USA v Ghana Pre-Game Thread

[hubbabubba]

What formation should we play? Here's my choice...

------------Keller------------
-Reyna-Berhalter-Gooch-Boca-
------------O-Brien----------
---Dempsey---------DMB----
----------Donovan----------
------EJ----------Ching-----

My subs would (possibly) be:
BMB for Ching
Convey for Berhalter/DMB
Conrad/Berhalter for a defender?

Why Ching and not McBride? He's hungry and raring to go... Also, rest McBride--He's older and has had a long season leading up to this...

Why Reyna in RB? I just have this thing about having Reyna on the field. Plus, Reyna on one side of the field lets him get forward more. The thought of this along with Dempsey, Donovan and EJ on a tear makes me shiver.

Questions for the thread:

1) How will our play to date impact our formation or play against Ghana?

2) How has Ghana's play so far impacted possible strategies to play them?

3) How will our suspended players impact USA strategy to defeat Ghana?

Okay that ought to get things started...

[forza inter]

3 words:

conrad plus 10


:D

forza inter

[afgrijselijkheid]

...........keller
dolo.....gooch...boca
......reyna...JOB
dempsey..LD..convey
........EJ.....bake

[Raulduke]

-----------------Keller--------------------
Dolo-------Gooch---------Conrad------Boca

Dempsey---Reyna------Donovan------Convey

----------EJ--------------Ching---------------

Sub out Reyna for JOB to start second half.

We must score 4 goals in this game.

The Italians are going to play for a draw once they know we've beaten Ghana, so a 1-0 or 2-0 doesn't do us any good.

[ursula]

As a DCU supporter I also love Bruce Arena. But for this game, I'd rather have Peter Nowak coaching. First law of Nowak:

1) Deny the middle of the field to the opposition. Make the middle of the field a black hole from which no creativity from the other team ever EVER comes out of. Stop them at themidfield line. Only allow long balls to their forward players.

Doesn't have to be a 352 but there has to be five mids, including three central mids.

There needs to be three central mids starting for this game. Take your pick: Reyna, JOB, Donovan, or Olsen. If you start JOB, Olsen almost has to come in at some point.

[ursula]

The Italians are going to play for a draw once they know we've beaten Ghana, so a 1-0 or 2-0 doesn't do us any good.


Italy won't know if we've beaten Ghana as we play at the same time.

[viperman5000]

I was thinking of a more offensive line-up. Something like this:

------------------------------Keller------------------------------
------------------------------Gooch-----------------------------
------------------------------Reyna-----------------------------
--Dempsey--McBride--Donovan--GAM--Wolff--JOB--DMB--Convey--

The very famous 1-1-8. Joga Bonito.:D

[shinzui]

Do we really need Gooch to man mark Matthew Amoah? Amoah's a shrimp. He's like 5'7" and maybe 140 lbs.

It's a silly idea of course, but maybe Gooch should start in Mastroeni's place on the field where he can manhandle Essien.

[afgrijselijkheid]

Do we really need Gooch to man mark Matthew Amoah? Amoah's a shrimp. He's like 5'7" and maybe 140 lbs.


no... besides, amoah likes to pop up in different places from wing to wing

[Deuteriumoxide]

...........keller
dolo.....gooch...boca
......reyna...JOB
dempsey..LD..convey
........EJ.....bake

I just don't like it when outside backs in a three man back line overlap. I'd put in another dedicated CD instead of Cherundolo.

[Knave]

Does anyone have the formations and lineups from Ghana's first two games? I can find the lineups easily enough but I never really took note of the formation. I ask because I'm trying to figure out just what their suspensions mean for them positionally.

[afgrijselijkheid]

I just don't like it when outside backs in a three man back line overlap. I'd put in another dedicated CD instead of Cherundolo.
ordinarily, i would agree with you, but dealing with amoah requires stevie's particular defensive talents

[Lloyd Heilbrunn]

I'm assuming from the lineups posted that the 4 people who argued with me that Gooch picked up yellow that game,while I did not think so,were wrong???

[VOwithwater1]

What formation should we play? Here's my choice...

------------Keller------------
-Reyna-Berhalter-Gooch-Boca-
------------O-Brien----------
---Dempsey---------DMB----
----------Donovan----------
------EJ----------Ching-----

My subs would (possibly) be:
BMB for Ching
Convey for Berhalter/DMB
Conrad/Berhalter for a defender?

Why Ching and not McBride? He's hungry and raring to go... Also, rest McBride--He's older and has had a long season leading up to this...

Why Reyna in RB? I just have this thing about having Reyna on the field. Plus, Reyna on one side of the field lets him get forward more. The thought of this along with Dempsey, Donovan and EJ on a tear makes me shiver.

Questions for the thread:

1) How will our play to date impact our formation or play against Ghana?

2) How has Ghana's play so far impacted possible strategies to play them?

3) How will our suspended players impact USA strategy to defeat Ghana?

Okay that ought to get things started...

What ever formation we think they should play they never play it. Start Ching are you insane I am nuts even I would never suggest we play ching.

Why not Reyna in your O'Briean spot. Don't think is better then O'Briean?

[Joel Kennedy]

I'm assuming from the lineups posted that the 4 people who argued with me that Gooch picked up yellow that game,while I did not think so,were wrong???

i wasn't involved in this discussion.

i had, on my own, thought gooch had gotten a yellow in the italy game.

i went back and checked and he DID NOT get a yellow in that game.

So he's fine to play.

[Bruce S]

I just don't like it when outside backs in a three man back line overlap. I'd put in another dedicated CD instead of Cherundolo.
they never do. 3 in the back is a man marking system with a sweeper.4 is a zone, 3 is man to man.

[Lloyd Heilbrunn]

i wasn't involved in this discussion.

i had, on my own, thought gooch had gotten a yellow in the italy game.

i went back and checked and he DID NOT get a yellow in that game.

So he's fine to play.

No you weren´t unless I talked to you leaving the stadium or on the train.:)

With all the cards,it was confusing to many.,..

[tigerdave]

The substitutions are probably going to be O'Brien for Mastro and Conrad for Pope. Otherwise the lineup should remain the same from the first two games, which quite frankly pisses me off because I think EJ should be starting alongside McHead. We need goals; a draw does nothing.

Ghana have team speed and a lot of heart. They play like we do when we're at our best: with a chip on their shoulders and a point to prove. They aren't nearly as deep as us, and they can be rattled, as was the case against Italy. They're pretty well organized, but I their suspensions are going to hurt them a lot more than ours will affect us.

Italy can't afford to play for a draw since they could get pipped by Ghana if they beat us and be forced to play Brazil in the second round. I think the likeliest scenario is a 2-0 or 2-1 win to us, which gets us through when the Italians beat the striker-less Czechs.

Of course, if we beat Ghana 6-0 the other game's result is moot. :rolleyes:

[Flyin Ryan]

On a side note, there's no way we can get first in the group. So unless Japan blows out Brazil and Australia blows out Croatia, if the cards fall right we'll be playing Brazil in the second round.

[Flyin Ryan]

Of course, if we beat Ghana 6-0 the other game's result is moot. :rolleyes:

We've had a hard enough time scoring one recently, I'm thinking 1-0 if you tell we win beforehand.