US vs Costa Rica @ Denver Friday 3/22 10 PM EDT (8 MDT)

I'm worried about our back line on such a humongous field. If I recall, it's the maximum regulation size, to the inch. I don't know what the federation is thinking here.

 

I'm on record going back to last game with not being cool at all with it.

I hope Grant is wrong....

 

This is just not true. Take our at home stats which was HomietheClown original point. When you own >73% of possession and a passing accuracy of 87% v 27% possession and 66% accuracy for your opponent you are dominating possession by a factor of 3:1. In raw numbers 1889 passes attempted and 1643 completed v 750 attempted and 495 completed for our opponents.

The dominance is in all 3 3rds of the field. See the analysis done for the first 4 WCQs. Those numbers went up since we were even more dominant in the last 2 matches at A&B and home to Guatemala.

As you can see in chart to the right, nearly 20 percent of the game is played in the opponent's final third with the US on the ball, with a further 37.2 percent bossing play in the middle third.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...t-if-not-jozy-whats-really-plaguing-us-attack

We don't have problems possessing the ball we have issues with incisive passing and finishing.

 

sounds about right.

 

In my opinion, if you manage to get over 70% of the possession, you're simply not taking enough shots. Our bread and butter used to be absorbing pressure and hitting on the counter attack, and I was absolutely fine with that. Incisive passing is definitely an issue with this team, but part of that has to do with the lack of creative runs. Personally, I think that's a product of players who are unfamiliar with the system.

 

If Boca isn't getting the call then he better stick with that. What I mean is don't call him up again, even if he starts playing for his club. I didn't think Boca would make it to 2014 but I also thought he'd be with the team in qualifying.

So a message to Klinsmann, if this is the decision then stick with it, don't waver and pick a new captain.

 

This is true as long as the other team allows to.

 

You guys know the saying:

Possession without penetration is masturbation.

And, we rarely penetrate the opponents 3rd.

 

With all of this talk about possession without penetration, who would people suggest could fix this problem? Dempsey and Donovan have been the only ones who have seemed to provide a solution in the past.

Some might say Adu, but there is no way that he deserves the call up given his lack of game time.

I'd suggest Corona even given his low assists/minutes ratio, but it's hard to say if he deserves the start as a 3rd CM or winger over players like Beasley, Zusi, EJ, Torres, Gatt etc.

I'd personally play Dempsey as a #10 with Altidore, EJ and Gomez surrounding him and look at either Gatt or Corona as the first sub if things aren't going well.

 

That's my front 4 backed up by Mike and Jermaine. I'd I also think Zusi and Shea are sub options.

The biggest question is at the back. I want to slide Cameron over to LB but the options to come in at LCB are all flawed (Boca, Besler, John, Goodson). If a new LB is brought in it would have to be the out of form Lichaj or Parkhurst or the untested Morrow. If it's a Cameron and Gonzo partnership that we're going to have to build I say bring in Morrow, he's playing fairly well and it's his natural position.

 

Has Dempsey as a #10 for the NT ever worked?

 

According to this guy....https://mobile.twitter.com/lerhall/tweets

Edu, brek, gcam on plane to denver.

 

That guy posted this picture too:
https://twitter.com/lerhall/status/313428699074658304/photo/1 looks like Shea is on his way.

 

Holy mother of God - a winger! Glad Shea is being called in, even with being benched at Stoke. We need his type of play.

 

I have a quibble about the "veteran leadership in the back" trope. I feel that Guzan qualifies as "veteran leadership".

But yes, the inexperience of the four defenders in front of him is worrying.

 

Wonder if JK calls in Morales, since he is starting now... and maybe can play left back.

Still head scratching why JK never took a look at Lichaj, a guy with minutes in the EPL and CONCACAF experiene, who can play RB and LB, especially when Chandler snubbed the team. Man, what would happen if Chandler still was on the fence?

 

Four days before the Costa Rica match. Presumably the US roster will come out today?

Costa Rica released its roster a week ago.

 

With that attitude, you'll be lucky if Secret Klinsi doesn't send out guys out with bags over their heads and no names on their jerseys!

 

Late roster announcements have been a 'feature' of USSF since long before Klinsi....

 

A less savvy reader might think that you are challenging me to say snarky things about past managers.

As if my record doesn't speak for itself!

 

Surprise call up for me. I thought Shea needed more games.

I'm dying to have his skill set out there, but if he's out of shape/form, he can't help. So I'm hoping his call indicates that he's ready to go. Who knows? Maybe a strong showing in one or both qualifiers helps to get him on the field at Stoke when he gets back (couldn't hurt).

 

Read in another thread that 10:30 AM today there will be an announcement. But I haven't seen anything on Twitter or elsewhere to confirm that myself.

 

Not that I want to get into a pissing match, but at the same point in the Hex 4 years ago, the USSF released the roster on March 20 for the games on March 28 and April 1, so 8 days in advance.
http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-N...-Against-El-Salvador-And-Trinidad-Tobago.aspx

On the other hand, the announcement was only 3 days in advance in February, 2009, prior to the Hex opener vs Mexico.
http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-N...Cup-Qualifier-Against-Mexico-In-Columbus.aspx

Which was similar to the roster announcement only 2-days in advance prior to February's Honduras match.
http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-N...rst-Final-Round-FIFA-World-Cup-Qualifier.aspx

So, I'd say the announcement lead times varied last cycle. Closer to the vest this cycle, at least so far. Could still change later. And one could reasonably argue that waiting as long as possible is smarter. More frustrating for the fans, obviously, but that's not the top priority.

 

He is in good enough shape, form may be questionable but he weent almost 70 in his first game at Stoke. He did not impress the coach and looked lost on defense, but he is in good enough shape to go at least an hour I would say. Whether he starts or is a sub is likely up to does he impress in camp or not.

Like you I would love to see his skill set on the pitch for the nats. I think a pair of top rate wingers would dramatically affect our offense in a positive manner.

 

roster coming at 1pm eastern now....injuries screwing everything up according to twitter