Yes, way early, but .... Do you think Guat will lay back/counter, or play us straight up. If it's the thought that they're going to try to hit us on the counter, I'd wish we had a CB w/ outstanding speed. A better Marvell.
So, besides Jacobo Arbenz and Daphne Zuniga, I've heard of two Guatemalans, Carlos Ruiz and Marco Pappa. Here's a FIFA interview with Carlos Ruiz. Here's one with Pappa.
Guatemala's approach to their first home WCQ this cycle (on June 12) may be influenced by the result the team earns (and any possible injuries cards picked up) in their first road match (at Jamaica on June 8). Whatever the case, I do not think Guatemala will attempt to or be able to play straight up against the US.
Bunker and counter, that's what they should do. They have some speed, so it's a legit strategy for them. They can try to bait our players into silly fouls and cards (I'm looking at YOU Jermaine Jones). We will probably struggle a bit with their defensive shape but will have an advantage on set pieces.
I think they'll play their usual style of Bunker and Counter... Oh, and laying the lumber to us at every available opportunity...as they've done in every match they've played against us for the last 16 years...jogo bonito this will not be.
So, maybe this wouldn't be a match to go go with Gooch & Boca? If we're playing a countering team, it'd be nice to have some speed in the middle of the D.
Is Gooch really all that slow? I mean, sure, he can't corner on a dime, but how slow is he in a footrace?
Didn't see this anywhere, but Guatemala has lost 5 players from their squad (and added 1 replacement): http://www.socceramerica.com/article/46887/guatemala-rocked-by-scandal.html
bada bing . . I have been a critic of Marvell, however, Boca and Gooch played the worst of any central defenders I have recently seen in a USA shirt . . . this may be a trouble spot for years.
Personally, I find including Goodsen in the back as having the worst result for CB's, but Spain and Mexico last year were pretty bad (Gooch/Ream and Goodsen/Boca).
Not too early for a line-up projection: --------------Altidore----------- Dempsey--Jones-Bradley---Donovan-- --------------Edu--------------- Johnson--Boca--Onyewu--Dolo -------------Howard---------
--------------Altidore----------- --Dempsey----------Donovan-- -----------JJ----Mike----------- ---------------Edu--------------- Fabian----Cam-Boca----Dolo-- --------------Howard----------- IMO.
Yup. A bit obvious, but those are our best 11 at the moment, and the chemistry between most of the partnerships is solid. I'd honestly like to get Torres involved, I think this would be a game that would suit him, but I do think having Edu in the back cleaning up the way he did against Scotland, and JJ and Mike applying the double-fisted midfield pressure have got to be priorities, and should be enough to crack Guatemala, as long as at least 2 of Altidore, Dempsey, and Donovan are having decent nights.
Really it would be hard for me to think of any other possibilities even in the lineup other than Gooch and Torres.
There's a possibility we could see Herc if Altidore still isn't 100% matchfit for whatever reason. But yep, other than that I don't see any changes. Who knows with Klinsmann though. Maybe Orozco-Fiscal will show up out of the stands and play CB.