Pre-match: PBP/Post: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup; USA vs New Zealand. June 1st at 7 AM (ET)

I don't care how many players we are missing, we should beat New Zealand.

This is who I'd play.

Marcinkowski (Klinsmann will play)
Glad-Redding-EPB-Acosta
Williamson-Adams
de la Torre
Lennon-Sargent-Saucedo

 

Probably best to envision NZ being fairly bunkered in and not wanting the game to get stretched. That doesn't make Sabbi or Kunga seem like good choices as starters, so maybe Tab should go with Saucedo even though he isn't very good. I wonder though if Ebobisse would be the right choice, get some more size and back-to-goal play in the team.

I don't like having to tell Adams to stick back and play more of a d-mid role when his runs out of midfield have been a key part of lot of this team's best attacking play. But moving EPB to d-mid creates too many holes on the backline and breaks up chemistry, so I agree he should stay at CB.

 

When do we hear about a potential decision on rescinding CCV's red?

 

Saucedo was doing well early in this match. I'm not saying he's good, but New Zealand isn't either. Williamson can play the #6 role, if you want. Its not like we'd be asking a pure finesse player to be playing that role. Williamson is athletic, physical and good defensively. He's no Jones, but that'll have to do. No way can you move EPB because he keeps the defense from falling apart. Its physically impossible for a player to blanket the whole defensive midfield area, its too big, meanwhile a CB can pretty much lock up the box. Thats what he needs to do. I'd consider playing Ebobisse, but I'd also like to have him off the bench. I'm not sure going direct against New Zealand is such a good idea. They are probably pretty physical and direct themselves.

 

Another thing to watch for is NZ far and away best player Clayton Lewis, and defender Dane Ingham, have both been called up to NZ's Confed Cup team and may be with the senior team for their training camp

 

Another thing to watch for is NZ far and away best player Clayton Lewis, and defender Dane Ingham, have both been called up to NZ's Confed Cup team and may be with the senior team for their training camp

 

can a non straight red even be reviewed?

 

I think this pretty much has to be it.

I guess Ramos could shift Acosta to RB and bring in Trusty at LB, but that seems worse. Two players out of position instead of one (Glad) and a guarantee that we'll get minimal offensive support from both fullback positions.

 

I have no idea. You'd have to review one or both of the yellows. Maybe that makes it impossible.

 

Not too worried about losing CCV. Glad is solid and will do a good job at CB. Hopefully Tab doesn't get too creative and try Glad at LB and pair Redding with EPB. We have seen that pairing and it doesn't work. Glad is a future national teamer, Redding is not. Pair EPB with Glad at CB and you have stability then just move Acosta to the Right and if necessary and play Trusty at LB.

Williamson could probably play DM with Adams as the b2b guy. Start Saucedo and Lennon on the wings with DLT in the 10 hole and Sargent up top. If Sargent is nicked up then start Ebobisse in his stead. These three losses are not really that big. CCV is the most worrisome one and we might lose a little width without Herrera. CCV's passing range will be missed a bit but I expect another cagey affair like the Saudi Arabia match.

NZ would be happy to take it to pens so they won't be too aggressive in possession. Just be careful of the counter and make our chances count.

 

Let's not underestimate this team. Their senior team looked much improved against us last year. They beat Honduras by two clear goals and France is the most stacked youth program in the world right now. 0-2 is very respectable.

It is not always easy to eliminate teams you should. We will need to be sharp.

 

Which U.S. players are suspended for this game?

 

Per US Soccer's game report ...

• Center back Cameron Carter-Vickers was sent off after being shown yellow cards in the 40th minute and during the first minute of first-half stoppage time. The U.S. played down a man the rest of the way and will also be without Carter-Vickers as he serves an automatic one-game suspension against New Zealand in the Round of 16.
• The USA will also be without right back Aaron Herrera and central midfielder Derrick Jones against New Zealand. Both players were shown their second yellow cards of the tournament in the eighth and 32nd minutes, respectively.

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/201...draw-group-f-finale-2017-u20-world-cup-may-28

 

352. Lennon and Acosta wing backs. Lennon a little more freedom to go forward. You can play DLT as a withdrawn striker, if not as a 10 behind 2 strikers.

 

This New Zealand team can't be any better than the one from 2015, right? Last time, we beat them 0-4 and they were the hosts.

 

Can someone confirm they are losing players for the Feds Cup?

NZ lost its two best players to the senior team for the Confed Cup, and Redding is quite good excepting his shaky opener here. https://t.co/gOzjs9nbM6

— Will Parchman (@WillParchman) May 28, 2017

 

I'd definitively take Redding at CB over Trusty at LB.

 

The US will be wise to play with some size in the back.

Set piece defense will be what keeps NZ off the board.

 

Announcers said it during France - NZ (which I watched for some reason)

 

If this was any other team but NZ i'd be more worried about the suspended players.

 

Don't make things difficult for our defense by playing Adams at dmid.

Let's look forward to having everybody healthy in later fixtures by playing EPB in dmid - in case Jones is out. Saudi's were a better team than many think. The fact that we shut them out in the run of play tells me our defense was clicking with Adams pushed forward.

I'd be worried about over estimating them. Our players didn't look psychologically fresh against Saudi's. There's a lot of pressure.

I think we should think about giving the players some recreational time off. For the game against NZ I'd like to see EPB in dmid and Adams forward with Ebobisse and Sabbi so Sargent can get some rest on the bench. Wiliams and Saucedo can help EPB in mid. With the Kiwis tiring we can bring on Sargent and Lennon in the second half if we are leading by less than 2 goals.

 

This is why depth wins tournaments. If you can win your group, your backups can take care of lower seed teams. Just can't have players out if we get to the semis.

If we can't beat NZ with these players we wont go much further.

 

If we can't beat NZ with these players we'll be out of the tournament immediately.

 

yes yes I was referring to advancement in general but I worded it poorly. I don't think the meaning was lost.