We should be able to manage tonight, but I hope this isn't the case for Tuesday as well... http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/st...nson-edgar-castillo-likely-miss-antigua-match
It actually makes sense to move Boca to the left.........and have one of our other CB's start in the middle. (Goodson, Parkhurst, etc.) Boca's played LB at quite a high level in the past. Didn't he play there all the time in France? Against Antigua we'll be fine. At Guatemala this could be a problem.
The plan or hope is the Fabian Johnson will be fit for the Guatemala game on Tuesday. As for the Antigua & Barbuda match, I think JK might be inclined to use (or try) Cameron at left back (more so than moving the slower Boca or someone else out there). I think it is worth fans keeping this truism in mind: Against Antigua we'll be fine.
if fabian is out in guatemala, i'd still use parkhurst at lb as he's a better option than boca at lb and in midfield 4-5-1 with edu, bradley, jone 3 of the 5 and dempsey with donavan the other 2 and gomez the lone forward
It is unfortunate with the timing of all this. I do know that in the next 2 years we will have other players get injured. We might as well get use to playing around with our lineups. Something that I really disliked was that during previous cycles our lineups had been fairly set in stone ( I do credit Bradley for trying as many new players as he did-I just would have liked him to try more players for longer periods of time) . We knew which players were more then likely going to start. I want jk to be a force of nature with our player pool. Everyone should be ready to go. Maybe even out of position. Being uncomfortable can be a good thing. If you get injured you then have options. Right now we are looking at inserting a player who has not played that position since who knows.
What are the rules for changing the roster due to injury? Isn't this why we had some overage players in camp? Maybe drop Castillo and pick up Morales?
Cameron? Boca is actually a rather successful left back, and played there a ton for Rennes and St. Etienne in a good damn good league. Is Klinsmann really going to "experiment" with a guy like Cameron there in a World Cup Qualifier? Truly doubtful. In fact, I'd say the reason Klinsmann didn't have Lichaj on the roster was because he knew Boca could be the left back if needed.
You have a lot more faith in JKs selection than I. I still have no idea who he views playing where. Agree that it should be Boca, but it wouldnt shock me to see Dolo, Parkhurst, Cameron either.
We'll see. I trust that Klinsmann knows more that the BS experts and will leave Boca in the middle where his lack of pace wont hurt as much
Does Anitgua have pace? Los is slow at the World Cup level, which happens to the highest level of soccer in the world. He's probably fast for like lower level leagues.
The problem with Boc at LB is you lose that left wing attack which is how the US normally spreads the field. We basicaly lost all our wing players in Chandler, Johnson, and Castillo. I would think Parkhurst as he can still get forward some. Could we go with more of a 3 5 2 look? Donovan as a winger and Dolo? Start Boc, Cam, and Goodson as CB. Donovan and dolo both required to get back on defense as wingers. it becomes a 5 4 1 on defense with Donoan and Dolo defending wide. The midfield stays the same and Dempsey and Gomez up top. Basically the only real change is tomove LD over the left and start three CBs.
I don't see JK moving Boca (his captain) out of the only position he has played during his time as coach. Boca will start at LCB and Parkhurst will start at LB. I agree with JK on this.
Then your width in the attack comes from Parkhurst and Dolo.... How is Parkhurst in getting forward compared to dolo?
I think Parkhurst will play because he is the only healthy player left on the roster who has played that position this year. We are kind of lucky Bob capped Lichaj at the Gold Cup. He could easily be on the bench for Poland.
When the Guat game is behind us, Klinsmann better get his yoga mat out and do some serious self examination with regard to how he will be approaching the concept of building a team for 2014.
No worries, we can trot out the EPL-starting left back we have on our bench . . . wait? JK didn't call up Erik Lichaj? Foolish Jurgen.
You don't usually bring three deep at every position. I think Parkhurst is the versatile option for that fluke occassion. I just wonder how our width and wing play will suffer.
I'm not worried about A&B. We can win the game tonight if I'm playing left back. Or no one playing left back, which is just about the same thing. It's Guatamela that I'm worried about. We need to think about what the best options are against Guat, and give that defensive set up some time together in tonight's match. Maybe Johnson will be good to go for Guatamela, but maybe not.