Starters: ------------------------------Howard -----------Spector-----Gooch-----Demerit-------Hejduk ----------------------Bradley----------Clark ------------Dempsey--------------------------Donovan ----------------------Altidore------Davies Subs: Guzan, Bocanegra, Cherundolo, Feilhaber, Holden, Ching
Last week in a similar thread over on the regular US Mens forum, I did pick Cherundolo over Hejduk. He surely is a more skilled and refined player. But a number of posters have made good cases for Hejduk since then and I have changed my mind and switched to Hejduk for the Aug 12 match, too. See, well reasoned arguments can change minds, even on Big Soccer. However, assuming Cherundolo gets his form back and plays regularly for Hannover this season, he'd easily beat Hejduk for the WC team next summer.
When is the Azteca Team being named? Previously Coach Bradley has called the names eleven days before the matches. That makes it this Sunday but will negotiations with the clubs delay a call up? Also does anyone know the extent of Brian Ching's injury? If the pregame camp is in Florida, is it curious that Fredie Adu has been seen there? Hejduk, Ching, Pearce, Kljestan and Beasley have been main WCQ-Hex starters and Hejduk, Ching, Pearce would have been CCC choices without injuries, no? Coach Bradley has a stuborn (being gracious) attitude when it comes to call ups and playing time. Do you think he might call in these guys?
Wow, the RB decision is a tough one. Me: -------------Howard-------------- Dolo---Onyewu----Boca---Spector -------Bradley---Benny----------- Dempsey------------------Donovan --------Jozy----Charlie------------ Subs: Guzan, Hejduk, DeMerit, Clark, Torres, Holden, Ching. Time to see if Spector is ready for the big one, and if he's credible on the left. And see if Dolo still has it. Frankie as backup for both. Or, I could start Spector right and Frankie left. Either way, it's time to try Frankie/Johnny on the left to see if either of both is an option. Bob: ------------Howard------------ Spector--Onyewu--Boca--Bornstein --------Clark----Bradley-------- Dempsey----------------Donovan -------Altidore----Davies------- Bench: Guzan, Hejduk, DeMerit, Feilhaber, Pablo, Torres, Ching.
I don't understand why people think Bob is all that high on Bornstein. When Bob Bradley in the Confederations Cup moved Bocanegra (coming off an injury) to LB at the expense of Bornstein, it was fairly obvious to me that he lost confidence in Bornstein against elite competiton. Bocanegra has never played LB under Bob before yet Bob was willing to play him there when his health was questionable. The only reason Bornstein had been getting more and more looks at LB this year is because Bob lost all confidence in Heath Pearce and Beasley. Earlier this year, Bornstein wasn't initially called into the El Salvador/T&T WCQs but was added to the roster after Pearce's debacle against El Salvador. Despite the fact that Bob added Bornstein to the roster, he still went with Beasely at LB in the next few matches. Then, only after this last experiment failed miserably, did he start Bornstein. When Bob Bradley in the Confederations Cup moved Bocanegra (coming off an injury) to LB at the expense of Bornstein, it was fairly obvious to me that he lost confidence in Bornstein against elite competiton. Bocanegra has never played LB under Bob before yet Bob was willing to play him there in a huge match when his health was questionable. I don't think Bornstein's good but I don't think he's as bad as everyone makes him out to be. After Bocanegra, he may still be the best LB we have. But we still need to try to do better. Hopefully we can evaluate Spector and Hedjuk at LB in later qualifiers (if we qualify in advance) or friendlies next year. It's been awhile since either of those guys have played there but it's worth a shot.
There's a good chance Bradley will invite a couple extra players for cover that won't dress for the game. He won't bring anyone from Europe for this role because it doesn't make sense to do all the travelling for that purpose. But I could see Torres and Bornstein being part of a 20-man initial call-up. They would train and be ready to step in if there was a training camp injury. Bornstein might be called in as competition for Holden. There are quite a few late game situations where it might make sense to put Bornstein into the lineup, so I could see him beating out Holden as one of the final 18 if he looks sharper in camp.
Jonathan Spector has already proven he is ready for prime time. He was very good in the Confederations Cup. When healthy, he is the real deal.
This is probably the best post about Bornstein in BS period. BB didn't play Bornstein for a freakin' YEAR and suddenly Bornstein is Bradley's favorite? No, it means that Beasley and Pearce have been such failures we're back to square one, Bornstein. And I agree---Bornstein is not nearly as bad as some BSers here make him out to be. In fact, I think his only real problem is that he's too forward-thinking--He's constantly looking to make runs, and is often caught out of position because his first instinct is to make a run down the touchline as opposed to shoring up the defense.
I completely agree with poiint A. Bob gave Heath Pearce every opportunity to win the left back job. Bornstein was completely out of the picture and most of us had pencilled in Pearce as the starater. It's weird when people say Bornstein is one of Bob's favorites. My concern about Bornstein defensively is that he does not establish good defensive positioning early and defend from it. He has to scramble entirely too much to be effective. A lot of this is, as you say, because he is having to recover from pushing forward, most of it is just questionable decisionmaking and training. I still rate him higher than Heath Pearce who makes even worse decisions.
Whether Hejduk plays either wingback, Pearce and Bornstein are still in the running because BB doesn't trust Spector at LB. I've wondered about Dolo @ RB and Spector @LB being our M.O. vs Mexico, since the CC & GC games. And if Dolo is beginning his season off well with Hanover, he is a shoe-in for the starting XI, meaning that BB must choose soon to either start Spector @LB or not. All this is super-important just as who we place at Rmid/Lmid, Dempsey and Donovan (especially after the Barca match) rooted there right now. But these two can switch throughout the match and play where they play for their clubs. Bradley and Clark (especially after his game last night) cemented in central MF as are CBs Gooch and Boca. Then, BB just needs to figure out who he needs to start among the three strikers. GK doesn't need to be figured out at all. Take that Mexico.
Agree with everything but your first point. I really don't see how Dolo gets back into the starting XI, even with good club form. We will go with the back line from most of the Confed Cup and either Bornstein or Pearce will be on the roster as LB coverage. The only real questions about this 18 are who are the bench warmers.
Jeff Cunningham. Ok, not the most serious of suggestions, but one hopes for the sort of depth to develop at wing backs and holding mid that we seem to be enjoying at forward. (For those of you not keeping score at home, Cunningham dropped four on the Wizards last night). Upon highlights review, I think the Spector partisans have got me persuaded. That doesn't sort out left back, though.
Really interesting options, especially considering 2 of the 3 RB options can also play LB. RB: Cherundolo, Hejduk, Spector. LB: Bocanegra, Spector, Hejduk, Bornstein, Pearce. CB: Gooch, Boca, DeMerit I'd say that's it in terms of who could start. Hejduk has a knock and didn't travel to Colorado last night, so that may be an issue. I love Frankie against Mexico, and would prefer him on either side. I'd pair Spector with Hejduk/Dolo and go from there. Boca in the middle. I'd call the following into camp on D: Gooch, Boca, Dolo, Spector, DeMerit, Hejduk, Bornstein, Peace, Marshall.
Feilhaber was just named to the "Team of the Month" in Denmark. He's a lock for this roster. I don't know if he'll start.............but he'll definitely be one of the 18.
Of course he is If Bob stuck with Feilhaber when he was in poor form and injured, he's going to stick with Benny when he's playing well. It's a long shot the USA gets a result in this game. I see Bob starting Clark and using Benny as a sub. Benny's been great coming off the bench.
Plus, given the inevitable fatigue situation at Azteca and the probability that we'll need a 2nd half goal, we really need at least 2 attacking game-changers and 1 defensive game-changer on the bench. IMO that's Benny, probably Davies (maybe Altidore) and Hejduk if fit.
If i do not see Beasley or Sacha called up (for now anyways) , that would mean Bob is doing his homework Timmy, Guzan Spector, Dolo, Gooch, Boca, Demerit, Heydude, BOrnstein Bradley, Clark, Dempsey, LD, Torres (?), Benny Altidore, Davies, Ching Torres has not played in like two months, thanks to Bob and/or his club's offseason/lasik surgery/whatever...If he canont make it or is not ready, HOlden should get the nod , over Sacha or even Beasley, since they have both sucked lately and need to get better CONSISTENTLY at club level)....BUt knowing Bob's need for DMs, he'll probably go for someone like Mastro or similar...
Quick question. Do you guys know when Bradley is releasing his call-up? It's only 10 days away. You guys are probably spot one (within 1-2 players) on who his going to call in, but I'd like to see an official list. thanks
I thought it had to be released at least 5 days in advance of the match but I am not really sure. I have a feeling we won't see anything until after Sunday but am holding out hope for something on Wednesday.
This isn't really a Big mystery 1. Tim Howard 2. Brad Guzan 3. Jonathon Spector 4. Steve Cherundolo 5. Oguchi Onyewu 6. Jay DeMerit 7. Danny Califf 8. Chad Marshall 9. Carlos Bocanegra 10. Jonathan Bornstein 11. Ricardo Clark 12. Mike Bradley 13. Benny Feilhaber 14. Landon Donovan 15. Clint Dempsey 16. Charlie Davies 17. Jozy Altidore 18. Brain Ching I think that is 80% accruate, and I think we are 95% sure of the players who would participate. For variation, try dropping Marshall for like Beasley or Kljestaan or Hejduk or something
---------Altidore---Davies--------- Donovan------------------Dempsey -----Bradley---------R. Clark------- Spector---------------------Hejduk -----Bocanegra------Onyewu------ --------------Howard-------------- Captain: Carlos Bocanegra Bench: Guzan, DeMerit, Cherundolo, Bornstein, Torres, Feilhaber, Ching Reserve: Marshall, Beckerman, Holden, Cooper Probable Mex starting XI: --------Vela------------Sabah---------- --------------Dos Santos--------------- Guardado-----------------------N. Castillo ----------------Torrado----------------- Salcido----------------------------Osorio --------Marquez---------Galindo-------- -----------------Ochoa----------------- Captain: Rafael Marquez Bench: Corona, J. Castro, Juarez, I. Castro, Blanco, Medina, Franco Reserve: Rojas Game Plan: 1) Completely shut down Guardado and Castillo on the flanks and Dos Santos in the Center (R. Clark's job) 2) Bradley disrupt Torrado's play. 3) Conserve attacks but use the speed of Donovan and Davies on counters, and build the attack off of Dempsey and Altidore. 4) Altidore will probably be the first sub for Feilhaber. push Dempsey up top. sub early on. 5) Hejduk should start. this is his baby. if you want someone (Guardado) shut down in hell then you call in Frankie. 6) no cards and Tim Howard & Donovan must be ready.
I see Conor Casey over Ching. Ching, while he does the little things well, seems to be on his arse more than his feet lately. Holden is the sure lone hold out from the Gold Cup. Beckerman may also have proved useful. Confidence will play a huge part in this match. Mexico is brimming with it, and the US Confed Cup team is brimming with it. GK: Howard, (Guzan) DF: Spector, DeMerit, Onyewu, Bocanegra, (Bornstein), (Pearce) MF: Dempsey, Bradley, Clark, (Feilhaber), (Holden), (Beckerman) FW: Donovan, Davies, Altidore, (Tracy) Tough to leave out guys like Torres and Adu but neither will see the pitch anyway. If we're going to bring anyone, and just one, for exposure alone, it should be the young and promising Marcus Tracy. ----------Altidore----Davies Donovan----Bradley--Clark---Dempsey Boca---Onyewu---DeMerit--Spector -------------Howard
Ching tore DC United a new one Saturday night. highlights, here, another great opportunity ruled Off side. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnEprvSwz1I"]YouTube - Houston Dynamo Brian Ching scores two goals in 100 seconds vs DC United[/ame]