Pre-WC: Pick Your Group C Best XI

Howard is a very solid keeper, but he is not as good as the two US keepers that came before him; Friedle(sp?) and Keller.

 

Friedel is still better right now (though the gap was bigger in 2006). Howard has a tendency to get beat from distance a bit too often (see Mexico's goal at Azteca in WCQ).

Still, I'd take Howard over Green, Hart, or calamity James in a heartbeat. Howard is the best GK in this group, easy, though Slovenia has a quality GK.

Now, is he one of the top 3-4 in the world (Buffon, Casillas, Cesar), no probably not. But just about as good as anyone else (maybe beside Van der Saar and Friedel).

 

I think Howard is a good keeper, although I would take Joe Hart over him.

 

How about Robert Green?

Maybe man of the match isn't good enough...

 

After today I wouldn't. Howard is world class and definitely one of the top 5 keepers in this tournament.

 

Cassillias
Buffon
Cesar
Reina
Lloris

dont think so

 

We're going to just have to have a difference of opinion but after watching Lloris 3 times there are 2 things I am sure of.

1. He makes some unreal saves
2. He makes quite a few simple mistakes and it befuddles me

I rank Howard ahead of him.

 

Fixed.

 

Akinfeev
Given
Van Der Sar

Are better than Howard also and Howard is a similar level to Schwarzer and Handovic. I would put Craig Gordon in that category also.

 

usa fans are so extreme, 1 game and howard is a top 5 keeper when there are world class guys like cesar, buffon, lloris, reina and even hart who is better than howard

 

Having just lost 90 minutes of my life just now I can safely say that a current best XI would be composed solely of US and English players

 

---------------Howard---------------------

Cherundolo------Terry-------Onyewu----------Cole

Lennon--------Gerrard------Bradley-----------Dempsey

---------------Heskey--------Altidore---------------

Based on last night for me.

 

guys, I dont think you are being very fair.
The Algerian gk is great for parties!
I mean wtf?


Also, I think we should offer a trade for T. Meolo for another striker...
TRUST ME, the other three countries will jump on it!

 

This is right for me too, but I do think Johnson had a really good game for England too so that is an option.

Oh and, after watching Slovenia/Algeria, this XI still stands, that game was awful, looked like a U16 American club game.

 

Hey - speaking of best 11s, we've just launched a free daily version of the fantasy game. Check it out at www.bigsoccer.com/fantasy (or under the Games tab).

 

Not bad, Roy. I'll give it a shot:

[LINEUP-4-5-1]Altidore, Belhadj, Donovan, Gerrard, Bradley, Birsa, Cole, Terry, Bougherra, Cherundolo, Howard[/LINEUP-4-5-1]

 

looks about right, maybe swap terry for carragher

 

Jozy is the top forward in Group C? Wow.

 

Has a forward even scored in this group? Algeria hasn't scored, USA and England have only scored with midfielders, and I'm not sure about Slovenia.



So.....might as well be Jozy.

 

Jozy assisted Bradley's winning goal, drew I think two yellows and a couple of free kicks against Slovenia, and nearly scored against England.

Heskey assisted on Gerrard's goal, but has had an up-and-down (mostly down) tournament thus far.

Ljubijankic scored against the US, but has played less than a game and a half.

Obviously none of Algeria's forwards have been threatening at all.

So I'd go with Jozy.

 

Looks about right to me.

 

Jgggg

I think this is better.

 

No spots for the team leading the group?