Pre-match: US vs. Belgium, Tuesday 1 July

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2014/m=6/news=wilmots-rotation-is-key-2389321.html

Belgium coach says rotating players is key. Fresh legs are brought in an hour in to take it to a tired opponent.

 

Unless Beckerman, Jones, and Fab are slightly injured there is no way these guys don't start. What do we have to get them rest for, if we don't win they can rest then. No world cup team would rest a player for the players benefit right now, the only way important players are sitting is if they are already fatigued and can't go at their usual full force.

 

Oh, they'll probably start. I'm just suggesting the most prudent path. 5 days rest under the circumstances is more like 3 in Euro football. And the team has been running on the equivalent of 3 days rest throughout this tourney.

He's got the picture.

 

Let's be honest, we don't have much in terms of attacking threats. Losing Altidore hurt badly. Leaving Johnson and Donovan at home were obvious choices. So we're trying to generate goals out of Davis and Bedoya and Green and Zusi and wondering why the lineups don't look great. It's because player selection wasn't so hot.
But it's what we've got, so we'll ride it. My reco:
Johannson (must get Dempsey out of the lone striker role)
Dempsey
Jones
Bradley Bedoya
Beckerman

Beasley Besler Gonzalez Johnson

With the thought that Mix and Wondo come on maybe at halftime or 60 mins, and Yedlin at 65-75.

Why again is Green on this roster?

 

I absolutely agree, they are palying the positon they should be playing...Left Out. We are a WC or two away from not having glaring weaknesses in our line-up. Especially where our core guys, like JA and JJ and MB are concerned. Our goal generation has not been bad. We did score 4 goals in the toughest group we have seen in modern times.

 

why not the 80th if we're down or tied?

 

I think Klinsi's got the picture too.

But Belguim is deeper than we are, especially in attacking positions and the picture changed from a month ago due to:

- The rather abrupt shift to a 3 CM line up and its continued success
- Altidore injury
- Failure of the attacking subs (Davis and Aron) to show the type of spark that would warrant another shot off the bench or even starting.


I'm in the "ride 'em til they die" camp. I'm guessing Klinsi will be too based on his insistence around conditioning for the lead up to the tournament.

 

one certainty in my mind v. Belgium is that we should try to press them w/ a tough, physical game. more wing play would be helpful too. we're just not creating enough chances.

 

As far as I know Cameron is a starter on an English Premier League team. Chandler is a starter in the Bundesliga 1 and has just secured a move to an even better squad. Not quite Belgium level depth but certainly at least Cam should get a start in midfield.

 

Gotta have fresh legs to press.

 

Belgium's squad is NOT deeper than the US right now, they may only have 14 available players for tomorrow's match.

 

1) That video was from yesterday

2) Just because all you saw was a 2 minute video doesn't mean Jozy only ran for 2 minutes yesterday

 

you need them to defend all game as well. I don't want to see us give them space or any clear upper hand.

 

Well, the 2006 group included the eventual champs in Italy, Ghana, and the Czechs who hammered us 3-0. Not a weak group. And we have had skill before - I would say our 2002 team was more balanced than this one, although our three midfielders here are playing well. But let's not just say we have to develop in this country - we have players who could help us - the same age as guys playing well for us right now. The coach decided not to pick them. Fine. But he can't then say well it's still too soon for the younger guys to step up. Because I have zero doubt the guys we counted on in the past would be delivering right now, just as Jones and Beckerman and Beasley are.

 

Respectfully guys, I have to disagree.

Our midfield, which is universally regarded as our strength was completely shut down by Germany. They owned us. Our time of possession - split 70/30 - tells the story. It was dismal.

Landon Donovan's omission from the team stuck out like a sore thumb. The offensive creativity he brings; his playmaking; his intelligent runs; all of it was absent from the U.S. offensive arsenal. It showed.

We've played well, but we were also lucky with the Portugal v. Ghana result. We'll soon play the game where Landon's omission will cost us a victory when we most need it.

 

In other words, wherever we end up, people are going to moan that Landon would have taken us farther.

 

The team came out of Manaus having 3 days rest before the Germany game. Getting 'shut down' was to be expected especially given JK didn't rotate his center-mids.

 

that will eventually happen, but pinning it on LD's absence is a very far stretch and entirely unprovable. I'm much more concerned w/ maintaining good performances w/ the current squad.

 

I agree with your Bradley statement and all the backpasses...I believe we have too many players who simply aren't confident enough to pass it forward consistently instead of choosing the easiest pass to make....

The main culprits are Beasley, Beckerman and Bradley...A lot of time, they'd be someone available to zip a pass through the middle but they'd just make the easy back pass thus killing the flow and rhythm of the team.

We need to keep it positive and keep the ball moving forward and we also need better movement and spacing between the players...Those are things Klinsmann needs to work on.

 

Hindsight is 20/20. Not bringing Donovan or Boyd/Johnson does look like an error at this point. But that is beating a dead horse. We will see what happens. The good thing is we do have Yedlin and FJ to give us some pace on the sides, and Bedoya has shown he can get forward. Those are the folks we have.

Do we have updates on Kompany? I see Belgian tweets but can't read them, looks like he didn't train again.

 

I don't disagree, but you also have to ask the question who they'd be zipping passes to and who's making runs- our wing play was non-existent v. Germany and we have one forward w/ average speed playing somewhat out of position.

 

I have to agree since we finally beat Ghana. First time without him we manage it. Good call JK!

 

Yedlin could be key in this match. His speed against a tired Belgium defense could be the difference for us.

 

that would be my halftime sub whether we're up or down or tied at the half.