Three "locks" who should be worried after today

[OWN(yewu)ED]

Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra, DaMarcus Beasley

And Beasley had himself a pretty decent game today, so it says alot.

First the center backs. Onyewu-OTC looked better than Onyewu-Bocanegra over the past two games. I had a feeling going into this thing one of those two would be on the bubble (you could make an arguement for both but i think one will stay, just my opinion). Gooch and OTC were pressued hard in the first half and were given fits, but i still think Demerit-Gooch would make a better pairing. I dont know who the answer(s) are yet, but its obvious we can do better in the central defense. If you went off of today, OTC and Demerit are our best central defense pairing. So here, i really dont have the answer. Could be any of Gooch/Conrad/Parkhurst/Demerit/Orozco/Spector/Subotic, either way, i just dont think it involves Bocanegra. I like Gooch-Spector, Gooch-Demerit, Spector-Demerit, Gooch-Spector just off the top of my head as combos we should try.

But i think our "reserve" midfielders today were outstanding and completely outshined the first half boys. Each brought something to the table that was beneficial. The field chemistry with Donovan, Adu, and Kljestan was impecable. And Edu was providing excellent service and excellent defense. If we are going to get Adu, Edu, Kljestan, and Donovan in the midfield at the same time, Dempsey and Beasley gotta sit. First half and second half were night and day differences, and to advance our team some traditional faces need to be relegated to the bench IMO.

I actually hope we go 5 man midfield from here on out to the vein of something like this. And it indeed sacrifices two of our perenial starters. But ill take Kljestan over Dempsey, and Adu/Donovan over Beasley unequivocally. Thats what progress is, and today we showed we can do better.

--------------Edu-----Bradley---------
Kljestan-----------------------Donovan
------------------Adu-----------------

Thats ultimately putting ALOT of faith in Altidore. Do i believe he can do it?? Yes. Next question. :cool:

Basically, it made Bob look like a genius by fielding his "reserve" players at large. All the changes that occurred, gradually made our team better. I hope it sinks through the skull of the shiney-foreheaded one, im not sure if it will though.

[Namdynamo]

Are you forgetting Bradley Jr.? As much as I like him, I don't think he deserves to start for the US team. For the USMNT, I would pick Edu and Kljestan over him right now.

[snkscore]

Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra, DaMarcus Beasley

And Beasley had himself a pretty decent game today, so it says alot.

First the center backs. Onyewu-OTC looked better than Onyewu-Bocanegra over the past two games. I had a feeling going into this thing one of those two would be on the bubble (you could make an arguement for both but i think one will stay, just my opinion). Gooch and OTC were pressued hard in the first half and were given fits, but i still think Demerit-Gooch would make a better pairing. I dont know who the answer(s) are yet, but its obvious we can do better in the central defense. If you went off of today, OTC and Demerit are our best central defense pairing. So here, i really dont have the answer. Could be any of Gooch/Conrad/Parkhurst/Demerit/Orozco/Spector/Subotic, either way, i just dont think it involves Bocanegra. I like Gooch-Spector, Gooch-Demerit, Spector-Demerit, Gooch-Spector just off the top of my head as combos we should try.

But i think our "reserve" midfielders today were outstanding and completely outshined the first half boys. Each brought something to the table that was beneficial. The field chemistry with Donovan, Adu, and Kljestan was impecable. And Edu was providing excellent service and excellent defense. If we are going to get Adu, Edu, Kljestan, and Donovan in the midfield at the same time, Dempsey and Beasley gotta sit. First half and second half were night and day differences, and to advance our team some traditional faces need to be relegated to the bench IMO.

I actually hope we go 5 man midfield from here on out to the vein of something like this. And it indeed sacrifices two of our perenial starters. But ill take Kljestan over Dempsey, and Adu/Donovan over Beasley unequivocally. Thats what progress is, and today we showed we can do better.

--------------Edu-----Bradley---------
Kljestan-----------------------Donovan
------------------Adu-----------------

Thats ultimately putting ALOT of faith in Altidore. Do i believe he can do it?? Yes. Next question. :cool:

Basically, it made Bob look like a genius by fielding his "reserve" players at large. All the changes that occurred, gradually made our team better. I hope it sinks through the skull of the shiney-foreheaded one, im not sure if it will though.


I dunno... I have read a few different articles all suggesting that Beasley is the LEAST replaceable guy we have.

There are only a few guys who don't freak out in close space and can keep posession IMO, Bease, LD and Adu.

[OWN(yewu)ED]

Are you forgetting Bradley Jr.? As much as I like him, I don't think he deserves to start for the US team. For the USMNT, I would pick Edu and Kljestan over him right now.

if thats what it takes, sure. Doesnt matter to me so long as Edu, Adu, Kljestan, and Donovan are on the field at the same time.

dont think we should write off a 20 year old thats drawing interest from EPL teams yet, but i will not argue at all that the four aforementioned are much, much better choices right now for the USMNT. I think Bradley can be an asset to us in a 5 man midfield with Jozy up top though.

[due time]

I dunno... I have read a few different articles all suggesting that Beasley is the LEAST replaceable guy we have.

There are only a few guys who don't freak out in close space and can keep posession IMO, Bease, LD and Adu.

Don't disagree with the premise of this thread regarding Dempsey based on his performances these three games. But re: possession, it's Adu, Beas, Dempsey, then LD. Dempsey doesn't so much regularly beat people on the dribble, but he draws fouls which maintain possession if not flow.

[Elninho]

Are you forgetting Bradley Jr.? As much as I like him, I don't think he deserves to start for the US team. For the USMNT, I would pick Edu and Kljestan over him right now.

Edu and Kljestan? This would, presumably, mean a change in formation. Is Bob willing to go with only one holding midfielder?

[Maximum Optimal]

Are you forgetting Bradley Jr.? As much as I like him, I don't think he deserves to start for the US team. For the USMNT, I would pick Edu and Kljestan over him right now.

If I recall correctly, he has posted that he believes Bradley is the best US midfielder and that those of us who think otherwise need to get used to seeing him in the lineup every game.

[TheQuakesRockMySocks]

For me, the most replaceable guy has to be Gooch. That guy, as valuable as he is on corners, can't run with anybody. I think he is Bocanegra's biggest problem. Watch any breakaway, and he'll watch (standing) the faster guy try and catch their striker. He just isn't quick enough to play at this level. It happened today like 6 times, and Steve Cherundolo and Heath Pearce kept breaking it up. Gooch was standing at the 18.

For me, he has to go...

Then, everyone else was pretty solid today. And don't look for anyone to touch Tim Howard's job anytime soon. That guy was out of his mind today. The score should easily have been 3-0 or 3-1. What a performance. It was like Keller in 98.

[Cannons]

Are you forgetting Bradley Jr.? As much as I like him, I don't think he deserves to start for the US team. For the USMNT, I would pick Edu and Kljestan over him right now.
I would too but I doubt BB will make that choice after shamelessly promoting his brat for two years. Now that we've seen a few others, he's not such a sure thing in peoples eyes anymore.

[studzup]

if thats what it takes, sure. Doesnt matter to me so long as Edu, Adu, Kljestan, and Donovan are on the field at the same time.

dont think we should write off a 20 year old thats drawing interest from EPL teams yet, but i will not argue at all that the four aforementioned are much, much better choices right now for the USMNT. I think Bradley can be an asset to us in a 5 man midfield with Jozy up top though.

With you entirely. Dempsey has yet to establish a position and he's too slow. Adu is too skillful not to use. Kljestan could be that player that we're missing. Edu took a while to settle in last night but when he did he had a strong match. Boca, God bless him, can not possibly be a starter.

[FnordUnitedFC]

With you entirely. Dempsey has yet to establish a position and he's too slow.

It's the EXACT same problem he has at Fulham. You get the feeling he's good enough to be on the field, and he probably is most of the time, but WHERE? You just can't seem to find the exact spot for him, and, as a result, he probably has to sit at this point.