Very similar lineup to the one Klinsmann used against Scotland but much worse in one specific area. There is only one natural goal scorer in the front 6. We need at least 2 and preferably 3.
I agree, but like others I also agree that when coach after coach sees differently then you've gotta reassess your viewpoint. That said, a player can be better than the rest in the position (or work harder, or whatever metric you want to use) and still not be the best player for the team. But maybe Bruce can find a way to keep Jones on the field AND work his tactics to fill the gaps that Jermaine leaves with his style of play--something Klinsy never did.
True, and that drab 0-0 was about as sleepy as it gets. At least JK had Eddie Johnson on the left with DMB, theoretically creating some speed, though EJ, pseudo-winger, was not one of JK best ideas. Too bad we don't have an angry LD to recreate the other Scotland match.
Great point and an example of that in my IMHO would be including Donovan on last years World Cup roster whether he played 90 every game or not. Go USA. I'm happy to be watching the game in spite of things again!
IndividualEleven, I see your point about it being more reasonable for Bruce Arena to start Graham Zusi than Keegan Rosenberry at right back today. I think that you are basically saying the following: Rosenberry is so young and inexperienced that it would be risky to play him against either Honduras or Panama. So, it is better for Arena to start Zusi over Rosenberry at right back today. If Zusi were to play well today, it would give Arena another reasonable option to play right back against Honduras and/or Panama. And Rosenberry, given his youth and inexperience, would never be a reasonable option to play against Honduras and/or Panama. But I think it is plausible—in fact likely—that Rosenberry could have played so well in these two friendlies that he would have been a better option to play right back against Honduras and/or Panama than Zusi. Rosenberry was a very good right back in MLS last season. It’s not just that he was very good for a rookie. He was very good, period. And he is smart and composed. The momentousness of events doesn’t seem to overwhelm him. There might be a little Joe Montana in him. In addition, if he had played in these two friendlies, he would have gained some international experience. So, for the Honduras and Panama matches, he wouldn’t have been completely untried and green. Also, it’s not as if Zusi is an outstanding right back prospect. He lacks speed and doesn’t move that well laterally. And he has very little experience at right back. In contrast, if Eric Lichaj had been available for today’s game, then I think Arena should have started Lichaj over Rosenberry. But Lichaj has been a good right back at English Championship level for many years. And he even had 42 appearances (across all competitions) at outside back in the English Premier League. And he moves well laterally and has decent speed. Zusi has very little experience at right back. He doesn’t move that well laterally. And he lacks speed. So, I think that even a Rosenberry with only two caps from friendlies—which he would have gotten if he had played these games against Serbia and Jamaica—likely would have been a better right back option against Honduras and Panama than Zusi. That said, I see your point about Rosenberry’s lack of experience and Zusi’s experience. Let’s see how Zusi does today. But should Bruce Arena start Jermaine Jones today? That’s an important question to ask, because it helps us determine what ought to be done rather than what is likely to be done. Analogously, one might predict that a given candidate for U.S. President will win a given election. But it is more important to discuss whether that candidate should be elected. It helps people determine what actions they should take. And I don’t think Arena should start Jones today against Serbia. And this is partly because Jones is ineligible to play against Honduras because of yellow card accumulation. For those who may not know that Jones is ineligible to play against Honduras, here is a link: http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/sto...chandler-suspended-for-usmnts-next-wcq-111516 So, it is important for Arena to identify the best player for him to start next to Bradley against Honduras. And it’s not at all clear at the moment who that is. Perry Kitchen is an option. But Kitchen has only 5 caps, and I believe none in important games. In addition, if Arena were to start Kitchen against Honduras, Arena never will have had Kitchen play a game under him prior to starting him in a hugely important World Cup qualifier. So, I think it is important for Arena to give some of the players who are reasonable candidates to start at central midfield against Honduras the start today and against Jamaica in order for him to try to determine what would be the best line-up to start in the very important World Cup qualifier against Honduras. If Jones were available to play against Honduras, then I agree that Arena should start Jones against Serbia today. For if Jones were eligible to play against Honduras, were healthy prior to the match, were to have played well in these two friendlies and were to play well for the LA Galaxy prior to the Honduras match, then Arena probably should have started Jones against Honduras. But Jones can’t play against Honduras. And it’s important for Arena to have as much data as possible to determine who he should start in central midfield against Honduras. Starting someone other than Jones today would give Arena more important data.
My line up -------------------------------------Bingham ------Zusi--------------Marshall---------------Birnbaum-------------Jorge Villafaña ------Lletget-----------McCarty----------------Nagbe------------------Pontius --------------------------Agudelo----------------Morris
Great fn post. I agree don't start Jones. Good tip on yellow card accumulation. Don't start Benny either; he probably is taped to his locker by his teammates anyways. As high sprung and eager as he is now. Ready to show himself worthy. I'm betting he is. We don't win this game I will be concerned. This should be a high energy 4-1 win for the USMNT. WHERE IS THE LINEUP.
GOAL Mag has this as starting 15 minutes ago: Nick Rimando; Graham Zusi, Steve Birnbaum, Chad Marshall, Greg Garza; Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones; Alejandro Bedoya, Sacha Kljestan, Darlington Nagbe; Jozy Altidore Shocker
That would be pretty much expected, though I would really have rathered see Morris starting wide instead of Bedoya. I don't think that's enough width in attack.
Arena said he wants better passing in midfield and starts jones, bradley and bedoya?? lol...OKAY BRUCE
Sunil on the sidelines talking to Arena right before the match?? yikes. calling it now...the us will miss russia 2018.
Don't be so pessimistic. CONCACAF is getting 6.5 NTs to the World Cup starting 2026, so at most we'll miss a couple of WCs.
Does ESPN care about hiring good announcers? Why is this kid on pregame show yelling? Very annoying. Might be better for HS soccer webcast.
There's also the explanation that's more likely, which is that he declined, but we've been slow to transition away from him out of being conservative and loyalty, as happens frequently with nt managers, which usually leads to their demise. With this one we don't even know his tendency, beyond these subsequent qualifiers at max. Bradley will probably start because he's a holdover which Bruce said he'd do because this isn't the time for prospects. Then we'll see after that.
One of the few NT we can schedule for this friendly. Either them or a Scandinavian country (Or Canada)