2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup - Group Stage USA vs Panama July 8th, 2017 4:30 PM (ET) Nissan Stadium Nashville, Tennessee TV: FOX, Univision, UDN Panama Squad:
I see no reason we can't experiment a good amount beyond the info provided from the Ghana game, because it's a foregone conclusion we'll advance anyway. And we should be able to get a result vs. Panama regardless. I know what happened last Gold Cup, but that was Klinsmann using inadequate players and a mismatched tactic. Experimentation is needed, when ko's are when the loss can hurt you, and the other two matches against Nicaragua and Martinique are going to tell us effectively nothing.
Bruce Arena will probably lean heavily on the veterans in the group for this match, especially in central midfield and the backline: ----------Acosta---McCarty---------- Villafana--Besler--Gonzalez--Zusi -----------------Guzan----------------- The front 4 is tougher to project, IMO. I expect Bedoya, but I'm not sure about the other 3 players.
Yeah but finishing 2nd in the group is likely the difference between getting a quarter final against Honduras or Costa Rica or a quarterfinal against a team like Curacao or El Salvador. I think we'll go with something close to The Ghana XI against Panama and then get experimental later
But Honduras or Costa Rica at home should hardly intimidate us at this point. I say bring it on. Whatever happens happens. Experimenting later doesn't do anything because there is no later. Martinique and Nicaragua tell us nothing, and fat chance it's done in the ko stages. Unless you're endorsing that.
Panama has played us tough in every Gold Cup for the past dozen years or so. All draws or one goal games. They've beaten us twice (once in penalties). While we are favored, I don't think we should take a result for granted. Not winning the group could very well result in a quarterfinal matchup against Costa Rica. So I fully expect Arena is going to play what he thinks his best XI. I doubt there will be more than 1-3 changes from the Ghana lineup.
----------Agudelo----- -----------Acosta ----------Corona------ ----Saief--------Roldan ------------Dax----------- Villafana-----------Lichaj --------Besler--Miazga--- -----------Hamid---------- 442 diamond essentially.
Even if we draw against Panama, if we pound Martinique and Nicaragua more than they do, which we are better equipped to do, we win the group. And like I said, don't care about playing Costa Rica or especially Honduras. Actually, if we get passed them, like we should, that means more tests than we would get otherwise. We shouldn't forget that should be the primary objective of this tourney - positioning us better for the World Cup + qualifiers.
Honduras or Costa Rica in a one off game with a b team is absolutely intimidating. Do I think we'd win? Sure but it'd by no means be a gimme and would be a damn scary opponent for a quarterfinal. There's still value in seeing how new players do against international competition, and if a couple guys stand out then you give them a shot in the knockout rounds and possibly beyond. I get this tournament is about trying new things, but there is value to winning it. No need to get reckless Also a lot of US fans are looking at that Martinique game as a cakewalk. Don't get me wrong, they're bad but they're one of the better teams in The Caribbean. IMO that game has ugly 1-0 or 2-0 win written all over it.
Bruce made things difficult with his roster selection of forwards because it looks like he doesn't expect Zardes in mid which is too bad. So, my own preference, sort of, --------morris---agudelo----zardes --morrow---dax-------Roldan------zusi ------------Besler--gonzo----miazga ---------------------gk: Guzan He wont start Roldan and I think he wants Corona in there with Morris used as a sub, plus Zardes is still not totally back from broken foot when it comes to form. With that in mind, I'm not sure at all what he has in mind for the opener against Panama.
I'd simply add my front four on top of your back 7. So a 4-2-3-1. -------------Dwyer----------- Saief------Corona------Arriola I think Arriola will grow into the GC. I actually think that's what Arena is planning on dependent on Saief gaining fitness. But with Acosta's ability to get forward it would morph into a 4-1-4-1 at times. Cool with me.
It'll be interesting to see what position Bruce sees Saief playing for us. I'd like to see him at LB, personally. He's a much better player than Villafana.
I'd start the same XI. But with a win, my XI for Martinique and Nicaragua Martinique ---Dwyer--Agudelo---- Corona-Acosta-Arriola ----------McCarty-------- Lichaj--------------Zusi -----Miazga-Gonzo--- ----------Hamid--------- Subs: Morris (Dwyer) Roldan (McCarty) Zardes (Corona) Nicaragua ---Dwyer--Morris----- Saief-Acosta--Rowe ---------Roldan-------- Morrow-----------Lichaj ----Miazga--Hedges-- -----------Hamid--------- Subs: Agudelo (Dwyer) Arriola (Morris) Corona (Rowe)
I think there is an inevitability to this at some point. I like Villafaña. I particularly like that he is a dedicated left back for his club. But if Bruce finds some depth from Saief there, or even Lichaj, that will something to carry going forward.
I was more than willing to see what Villafana offered internationally but he's just too slow and positionally unsound at this level, imo. He'd make good depth but honestly, I'd rather have Garza than him at this point.
Villafana is good with the ball and smart, he is not too fast and he is small, he won't win many 50/50 balls in concacaf.
This is very good, only two changes I might make are making it a 4-3-3 with Saief on the left, Corona the right, Acosta as the CAM instead of SS and potentially replacing Miazga with Hedges, although I understand the dilemma. Hedges might be better now, but Miazga might be a better option for the WC and has more ideal athleticism for the position, especially when you consider some of the other CB options (Brooks, Gonzalez, Zimmerman) are the not the quickest. You gotta get some CB's in there with better mobility to compliment Besler and Cameron (if he's used at CB). Your whole CB position can't be 4 immobile towers.
4 back system: LM (or AM) 3 back system: LWB I think Arena sees him as more of a 2-way attacking player than a pure FB, but who knows. He could probably get the job done.
Whatever gets Villafana out of there. Saief or Johnson at LM and one at LB would be great. I'm tired of seeing Villafana out of position.
Does anyone Does anyone know if this squad is their full-strength team? Any key players missing? Agreed that Panama is a team to be taken seriously. With the exception of the Jamaica semi disaster last time out, no other team has beaten us in the GC, and Panama has played us close or level all other times. I think we'll win given recent form but will be a fight.
Panama isn't good but they are physical players, we are a team with more muscle than skills, this is why Panama always give us a good fight.
I guess they're transitioning.... It seems like Panama's golden generation is over. Who is next in CONCACAF? Canadia? It doesn't seem like CONCACAF got much better. Just the U.S. got worse for a couple years and Costa Rica had a golden generation, or improved permanently. The rest of CONCACAF? Meh.