Best Players on the Field Line-Up for Paraguay Game

[Murray]

In the spirit of getting your best players on the field instead of figuring out who is the best player at each position (in other words what I really think worked for us in the World Cup), this is the line-up I would use:

Keller

Reyna Califf Bocanegra Beasely

Mastroeni

Convey Donovan

Mathis

Wolff McBride

This way, we keep Hedjuk and Gibbs on the bench where they belong, we give Donovan a break from the forward line til he commits himself to finishing, and we get Beasely, Convey, Donovan, Reyna, Mathis, Wolff and McBride all on the field together for the first time.

[rollo]

I like the thought but would prefer to give Gibbs a chance inside over Califf and Reyna stays in the midfield. I assume Reyna will not play 90 minutes.

------------------Keller
Mulrooney Gibss Boca Beasely
Donovan Reyna Mastro Lewis
--------Mathis McBride

Convey and Reyna share the midfield role. Allow Lewis and Beasely to take turns being the defender and mid. Give Mulrooney another chance at right back.

[milkduds]

----------Keller--------------
Dolo---Boca---Mastro---Gibbs
DMB---REYNA---Convey---Lewis
-------Donovan---McBride-----

Subs: Mathis for Reyna

[milkduds]

Sorry, I just saw the roster - no Dolo. Why? That changes a lot for me.

------------Keller------------
Mulrooney---Gibbs---Boca---Vanney
DMB---Mastro---Reyna---Lewis
------Donovan---McBride-----

Mathis for Reyna, Convey for Lewis

I'd like to see Gibbs in central defense where he plays for his club. My guess is he will show better than Berhalter or Califf in that spot.

[Parmigiano]

--Keller--

--Hejduk--Boca--Gibbs

--Reyna--Convey

--Donovan--Mathis--DMB

--Wolff--McBride

[drnlm]

just a question....does joe cannon not have a contract now?

[kal-el]

Full roster:

Goalkeepers (2): Joe Cannon (out of contract), Kasey Keller (Tottenham Hotspur)

Defenders (5): Carlos Bocanegra (Chicago Fire), Dan Califf (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cory Gibbs (FC St. Pauli), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Greg Vanney (FC Bastia)

Midfielders (7): DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago Fire), Bobby Convey (D.C. United), Eddie Lewis (Preston North End), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Richard Mulrooney (San Jose Earthquakes), Claudio Reyna (Sunderland), Earnie Stewart (D.C. United)

Forwards (4): Landon Donovan (San Jose Earthquakes), Clint Mathis (MetroStars), Brian McBride (Columbus Crew), Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards)

Keller
Hejduk Bocanegra Gibbs Vanney
Mastroeni
Beasley Reyna Lewis
Donovan McBride

Sub Mathis for Reyna at halftime (Donovan to midfield)

[galaxyfan03]

------------------------Keller--------------------
Hejduk--------Califf------------Boca------Vanney
----------------------Mastroeni-----------------
--Convey--------------------------------Beasley
-----------------------Reyna--------------------
----------Donovan---------------McBride--------

[galaxyfan03]

Originally posted by galaxyfan03
------------------------Keller--------------------
Hejduk--------Califf------------Boca------Vanney
----------------------Mastroeni-----------------
--Convey--------------------------------Beasley
-----------------------Reyna--------------------
----------Donovan---------------McBride-------- Subs: Gibbs for Vanney (46'), Stewart for Reyna (46'), Lewis for Beasley (65'), Wolff for Donovan (46'), & Mathis for McBride (65').

Interested in seeing which forward tandem is MORE effective: Donovan-McBride or Mathis-Wolff??!!

[mikesterw]

Wasn't there something about Reyna not being called into the Gold Cup due to still recovering from the surgery, or he had a minor setback. But I guess that he he got called into this means that he is good enough to start his comeback. I thought it was at the end of the Arena rippin on Donovan article, but can't quite remember. It is nice to see that he is back in action though.

[kevbrunton]

Originally posted by milkduds
Sorry, I just saw the roster - no Dolo. Why?
Because the German teams have started their pre-season and it was made clear to Cherundolo that he needed to be there for the preseason.

I'd expect to see all 7 subs used (or at least all 6 field players) to start the second half.

Perhaps we start with...

----- McBride -- Donovan
---------- Convey
Lewis ----------------- Stewart
---------- Mastro
Vanney - Boca - Califf - Hejduk
----------- Keller

For the second half, we see...

------ Mathis -- Wolff
---------- Reyna
Beasley --------------- Convey
---------- Mulrooney
Vanney - Boca - Califf - Gibbs
----------- Keller

An alternate 2nd half lineup would be:

------ Mathis -- Wolff
---------- Donovan
Beasley --------------- Convey
----------- Reyna
Gibbs -- Boca - Califf - Mulrooney
----------- Keller

[kevbrunton]

Does anyone know if these guys will play in their July 4th and July 5th games?

It seems likely that Califf, Mastro and Wolff would get to play on the 4th, but it seems tougher for the guys playing on the 5th. I'd guess that none of the guys with games on the 5th would be available to their club teams.

It is possible that Convey, Mathis and Stewart could play on the 5th because they have an afternoon game in DC -- but all of them have games on the 2nd, so playing 3 games in 4 days is probably not too likely.

Hejduk and McBride are possible but less likely because they play an evening game in Columbus. But if Arena goes into it knowing that Hejduk and McBride are only going to play a half, he may let them play on Saturday night.

I'd say that Bocanegra, Beasley, Donovan and Mulrooney are highly unlikely to play -- they play an evening game (10:00 PM EST) in San Jose. I wouldn't think there's any way they could play in San Jose late Saturday night and still make a 3:00 pm game in Columbus on Sunday. Particularly since Donovan and Mulrooney would have just played games on the 2nd.

[Nutmeg]

Don't be surprised if a very in-form Mulrooney gets the start over a struggling Mastroeni. I also wouldn't be at all surprised if Bruce resurrects the Convey at LB or Right Mid experiment.

So:

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

Hejduk---Gibbs---Boca---Convey

DMB---Mulrooney---Reyna---Lewis

----------Donovan---McBride----------

[appoo]

well how bout this:

--Gibbs---Boca---Vanney
-------------------------
---Reyna---Mulrooney----
--Convey---LD------DMB-
-------------------------
---Wolff-----McBride-----

I really don't want to see either Califf or Hejduk on the field for this match

[imasyko]

Originally posted by appooOnU
well how bout this:

--Gibbs---Boca---Vanney
-------------------------
---Reyna---Mulrooney----
--Convey---LD------DMB-
-------------------------
---Wolff-----McBride-----

I really don't want to see either Califf or Hejduk on the field for this match

I'd love to see that lineup, though the LB position is a real problem - we just don't seem to have a viable option there.

[kevbrunton]

Originally posted by imasyko
I'd love to see that lineup, though the LB position is a real problem - we just don't seem to have a viable option there.

You guys seem to be putting Gibbs at RB most of the time. But last week when he played against Cameroon, it was at LB outside of Boca. Cherundolo played opposite him at RB.

Personally, I didn't think that Gibbs did that well defensively. He was fine going forward, but seemed shaky as a straight up defender. But a lot of people thought he played well, so perhaps he's one of our answers at LB??

[appoo]

Originally posted by kevbrunton
You guys seem to be putting Gibbs at RB most of the time. But last week when he played against Cameroon, it was at LB outside of Boca. Cherundolo played opposite him at RB.

Personally, I didn't think that Gibbs did that well defensively. He was fine going forward, but seemed shaky as a straight up defender. But a lot of people thought he played well, so perhaps he's one of our answers at LB??

I only watched the Brazil game and I just thought he was nervous more than anything else. I definatly thought that he had the makings of being a good defender. I put him on the right because I'd want Boca in the middle of things and Vanney is completly left sided.

[Woodrow]

Keller
Hejduk-Califf-Boca-Gibbs
Mastro
Convey-Beasley
Donovan
Mathis-McBride

Clearly, Califf is going to get multiple chances to prove himself. Two of Hejduk, Gibbs and Vanney will start. I think Gibbs performance in the CC gets him the start at left back.

The advantage of playing Convey and Beasley together is that they can switch sides pretty well and both combine well with Donovan.

Neither Wolff or Reyna merit a start at this point. And frankly it is insane to expect starter's minutes out of Reyna if this is his first game back after an ACL tear. Let him get 20-30 depending on how practice goes this week; but even 45 would be pushing it.

[encinitas]

Why does everyone include Califf on thier side... I don't think his last outings proved he can handle a low level of international soccer...

I would rather try someone new.. Like Suarez of the Burn..

[imasyko]

Originally posted by encinitas
Why does everyone include Califf on thier side... I don't think his last outings proved he can handle a low level of international soccer...

I would rather try someone new.. Like Suarez of the Burn..

Uh, you might notice that Suarez is not on Bruce's roster...guess he didn't impress vs. NZ?

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=57844