Re: Starting XI v Guatamala The back line will be interesting.4 out of Cherundolo Conrad Simek Pearce Spector Barrett Demerit I'd like to see a 4-3-3 Keller 4 defenders (Bradley can pick) Dempsey Bradley Feilhaber Ching Donovan Cooper Let's destroy this team as we should.
Re: Starting XI v Guatamala Dempsey as a 2nd half sub - give him fresher legs against the defenders for the reason you mentioned above.
Re: Starting XI v Guatamala No offense but I think this would not be a successful lineup. As ineffective as Beasley and Dempsey were on the wings, that width is needed to allow Donovan to find Ching and Copper in and around the box. We've seen time and time again we have success when we control the midfield - I can't see playing 3 in the midfield will help us. There is some chance in the idea of a front line with either Ching or Cooper and 2 forwards that have some semblance of a chance in the wings - either a Beasley or Dempsey playing a wide forward spot - but there must be more width somewhere. I can't see if being filled up by our outside backs - without a true d-mid, or better yet 2 d-mids, they won't be able to make the runs all the way to the touch line. Anyway...I don't think we have the personnel to succeed with that lineup.
Re: Starting XI v Guatamala Regardless of whose on the field this is what I'm looking for. Bradley has done a good job beating three good teams, now he has to make sure we not only win but dominate a team we would expect to beat. I know where missing some starters now but anything less then a 2 goal (heck even 3 goal) win is not acceptable.
Re: Starting XI v Guatamala -------------------------Keller -----Simek------DeMerit----Spector------Pearce -----------------Bradley---------Feilhaber -----Mullan------------------------------Mapp -----------------Cooper------Twellman
Re: Starting XI v Guatamala Call me crazy but I think that wanting to see someone play for the Nats and believing that they have not yet made a case for themselves are not mutually exclusive.
Re: Starting XI v Guatamala ...and the winner is Klins!!! Don't have any idea what BB will actually roll out but this is the group I would like to see start. More likely LD instead of TT and Conrad at CB with Spector on the right for Simek. We've got to find the depth for GC/CA. Let the young'uns have a run. China's a tune up for GC. Too late use as a decider on who comes to camps.
Re: Starting XI v Guatamala Not sure if anyone's seen it yet or if it's been posted anywhere, but four players -- Oguchi Onyewu, Tim Howard, Carlos Bocanegra and Brian Carroll -- have been released back to their respective club teams U.S. players arrive in Dallas, equipment to follow -- yahoo.com Sports (from the AP) Howard, Onyewu among four released -- yanks-abroad.com So edit your lineup predictions accordingly...
Re: Starting XI v Guatamala Nah, probably just cover. You just don't really know what Simek and Demerit will bring to the table, just in case they begin to stink it up (which I doubt) Conrad and Dolo will be ready to step in.
Re: Starting XI v Guatamala Don't think Ching will play, that whack to the nose looked pretty bad. Chances are he's back in Houston already.
Re: Starting XI v Guatamala pearce reported as questionable for this match after missing the ecuador match due to sore foot. as reported by yanks-abroad.com..havent seen that said anywhere else. id really like to see him play though. if he cant go id assume spector will start at lb maybe simek at rb. forza inter
Re: Starting XI v Guatamala i wouldn't be either if this wasn't a friendly against Guatamala. last time we played them in a friendly Ruiz couldn't stop smirking at the loafing effort he put in past the first 30 minutes. if we are going to test the waters with new blood, especially how the team responds without LD, now is the time to do it. assuming all healthy: -------------Keller----------- ---Sim-------Demerit--Spec----Pearce ---Dempsey-----Benny---Bradley----Mapp -------------Johnson/Twellman-----Cooper------ Not sure if the Twellman, Cooper pairing could work, but I don't think Twellman has a future with the USMNT if he's made to play with his back to the goal. Not tall enough and he gets nocked over to easily. He needs to be paired with somebody who can win/hold the ball that way. I agree Johnson is on his way out of the program, but if its an issue of confidence, this is the game for him to get a goal and work his way out of it. He should get some minutes in this one, either the first half or the last 30.
Re: Starting XI v Guatamala Fair accessment. EJ can deliver against Guate. We know that, he did so last year. Now I guess the question is really what do we expect from EJ? I know every forward is expected to have goals, other than that EJ has proven that he can't pass, cross and dribble. He'll out muscle the Guate defenders, but again I'm with you if he doesn't really make his mark this game he should be left out for some time. I think Cooper will solidify his spot this game. Cooper maybe slower, but in my opinion he'll bring more variation to the forward spot with Ching than EJ. Cooper can pass and shoot, and has some decent ball handling skills. The problem with EJ is that him playing hasn't given us a chance to look at the new MLS flavor of the month. ( I still say let Cunningham have a shot ) Can we even get someone else ready for those tournaments? I expect EJ will play in one of those tourneys. After that, I don't see him gettin a call up for some time.
Re: Starting XI v Guatamala EJ lacks the distribution skills to work in this formation. Also the wingers can't deliver the cross that allow him to use aerial skills to effect. Ching has the holding and distribution skills to help make the offense click. I'd however like to see what he can do against the more physical African and Euro squads as he struggled mightily against Scotland last year.
Dolo hasn't been released so: ------------Ching/Coop---------------------- ----------------------Donovan--------------- ---------------------------------------------- -------Beez----------------------Deuce------- ---------------Benny---Bradley---------------- ---------------------------------------------- ----Spector----------------------------Dolo---- ---------------Conrad----Demerit---------------- ---------------------Keller------------------------ Major sub minutes for: Mapp, Simek, Becks
I like Twellman, I really do. He seems like a nice guy and he's a very proficient poacher with a very useful skill-set. But isn't it painfully obvious that the chance has passed him by at this point? It's probably too harsh to say that any minutes he gets are sympathy minutes, but it does kind of feel that way. With Donovan now pretty firmly set at forward, and with Ching pretty clearly above him in the pecking order, not to mention up-and-coming young talent like Cooper, Altidore and (possibly) Ferrari, it seems that our future lies elsewhere. I would expect Twellman to get a fair amount of run in the summer tourneys, but I'm leaning toward cutting the chord after that (unless Altidore unexpectedly flames out with the U-20s). In other words, and in keeping with this thread, I wouldn't start Twellman in this match.
Here's what I'd like to see for this game ... -------- Donovan -- Cooper Mapp -- Feilhaber -- Bradley -- Dempsey Spector -- Conrad -- DeMerit -- Simek ---------------- Keller Subs: Guzan, Barrett, Ching, Johnson, Twellman, Beckerman, Mullen
Re: Starting XI v Guatamala I don't think we'll see that backline. We had communication issues with the back 4 that started a World Cup game -- no way Bradley starts 4 inexperienced guys. I do like the idea of a true 4-4-2, though: this is Guatemala, we should come out on the attack. I also like the idea of giving Mapp and Cooper starts. Cooper - Twellman could be an interesting pairing: even though Cooper has the size advantage, Twellman's play is more suited for a point striker. Among the Euros still here, I think all will get some playing time. I could see something like this: -------------Keller------------ -Dolo--DeMerit-Conrad-Spector -Dempsey--Feilhaber---------- ------------Donovan-----Mapp ----Twellman------Cooper----- Beasley, Simek, Mullan and Johnson replace Mapp, Dolo, Dempsey, and Twellman respectively.
I have rarely if ever seen Twellman play as the second forward. The only guys on the roster who regularly play this role are Donovan and EJ.
I'm advocating Twellman and Cooper as dual center-forwards, with Twellman playing higher up than Cooper. Hell, we started Ching and Casey in a World Cup Qualifier. I'm curious to see how Cooper and Twellman would line-up with Donovan behind them, and I think this is a perfect opportunity - early in the cycle, weak opponent, playing at home, an uber-confident Donovan - to do so.
Re: Starting XI v Guatamala you're probably right about that back line, but I'd like to see them all on the field at once if not necessarily starting together. that group will see time either in the Gold Cup or Copa America if they are healthy. got to work out the communication sometime. to play with this group and settle them is probably while Keller is here for this game.
If that is the lineup, that is the way they will play. For me, that is a disservice to Cooper as his best opportunity to break into the Nats lineup is as the lead forward. That original twin towers formation was a horrible idea and I can't believe you think it remains good precedent. Sure we can play basically with three forwards against Guatemala, but we can beat them 4-0 with Ben Olsen starring. Personally, I would rather run our fringe players out there and see if they can compete at the CONCACAF level.