Pre-match: USMNT v Haiti Gold Cup - Sunday June 22

I like it in general, but I feel we've got to give Tillman a rest, right? He's played 90' in all four games, right? I would also try to give Richards a rest.
Turner

Freeman-McKenzie-Robinson-Tolkin

Cardoso or Berhalter-LDLT

Sullivan-P Aaronson-B Aaronson

Downs

 

______turner
____zim___ream
freeman_____arfsten
___mcglynn_seb
sullivan__pax__luna
____agyemang

 

Rotate while still ensuring victory. Balance it.

Don't fully unload the bench until we're looking in a safe position to win.

We're looking set to play either Costa Rica or Mexico in the next round.
We actually play our game first, so those two will know what they have to do to avoid us.

Just go out, win, and not worry about the Round of 16 matchup. Hope that its Costa Rica, who are looking farily "meh" after close wins against Suriname and DR.

 

A draw clinches top spot & even a loss is high likelihood. So playing to win shouldn't be our top priority. It's resting guys to make a better run in the KO's & proper experimentation.

As for proper experimentation, it requires not putting weak links at every level to make the trialist's job harder. This is a difficult balance w/ rest considerations, the way Poch hasn't rotated so far.

 

We can’t control the r16 matchup. We get second place team in group A unless we lose to Haiti and Saudi beats T&T and makes up 7 goal difference. So the Mex/cr game will determine who we play. Unless CR wins it’ll be CR. My guess is both teams will play hard to avoid us and get Saudi in the quarters.

since our result is pretty much irrelevant, goal should be to rest players and get a look at some of the guys who haven’t featured yet. I’d be very interested to see if Tolkin is an upgrade for example bc our fullbacks have looked weak and a better team will definitely target them.

 

For a major change of pace:

------------Downs---Sullivan--
----------------Brenden----
-Tolkin----Johnny Paxten-----Harriel
---------Ream--McKenzie--Miles--
-----------------Freese

more conservatively

----------------------Downs--------
---------Sullivan----------------Brenden---
---------------Paxten----Berhalter
----------------------Johnny--
----Tolkin-----------------------------------Harriel---
--------------McKenzie------Miles---
----------------------Freese-----

Aside from McGlynn, there's no left-sided attacker in the squad. Zendejas should've been brought in.

 

The full B team rotation was a disaster against Switzerland, but Haiti ain't Switzerland. The biggest challenge is that Tillman could use a rest and Luna has a yellow and those are the two guys who are really irreplaceable. Maybe keep them out until half if needed?

 

I wouldn’t play Tillman at all, but yeah, maybe a half for Luna then give Pax a shot or something. It would be nice to put this to bed in the first half, 2-0 or so. I hope that’s the goal.

 

Not playing Tillman or Luna. Just no need. Tillman needs the rest and Luna is on a yellow. Why risk either of those guys who are clearly integral to advancing further.

We could trot out the weakest lineup possible and should still be able to hang with Haiti. Good grief you guys.

 

This is why we have so many Aaronsons on the roster is it not

 

I’d probably do something like

----------------------Downs--------
---------Luna----------------Sullivan---
---------------Tillman----McGlynn
----------------------Cardoso--
----Tolkin-----------------------------------Freeman---
--------------McKenzie------Richards---
----------------------Freese-----

And the key guys like Tillman and Luna I definitely wouldn’t play 90.

 

Some great analysis, already, on this thread.

The United States is through to the second round, barring an epic victory by Saudi Arabia over Trinidad and Tobago, who, with a victory, could still go through.

Hati needs a victory to advance. If they win, they probably go through.

So, how much rotation should be involved?

1. Let’s get a look atMcKenzie over Ream.

2. Berhalter has exceeded expectations. He’s sitting on a card and delivering set pieces. He played two consecutive games in a very demanding position. He appears to be stepping up. Let’s continue to get a look. Johnny and Tyler Adams can continue to recover.
3. Let’s get a look at Tolken at left back.
4. I want to see Downs or even White, up top.
5. I’m thinking Freese should stay in goal. ride the hot goalkeeper with two shutouts.
6. I’m for giving Tillman and Luna a rest.. Bring them on as super subs in the second half, if they are needed.

These are my big ideas. I’m not particularly concerned about the other positions.

Although, it would be nice to make a statement against Hati, the important matches will be the ones following this. Let’s get ready and check out some new people and see what they can do and get a W under our belt heading into the knockout phase.

 

Are we through?

 

We’ve been on life-support for quite a while, but don’t think we’re through yet. We may actually be bouncing back.

 

yes!

we could still finish second if we lose to Haiti and Saudi Arabia erupt for seven goals against Trinidad and Tobago.

 

The US gets either Mexico or Keylor Navas's Costa Rica in the first knockout. It's best to prioritize rest through strong rotation against Haiti. And even if still somehow concerned about getting first place in the Group, the US have a +6 goal differential against Saudi.

 

Rest Adams, Richards, Ream, Luna and Tillman.

Avoid Mexico.

 

i want the toughest comp possible, which isnt even that much here. people are bending over backwards to convince...someone that haiti is a tricky match.

mexico being marginally better than a year or two ago is saying absolutely nothing, and canada isnt at their peak- theyre both solid but unspectacular sides. we have just been such dogshit (and have a ridiculous roster) that we grossly overrate anything else so we can feel good about eeking out a 1-0 win over a team that isnt even close to the one that beat argentina 3 years ago.

i mean, what the hell good does the path of least resistance do for us? is it a good thing if we can drag out pretending mcglynn or arfsten or agyemang are good enough? at the expense of them having a chance to prove that wrong against the two-three teams here that can even remotely tell us something useful?

such a pathetic, loser mindset...

 

US record against Keylor Navas: 2 Wins 1 Draw 7 losses. One win came in a match in which he had to be subbed out at the half. The other was the 'Snow Classico'. And, he has had a strong end to the season with Newell's. Mexico or Costa Rica; it really doesn't matter.

 

Oh dude Navas is playing? That is a challenge. And while our record against him is dire, Suriname managed to put three past him and Dominican Republic scored a goal, and if those teams can score vs this CR team we can too. Whether we will, of course, is a different thing.

 

CR won't setup the same way against the US.

 

I want the easiest path to Canada, then I want to paste Canada. Of course the US want to win the group, but how high a priority it is I don’t know.
You think the team has a pathetic, loser mentality, or the fans? I don’t care about the fans.
I want to roll with some starters against Haiti to keep building, not take a step back. We dominated the Saudis and will do the same against Haiti, but the play can be better and that should be the goal, better each match.

 

Mexico is significantly stronger than CR and would present a significantly stronger test.

Yes, Navas is playing but the CR generation has almost entirely turned over and they are a shell of their former selves.

El Tri, while far less talented then a generation ago are playing better under Aguirre.

 

We'll be OK.

When was the last time Haiti beat the USMNT (home or away )? 1973.

That's not to say some of the games over that span haven't been hard. The 2009 Gold Cup match, with a USMNT "B" team, ended in a draw.

Our lineup that day?

Luis Robles, Jay Heaps, Jimmy Conrad, Michael Parkhurst, Colin Clark, Davy Arnaud, Sam Cronin, Brad Evans, Stuart Holden, Santino Quaranta, Kenny Cooper.

That's the depth we have to go to in order to draw against Haiti.

This squad is too good for Haiti. The reserves on this squad are too good for Haiti.

If a disaster happens, we'll get a draw.