I foresee at least 5 subs, maybe: Twellman, Noonan, Mulrooney, Albright and Aidan Brown. So, the prediction is: GK: Walker B: Hejduk-Pope-Gibbs-Convey (Arena continues the experiment) MF: Armas, Klein, Kirovski (back from being expatriate), Beasley F: Donovan, Wolff
my prediction is that the team will be composed of mostly C teamers. It could be so different from the Holland lineup that I couldn't even begin to think of who could start. The majority that start will not even have been in camp for the Holland game. Extremely experimental!
I usually stay away from these tings but what the hell. This is what I'm hoping for this experiment. It'll be All MLS -------------Walker------------------- -------------------------------------- -----Garcia----Pope------Gibbs------- -------------------------------------- ---------Mulroony---------Armas------ -------------------------------------- ---Mapp--------Convey--------DMB--- -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ---------Donovan------Buddle---------
I agree with all - MLS. So here is my thoughts..... 3-5-2 GK: Walker or Brown D: Pope, Gibbs, Garcia dmids: Armas and Mulrooney amid: Convey right mid: Martino left mid: Beasley F: Buddle F: Twellman If it is Arena...and I am making a prediction: I would say the same as above, but replace Martino and put in Klein and take out Buddle and put in donovan. Leave Donovan home. Let him get some rest.
Yeah, this game doesn't need Donovan anyway. I'd like to see Martino get some minutes at am, just to see what he can do leading the attack after his promising gold cup.
I also wouldn't mind this. Move Convey onto the right wing. A desparate need to give balance to our attack
Yes this would be nice to see, especially after the good game he had had against Cameroon last year before he was hurt.
I won't list an XI but here are some MLSers I'd like to see Bruce give a look: Taylor Twellman, Edson Buddle, Kyle Martino, Brian Mullan, Todd Dunivant, Eddie Robinson, Adin Brown, Ricardo Clark if healthy (I know Clark is young, but his youth nats career is over and I definitely think he has a potential senior nats career, so...)
Arena will continue to experiment with putting players out of position and/or lesser talents v. Haiti. Perhaps Convey at left fullback, Steve Ralston anywhere on the pitch, or even a return of the [sarcasm] greatest UVa alum ever, [/sarcasm] Ritchie Williams! Booger-picking idiots will point to this as a sign that [for example] "Convey did well against Haiti at Left Back, why don't we start him there all the time?" Or the myopic will point to [for example] Ralston's DOMINANCE against a weak opponent in CONCACAF as logic for his continued inclusion. The terminally stupid will look to Danny Califf's ability to shut down a Haitian forward/cab driver as a reason to cap him in the future. This will be despite Haiti being of lesser quality than St. Benedict High School and Haiti being as professional as some sunday league teams. My point is this: As long as the US advances into the Hexagonal, [as they rightly should] it matters not in the least who plays. Nor should it matter who is in the squad for this match. Nor should [for example] Ante Razov's 5 goals v. a weak opponent nor Convey's dominance at left fullback v. a weak opponent nor Ralson's 4 assists v. a weak opponent mean anything at all. Personally, I'd rather not risk an injury within the US' first XI against an opponent such as this. Play the zygotes who are trying to earn work permits in the UK. Cap the players who are currently out of favour. Just don't lose, Mr. Arena, and the fandom will be more than happy. Cheers!
A desperate move indeed.. I just don't understand peoples need to move Convey to the outside of midfield.. After watching him his entire professional career, there is no way outside of a ridiculous injury crush that he should be on the outside.. He is a central midfielder plain and simple.. He is more comfortable in the middle and he plays his best soccer from the middle and gets results while playing in the middle.. I understand Arena's use of him as a de facto left back because of his ability to get upfield from deep lying positions, but we need to find a solution from our ranks in MLS for the right side of midfield (Mullan, Klein, Olsen, whomever) and go from there.. It makes no sense to displace an out and out right sided mid with a player from another position on the field..
except that he has said as recently as June that his favorite position is out wide on the left. By his own admission thats his most confortable position. But thats not why I would suggest moving Convey Wide right. #1. Martino will probably develop into a pretty good AMid, and #2 Convey on the right gives a balanced attack so we can launch an attack through either 3rd of the field.
Not doubting you but when (or in what context) did he say that? Regardless, he has always, and I stress always, stood out when in the AMid slot, whether in his limited oppotunities at DC United, the U20's or most recently vs. Holland. I suspect we need to try Martino at Rmid vs moving Convey there.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/us/news/2003/08/15/convey_quotes/ and again. Why Martino over Justin Mapp?
Thanks for the link and I find it hard to believe frankly that he meant that but it's ridiculous for me to argue that point so I won't. I'm all for Mapp on the right wing but I think he continues to have issues on the defensive side of the ball. Until he proves he's willing to work hard on defense, I think he won't get much time with the MNT and rightfully so. As to alternatives, I'm a big Mullen fan. I was surprised that he didn't make the team for the Denmark friendly and I'm hoping he is still in the frame for Bruce. If Benny's finally healthy, I think it's still his spot to lose.
Here's the starting line-up I'd start (subject to change): --------------Walker------------- -----Garcia----Pope----Gibbs----- -------------Mastroeni----------- --Klein-------------------Beasley- -------Martino------Convey------ ---------Wolff------Twellman----- Subs to be used: Califf Clark Mapp Mullan Davis Buddle Noonan (assuming all those players are healthy)
I have yet to see a left sided winger play well on the right, and vice versa. Why anyone thinks that switching wingers' sides is a good idea in the first place is beyond my comprehension.
because he can use both feet. Like Mapp and even O'Brien, unlike Eddie Lewis and DaMarcus Beasley. And left-footed Convey is an upgrade over anyone else we have thats right footed
Apologies if this is widely known but Mullen is coming off of some type of surgery according to SJ match report from a scrimmage with the Burn in Spain. Does this explain his absence from the MNT picture so far this year. Kinnear comments and match report here: http://www.sjearthquakes.com/fan_pages/022304feature.htm Kinnear, on player performances: “I was happy to see that Todd (Dunivant) and Brian (Mullan) are recovering well from recent surgeries and I think that they performed well today. I also thought it was important to get the rookies into a game as well as Roger (Levesque), who didn’t have many chances last year due to his knee injury. It was a good game to gauge where we are physically right now.”
According to The Boston Globe Noonan and Ralston have been called into camp for this match. http://www.boston.com/sports/articles/2004/02/24/us_keepers_going_places/ (check the very end of the article)
..........................Walker......................... ....Mastro..............Pope............Gibbs..... .......................Mulrooney........................ ..Klein.................Martino..........Beasley... ..........................Convey......................... .................Wolff.............Donovan...........
This is probably the best lineup if everyone is available, except I prefer Aiden Brown at goalie and maybe Olsen or Ralston for Klein. If a 4-4-2 is required, I would go with the following unbalanced lineup: Brown; Mullan, Pope, Gibbs, Duinivart; Mastroeni or Mulrooney, Martino, Convey, Beasley; Wolff, Donovan.