Pre-match: WCQ: USA @ T&T (10/10/17)

I'm more nervous for tonight than I was on Friday.

Get it done tonight, guys. I don't feel like taking a detour to Sydney

 

How do you know that it would be in Sydney? It's hard to believe that just a couple of hours after they clinched that they would have announced the venue. Any link? Or are you starting a rumor?

Btw, the 10 home matches for the Socceroos in this cycle:
3 in Sydney
2 in Perth
2 in Adelaide
1 in Canberra
2 in Melbourne

 

FYP

@Red Card - Feel better?

 

And Australia will be a much tougher out than Trinidad and Tobago.

 

Beautiful cities in Australia. And yes, Brisbane 3rd largest in population didn't get a wcq yet. Seems like they are due.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cities+in+australia&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

 

Band-aid was on Besler's forehead, not eye. Eyelid on left was bleeding after Panamanian elbow. As stated elsewhere, eyelids heal rapidly. Besler will start probably.

 

What are you, some kinda eye doctor or sumthin'?

Oh, I see. Unlike me, @Dr Jay actually is a real physician, specifically an eye doctor.

 

San Zusi will score a hat-trick. I'm not even gonna really watch this game. I'll watch the Ecuador vs Argentina game and then switch over to this game when that one is done. We're qualifying tonight.

 

Wondo's going Conor Casey the game for us

 

This type of game seems a poor fit for nagbe's ground based dribbling game. To a lesser extent, same with CP's speed dribbling.

Dare I say that Wondo actually isn't a terrible fit for an aerial game (assuming soggy field highly limits ground passes)?

 

I don't want to see Nagbe. I still don't see what he has to offer. I'd much rather have Bedoya start, or maybe even Dax to bolster the defense. If Pulisic is healthy we should not need what Nagbe offers, if anything, to bolster the offense. I am really starting to like Arriola so an attacking quartet of Arriola Pulisc Altidore Wood with some maruding runs by Bradley and Yedlin, and maybe start Beasley instead of Villafana. If the field is sloppy and we have to play more high balls then sub in Dempsey in 2nd half for his aerial presence.

 

If we are actually going to play the match on that craptastic water soaked field, then I would sit Christian and Nagbe - their game doesn't translate to crap. We need mudders- direct, strength players. And we need to clog the mid-field. What a horrible place to play a qualifer. Just a total joke.

 

Why are people talking about Dempsey/Wondo and benching Wood? Bobby probably put in more work than Jozy against Panama, he needs to start.

 

you read it here: it will be Jozy/Wood/Pulisic, with Jozy up highest and Wood and CP running off him

 

Wow.

 

And Benny with, like, seven assists.

 

Anyone see any official announcement that the field is playable tonight? Wasn't FIFA to make a determination this morning? Or, are we just assuming that no matter what it is the field we are using (Which is a reasonable assumption....) I'm just looking for someone to get 'on the record' about it.

 

Nothing yet from the T&T Federation or Steven Goff on twitter.

 

It seems a bunch of folks on here only watch him with the USMNT, and have shaped their opinion of his game based on that and some youtube highlights.

I can't believe people are talking about benching Pulisic because the field does not suit his "speed dribbling?" This kid isn't a one trick pony. He is the real deal and he has a total game. He can drop a cross on a guy's head just like he dribbles by people.

He is a top level "wide" attacking player for one of the top teams in the world. Those guys don't have gaping holes in their game, or they don't play in the champions league at the ripe old age of 17. He isn't some overhyped MLS starlet. He makes at a living at a very big club playing a wide spot. He can play as a chalk on his boots winger, or as inverted cutting to the middle winger. I think he prefers going to the middle because that is where, you know, that net thingy is.

I believe his true position is in the center of the park as a ten. I think for the USA, due to our talent pool, and lower level competition, we are getting a preview to what he will soon be for BVB.

 

From Goff at 12:12 pm today in his article in the Post, still not official, but what we expected.

Barring heavy storms and additional issues late today, the match is set to proceed as scheduled. The current forecast calls for almost no chance of rain, 80 degrees and 86 percent humidity. The sun will set at 5:52 p.m.​

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...s-and-pregame-updates/?utm_term=.ffb1d4a891f7

 

Beg to differ. He's so soccer smart, creative and clever, he would still be a threat. He reads the game better than the rest so if anybody is going to be in position to score, it would probably be him. I would sub him early if we go up by two goals.

 

These photos were taken last night by FIFA inspection team. Been sunny all day today. 50% chance of rain now, decreasing rest of day. #usmnt pic.twitter.com/PR7XNw9oZR

— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) October 10, 2017

 

Carlisle says it has started raining again.

 

Alright, given the conditions, I think a bit of a switch is in order...

GK?
Yedlin-Gonzalez-Besler-Villafana
Feilhaber-Cameron-Bradley
Pulisic
Wood-Altidore

This gives us bite and long range passing from the midfield, along with two guys capable of moving in between the lines against T&T's bunker (Benny and Christian). I was tempted to start Acosta, simply because I can see us getting a lot of FK's, but I think Benny playing with a chip on his shoulder will bring us something special. I'd also consider holding off Wood in favor of Clint, just so that Bobby can run at tired legs for the last 30min. The nice thing is, this group can also easily swap into a 352 if we go up and need to grind it out, just put Cameron between the two CB's listed, and there you go.