Pre-match: US V Netherlands Pre match (R's)

It won't be an empty bucket since both Adu and Feilhaber will more than likely to fill that bucket in the middle.

 

Feilhaber and Bradley do not comprise an empty bucket.

 

good point

 

I you want to keep Rogers in the starting lineup, which it looks like many of us do, the US will have to do a better job of defending the left wing. Note, this is not all up to Orozco. A central middie has to help cover that space and the other has to cover the middle. Sasha was not good at this, so you need a new central middie to help Bradley do the job. One thing about this stupid roster, the US is swimming in central mids. So who comes on for Sasha: Szetela, Benny, Dax, move Edu up? You'd love to play Edu there, but starting Ianni doesn't seem like a good idea, so who? I do not trust Benny to start. That leaves Danny and Dax. I could go with either one, but Szetela may be the better choice.

Guz
Wynn-Edu-Park-Oro
Holden-Sz-BB-Rogers
Adu
Altidore

 

Has he played since Princeton? And aren't we limited to three players over 23?

 

Very excited for Netherlands, and truly happy with 3 points after the Japan game. I was optimistic about that game, and this game as well. I dont get all this negativity, especially to these young guys like Adu, Altidore, Rodgers, Wynne, Edu, Bradley, Feilhaber etc, who dont care who the opponent is. We have seen it before, these kids can play, and can hopefully take it to the Dutch.

I am hoping for a Jozy start, and a Klejestan bench. Nowak had a pretty good starting 11 out there, and made the right subs. Did a good job to me, and got us the crucial 3 points.


Go USA!!!

 

I agree about the starting 11 and have the same optimism. Before the match the prevailing wind had Japan all hailed, after their impressive tourney results, their long and well planned fixture calendar, including the "great showing" against fancied Argentina. The US side was in disaray not even able to keep up with the second string Cameroonians! Circumstances- organizational, financial, geographical... presented the coaches with only a short window to prepare. So far it seems they have done well and the boys have improved each outing. That with half the back line playing new postions, meshing MLS to Euros, old boys to new boys... I could go on for quite a while on the problems facing the organizing of the Olympic Team. US Coaches have far more issues than most other national coaches, heck, 2/3 of the Dutch play in Holland, 16 of 18 Japanese play in Japan...For a thrown together less than a month ago squad, they're doing fine.

 

It's not negativity, just realism.

The Dutch are the two-time defending U-21 champions of Europe. Not Italy. Not France.
It's the Dutch, with the players we're about to face forming the nucleus of those two teams.

It's not that we can't beat them. Anything can happen in football. But you shouldn't bet your mortgage on a US victory. If you offered me a 0-0 draw right now in that game, I'd take it in a heartbeat.

 

Right on, but I do hope that Nowak doesn't play that way, for obvious reasons.
Playing not to lose is a sure way to never accomplish that goal.

 

Neat-o

I like this lineup, but maybe switch Benny and Szetela?

 

Yes perfect! That should be our lineup right their.



Also everybody is talking about we need some more speed on the flanks. Hellooooooo Johann Smith(ok,ok,ok iknow he dident make it on the swedish club team, but when he plays with a US shirt on, he is good.

 

Johann Smith is in the soccer wilderness right now. He tried to latch on with a team in the Swedish league, and they passed. He's got speed yes, but what else?

Another potential member of the US squad, Kamani Hill, also can't seem to find a club right now. Troubling.............

 

Fearlessness against the Dutch won't guarantee anything, but without it, we won't stand a chance.

 

4-2-3-1 (sorta), one of Adu and Rogers may push up, it's a 4-2-2-2 with Rogers up there, 4-4-1-1 box with a withdrawn forward in Adu.



-----------------------------Altidore--------------------------------------


Rogers------------------------Adu---------------------------------Holden


-----------------------Szetela--------Bradley-----------------------------

Orozco-------------------------------------------------------------Wynne
------------------------Parkhurst------Edu--------------------------------

--------------------------------Guzan-------------------------------------

That attacking 6 plus Wynne know each other very well from playing youth tourneys together forever, Szetela will be pushed a bit wide to move the ball up the left as Orozco will be playing total stay at home defense. If Bradley clogs the middle like he did against Japan (and Brazil come to think of it) and Orozco gets enough help we can definitely win this game. Adu-Altidore when we're not bunkering is hard to handle for anyone, assuming Rogers recovers we'll have speed to burn down the left. Holden isn't a real burner, but he's quick and smart, throw in Wynee bombing down the side on an overlap and things get (to quote Chester Cheeto) Crrraaazzzy Good!

Still very nervous, but we've got technically competent fearless players and that's really all we as fans can ask for (and that Nowak plays this exact lineup)

 

People can criticize my lineup but I still think it's best.

-----------------Guzan-------------------
------Wynne----Edu(C)----Parkhurst------
-----------Bradley----Feilhaber------------
Szetella-----------------------------Holden
------------------Adu---------------------
-----------Altidore----Rogers---------------

- I feel very comfortable with this back three. Everyone hates the 3-5-2 idea, but our defenders are playing very well and we need to add that second forward without pulling a midfielder in my opinion. That second forward option will really help in penetrating through possession rather than so many lateral passes, back passes, and most importantly turnovers when there are no options for players looking to advance the ball. Edu, Wynne, and Parkhurst have been walls in the back, only Orozco has been shaky at times although he has been pretty solid, and the only real option at LB in a 4 man back. However, this lineup puts our top three defenders on the field. Also, if one of our defenders does go down, we are subbing in Orozco instead of Ianni which is a huge plus. In the midfield, we have Bradley to cover a lot of ground defensively and win balls, Feilhaber to dictate the pace of the game and control possession. Szetella and Holden are both good technically in possession, play strong defense and commit defensively and also provide good service. Adu needs to perform better and I am sure he will. Altidore looked good in his sub minutes and could be a terror if he starts. Rogers played well but was getting burned defensively, with his ability to beat players on the dribble, his explosive speed, technical skills and finishing I would really like to see him moved up top. The other complaint people will have is Mcbride not starting, but I don't think he can start all three games anyways, and I really want more of a speed threat and forwards who can create on their own, however I would like to see him subbed in late to get a goal, or if we are leading he could go in as a long striker, play a smart first line of defense, hold the ball up and kill off the game which he would be very effective at. We have the talent to not play scared, bunker and counter ball, our defense is playing well and our offense is long overdue to explode, let's go out there and take the game to Holland, if we come out hard an early goal is a real possibility in my opinion since they are probably expecting us to bunker like everyone wants.

 

------------------Guzan----------------

Wynne-----Edu-----Parkhurst----Orozco

------------Feilhaber----Bradley---------

Szetella--------------------------Holden

----------------Adu---------------------

---------------------Altidore-------------


I would like robbie to get some rest and come on as a late sub. Holden will defend in which will help out Orozco from being burned the whole game. Szetella and Holden are good crossers so jozy shold be able to get good service from the flanks. The only way we will get 3 points against the dutch is if we attack and hold possession, thats why Feilhaber gets the start.

 

How the heck is Dax a better option than Holden or Kljestan???
Holden had a good game today and added a goal to his performance. Sacha had a bad game but I think a poor Sacha still plays better than Dax on his best day.

 

I was pleased that the US won the game, but honestly I was not impressed. If not for Japan's bad finishing they would have lost by a couple goals. I don't think Netherlands will be as inept if (when) they get into similar situations Japan did in the box. As I thought in particular Kljestan and Orozco looked bad, and Adu underperformed (although I don't know if it can be called underperforming at this point, since it seems fairly consistent). Edu was very good, and Altidore looked pretty decent in the limited time he played (he needs to start next game). The US needs to have a much better game against Netherlands to get a result.

 

I really want to see Charlie Davies start up top with Jozy and Freddy in behind them. I think we need that speed, not McBride's ariel prowess, against Holland. These younger teams play the ball on the ground a lot more than our senior side.

 

Heh. BB meant "Baby Bradley" in my head.

 

Part of that blame belongs to Robbie Rogers.

 

this is definitely what i would go with, assuming the knock rogers took against japan wasn't too serious. we've got good options coming off the bench as well, with davies to bring speed up top, holden on one of the wings, and mccarty in central mf. hopefully adu, rogers, szetela, altidore, and bradley get together and get into the same mindset they had going against brazil at the u20 wc. i view this as a similar match. we're going against an opponent that is underperforming compared to their expectations, but that is undoubtedly massively talented. we are still expected to lose, but if we play how we're capable of playing, we'll shock some people.

especially from adu, it seems like when he has a chip on his shoulder and cops a little attitude, he brings his best game. he was talking trash the entire match against brazil and his aggressiveness was great to see. he took it right to the brazilians and outplayed everyone on the field. hopefully he has a similar approach to this match against the netherlands (people are writing me off as a failure, people think our team has no chance, people think the netherlands are one of the favorites to win the whole tournament, etc.) and he destroys them.

 

I agree with most, not the greatest performance but in a tournament it doesn't matter, only results matter and we're sitting pretty atop our group. We do need to step it up and continue to improve obviously, but let's not take away from the team, they went out and did what they needed to do.

 

i get what you're saying. i was not impressed in the least by the US performance.

BUT ... playing that very disciplined, very organized, very fit Japan team is actually a horrible matchup for this particular US team. Netherlands, although top to bottom they have more skill than Japan, may actually be a better matchup (IN A WAY) for this team. Let's be honest, no Dutch team, from the U-16's to the NT, defends like that. Heck, IIRC during EURO 08 Andy Gray went out on a limb and said something like 'the entire nation of Holland doesn't know how to defend' or 'care about' defending ... or something like that. it was a pretty funny line.

the point i'm making is, this particular US group loves to play beautiful football. And Adu, Feilhaber, Szetela, Bradley, Altidore, etc ... are pretty good at it IMHO. The Dutch will let them do there thing. I predict Adu will have a much more highlight reel-worthy game. Altidore could have a huge game (please start him and leave BMB on bench).

The question will be, can we defend them? Because the Orange will finish their chances, unlike the Japanese. Not saying this game is easy by any stretch of the imagination. But our offensive maestros could have a much, much better game. I think we need to try to take the game to the Dutch. That will take great games from the entire midfield though.

 

If we can contain Drenthe and Babel we have a shot at winning.