I think the Hyndman - Zelalem pairing isn't physical enough yet. It showed at the U20 level and this is a step up. They are both among the youngest players in the U23 pool. I think Acosta and Trap with one of the H or Z at the other spot or even Gil if he's in form and the coach thinks even more bite is needed (from what I remember Colombia is very physical). If Acosta is needed for left back then Polster or Pelosi might play the 8. It is a dilemna about skill versus physicality but 22 year olds versus 18 and 19 year olds can be a big difference.
Trapp needs to be on the field, you build the CM around him. He might be the best player we have on the team, if no Brooks or Yedlin.
Maybe, but I'd rather try to get the skill on the field. I've yet to see it, but have hoped for the two to develop a good partnership/understanding. Defensively, I'd have Hyndman drop beside Trapp and wings beside zelalem so it looks more like a 4231. Offensively, Trapp would stay deep to distribute and balance the field. So while they are young, they both have been playing in physical leagues and the issues seen at the u20s would be alleviated by different roles and an additional players (and more physical) in midfield. For the first leg, I could see going with Acosta as an 8, but don't think what you gain vs lose is worth it for Pelosi or Polster.
I'd support a midfield of Trapp/Acosta, but it's not going to happen -- even though Acosta, I think, would complement Trapp well. From recent comments, Klinsmann seems quite enamored with Acosta as a fullback. He's also spoken of him as playing the 6. He has conspicuously said nothing about Acosta's abilities as a box-to-box midfielder, which is where he's actually played for Dallas. I would expect Herzog to take his cues about Acosta from JK.
So why isn't the game against Colombia being played in Columbus? Why not have a doubleheader to fill the stadium? How many people will show up in Dallas? The numbers for qualifying were almost nonexistent.
I don't know why the numbers in Dallas or Columbus would be any better than they were for the qualifying event in Kansas City. The only reason they'd be is that a good number of Colombian fans will be there. I know this is hard to imagine for us nutters, but there's very little interest nationwide in the U23 program. It doesn't resonate with people. Heck, the attendance for the USMNT game against Icelend this past weekend was 8,800. Last weekend I listened to the ESPN morning soccer show that Steve Davis and Mark Stein run in Dallas on the weekends. They started talking about this Olympic qualifying game being held in their backyard. These are knowledgeable soccer guys. Within 1 minute of the conversation it became clear that they had no idea who was eligible to play in this game. They talked about how ironic it would be to see Fabian Castillo score on the US to knock them out. I felt like calling in and screaming "It wouldn't be ironic! It would be impossible!!!" I was banging the steering wheel of my car with my fists like a rabid badger listening to these trying to figure out who might be eligible for the game. They got Kellyn Acosta and Emerson Hyndman right, which was a relief. We on this board live in soccer bubble of our own making. People aren't interested in US youth soccer teams like we are. That's proven over and over and over again at these U17, U20, U23 events that take place in the US. We get good attendance only if fans of the opponent turn up in large numbers.
I will hammer Steve the next time I see him at my growler place. He should know better. Stein is mostly a basketball guy who has watched Man City since a kid (before they were good).
The numbers would be better in Columbus, because national team fans would already be at the stadium and maybe half of them stay because they want to see Morris, Hyndman, Zelalem, TRAPP, Pulisic, Mizaga, Brooks, Yedlin, etc. I didn't expect numbers for Olympic qualifying and don't expect them in Dallas. I was just saying that we may have missed an opportunity to "fabricate" them. I'm shocked almost 9k southern Californians went out in the rain!
The U23s in camp are impressing: "I'm really impressed with the whole group," U-23 head coach Andi Herzog, speaking about the nine youngsters currently in camp, told ESPN FC earlier this week. "They trained every day with big names like Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore and Matt Besler, and they did very well. If they keep working, all the players here from my team will be part of the games against Colombia." ... Whether Herzog will have his full contingent of European-based players available for the March matches is another matter. While the home-and-home series will be played during an official FIFA window, clubs don't have to release players to youth national teams. http://www.espnfc.us/team/united-st...0882/us-u23s-prepare-well-for-olympic-playoff
I think with that lineup you are really underestimating Colombia who finished 2nd at the South American Youth Championship with a T1-1 v Argentina and beating Brazil 3-0. They have fast, athletic skilled players who are strong and aggressive in the center of the park. You better add a certified ball winner in the midfield or it will be a long day for the US. Brooks, Miazga, and Yedlin are not likely to be released for a youth tournament.
http://www.espnfc.us/team/united-st...0882/us-u23s-prepare-well-for-olympic-playoff Herzog doesn't expect Brooks and Yedlin to be a part of the camp and doesn't rule out bringing Pulisic in... So you may want to make your lineups with those 2 defenders...
I'm not "estimating" them at all. I just threw out how I'd like us to lineup and play. I'd prefer to give up some defensive bite in exchange for more skill/possession. I think those guys are our highest potential central midfielders and they need to be able to deal with the physical side of the game and not have to rely on being paired with hard tackling ball winner to not be run off the field. Interestingly, Trapp may be the biggest issue in that his lack of size in the #6 role is why I'm most uncomfortable playing GZ and EH as dual 8/10s. If all our guys aren't released/not called into wcq, then I don't expect much of a chance. If we can't get by Honduras without players, I don't see it happening in a home and home with Colombia.
They are currently doing a pre-sale, which ends tomorrow. They'll be available to the general public at 10am CT tomorrow (Friday, 2/5).
You won't have any trouble getting tickets. What will be annoying is getting to Frisco from anywhere in the DFW metro area.
I read an article that said the FC Dallas President fought really hard to convince the Federation to host the game there. So even though it was an initial head scratcher for me as to why the match is in Frisco, when an MLS owner really wants something the US Federation is not going to really put up a fight when there is little to no interest from other cities to host. As for having a double header in Columbus, if that were the case they could not charge for tickets. They are not going to do that.
The only sports where people care at all about youth international tournaments are soccer and hockey. Baseball and Basketball happen as well, but you can barely find any discussion about it on the internet. American Football, could any team come within 50 points of us?
No Brooks, Yedlin or Miazga. That hurts. Not sure if Payne is really in the mix to make it either. Acosta, Miller, Polster can play right back. Although, Polster was awful in qualifying there. Pelosi will be there if healthy. No room for Desevio Payne. I really wish Rubin was healthy, he might miss out too.
with no miazga, brooks, and yedlin (doubt it) ------------Morris------------ Pulisic---------------Keis----- -------Hyndman----Acosta--- ------------Trapp-------------- Miller--Parker--CCV----Payne ---------Horvath--------------
When has Trapp struggled in the last few years? He has had two good MLS seasons in a row, and he was very good in Olympic qualifying. People always say the stuff you are saying because he's a shorter player. If you actually watched the player instead of just assuming because of his stature, you'd know that he's perfectly capable defensively. If anything, Tchani's benefited from having such a reliable defensively and positionally central midfielder next to him, which allows him to run all over the field. As for the other two players, I'm just calling it as I see it. I think its absurd to say either of those two are anywhere near as ready to contribute to this Olympic qualifying team in the playoff games as Trapp is. To call out Trapp who may be our most experienced and reliable player a weak link is even more absurd. Thats obviously only my opinion, but I tried to press you on this and you denied saying what you eventually said a day later. There's no reason to hide your opinion, you are making it very obvious.