After the games we have seen what is your first XI? Here is mine: Howard Cherundalo Parkhurst Bocanegra Pearce Donovan Bradley Feilhaber Beasley Dempsey Altidore/Johnson Something I would like to see: Howard Spector Parkhurst Gibbs Donovan Clark Bradley Beasley Dempsey Johnson Altidore
My preferred XI: ------------------------Howard--------------------------- Cherundolo-----Bocanegra--Conrad(C)-----Pearce/Bornstein -----------------Feilhaber-----Clark/Bradley--------------- Donovan-------------------------------------------Beasley -----------Dempsey--------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------Johnson-------- Thoughts Goal - Howard is the clear #1. There is no argument at this point. The real competition is for #2 (Hahnemann? Reis? Guzan?) Right Back - I like Spector here (although his real place is probably in central midfield) and I like what I've seen so far from Simek (albeit in limited time), but Cherundolo is also a clear first choice. He has a tendency to struggle against more physical and larger sides, but he provides width to the attack that Spector and Simek don't. He also has valuable experience and provides integral leadership. Center Back - Bocanegra has proven that he belongs, although I am not sold on his pairing with Gooch. Gooch should be brought out against tougher, bigger, and more physical sides (i.e., Germany), where his best assets (man-marking, physicality) can be best exploited by Bradley. I really like Conrad in the back for now although it's clear that he will not be with the team in 2010. Parkhurst needs to be groomed for that spot, but we still haven't seen enough from him. The lack of good prospects in the center has to be troubling though. Left Back - I would have had just Bornstein back there were it not for Pearce's very solid performance today. It'll be interesting to see how this battle plays out, but I have no preferences at this time, although I still lean towards Bornstein. Right Midfield - This is a little more controversial. Landon has shown flashes out on the right, but he's also struggled to really assert himself on the game. That said, Dempsey has also struggled out wide and is currently playing a withdrawn role with Fulham. Both need to be on the field. My gut tells me that Bradley ought to keep trying to find a way to utilize Landon's strengths out on the right. He still hasn't done it yet, but Landon's defense today impressed me. Central Midfield - When Feilhaber is sharp and on his game, he must start. Today he was not (he hasn't played a competitive match in over a month). However, he's our best offensive option in central midfield right now. Bradley looked very good today, but no pairing has looked as good as Clark and Feilhaber did against Mexico in the Gold Cup Final. If Bradley continues performing for club and country like he did today, I'd have no problem with him or Clark in the center alongside Feilhaber. Mastroeni is clearly on the outside looking in, especially with young guys like Edu and Kljestan knocking on the door now, and perhaps Szetela as well in a few years. Left Midfield - With Convey out of form and Mapp failing to really impress, Beasley is still the #1 option here, almost indisputably. Striker - See above for more of my thoughts about Dempsey, but he really is our best option in the withdrawn role right now. Whether Johnson is the answer or not I don't care. Until Altidore is ready and is getting consistent playing time with the Nats, Eddie is our best choice up top paired with Clint, whether we like it or not. A healthy Brian Ching is also a solid choice.
Perhaps Howard Bornstein Bocanegra Cherundulo Mastroeni Beasley Feilhaber Mapp Donovan Johnson Dempsey
should be: howard cherundolo-bocanegra-gooch(i guess since we have no other clear options really)-pearce Feilhaber dempsey-beasley donovan(where he should be) adu altidore i think it would be good for us to play a 4-4-1-1 or 4-3-2-1 with those eleven. we'd be really quick. hopefully bradley realizes the mistake he has made with his son in the lineup. hopefully we end up playing more teams like brazil in the future. and on the road. playing portugal and england (to show them how good we are now) . if bradley keeps deciding to start his son then i think he should be fired. taking feilhaber off instead of his son was a mistake.
For awhile now I have thought that our best wing play is always going to come from our outside backs and the hope of Altidore becoming a true target forward makes me think that now is the time for BB to begin a 4-3-3 with out A team. This is how I see it shaking out: ...................Timmy................... .......Parkhurst....Boca.........Pearce Dolo ..............Rico.......Beaz ----------------Benny................ .........Landon...........CD .....................Ching............... Ultimately, I think Spector could take the LB spot from both Pearce and Bornstein and that MB could easily start for Rico, but I would love to see an offensive mindset that moved through Benny on the ground or Ching in the air. Dolo makes great overlapping runs and Beaz is turning into something of a left back as his game matures. To my mind, Parkhurst's ability to read the game and Rico's coverage could give us all we need down the middle.
This would be my preferred lineup -------Altidore Beasley-Adu-Donovan ----Clark-Feilhaber Pearce-Gibbs-Boca-dolo -------howard Gibbs is a question mark until he stay healthy
Clark and Bradley are both mainly defensive mids, can't have them on the field at the same time without someone more offensive ahead of them. Clark actually offers a little more going forward than Bradley (it's part of the game Bradley needs to improve upon, Makele or Essien he is not yet), but still. You need someone like Feilhaber or Donovan in the middle to setup the attack (I'm not sure Dempsey fits as a No 10). You might be able to run that formation if you slid Feilhaber in for either Clark or bradley in the def mid pairing. Feilhaber may be the closest thing to a true No 10 we have going.
At this moment it would be: --------Johnson---------- --------Dempsey--------- Beaz--------------Landon- ------Bradley---Clark----- Pearce--Boca--Conrad-Dolo
I'm curious why so few posters have mentioned Jay DeMerit as an A-teamer at center back. He's had so few opportunities with the Nats, and in my opinion, he's impressed almost every time out. I realize Onyewu and Conrad are solid options along Bocanegra at CB, but doesn't DeMerit deserve more of a chance?
------------------------Howard--------------------------- Simek-----Bocanegra/Gibbs/Demerit--Gooch-----Pearce/Spector --------------------Feilhaber----------------- Dempsey-------------------------------------------Beasley -------------------Donovan------------------------------- -------------Altidore------------------------------Johnson--------
I think our personnel suits a 3-5-2. Beasley and Cherundolo would have huge 2-way responsiblities that I think they could handle. This would be an especially good formation against a team that did not attack much on the flanks. Ultimately, I think BB will give Clint a free role. So that he can get on the ball more, plus have the freedom to get in front of the net...late charging runs ala Michael Ballack. ------Johnson-Donovan ----------Dempsey Beasley Bradley Clark Cherundolo --Bocanegra-Conrad-Spector ----------Howard With Ching, Altidore, Feilhaber, Mastroeni, Parkhurst, Onyewu and Bornstein pushing for spots. If we must go 4-4-2... --------Johnson-Dempsey -----Beasley-------Donovan ---------Bradley-Feilhaber Bornstein-Bocanegra-Conrad-Cherundolo --------------Howard If the opposing team has a more physical attack, then Spector and Simek should step into the fullback roles. I'm a firm believer in picking the personnel to match the opponent. Stevie C looked great with space to get forward and smaller attacking players to mark againt Brazil...he did not look good against a brutally physically Sweden side.
everybody who responed except thedude83 is sraight up retarted. Freddy ADU is our best player ever. He is our starting CAM by farfor the A-team and if the world cup started today. Lets be real here; Best player by far in the U-20 world cup, only player ever to score a hat-trick in U-17 and U-20 world cup. He Has the 2 top craziest American goals of all-time 1) that crazy goal against poland this summer 2) the one against south korea in the U-17 when he was 14 were he dribbled by 6 players and scored. Every time the U-20's americans had a scoring chance or goal it was either scored by Adu or he set the play up with some super pass or superskill. so Lets all cut the crap with bradley being next to feilahber at CAM becuase bradley is a horrible playmaker he is a defender. Everytime bradley plays next to feilhaber he always drifts back to DM becuase he himself knows he sucks at offnese, and he showed it yesterday against brazil when he got the ball in the final 1/3 like 3 times and he lost it within a second. And i have one question tell me how there were 6 other U-20's that played way better than bradley in the world cup this summer. besides ADU (of coarse) you have 1)Altidore 2)Stezela 3) Zizzo 4) rogers 5) strugis 6) wallace and some how bradley is the one playing for his FATHER on every A-team game?????????????????????????????????????????
Yes, Donovan's defense impressed me as well. But I really have a problem with taking one of our best attacking players (of which we have few) and he's having to play so much defense and be so far away from the goal. Even at that, he contributed to both goals. But I just wish we could find a way to keep him in the middle and closer to goal. Since he's improved on his defensive abilities, I'd like to see him paired up sometime with Bradley in the middle or Ricardo Clark or even Benny. Course, then I don't know who would go out wide. As someone has mentioned, perhaps Cherundolo. But lately Benny/Bradly combo hasn't been able to generate as much going forward as I would like to see. I just think Donovan's attacking abilities are not being utilized as much as we need because he's saddled with too much defending responsibilities out wide. That, or perhaps he needs to get in better shape [speaking somewhat facetiously] so he can continue to defend as well as he is, but also turn on the jets and attack the way we're used to seeing.
I CAN NOT BELIEVE EVERYBODY LEAVES CORY GIBBS OUT OF THEIR LINEUPS IF HE IS HEALTHY HE IS PROBABLY OUR #1 DEFENDER. GREAT SIZE AND SPEED ALL AROUND A QUALITY PLAYER. I would like to see Cory Gibbs (Charlton Athletic-Championship League) suit up again and fit into our defense. He is a 6'1" Defender and has great pace and field presence. I believe he is one of our better defenders (top 4-5) and for some reason gets looked over. I would also like to see Jeremiah White get a call up. He is a 5' 8" RM/CM. He has great pace, wonderfukl skill, and is very creative something our midfield could use some. Although he may not play for a large European club (AGF ARHUS- Danish Superliga) he could help with our attacking aspect of the game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRoaga6wrYE -Jeremiah White
------------HOWARD ------DOLO--GIBBS--SPECTOR -----------FEILHABER --DEMPSEY--WHITE**--BEASLEY ------------DONOVAN ----- JOHNSON--ALTIDORE ~BENCH~ ADU PARKHURST BRADLEY RICARDO CLARK CHING ARNAUD-he did show well against brazil i loved his effort WHITE** IM GOING TO TAKE A BEATING OVER HIS BUT HE IS SUCH A CREATIVE PLAYER HE CAN PLAY RM/CM AND HAS AN ATTACKING MINDSET SOMETHING MANY OF OUR PLAYERS LACK. also he has pace and i dont think anybody can argue with a bit of creativity is needed in our midfield. his running at players with speed can do nothing but help create gaps and chances for our attackers
You have been posting everywhere about white and gibbs I guess you really like them, Gibbs I agree maybe you are right about white also, but I would not be putting him on my a team yet, hopefully he will get some minutes against switzerland that would be a very good idea by bradley.
against Latin teams: Howard-Parkhurt, Conrad, Cherundolo, Borstein-Clark,Feilhaber,Beasley,Donovan-Dempsey,Johnson against European teams: Howard-Bocanegra, Demerit, Simek, Pearce-Bradley, Feilhaber,Beasley,Donovan-Dempsey,Johnson
I second the notion that Jeremiah White should get a call up. He's not an A-teamer right now, obviously, but I see him as a slightly more skillful Brian West, and a guy who could do some serious damage on the right wing against CONCACAF opposition.
Best line-up looking toward the future: ------Seitz----- Simek---Spector---DeMerit---Pearce -----------Clark------- Dempsey---Feilhaber----Bornstein/Beasley -------Adu----- ------Altidore---- Current: -----Howard---- Dolo---Spector---Bocanegra---Pearce ------------Clark----------- Donovan---Feilhaber------Beasley ---------Dempsey---------- ---------Johnson-----------
Whats with Chris Seitz being the future.What ive seen from him Brad Guzan who is not that older looks much better
Howard Dolo----------Gooch---------------boca----------simek Adu/Dempsey--------Clarck--------------Beasley/Convey --------------Donovan/Failhaber------------------------ ----Dempsey/Donovan---------------------------------- -----------------------------Altedore------------------- Subs: Anybody with the exception of Jr.
That and the RB position were the biggest question marks in that line-up to me. Howard's been doing well, but I just see him as the #1 by default. He just doesn't command his box the way that Keller and Friedel have. I picked Seitz by default according to his excellent U20 play prior to getting injured. I actually really like Matt Lambo, but he's far too young at this point. Go ahead and plug Guzan in instead of Seitz if you like.