So if I am getting this right, the lineup looks something like this: -------McBride-------Casey------- -------Lewis-------Donovan------- -------Reyna-------Mastroeni----- Vanney--Boca-----Sanneh----Dolo -------------Howard------------- Excuse me, but that is a huge lineup. Honduras is going to think they walked into the Redwoods when they step on the field. I think the McBride/Casey pairing will be interesting. Brian is actually better in the air despite being smaller, while Casey has better footwork. Both work their tails off for their partners up front and the team behind them, but they lack the speed element that Wolff brings. Hopefully Landon makes up for it with some of his signature runs from deep midfield. Should be an interesting game. I'm excited to see it.
Is there anything about Honduras - compared to Mexico - that lends itself to more of a diamond (Donovan up front, Lewis & Reyna, then Mastroeni), or is the box again the way to go? Or does it matter, given Bruce's rotating midfield? Also, what about this bit from Connolly: "Centerback is a position that is relatively thin..." Seems to me CB is typically one of our deeper positions. I'm looking forward to the point where we can beat anyone in CONCACAF with either our all-MLS team or our all-Euro team. Jason
CC and BMB? i don't think this will work too well....At the same time, Bora's usual tactics call for people who can break through defense, if not with skill, then by force...
I cannot see McBride and Casey working well together unless the plan is cross, cross, cross. Both are big, slow, muckers. The US needs a fast forward to streach the defense for the big header. Casey has better footwork? - then what? I've seen little signs that he can dribble to score. Remember, in the last outing, Casey did next to nothing.
The BMB/Casey pairing may work if Donovan is given the freedom that he had in the Mexico match (though without DMB to chase balls all over the field I don't know if it's likely). McHead does a great job of creating space with diagonal runs, and Casey has looked adept with his back to goal trapping and dropping off passes to mids running through. If the mid running through to space created by BMB is a free-range Donovan who has been playing with great confidence recently, the lineup could work. Add to that Lewis whipping in crosses, and things could get interesting. If Landon is given free license and Reyna occupies the space that Landon would, Pablo (or whoever is the d-mid) will have a huge task on his hands. All that said, I'll be surprised if both BMB and Casey start, even with the Mathis injury. I expected all along that the two targets would split match time paired with either Mathis or Donovan (though I've always wanted Donovan in the midfield or at least as a third striker playing behind target(s).
I saw another article with a different lineup (I'll try to find it). It had BMB/Casey as forwards; Donovan/DMB as "flank" and Reyna/Armas as mids. I would assume this would be the box midfield.
when's the last time sanneh played central defense? does he play there in germany? i'd rather have pablo there and sanneh on the wing for vanney .... but oh well. casey-mcbride doesn't bother me so much ... bruce has seen them working together in practice and silly me feels like giving him the benefit of the doubt on this one (but just this once. ). plus eddie lewis could be playing, who is one of our top crossers (i know, that's not exactly a huge accomplishment since nobody else on the team can cross with any consistency). i'm glad it's on FSW and I'm glad I found somebody to tape it for me, too.
I'm not predicting - just trying to piece the lineup together based on Connolly's article. But to answer your question - I don't remember. Maybe never.
I'd agree, if Donovan is making runs from midfield like he's done in some other games(the games aren't coming to mind) the Casey/McBride pairing may be interesting. If Honduras' defense plays high those runs will be even more important. It's too bad if Arena is forced to play this simply due to injuries; that's not the kind of prep you'd be looking to get out of this game. This will be fun to watch as Honduras is the most entertaining side in CONCACAF.
The Armas lineup was reported by Chris Cowles, ended up in USA Today and other papers as a "special" to them. http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/S...775818736&path=!sports!soccer&s=1037645509508 http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/national/2004-06-02-usa-cup-qualifying-tuneup_x.htm
Wasn't saying you were, merely copied the lineup visual you provided. Someone provided these stats a few months back...but I believe it's now 54 of 55. So an Armas-less lineup would be highly unlikely and represent a pretty monumental shift so close to qualifying. My guess....no way in hell.
Re: Connolly: Foxboro Focus--Picking Nits If he means that he has taken 5 teams through qualifying (using into rather than through) then he is wrong. Both Mexico and the US were hosts and thus pre-qualified.
Thanks. I knew I'd read it somewhere about Armas and Beasley starting. I'd tend to go with this lineup as opposed to what Connolly reported.
Is it just me or doesn't casey and mcbride just offer too much of the same thing up top?? Casey does have more ability to play deeper outside the box and use his mobility. The key to me is getting Beasley forward with penetration into the box and finding the lurking casey or mcbride.
DMB's penetration IS key, but the fact that his deliveries have not been at all consistent kinda spoils the position his speed gains him.
When I first saw the roster, I thought that this was to mess with the heads of the Hondurans. Now I know thats the point.