USA v Denmark - 1/20 - Lineups

[RevsRule]

I don't understand this. If not starting any World Cup Games didn't give him a message, why would not starting him in some scrub friendly against a probable C caliber Denmark side wake him up? This game is nowhere remotely near the caliber of the games he was picking up splinters at last summer, so some grand message being sent and understood over this strikes me as highly unlikely.

The message should have come from not even being on the first list for camp. He's only there at all because others passed

[chessplayer]

my formation would look like this:

cooper-ej
mapp-donovan
beckerman-mastro
bornstein-conrad-califf-albright
cannon
subs: klestein, rolfe, jaqua, clark, pearce, boswell/parkhurt


We're gonna get quashed, these fellas are not ready for prime time yet. We have a young team internationally, in their league's offseason. They are going to have to earn their stripes the hard way.
Why not start Pearce? At least his league is in season right now, I would imagine he is in better form than the MLS folk.
I join the chorus on not starting EJ until he proves something, unless he is proving something to Bradley this week. Cooper is a good target guy, we need a finisher up top, how 'bout Rolfe?

[jpoler1]

I would have put Dempsey at RM. However, he is in London. Perkins could get the start over Cannon. Rolfe could easily get the start over Johnson. I like PEARCE to start. I am very uncertain about RM. I would like to see Clark get the sub for Mullan. Can't wait to see Cooper up top with EJ. Should be interesting.

Cannon

Albright Califf Conrad Pearce

Mastroeni

Mullan Mapp

Donovan


Cooper Johnson

[CDM76]

We're gonna get quashed, these fellas are not ready for prime time yet. We have a young team internationally, in their league's offseason. They are going to have to earn their stripes the hard way.
Why not start Pearce? At least his league is in season right now, I would imagine he is in better form than the MLS folk.
I join the chorus on not starting EJ until he proves something, unless he is proving something to Bradley this week. Cooper is a good target guy, we need a finisher up top, how 'bout Rolfe? I'm incredibly ignorant about the quality of the Danish side other than they are running out a group of domestic league all-stars with about 50% being legitimate national teamers. That actually sounds about like what we've got. Most of my soccer colleagues actually expect the US to dominate in a relatively non-competitive match. I'm not that optimistic.:eek:

Why do you expect us to be "quashed"? Lack of form/fitness because we are out of season? Overwhelming talent on the opposing side? Are there specific players on the Danish side you see totally outclassing us?

Personally, I've never seen Pearce play so I really can't argue against him. I have seen Bornstein several times and although not particularly physically impressive he is a smart player with good skills and tactical sense. He was extremely effective as an outside back for Chivas (moved up to mid later in the season). Teams actually kind of gave up pushing the attack down his side at times.

Assuming they both demonstrated similar quality in camp, I wouldn't be surprised by a Pearce/Bornstein substitution at the half.

I think most of us giving the start to Bornstein are basing it on camp reports that he's been especially impressive and BB's experience as his club coach. No hate for Pearce just limited information and perhaps an expectation of a bit more trust in Bornstein from the coach.

[AWF08]

I know this may be a little premature but, I just wanted to express my excitement at the possibilities at forward.
For the first time it seems like we really have every possible choice/combination available to us up top. Not to knock our guys from the past but, if these players (and those not here) continue in their development, we can really have a forward line that can cause problems in every possible way.
Cooper--great size and athleticism to go with it. Add to that a decend touch and ability to hold the ball and, he gets his fair share of goals.
Jacqua--smaller than Cooper with similar skills--great in the air.
EJ--athleticism and speed to burn and when he's on (hasn't been in a while but, like I said "develop") he can be deadly--remember '05??
Rolfe--athletic, fast, maybe the most creative player we have in close and open spaces. His strength is setting up his teammates but, he may be the best finisher of the bunch. (P.S. I can't wait to see what he and Donovan can create once they get some time and understanding between them.)

Look at this--It seems we can put together any time of forward combination that we want and then adjust it in many directions if need be.
Have we ever had that type of versatility up top before?
I'm excited about our attacking future--if we continue to develope these and other players in this position.

[Adam Zebrowski]

usa isn't gonna get squashed by some danish domestics....

remember norway last january.....

i'd suspect donovan is the best player on the pitch, and if it's cooper with EJ usa will create chances, particularly if mapp plays like i think he will....

i'd see something like 2-0 usa

[england66]

wouldn't put it past ussf/BB/MLS to play all/most of the Galaxy and Chivas players in this game...along with EJ....give Galaxy fans in particular a chance to get a look at Jaqua/Donovan together, get a bit more local buzz going on and give MLS a last chance to showcase EJ before the window closes......just a thought...

[MLSNHTOWN]

What I would like to see......

Cooper - Rolfe

Mapp - LD

Clark - Beckerman

Bornstein - Conrad - Califf - Albright

Cannon

[xkingsfanx]

^ id really like to see beckerman in there too

[Ceres]

^ id really like to see beckham in there too

Fixed your post ;)
.

[xkingsfanx]

Fixed your post ;)
.

ya but hes not good enough anymore to start for us.

[sidefootsitter]

I'm incredibly ignorant about the quality of the Danish side other than they are running out a group of domestic league all-stars with about 50% being legitimate national teamers... There are a couple of guys who may start for Denmark internationally but not in big games and not on offense.

And Denmark is heavily reliant on their top stars, the guys in the Premiership, Bundesliga or Serie A (+ Gronkjaer, ex-of-everywhere) - Thomasson, Rommedahl, Jorgenson, Gravesen, Agger, Sorensen, Jensen, Poulsen, Lovenkrands, et al.

[goredbull]

Brian Mullan should definitely start for the US because although he may not be the most skillful player, he knows how to cross the ball. He did it all throughout the MLS Cup playoffs with the Dynamo.

[england66]

Brian Mullan should definitely start for the US because although he may not be the most skillful player, he knows how to cross the ball. He did it all throughout the MLS Cup playoffs with the Dynamo.


He's back in Houston.

[sidefootsitter]

wouldn't put it past ussf/BB/MLS to play all/most of the Galaxy and Chivas players in this game...along with EJ....give Galaxy fans in particular a chance to get a look at Jaqua/Donovan together, get a bit more local buzz going on and give MLS a last chance to showcase EJ before the window closes......just a thought... Mike, does this mean no Kenny until late?

[Scott e Dio93]

Someone give a good reason why Donovan and Mastroeni should play against Danish C team? Bradley can't use these players against a C squad. We use this chance test new players, yet come up with a victory.

[Palermo10]

Because if you don't use some of your A players, your C players will get used to playing at C level with their C teammates.

[Ceres]

Denmark's starting lineup:

Jesper Christiansen
Lars Jacobsen
Michael Gravgaard
Anders Møller Christensen
Chris Sørensen
Rasmus Würtz
Niki Zimling
William Kvist Jørgensen
Peter Nymann
Morten Nordstrand
Dennis Sørensen

Probably 4-4-2 (or 4-3-3):

......................Christiansen (Gk)
Jacobsen .. Gravgaard .. Møller Christensen .. C.Sørensen
Nymann ....... Würtz ........ Zimling ........ Kvist
................D.Sørensen ... Nordstrand
-----

Jacobsen and Gravgaard are regular starters for the Danish A-NT, (also in important WC an Euro qualifiers), Christiansen is the A-NT 2nd keeper and Würtz is normaly used as a sub on the A-NT...

Otherwise this team is young and talented but also highly inexperienced at international level. The biggest problem for the danes are that this is their first NT match of the season and they have not been in training camp after they went on vacation from the Superliga.. So they had their first training session 4 days ago when they came to the US...
.

[Bigrose30]

So the Danes aren't even going to be fit?

Why do we schedule games like this?

[Bruce S]

So the Danes aren't even going to be fit?

Why do we schedule games like this?

because we are not fit either??