PBP: U.S. vs. Trinidad and Tobago (8 EST)

The game will be played in Jacksonville, Florida (for some reason, can a Wisconsin brother get a match ever?).

We need a point to guarantee advancement, although that would be a major disappointment. Even in losing in all likelihood the U.S. advances. Guatemala needs to win by double-digit goals otherwise.

Klinsmann says we're trying to win the group, but he also says he'll put out his strongest team, which is code that it'll be another hustling vet lineup. He trusts them the most out of irrational conservatism.

I'm thinking we'll see: Altidore, Wood, Zusi, Bradley, Bedoya, Beckerman, Acosta, Johnson, Cameron, Gonzalez/Birnbaum, Howard.

I doubt Pulisic, Kljestan, and Nagbe play. But he's got to play at least one, for some creativity, doesn't he? If he does, I'm guessing it'll be Kljestan. If he plays none, without Dempsey available, wow that shows a tremendous lack of awareness and confidence in USS.

 

I forgot about Orozco. We had too much width in my predicted lineup. Need that to go away on one side at least.

Incidentally, I propose this setup (although he won't)

--------------Jozy------------
----Woody--------Pulisic-----
---------------Stacha-----------
----------Nagbe-----------------
Fabian-------Bradley-----Acosta
---------Cameron--Gonzalez-----
--------------Howard--------------

We could actually create up the middle, out wide, and have decent cover. Wouldn't want that though. What about running our tails off, when we're off the ball (which should be 25% of the time against T&T at home), and the comfort that old names like Beckerman provide to get steered around like traffic cones, closed down, and not be able to help creation (lineup as a whole).

 

There is not even a USL team in the state of Wisconsin. That, or one in the NASL, should be a starting point.

I think Milwaukee/Wisconsin would support a 2nd or 3rd division football club. Even without one right now, there are talents emerging like Finlay, Polster, DeMerit, Stadler, Greig, Hodan, Walls, Novakovich, etc. I think the homegrown base would be plenty good enough and it would be in the interests of USS to have the area mined and players developed. Fan-wise, Milwaukee supported the Wave indoor team back in the day. There is a solid contingent of fans at bars for U.S. matches and during the World Cup. There was a decent turnout to the pro friendly matches in Miller Park, factoring in the stature of the clubs who participated. By the same token, I think they'd show up to a special event like a USNT match. They could have it in Miller or Camp Randall. Haven't been to Wisconsin in the modern era. Jacksonville isn't a big market, passionate fan base, and USS goes to Florida frequently. I don't get the location choice, frankly. They've sold around 15k tickets. The atmosphere gonna suck, relatively speaking. Milwaukee would have far surpassed the success, I think. I'm thinking 25-30k at least. Why do they incessantly go back to the same underwhelming places who are relatively bored with the experience? Little vision?

However, I don't think an MLS team would garner enough support. Milwaukee/Wisconsin is pretty old fashioned and conservative on average. It also isn't a big market while having a couple major pro teams in town already. One of them just got a new partially public funded stadium. Another one wouldn't be approved. It would require a rich benefactor who is from the area and mad about the sport. I don't know who that is. Even the 2nd or 3rd division team would take numerous smaller private investors, possibly even need it to be a fan-owned team like the Packers. I'm thinking that's the impediment in not having any team of note yet. There has been a movement here and there, but they dissipate.

 

Has there been a worse tv split for a set of USNT matches recently than BeInSport and FS1? At least we could have gotten the better production of ESPN and the soothing sounds of Ian Darke for one match. FS1 still comes off as somewhat small time for the event.

 

The states have a contentious sporting relationship, and somewhat otherwise, so it would have to maintain a Wisconsin name to have the air of sovereignty, while at the same time being an affiliate. But I've suggested the idea before myself. However, yes, Hauptman is too incompetent and cheap to come up with or execute ideas like that.

Pabst Blue-Ribbon Pub

 

You could sell it as being an opportunity for Wisconsin players to get noticed and transition smoothly to MLS, while also giving the club an out clause if there is an offer from MLS to be their own individual entity and the Milwaukee/Wisconsin team can afford + justify the buy-in. Like I said, I don't see that happening, but at least it's a carrot to dangle and there would be an upside to the move.