Well that's the thing, how hard would it have been for him to insert Torres or Edu based off of their solid play?
Maybe we get lucky and Clark draws a red on a crappy tackle on Rooney that causes him to snap and lash out in response drawing his own red? That would be the best thing Clark could do for this team, get suspended while getting Rooney tossed. Maybe in the 3rd minute?
I just don't see Jozy scoring. I can see him missing good oppurtunities. With Buddle if he's anywhere around the penalty box I feel like it's more of a sure thing than Jozy. I predict Bradley regretting this decision and playing Buddle the other games. Who else sees this happening?
i think you are right. you have to start at least one forward who can score. either buddle/findley or altidore/findley. the WORST possible thing bob could have done, not surprisingly the thing he has done, is start the two guys who can't score for shite. way to go bob. that is some damn tactical genius there. now let's hope they both score goals and make me look like an idiot and bob like a genius.
I think we have a huge disconnect between our unskilled back six and the top four who are going to be starved for possession. Expect lots of hoofed balls over the top. We'll see if we can catch their suspect back four. Clark ... I hope you prove me wrong, but I doubt it.
Ruud Gullit is arguing that it's a risk to include Onyewu in the Starting XI. I completely disagree. I would have made the same decision and not given it much thought. He's 1.5* the player No Clearance Goodson is even with his patella in his quad. The alternatives at Bob's disposal aren't particularly palatable, although I'd have preferred to see Omar Gonzalez in Princeton.
Jozy will jog half the match and maybe have one good look at goal a blow it. Findley is going to give possession away 90% of the time he has the ball at his feet against this side. I can't wait to see Donovan&Dempsey half dead by the 60th min for covering for our two most out of form forwards right now (who are starting!!!!!!!). Bob you wow us all again with your inconceivable team selection.
Tactically, it seems Bradley went for the tried and true combination of size and speed up front. That is okay. You can bring in a Buddle in and get an impact that changes the dynamic of a game. If it is a game. But it won't be. But Clark is inexplicable. Almost capitulation. Is he there to protect Bob's kid? Prediction: 4-0 England. Clark's last game for the US.
And I will kiss his feet if that's the case. But on the face of it, this sure appears a REALLY bad choice based on recent form and injuries.
Its official. This thread is three pages long and its already irritating. Might as well rename it the official Bob Bradley Bashing thread. Let's review the bitching - "Why Findley instead of Buddle" Jeeze I don't know, because we've played better with a speed threat available up top to open things up, even if he's not the best finisher. "Why Clark instead of Torres or Edu?" Oh, maybe because this is our toughest game against the best and most exerienced midfield we'll face and that Clark, for all his limitations, has been in the big battles against big teams before. He's there to help keep the game close enough to bring on the more offensive minded but less experienced options later. "Why is Bob so conservative?" He's rolling out a 4-4-2 with the only available speed threat we have, rolling the dice on Gooch so he can play Boca at LB, and keeping Bornstein on the bench. It's not a 4-5-1 and its not setting up to be pure bunkerball. It's a line up design the keep us in the game long enough to have a chance to nick some points. Can we chill the ******** out until the game is over?
Can you people complaining about the lineup please STFU, at least for now? It's time to be a supporter, not a critic!! GO USA!
I agree. Nobody necessarily skilled enough in that central midfield to link up with the a-mids through the seams and nobody with heading ability up front to win the hoof balls. It could be a perilous formula.
We're all supporters her and love this team. That's why we're here. I'll be a full-on supporter the minute the ball is kicked. Just having a little fun venting and letting off a bit of nervous energy before the kick. It's all fun.
i have no problem starting findley for speed and movement, but then you cannot start altidore. somebody up front needs to be a clinical finisher and i am pretty sure 2 EPL goals Altidore and Shankapotomous Findley and the term "clinical finishing" are not used in the same sentence unless the term "are f**king not" is thrown into the mix. and i don't care how many games clark has started he has been the WORST central midfielder and if it weren't for borensuck the worst field player in the entire lead up to the WC. edu is better defensively and torres is better with control, passing, possession and attacking. clark is the combination of the weakest parts of those two combined into one player. he shouldn't even be in SA so leave it to bradley to start him. classic bradley.
I'd say most of the ire is directed at the Ricardo Clark inclusion after inconsistent play the last month combined with Torres' looking very good. You don't think this criticism is warranted?
The ghost of Paul Mokeski!! Altidore isn't a back to the goal striker. Hull used him that way when Brown was being stupid. I like Buddle as the back-to-goal striker, paired with Jozy. Anyway, Bradley's legacy will live or die with the play of Findley and Clark, and the stamina of Onyewu.
Solution: Don't read the thread because critiques are rather predictable. This is the USA Men: News and Analysis board. People agreeing with every decision wouldn't be very analytical, or realistic, really. And it doesn't make you a better fan to blindly support every decision a coach makes. What makes you a fan is a desire for the team to win. Just about everybody here who is being critical hopes they are proven incorrect, or the the team is victorious in spite of the decisions. I think a better call is for us to unify and not attack each other regardless of our perspective because we share the same ally and enemy, and in the end all want the same thing.
Just remember, we have all slammed BB's lineup choices before and wound up with egg on our faces. Anyone remember Conor Casey vs Honduras?