Arena: Conrad likely will replace Pope

[Nermalthecat]

Not a huge shock, but he just said that on the WC show between games on ESPN2. Glad we won't see Beerholder. Conrad did well against ITA in a tough spot.

The only question then is whether this requires Lewis to play left back again, as a left side of Boca and Conrad would be awfully slow.

[Stogey23]

Guys, Bocanegra is not slow.

[dfb547490]

Guys, Bocanegra is not slow.

Exactly...people get the impression that he's slow because he's a big, kinda goofy-looking white guy but the dude played WR for his high school football team and got lower-division scholarship offers to play in college (decided to play D1 soccer instead obviously), he has wheels.

Conrad has passable speed too...remember that he originally broke into an MLS starting lineup as a RB.

[macheath]

Guys, Bocanegra is not slow.

Would still rather see Boca in the center than Conrad, and give Lewis another shot outside, or play three in the back and jam up the midfield. Ghana has been playing very direct down the center, with very strong mid attackers. With no Pablo, hard to see who plays the defensive mid in a way that can slow Essien down. We're going to be vulnerable right down the center.

[flyerhawk]

That would also assume that Gooch is moving to the right side.

[::::::]

A ghost fart couple replace Pope

[Jumbo]

Based on this news, and the fact that we're hearing that JOB might not be ready to go, it's starting to look like we'll see this lineup:

---------------|Keller|-------------
----Dolo--Conrad----Onyewu--Bocanegra---
-----------------Reyna---------
-----Dempsey--------------Beasley---
----------------Donovan-------------
-------------BMB--------EJ-----------

The Convey fans/DMB bashers can flip the two, I suppose, but I have a feeling that Arena will (correctly) go back to DMB. Either way, I don't see a lot of other options besides this one, unless JOB can play.

[skydog]

Guys, Bocanegra is not slow.

I'm not sure why you say that-- I've watched a few of his premiership matches and he certainly looked slow in comparison to the forwards who were frequently blowing by him. I can't remember now who the forwards were but I do remember a couple of them were having a field day against him. It was pretty embarrassing for Boca. But maybe I just caught his slow days...

[dfb547490]

Jumbo, only thing that worries me there is relying on Reyna as a lone d-mid to contain Essien and Appiah...I'd go with the same personnel (except Convey instead of DMB) but in a 3-5-2 with Dolo playing RW and Dempsey playing more centrally and assisting Reyna defensively when needed.

[Chicago1871]

---------------|Keller|-------------
----Dolo--Conrad----Onyewu--Bocanegra---
-----------------Reyna---------
-----Dempsey--------------Beasley---
----------------Donovan-------------
-------------BMB--------EJ-----------

I see no reason why Convey doesn't get the nod over DMB considering Beasley, despite a flash or two against Italy, still hasn't done enough to earn his spot back. I really like the above lineup, but think Convey will likely start on the left over DMB.

[Chicago1871]

Jumbo, only thing that worries me there is relying on Reyna as a lone d-mid to contain Essien and Appiah...I'd go with the same personnel but in a 3-5-2 with Dolo playing RW and Dempsey playing more centrally and assisting Reyna defensively when needed.
Dare I say his name? Ben Olsen. *cringes at the impending attacks*

[Jumbo]

Jumbo, only thing that worries me there is relying on Reyna as a lone d-mid to contain Essien and Appiah...I'd go with the same personnel but in a 3-5-2 with Dolo playing RW and Dempsey playing more centrally and assisting Reyna defensively when needed.

Fair point, which is why I think Beasley is back in there, shading more toward the middle and allowing Dempsey and Dolo to attack more from the right.

[flyerhawk]

We will be playing either a 4-5-1 or a 4-1-4-1. Right now I'm sticking with a 4-5-1 with 2 defensive midfielders(Olsen and Reyna), two wings(Convey and Dempsey) and Donovan as A-Mid. Striker will be either McBride or Johnson and if it is McBride expect Johnson to sub him out at the half.

[Jumbo]

I see no reason why Convey doesn't get the nod over DMB considering Beasley, despite a flash or two against Italy, still hasn't done enough to earn his spot back. I really like the above lineup, but think Convey will likely start on the left over DMB.

I guess I don't see what Convey has done to deserve a third straight start. I've not been impressed with his crosses, his runs have been predictable, and he flubbed a couple of clear shooting opportunities last game. Considering that Beasley is a) much faster and b) much better defensively, I think the improvement we saw in Game 2 out of Beasley is enough to warrant the switch. Plus, as I said in another post, I can see Beasley shading back and toward the middle, helping to make up for Mastro's absence and allowing Dempsey/Dolo to get upfield.

[VBSoccerFan]

Dare I say his name? Ben Olsen. *cringes at the impending attacks*

I'm a fan of Olsen from his UVA days, but he was really bad against Venezuela. I cringe at the thought of him trying to deal with Ghana's midfield. I first thought he had played well against Vene, but when I watched it again and played closer attention, it was really obvious he was the worst player on the field for us, by a wide margin.

[MtMike]

I would like to go with 3 in the back since GHA has essentially no forwards and their main threats are from the midfield.

------------Keller

Cheru-------Gooch------Boca

-------Reyna-------Olsen

Dempsey-------------------Lewis (for defense)

--------------Donovan

---------McBride--------EJ

[adamu7777]

based on the style of attack exhibited by ghana in their first two matches, i think we would be best served by boca in the center and lewis at left back. it'll never happen though.

[Davids26]

With this announcement, I could see a 3-5-2 like this (maybe):

-----McBride-----Johnson
----------Donovan
Convey----------------Dolo
--------Reyna---Dempsey
---Boca----Gooch---Conrad

Also, Dolo pinched up into the middle a lot to help Reyna against Italy, perhaps you could even switch he and Clint.

Olsen's a possibility there as well, but I hate thinking of that. Either way we need someone to partner Reyna in the middle -- we shouldn't concede that part of the field to them...

[CaliManU]

Is JOB injured or something? Why would Olsen start at CM over JOB?

[adamu7777]

i heard wynalda running over at the mouth this morning about how bruce needs to go with a defensive minded line-up again to start this game and then look to bring in some firepower later in the game.

i'd like to get some thoughts on that statement.

personally, i don't think that served us particularly well against the czchs or against italy's early set piece. we need to strike first and i'd like to see EJ up top at the opening whistle. everyone on BS seemed to agree about a month ago that getting an early strike was CRUCIAL to our success in this cup, but now no one seems to be troubled by our defensive minded early play.