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[scotch17]

There was nothing moderative about my post. I just think you're completely wrong.

Except for the fact that they won't advance.

Carry on...

Fair enough then. I'm willing to eat my crow if they start pumping goals in =)

[FW__]

I disagree about the US not having a chance. If McBride can get service he can still be deadly, even at 36 and coming off of the knee injury. He played and scored for Fulham after the injury. I also think the same with Altidore, if they can get the service. And, with that said, I think they can get it from Adu, Edu and Bradley, yes Bradley. If Klejstan can be the Klejstan that's been in top form for Chivas USA this year he'll be a threat as well. Guzan is solid in goal but the real weakness it the backline. They're not very strong. The US will need to keep possession and need the midfield to assert itself. Despite Nowak managing the side, I don't think they're going to bunker like some do. Maybe against the Dutch, but not the other matches.

[scotch17]

I'd actually say the back 4 is Americas' strongpoint. Edu is great, Parkhurst has been very refreshing, Wynne gets it done and Orozco is at least servicable. Outside of Adu, none of the midfielders impress me whatsoever. Bradley has been playing in a DM role and the others have been somewhere between mediocre and shocking. If Nowak really plans to go with the 2 big guys, that leaves Bradley to handle all the defensive duties in center with 2 "wider" players that can cover (ie: no pacey Rogers) and almost no speed down the flanks (excepting Wynne); which is self-defeating if you can't whip endless crosses in. If he goes with 1 striker and it's McBride... lol, we all know how well that doesn't work. If it's Altidore it might work... but you're still playing 1 more inept midfielder in my opinion. I'm not counting on Klejstan to do anything but look out of his league.

Edits:
Playing bunkerball against the Dutch could be suicidal. You want to play keep-away with their like. If there's one side to do it against, it's probably the Nigerians. The Japanese always struggle to find a true finisher, so you might just let them crash their own party slamming against Edu, Parkhurst, and Guzan.

[rslgoonermassacre]

Fair enough then. I'm willing to eat my crow if they start pumping goals in =)

It will be enjoyable to watch you "eat your crow" when the US does advance.

[scotch17]

It will be enjoyable to watch you "eat your crow" when the US does advance.

Hmm, methinks your schooling didn't require as much English as others. :cool:

[rslgoonermassacre]

Hmm, methinks your schooling didn't require as much English as others. :cool:

Methinks? Too funny. I think subtle humor is lost on you. :p

[FW__]

I'd actually say the back 4 is Americas' strongpoint. Edu is great, Parkhurst has been very refreshing, Wynne gets it done and Orozco is at least servicable. Outside of Adu, none of the midfielders impress me whatsoever. Bradley has been playing in a DM role and the others have been somewhere between mediocre and shocking. If Nowak really plans to go with the 2 big guys, that leaves Bradley to handle all the defensive duties in center with 2 "wider" players that can cover (ie: no pacey Rogers) and almost no speed down the flanks (excepting Wynne); which is self-defeating if you can't whip endless crosses in. If he goes with 1 striker and it's McBride... lol, we all know how well that doesn't work. If it's Altidore it might work... but you're still playing 1 more inept midfielder in my opinion. I'm not counting on Klejstan to do anything but look out of his league.

Edits:
Playing bunkerball against the Dutch could be suicidal. You want to play keep-away with their like. If there's one side to do it against, it's probably the Nigerians. The Japanese always struggle to find a true finisher, so you might just let them crash their own party slamming against Edu, Parkhurst, and Guzan.

Edu is a midfielder, not a defender. Bradley has been playing more of an attacking midfielder role at Heerenveen. Wynne is good, Parkhurst is good but I'm not sold on the rest. if Edu is dropped back to a defensive position (not defensive midfield but the back 4) we're in trouble.

[VCFan]

Edu is a midfielder, not a defender. Bradley has been playing more of an attacking midfielder role at Heerenveen. Wynne is good, Parkhurst is good but I'm not sold on the rest. if Edu is dropped back to a defensive position (not defensive midfield but the back 4) we're in trouble.

Uhh, he already has been.

[vancity eagle]

its heating up on here I see with about a week to go. Like I've said before this is probably the hardest group. I think it is the only group where all 4 teams have a shot to advance. I agree with Scotch partially. US did not look good against CIV. Defence was pretty solid, but they did seem to bunker for much of the match, especially the last 20 minutes or so. Other than the odd chance or two they contained the CIV attack. But the midfield and attack was shockingly bad and disjointed. It could be the acclimitization or whatever, I will hold judgement until the Cameroon game.
Japan was quick and passed the ball well in Toulon, but yeah finishing has always been their achilles , they may also struggle with the physicallity of the other sides.
The Dutch seem to be the best technically, I missed much of their Cameroon match due to freezing of my feed. Babel will be a beast, and Makaay is definately the best finisher in the group.
The Nigerians I feel should qualify, but they will be without the heart and soul of the team in Chelseas John Obi Mikel. This guy is a deadly accurate passer and controls the tempo of the midfield. He is without a doubt the most important player for the full national team so he is a very big loss. I don't know how Nigeria will click without him.

I think a lot will come down to each teams first game, if anybody can start off with 3 points, it will be a huge boost, as I expect a lot of draws in this group, and goal difference may be a decider in this group.

[eainterplay]

Uhh, he already has been.
And been doing it quite well. Also Bradley did play a d-mid role as well the other day.

[FW__]

Uhh, he already has been.

Well he's a midfielder, not a defender. He's played his career as a midfielder. He's not a true defender. I'm worried about our backline if Edu is forced to play back there. I know he played there against the Ivory Coast but I'd much prefer him playing in the midfield.

[VCFan]

Well he's a midfielder, not a defender. He's played his career as a midfielder. He's not a true defender. I'm worried about our backline if Edu is forced to play back there. I know he played there against the Ivory Coast but I'd much prefer him playing in the midfield.

I'm aware he's a midfielder. Do you know that the US has only 4 defenders on its roster, including Edu? Frankly, you should be more worried about that than about Edu performing in the back, because he actually did very well in the Ivory Coast game.

[FW__]

I'm aware he's a midfielder. Do you know that the US has only 4 defenders on its roster, including Edu? Frankly, you should be more worried about that than about Edu performing in the back, because he actually did very well in the Ivory Coast game.

That is what I'm worried about. I said if the US is counting on Edu in the back they're in trouble. I didn't mean that as a knock on Edu, but rather a knock on the US having only 4 defenders. That was my point. That's why I'm worried. I love Edu's game, I'm worried about our backline. I'm worried that Nowak is playing guys out of position like Arena did with Eddie Lewis at WC '06 against the Czechs.

[scotch17]

The roles of players I described earlier are already how they've been used. In any 4-4-2 that has Bradley and Adu as CMs, Bradley will need to take on a lot of defensive duties.

Offhand on the Dutch, we all know about Babel but I think Drenthe could be their best player. This Dutch side are also more physical than I'm used to seeing from them.

[scotch17]

That is what I'm worried about. I said if the US is counting on Edu in the back they're in trouble. I didn't mean that as a knock on Edu, but rather a knock on the US having only 4 defenders. That was my point. That's why I'm worried. I love Edu's game, I'm worried about our backline. I'm worried that Nowak is playing guys out of position like Arena did with Eddie Lewis at WC '06 against the Czechs.

I think at the U23 level there's a lot more liberty to move players around like that. Consider Sno, for instance, he's played darn near every central position for the Dutch -- but at Celtic he's strictly a deep-lying CM.
The biggest concern I have in respect to comparing Arena, Nowak, and WC06 is just how they plan on implementing McBride.

[FW__]

I think at the U23 level there's a lot more liberty to move players around like that. Consider Sno, for instance, he's played darn near every central position for the Dutch -- but at Celtic he's strictly a deep-lying CM.
The biggest concern I have in respect to comparing Arena, Nowak, and WC06 is just how they plan on implementing McBride.

I think if McBride gets service he can still be deadly. I think he can work up top with Altidore but it's going to need to be worked out soon since they've never played together before.

[VCFan]

I think if McBride gets service he can still be deadly. I think he can work up top with Altidore but it's going to need to be worked out soon since they've never played together before.

The clock is ticking though. If they don't sort the partnership out by the Cameroon game, there's a very good chance that it won't ever get sorted out until it's too late.

[Flipstar508]

----------------Guzan-----------------

-Wayne----Parkhurst----Edu----Orozco-

------------Feilhaber---Bradley---------

Kjlestan-----------Adu----------Rogers

----------------Altidore---------------

[FW__]

The clock is ticking though. If they don't sort the partnership out by the Cameroon game, there's a very good chance that it won't ever get sorted out until it's too late.

I agree obviously. Both Altidore and McBride are players who need good service. McBride can or could create more than Altidore (obviously Jozy will get better at this with age an experience). Adu provided the service at the U-20s for Jozy. Hopefully he can do the same in China. I would really like to be able to play with two real forwards for a change.

[rslgoonermassacre]

Two forwards probably won't happen with Novak at the helm :(