatsoever. Other than that I have no major issues with the lineup.

[RevsRule]

This might be close to our starting line up vs. the Czechs...

http://images.ussoccer.com/Images/cms/ussf/StartingXI_USAvsMAR.jpg


Then we are doomed. Were will the goals come from? Wolff, Beasley?? It will look more like a track meet then a soccer game.

It will be interesting to see how close real lineup is to this one

[Sachsen]

You can call it a 4-5-1 if you want to.

4-3-3, 4-4-2, 4-5-1 -- with Bruce it really doesn't matter. And with these PLAYERS it really doesn't matter. You might see Wolff from a midfield spot passing up to LD who's making a run towards the box. You might see Beasley and O'Brien overlapping.

I would call Beasley, Donovan, and Wolff all M/F's.

This is an OUTSTANDING lineup. Can't wait.

And for those ragging on Josh Wolff, go back and watch your games that you have recorded with him playing, and pay attention to the passing and the runs. Would it make you happier if you consider Wolff RM, Donovan CM, O'Brien LM, with McBride and Beasley forwards? There are lots of good things all of these players do besides scoring goals, and INCLUDING scoring goals.

[laloca]

Who is on the bench?

[Sachsen]

Who is on the bench?

The other 13 players.

[TheRightPants]

And no Lewis. I'm excited to see Gibbs, but I didn't expect to see him starting ahead of Eddie in a 4 back set. Maybe this has to do with Lewis' time away from camp? Or just wanting to see Gibbs in an encore from the Germany match? I'm eager to see this position materialize.

[Sachsen]

And no Lewis. I'm excited to see Gibbs, but I didn't expect to see him starting ahead of Eddie in a 4 back set. Maybe this has to do with Lewis' time away from camp? Or just wanting to see Gibbs in an encore from the Germany match? I'm eager to see this position materialize.

This absolutely has to do with the fact that Lewis just flew in from England yesterday after going 90 minutes against Watford on Sunday.

Lewis will start one or both of the next two friendlies, don't worry.

[soccertom]

This might be close to our starting line up vs. the Czechs...



If everyone remains healthy it's possible. I would rather have Dempsey than Wolff though. No offense to Josh but I like Dempsey's abundant amount of confidence along with his all out attacking mentality. We need a whole lot more of that type of attitude.

[QuidditchFan]

As a broad observation, it is quite amazing to step back and compare this lineup with the lineup from eight and even four years ago. The defense is fast, physical, smart and strong, and the offense has speed to burn and plenty of creative options. This is nothing new, but looking at how the team has evolved over time is fun in and of itself.

[russ]

And no Lewis. I'm excited to see Gibbs, but I didn't expect to see him starting ahead of Eddie in a 4 back set. Maybe this has to do with Lewis' time away from camp?


No maybe about it.He played a match Sunday and had to swallow a bitter disappointment,then jump on a plane.It would be brutally unfair to play him tonight in a freindly.We'll see him in Cleveland.

[IndividualEleven]

This is an OUTSTANDING lineup. Can't wait.

And for those ragging on Josh Wolff, go back and watch your games that you have recorded with him playing, and pay attention to the passing and the runs. Would it make you happier if you consider Wolff RM, Donovan CM, O'Brien LM, with McBride and Beasley forwards? There are lots of good things all of these players do besides scoring goals, and INCLUDING scoring goals.

Josh Wolff as an a-mid is not outstanding. He's barely competent
as a forward.

There are lots of good things all of these players do besides scoring goals, and INCLUDING scoring goals.

Job one for an attacking player is scoring goals and getting assists.

[dlokteff]

Very nice. EOM

[grandinquisitor28]

You can call it a 4-5-1 if you want to.

4-3-3, 4-4-2, 4-5-1 -- with Bruce it really doesn't matter. And with these PLAYERS it really doesn't matter. You might see Wolff from a midfield spot passing up to LD who's making a run towards the box. You might see Beasley and O'Brien overlapping.

I would call Beasley, Donovan, and Wolff all M/F's.

This is an OUTSTANDING lineup. Can't wait.

And for those ragging on Josh Wolff, go back and watch your games that you have recorded with him playing, and pay attention to the passing and the runs. Would it make you happier if you consider Wolff RM, Donovan CM, O'Brien LM, with McBride and Beasley forwards? There are lots of good things all of these players do besides scoring goals, and INCLUDING scoring goals.

Wolff's work with his teammates was more impressive years ago, I've seen nothing of note, nothing worthy of mention, period in the past two years with him. He's been absolutely awful. The only things he's contributed with is his consistently smart runs into open space, and creating space for teammates. I've always mentioned that in my critiques, and it's true, he does a lot of the technical things well. But you can't start a guy whose a natural forward when he's put one ball in the net in the run of play in his last 22 appearances. You can't. Period.

[elsoulman]

Josh Wolff as an a-mid is not outstanding. He's barely competent
as a forward.



Job one for an attacking player is scoring goals and getting assists.

Did you notice the number of goals and assists Wolff had last year for the Wizards? 10 and 10 - not bad numbers.

I like this lineup. Soccertom mentioned the possibility of Dempsey in this position, and I really like that possibility also - based on past performance, Wolff opens the field up a bit more with his runs off the ball and his passing ability; where Dempsey has more confidence on the ball and individual ball skill, but less runs to space/opening the field. I know, I know, some people will get on me for that statement, but based on my viewings of the two, Dempsey does a lot more standing around and waiting for the ball, but is more dynamic once he gets it.

[rpi-fan]

So what happens if Gibbs is lights-out as a left back tonight? Is Lewis still the default option if that happens?