US Roster for Mexico

[DestroyerDaMarc]

You're just not going to ask for or get any over-lapping runs from him. Which is fine. We've seen FBs send in effective crosses from the top of the final third.

I feel that we can only play tactically with that over lapping run. As much as I sometimes dislike Bradley's tactics, the overlapping runs is something we need hands down and with that idea means we cant have a liability out on the wings. Beasley gives us just as much if not more width then Rogers or any other wide mid but his crossing is what is suspect. I feel that USMNT fans need to accept that the overlapping run is one offensive tactic we cant do without.

All great sides use it in international play minus Italy, so if we are to take that next step we need it.

[ProfZim1]

No one has mentioned the omission of Maurice Edu.

Agreed. I find it curious that we only have one true centerback to back up Gooch and Boca and Edu can play centrally in both midfield and defense.

[Prime Time]

I feel that we can only play tactically with that over lapping run. As much as I sometimes dislike Bradley's tactics, the overlapping runs is something we need hands down and with that idea means we cant have a liability out on the wings. Beasley gives us just as much if not more width then Rogers or any other wide mid but his crossing is what is suspect. I feel that USMNT fans need to accept that the overlapping run is one offensive tactic we cant do without.

All great sides use it in international play minus Italy, so if we are to take that next step we need it.

Overlapping runs is a great tactic. I agree that we need it as it helps us add another dimension to our attack.

[Missionary]

At the camp when I was there Bornstein and Rogers they were paired up constantly and were working on overlaps which got better and better by the final scrimmage. Bornstein started playing balls into space for Robbie resulting in some pretty plays. It took them some time but they started playing well as a side.

[Onionsack]

waaaaait a second. Kljestan is on instead of Clark

Do people really think Bob is gonna give Sasha the start in a game of this magnitude? I think he sticks with a vet workhorse like Clark and saves Sasha off the bench.

[Prime Time]

Do people really think Bob is gonna give Sasha the start in a game of this magnitude? I think he sticks with a vet workhorse like Clark and saves Sasha off the bench.

I disagree. I don't think Bradley is going to leave Torres and Kljestan on the bench.

[luftmensch]

Oh Please.

Adu has shown more in a senior Nats shirt than Torres.

Adu has shown more in a senior Nats shirt than Rogers.

Adu has shown more in a senior Nats shirt than Davies.

Adu has been equal in a senior Nats shirt with Altidore.

All players he has been better than as a youth as well.


What we have here is a player who does not fit BB's system, and a coach who will not alter it to fit him in.

And by system, I'm not just talking formations, but stuff like chasing etc.....

By this logic John O'Brien should get a call-up. The kid's not playing, at all. Until he is, he shouldn't be there, no matter what he did in the past.

[Onionsack]

I disagree. I don't think Bradley is going to leave Torres and Kljestan on the bench.

Torres hasn't played enough for the nats yet to start v. mexico and Sasha let remeber has only just started playing and most are punch drunk over his hat trick.

I doubt Torres even sees the field. Sasha comes in late if we need to go offensive.

I just dont see Bradely doing anything but two box to box guys in Bradley and Clark to start this game, control the tempo and force Mexico wide.

[luftmensch]

It is too soon to know if this is a failure of Bob's.

But, if we are a goal down with 15 left Wednesday, I want to see Adu over Davies, Torres, and Rogers. You??



If we could plug in Adu from the Olympics, absolutely. As of now, I have no idea what kind of form or match shape he's in, so I'd take any of the three over him.

[TrueCrew]

Though I'm not shocked, I thought Adu would be on the roster.

We have plenty of guys who aren't seeing much action (Beasley, Pearce, Guzan) or are out of season (all the MLS players).

Freddy is the most creative player we have, and down a goal late, I'd much rather have him in there than Davies, or Rogers, or especially Torres or Clark. I don't think anyone can disagree here (except maybe on Davies).

The thing the BB doesn't do well, is adjust tactically. If we are down a goal late, we need to adopt a more aggressive formation, some options

1) Pull a defender and go with a five man mid with Adu as the CAM.
2) Pull a defender and go 3-4-3 with Adu wide left at the top.
3) Pull Bradley and go with Kljestan and Adu in CM

I also think Freddy would do well in the Christmas tree 4-3-2-1.

--------------Howard-----------
Hejduk--Gooch----Boca--Pearce
--Deuce/Sacha--Bradley--Beasley
------Donovan-----Adu---------
------------Ching---------------

Sub in Jozy for Ching at one point.

You could play it a little more defensively and go with Clark in the middle, Bradley on the right and Torres on the left, with Donovan and Deuce/DMB behind Ching.

Still, our coach is too tactically predictable to do anything of the sort.

[Lloyd Heilbrunn]

By this logic John O'Brien should get a call-up. The kid's not playing, at all. Until he is, he shouldn't be there, no matter what he did in the past.

Six months is not six years.

Neither are Pearce or Beasley and the MLS guys are out of season and not playing either.

I'm not saying start him.

If we could plug in Adu from the Olympics, absolutely. As of now, I have no idea what kind of form or match shape he's in, so I'd take any of the three over him.

Rogers' and Davies' form is poor, judging from the Sweden game

[Soccergodlss]

My lineup for this game is as follows:

------------------Ching-------Donovan------------------

-----------------------Dempsey------------------------

Beasley------------------Clark-------------------Kljestan


------Pearce-----Gooch------Boca------------Bornstein---

-----------------------Howard---------------------------

My subs would likely be Altidore, Wynne, and/or Torres depending on the flow of the game.

[FC Tallavana]

If we could plug in Adu from the Olympics, absolutely. As of now, I have no idea what kind of form or match shape he's in, so I'd take any of the three over him.

Out of the three, Torres is the only one who has played any significant minutes during the past couple months (so how do you have any idea what sort of form or match shape Rogers and Davies are in???); and he is hardly an offensive catalyst.

[Bigrose30]

Out of the three, Torres is the only one who has played any significant minutes during the past couple months (so how do you have any idea what sort of form or match shape Rogers and Davies are in???); and he is hardly an offensive catalyst.

Bob's had them in camp for a month, does that count? It's good money at least one if not both will be cut from the game-day roster anyway.

I watched Torres today for Pachuca. I'd say if he were brought in, he'd be ideal to make the final pass against a team determined to defend.

[voros]

califf>parkhurst
I've always disagreed on this, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. I don't think it's a slam dunk either way.

[voros]

So is there anyone that doesn't think this is the line up we will see? Or some other tactical variation of these 11.

Ching Donovan
Beasley Bradley Clark Dempsey
Bornstein Bocanega Gooch Hedjuk
Howard
I'm agnostic on Clark vs. Kljestan. I know what I'd do, but I have no idea what Big Bob will do. Chris Armas' retirement sort of ruined my ability to predict his other central midfield selection. :)

[Regal]

Oh Please.

Adu has shown more in a senior Nats shirt than Torres.

Adu has shown more in a senior Nats shirt than Rogers.

Adu has shown more in a senior Nats shirt than Davies.

Adu has been equal in a senior Nats shirt with Altidore.

All players he has been better than as a youth as well.


What we have here is a player who does not fit BB's system, and a coach who will not alter it to fit him in.

And by system, I'm not just talking formations, but stuff like chasing etc.....

I agree. I would take Adu over Torres , Rogers, Davies any time. I'm beginning to wonder if Torres is truly an impact player, based on what I saw of him.

[Aaryque]

I feel that we can only play tactically with that over lapping run. As much as I sometimes dislike Bradley's tactics, the overlapping runs is something we need hands down and with that idea means we cant have a liability out on the wings. Beasley gives us just as much if not more width then Rogers or any other wide mid but his crossing is what is suspect. I feel that USMNT fans need to accept that the overlapping run is one offensive tactic we cant do without.

All great sides use it in international play minus Italy, so if we are to take that next step we need it.

I agree. All I was saying was IF you are going to play a Boca at LB who isn't really going to excel in that tactic THEN you have to play a Left Midfielder who can get up and down the wing and pour in crosses. While I like Beasley (and Torres and Kljestan and etc.) that isn't really his game. His game is in playing combinations with teammates to the inside and making darting, diagonal runs behind the defense rather than sticking to the touchline. In that sense he doesn't really force the defense to play sideline to sideline as much as someone who hugs the line, can beat a defender 1v1 and put in an effective cross. NOTE: This is not a knock on Beasley. It is merely an assessment of his strengths & weaknesses and a thought on how those attributes effect the tactical decisions/play of the team.

My main point is that you need to get width and crosses out of someone on each side be it the FB or the M (preferably both but we just don't have that many people who can cross).

[oshman800]

so is Hejduk basically guaranteed to start?

[FC Tallavana]

so is Hejduk basically guaranteed to start?

Sad, isn't it?

He's a nice guy and all, but I sure would have hoped we'd be beyond him at this point.