2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup - Group Stage USA vs Martinique July 12th, 2017 9 PM (ET) Raymond James Stadium Tampa Bay, Florida TV: FXX, Univision, UDN
4 years ago Martinique did beat Canada, lost on an 85th minute penalty to Panama, and only lost 3-1 to Mexico with Mexico getting the insurance goal in the 90th minute. To qualify they also beat Trinidad and Tobago on the road I don't think this will be a total rollover
Based purely on club pedigree their squad this iteration looks a lot weaker than in 2013. 4 years ago they had Piquionne from MLS, 2 guys in Spain, 1 in England, and the rest of their squad was based in France (albeit primarily, but not entirely, in the lower divisions). This time they've got Jordy Delem from the Sounders, a dude at Legia Warsaw which is one of the better teams in Poland, two guys in the French 4th division, and the rest of the squad is domestically based. ETA strike that, a lot of the 2013 squad was domestically based as well, whoever made the 2013 GOld Cup Squads Wikipedia page used the French flag for Martinique clubs and whoever made the 2017 page used the Martinique flag. Still, they had a few more guys actually playing in Europe including at Bordeaux and Sporting Gijon.
I watched the game vs Nicaragua, as it appears a few others did. Martinique is very athletic and determined and they have some skilled players. In some ways, it is difficult to measure them as they played what appears to be a very weak opponent in Nicaragua. These type teams have given us a few fits in the past. The typical game plan is to stick on our game and grind them down until they break. It's going to be interesting to see how many fans show up in Tampa. I am flying to Ft. Lauderdale Wednesday to pick up a new, for me, car and hope to make it over to see the match. Count me among those who would like to see some squad rotation, which is to be expected. I would prefer not to see Zusi, Villafina, Corona and Bedoya. I would enjoy seeing Lichaj, Roldan, Morrow, Miazga, Agudelo and Morris. Lining up in a 4-4-2.
It was a good game.... plus the leftover fans finally figured out the whole "wave" thing.... Martinique looked best out of the 4 teams today.... lots of route 1 mind u but the passes were accurate and into space.. A big fast air dominant team (more technical than expected too) vs a small "tactical" team was bound to get wide open... US defenders better be awake for the upcoming match.. Martinique did not fatigue much either
-------Dwyer-------Agudelo--- -Rowe------------------Arriola-- ----------Acosta-Roldan------- --Morrow-------------------Lichaj -----------Besler-Miazga--------- ---------------Hamid---------------
There were a fair amount of tickets still available in the pricier sections when I bought earlier this week. Hopefully the lower bowl still has a respectable turnout. A midweek game with such a late start against an anonymous opponent obviously doesn't help. Parsemain sure looked like a menace out there against Nicaragua. I'm not sure I trust our defense to do any better after the last game.
I remember when Bigsoccer used to allow us to down vote posts. I still chuckled though. Count me in as a fan who wants some rotation. I don't see how guys like Lichaj, Morrow, Roldan, Agudelo can have worse games than some of the guys we saw yesterday. Guzan has earned his place in net for now. I wasn't as impressed with the Gonzalez - Besler pairing as some and would like to see Hedges or even Miazga there. Martinique isn't the test many of us would like, but since we tied Panama, the test is now to see how this squad reacts and gets the win.
2 priorities for this game: test out some of the newer guys and run the score up to get ourselves into position to win the group. ----------------------Hamid ----Lichaj----Besler---Miazga----Morrow ---------------Acosta---Roldan ---Arriola--------Corona---------Zardes -------------------Agudelo
I'll be stunned if Arena changes more than 4 players from the first match. I personally would like to see Miazga and Hamid, but that's probably not going to happen until the Nicaragua match. -Hedges is a logical defender to jump into the lineup, and I was particularly disappointed in Besler yesterday so he gets switched out. -Lichaj gets switched in for Zusi. -McCarty can't really get benched since there isn't really a back, so I'd give he and Costa another chance. -The US need to stretch the field, so Morris starts; and Arriola is probably the next attacking player in line. --------------------Dwyer-------------------- ---Morris--------Rowe--------Arriola--- ------------Acosta----McCarty------------ Villafana--Hedges--Gonzalez--Lichaj --------------------Guzan-------------------- If the 4-2-3-1 isn't working, then Morris can line up directly beside Dwyer.
Our draw with Panama coupled with Martinique's win is unfortunate, as it will lesson Bruce's willingness to explore other options in this one. I think instead he'll likely stay the course for the most part with the guys he's clearly identified as his 'A' group here. Of course there's a ton a possible changes, but my guess is they are limited. Back line/GK could very well stay the same. If we see a change, probably Lichaj for Zusi. Center mids: I suspect Dax/Acosta again. Outside mids, we may have fitness concerns with Rowe and Bedoya. I think Bedoya might sit for Arriola. Corona added nothing yesterday, so maybe he comes out and the Rowe moves central. But then who's left. I guess Gzasi. Ugh. I prefer empty bucket with addition of Agudelo up top, which is an option. -----------------Dwyer-------Agudelo----------------- -------Rowe------------------------------Arriola------- -----------------McCarty---Acosta-------------------- -Villafana------Besler----Gonazalez------Lichaj- -------------------------Guzan--------------------------
IMO the fatigue and heat from Nashville combined with what's likely to be more heat in Tampa make a large number of changes more likely than not.
True, and that will lessen the effects of fatigue in-game/for Nicaragua, but doesn't really help the guys who are already smoked from yesterday
---------------Dwyer-------------- Rowe------Agudelo-------Arriola --------Acosta-----Roldan-------- Fana---Hedges---Miazga---Lichaj
I went with http://americansoccernow.com/matches/185/starting_xis/16542 -------------------morris----agudelo ---morrow---Roldan--dax---zardes(C)----arriola -------------Besler------Gonzo----Hedges -----------------------------Guzan subs: Zusi, Dwyer, Rowe This converts to a 343 with Zardes high if we like.