Pre-match: Starting XI vs. Australia (official Pre Game Thread)

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

I recommend some starting lineup other than:

[LINEUP-3-5-2]Gomez, Findley, Beasley, Torres, Feilhaber, Clark, Cherundolo, Borrnstein, Goodson, Spector, Guzan[/LINEUP-3-5-2]

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

-----------------------------Hahnemann
----Cherundolo------Onyewu--------------DeMerit----------Spector
------------------------Bradley----------Edu
-------Holden--------------------------------------Beasley
------------------------Altidore---------Gomez

2nd half

Bocanegra for Spector

Torres for Bradley or Edu

Dempsey for Holden

Donovan for Beasley

Findley or Buddle for Gomez

Goodson for DeMerit

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

+1

As strange as it sounds, it seems that Findley needs to start. The fact is that many national teams just do not have players with that kind of speed. It changes the game as a result. Just listen to Clint Dempsey's post game remarks (v. Turkey)...

Although I would rather see Clark start over Bradley, I know that BoB would not consider that possibility.

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

Amen.

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

Agreed.

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

With the FFA's love affair with Dutch football, expect him to be interviewed for the manager's position after the WC.

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

I will get flamed for this but consider the following BS and BB sacred cows:

1) We should have as close to our best 11 out there
2) Jozy needs a "speedy" partner to help stretch the defense
3) Clint and Donovan are best in MF because of their superior ability to keep possession and create

For OZ, I'd like to see Donovan partner Altidore up top for one half because:

1) It allows one of Holden or Torres to start and they are among our best 11 or 12 field players
2) Donovan is as fast as Findley but smarter and more skillful
3) Donovan's role in the MF can be performed, maybe not as well, but certainly without too much of a drop off in quality by Stuart Holden on the right and Dempsey on his preferred left

----------Altidore--Donovan
Dempsey--------------------Holden
---------Torres------Bradley
Boca----Gooch----Demerit----Dolo
--------------Howard

Just a thought.

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

With the success Donovan and Dempsey have had in midfield I don't know why everyone would start them up top as a striker.

For Australia I'd like to see the CM split between Torres/Edu and Bradley, and Gomez/Buddle/Findley getting some time at striker. Bring Holden in acting as a super sub because that's what'll happen in the group stage, and give some run to Spector in defense to get his shit together.

Everything else should be fairly obvious at this point. No 3-5-2, no Donovan or Dempsey starting as SS, no Feilhaber starting on the wing, no Bornstein starting... this things have been shown to not work to a significant degree.

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

The Aussies can be a dirty, physical team....so watch out.

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

I'll wear my shinguards in front of the big screen!

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

Straight from the horses mouth, and given who he supports I'd hazard a guess it's literally.

I'm actually surprised the Aussie boys are taking the time out to play a few friendlies. There's some great deep sea diving and fishing off the coast of South Africa.

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

clark!?!? really? scads of central mids, and thats the one you would choose? did you not watch the last game?

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

Rico looked lost on Saturday, and I say that as a fan of his. The good combination that we saw between he and Bradley last summer was nowhere to be found, and frankly, I dont think we can afford to play them together again in the hope that they rediscover it. Junior has already indicated that he enjoys playing with Torres, I would expect that he'll make Dad aware of this.

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

I don't know who it'll be, but I hope Bradley plays the same lineup he plans on using vs England.

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

What if he does....and they get hammered..??

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

Start planning for Algeria and Slovenia?!

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

Only points out where they need to work on and have ready for june 12

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

Maybe he should do a better job at keepin the team away from the booze.

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

I think the starting 11 should be the intended starting 11. If Spector is still in the intended starting 11 and gets burns badly by the Aussie, then changes should be made. Still I believe he should start the 11 he intends to start against England.

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

Take up golf! I mean seriously. Better to know the line-up you're planning to play might be taking a big dump BEFORE the game so you can, you know, maybe do something about it, rather than finding out IN the game so you can just scowl.

Jezuz, have you ever played soccer?

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

I hope that was sarcasm.

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

Like I said earlier, that injury bug that took down most of the USMNT player pool must have screwed up the way we think as fans. All of a sudden we don't want our players to ever play competitively in the fear that they may get injured . . . again.

How will this team build chemistry and cohesiveness if they never step on the field together? You don't build chemistry IN the World Cup, you do it BEFORE. Otherwise why in the hell would you schedule pre-World Cup friendlies???

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

To make friends? Like camp. That's why they call it camp cupcake!

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

That's not exactly a pre-World Cup friendly though, which was my point. And yes I know it came before the World Cup.

 

Re: Starting XI vs. Australia

To be clear - I agree with you, mostly. I would make sure I see my prefered 11 in the heat of battle, but I'd also be mindful of taking uneeded chances in the 2nd 45. LD is as gelled as he's gonna get, for instance. Will an extra 45 with Findley make the difference? Maybe, but still, I go 45 with my "A-team" and then get some of the lock starters off the field and give Gooch's (to see how far he can go) and Holden's a little extra time.