Realize it's mere hours before gametime, but something I haven't seen discussed in much detail elsewhere is that Adu was on the bench for Jamaica. Bench tally was: Subs used Agudelo, Donovan, Edu Subs not used Adu, Bornstein, Ream, Hahnemann Not on bench Wondolowski, Rogers, Spector, Gooch, Rimando I'm particularly intrigued that Adu was there over Wondolowski. Wondo went 64min against Guadeloupe, so presumably he could've been a viable forward sub barring any unknown injury. Was Adu in there because we were 4231 and Adu was Kljestan's understudy? I don't think you take players in a knockout game unless you see a role for them, so this is my best guess what Bob was thinking. If we go 4231 tonight with SK starting, do we see Adu again on the bench? And to take things one step further, given SK's 90min performance only 3 days ago, do we see Adu enter somewhere 60-70min tonight? There are other permutations that keep Adu on the bench -- such as Bedoya coming in wide and pushing either Donovan or Dempsey to the CAM role -- but it strikes me as possible that we see Adu. Particularly if we are a couple goals ahead at that point in the game. Curious to hear others' opinions on this.
id like to see what he has to offer... hes got to be damn hungry to get out there and prove himself. but at this point, its going to have to be only if we are up multiple goals with 20-30 minutes left.
Also look Gooch was not an available sub. Has his play sent him from starting lineup down to not available or is he hurt? I don't imagine Bradely would start him and then scratch him in a matter of 4 tournament games after all this time of him being in the starting lineup and not being particularly old.
I think that Adu would only have played Sunday if we had been up by 2 or more and Bob decided not to play LD at all. I don't expect to see Adu in uniform tonight.
Wouldn't Wondo take Agudelo's spot on the bench with Agudelo slotting into the XI? i.e. This won't knock Adu out?
I agree with your analysis of Adu being on the bench for Jamaica, and I don't see why Bradley would change anything other than having Wondolowski for Altidore. Unless he decides to put Spector in the 18, Adu should make it again.
Agree, Wondo is most likely on the bench tonight, but we might see Adu as well as opposed to Bornstein. I bet the bench is Jones (to save from yellow card jeopardy), Sacha, Spector, MH, Ream, Wondo, and Adu. Starters are Agudelo, LD, Demps, Bedoya, Edu, MB, Lichaj, Boca, Goodson, and Cherundolo. Subs, if up one, will be Sacha, then Spector, then Wondo in the 85th. Subs if down one or tied, will be Sacha, if still tied, Adu and then Wondo.
Yeah, my fault. Going over it again, here were the subs against Jamaica: Donovan, Edu, Agudelo, Adu, Bornstein, Ream, Hahnemann. Jozy's gone, so that frees up one sub slot. Wondo goes there. Edu will either be on the bench or start. If he starts JJ is on the bench. Hahnemann is the third lock for a bench spot. That leaves four open spots for the following players (most likely): Bedoya, Rogers, Adu, Bornstein, Spector, Onyewu, and Ream. My guess: Bedoya, Adu, Ream, and Spector make it.
Pretty big fall for Gooch though. He's a shadow of his former self. Really sad. Can't see him getting called up in future in this state of his affairs. BB will need to start looking elsewhere for depth.
It seems likely that Donovan will return to the starting lineup, which means that one of Bedoya/Sacha goes to the bench. That player is probably the first one off the bench. The second one is probably Edu. The third is less clear and obviously dependent on the game situation. Could be Freddie. Could be Wondo, who I think is likely to make the gameday 18.
Agreed. Perhaps it will take him a full two years to fully recover from the injury? Or maybe he doesn't recover. I was extremely concerned when he down at RFK in the Costa Rica game- more crushed then the news about Davies to be frank. I would echo Sam's analysis of Adu on the bench for Jamaica and agree that its not likely he plays a huge role tonight, even if he is named in the 18.
IMO there is a small chance that we'll see Adu again on the bench. Also IMO, he'd only play if USA is winning 4-0 by the 80' mark.
Diagree, I think with Altidore's injury, and the likelihood we go 4-2-3-1 again, means Adu is almost certainly on the bench. Likely Starting XI: -------------Howard-------------- Dolo---Goodson---Boca---Lichaj -------Bradley------Jones-------- Donovan---Kljestan---Dempsey ------------Agudelo--------------- Bench: GK = Hahnemann; Outside back = Bornstein, CB = Ream CM = Edu, AM: Bedoya; F = Wondolowksi + 1 more spot. Bench is based on last game's preferences. It is VERY unlikely you'd see Ream AND Gooch or Bornstein AND Spector, it is either one or the other. The only spot where you don't have a natural replacement is the CAM spot = Adu. The options: Rimando: no way. Spector: possibly instead of Borsntein, probably not both, wouldn't affect Freddy. Oneywu: possibly instead of Ream, but not both; won't affect Freddy. Altidore = out. Rogers = has no business in the roster and hasn't made the bench yet. If it was me, I'd go: Hahnemann; Gooch, Spector, Edu, Kljestan (Bedoya starts), Adu, Wondo. I think there are only 2 viable options instead of Adu: 1) Spector (seems unlikely he'd be there in addition to Bornstein) 2) Dempsey starts and Jaun and Wondo both make the bench, but then our MF subs would be pretty thin