Pre-match: USA vs Belgium; May 29th; FirstEnergy Stadium

Gonzo always plays the right side of the CB position, always.

 

Department of Redundancy Department.

 

The redundancy was on purpose to make a point, notice the coma.

 

Belgium has Vertonghen, Vermaelen and Kompany as defenders.
Will an attack of Altidore (no rest for the weary), Gomez, Dempsey, Jones, Bradley (still expect him to start after Coppa Italia) and Zusi get by this defense?
I don't know anything about their GK, but Belgium has 5 wins, 1 draw and no losses in a qualifying group that includes Croatia and Serbia, no slouches.
And, can Dolo, Cameron, Boca (expect to see him) and Fabian contain Fellaini, Hazard, Dembele, Benteke and Lukaku?

 

I could see LD on the gold cup squad. After him taking off he needs to re prove himself to klinnsman and the extra games could help him get back into rhythm.

 

Your tripping if you think boca will start. Even dolo is a big question mark now.

 

Vertonghen and Vermaelen aren't infallible. ompany is world class of course.

Unless Jones and Bradley have amazing games, we'll get dominated from midfield on up to our backline.

 

Learn about him. Courtois is one of the best young GK's in the world(2nd best in my opinion behind Ter-Stegen).

 

I do not expect Bradley to play in this match, but if so, I don't think he and Jones need to "amazing" to prevent being dominated. Even if Edu replaces him I doubt any domination would take place. Regardless, what does it matter? Friendlies, especially those scheduled prior to qualifiers, are played so the coaching staff can evaluate the team and the players can improve their teamwork. If they get dominated, the coaches will need to look for strategies to minimize the problems and highlight the strengths. If the players are having difficulty coordinating their play, they can look at the problem with the intent of doing a better job.

I love the friendlies that precede qualifiers. If the USMNT gets dominated, I'll look for the problems and then watch to see how the staff and players react in their next match. This is what makes sports so compelling to me.

 

We know the timing will be as late as possible, but the intrigue IMO that comes with this month's callups is the question of how many?

I'm having trouble cutting my list of expected callups down to 23 anyways; and with Klinsmann stating that Holden will be here, I'm betting we initially see 27 to 30 players called in like last year.

 

I'm imagining a world in which the National team struggles in June, and then LD does great at the Gold Cup. That would be interesting to say the least.

 

this should be a very good game. i expect a draw or maybe belguim will win. are belguim expected to bring their best team

 

Did you confuse the meaning of "imagining" with "fantasizing?" It frequently happens.

 

Really. Did you need to be jerk about this?

The answer to your question is no. First and foremost I want the USMNT to qualify. Hope Jurgen gets a beam of brilliance sent straight to his head and we crush our opponents 8-0. I would like to be able to watch my team in 2014 at the World Cup. LD or no LD.

 

I doubt that. Whenever there is a friendly, half of the Belgian players suddenly have a mysterious injury

 

Dolo is starting and going 90' for Hannover now.
Boca is starting for Santander as well.
JK, whatever he 's said up till now, will end up distrusting either Gonzo or Besler, and use Boca with Cameron as CBs against both Belgium and Germany.

 

I don't think you people realize the embarrassment it would be to lose to Belgium in the friendly.
Dempsey alone doesn't make the USMNT competitive with Belgium in the latest installment.

 

Why would it be embarrassing? Belgium has a very good team.

 

With chandler hurt dolo might start but he's not a lock like he use to be.

Boca will most likely not bet called in let a lone start. Yes he is starting to play again but theirs 3 people ahead of him on the list and he's prob even or below Goodson in the pecking order. Only reason JK would call him in is if he felt he needed a leader for the youngsters. But that would be for training not game time.

 

So I take it that you haven't been following the Belgian NT and/or players recently?

 

Agreed. They are expected to win, as it should be.

 

Belgium has a great team. They should easily beat us if both sides are at full strength.

 

1-0 in Belgium.

 

----------------Jozy---------------
Fabian--------Clint------Donovan
----------Bradley---Jones---------
Castillo----Besler---Omar----Dolo/Cameron
---------------Howard-------------

 

Things have changed a bit. Benteke and Lukaku are much better players now. I hope at least one of them makes the trip to the states. It will be a good test for Gonzalez an Besler.