If he goes back and watch the Slovenia match I don't believe he removes Buddle to insert Donovan, he removes Bradley. I would be stunned if a fit Buddle is not in the starting lineup against Italy!
For right now, this is where I'm at as well. For the games where we go 4-4-2 diamond. In a 4-2-3-1 type set, Donovan is again 1 of the players in the second level behind the striker (be it Altidore, Buddle, or Dempsey). However, running up and down the wings all day isn't going to help him, and I think some games in the middle or up top will help prolong things and keep him fresh. At minimum, let there be a lot of interchange between LD, Clint, and now Johnson, underneath the striker(s). Bradley had a good game, but I don't think he's a long term solution at RM. He'll find plenty of time as the #2-#3 RM (behind LD, Clint, and Johnson), and fighting it out for the #8 spot (with Holden & Torres) and the #6 spot.
I think there are a number of options. After the first few of games I liked something like this: --------------------Howard --------Faster CB--------Boc------------- Dolo---------------------------------Chandler -----------------Beckerman (#6) ----------Bradley (#8) Donovan-------------Dempsey (#10)--------Shea --------------Altidore Good attacking players with speed on both sides. Change the dmid to whomever you like. I am focusing on the top 5. This suits the abilities, imo, of all 5 players. Then I was reading about the false 10 and how JK sees Donovan as an ideal #10 and I see a couple of other possibilities --------------------Howard --------Faster CB--------Boc------------- Dolo---------------------------------Chandler -----------------Bradley (#6) ----------Dempsey (#8) Young gun-------------Donovan (#10)--------Shea --------------Altidore This keeps the speed. I am not sure how Dempsey would do as a #8. I think Dempsey played there one game for JK, but JK also played bradley as #10 one game. Its got some possibilities. Lots of speed and attack. Lots of defensive issues. I think its unlikely except against teams we can really dominate. So with the same mindset of a false #10. I really don't see Donovan as a creater. I think Dempsey suits that role the best if that is what JK wants. But if he wants a false 10# that shoots into space created by Jozy and uses more speed, vision and tactical understanding to attack they creative dribbling in conjested areas- then I see something more like this: --------------------Howard --------Faster CB--------Boc------------- Dolo---------------------------------Chandler -----------------Beckerman (#6) ----------Bradley (#8) Dempsey-------------Donovan (#10)--------Johnson --------------Altidore This would suit a counter attacking scheme with Donovan up top, but would really suit a possession oriented attack with Johnson and Dempsey being creative ball handlers that cut inside and create space for an outside back come up the wings to combine, cross and make penatrative runs. Then Donovan acts uses speed, vision, and high soccer IQ to make good quick penatrative runs that either Dempsey or Johnson can create space for or Donovan can combine off of Jozy. That leaves the #8 helping with possession, supporting the attack, and making the occasional pentrating run. That seems to suit Bradley to a T. As much as I like Dempsey in that creater role, with the addition of Johnson, this might be the more effective way to create a dynamic and creative attack. It would plenty of weapons to unpredictable. I also think Dempsey is better in defense than Donovan. Donovan is better on the counter than Dempsey- so as long as Donovan is playing that false #10 role and not the more recently conventional creater, then I think that may be the eventual and best lineup for the US to play a fairly balanced but attacking soccer style.
I think Bradley is a long term answer for the #8 role, regardless if he is lined up right, left, middle or on his head.
I've liked Shea at LB since he played there briefly with the U20s. [LINEUP-4-4-2][/LINEUP-4-4-2] Howard Chandler Gooch Boca Shea Jones Donovan F Johnson Dempsey Altidore Buddle
I like the idea of it. He would attack up the wings well and allow Chandler to play on the right. But I am not sure he has the agility or positional sense to play left back for the men's national team.
Fabian did well for us this last game but let's see what he does for his club this weekend before we pencil him in, so far I like the guy, he looks legit. This weekend we should have another look at him and Williams.
I don't think we are going to see a lot of the 4 4 2. Most of what JK has done is has been formations that better take advantage of the team's midfield. These systems also tend to be better for the possession oreinted play that JK seems to be developing all the way down to the youth levels. I can see them using the 4 4 2 in specific situations tactically and if this team cannot be competitive and qualify with the other systems. I think the preference is for variations of the 4 3 3.... though really even the 4 4 2 that JK played was a 4 3 3 variation... so who knows.
It leaves him on the bench. And, despite all the arguments supporting your view that Buddle "was the prime reason along with Johnson for the increased offensive output" I submit that the logic is wrong. That offensive output was there because of MBradley's penchant to look for attacking possibilities, plus the contributions of Johnson. I'd rather see Dempsey closer to goal, working with both Johnson and Donovan, backed by the field-wide distribution and through balls from Bradley with an honest-to-goodness defensive midfielder behind all of them. Modify things late in the game with Buddle or Agudelo, if called for.
Donovan and Dempsey are clearly our best field players, and no one else even comes close. They'll either both be deployed as attacking mids, or one will play as an attacking mid and the other as a forward. This is not a difficult nut to crack.
I would modify this a bit and say they are our best attacking players. The best players don't always play as attacking mids. The question that JK might ask himself is if LD or CD or also our best #8. If that's the case, then it becomes about which one the team needs more. I tend to think that Bradley is our best #8 without Holden. But JK and others may disagree.
JK is not going to sit Buddle just to play Bradley. He knows exactly what MB brings to the table see "We know that Michael has tremendous qualities, in his commitment, where he can cover so much ground, how he stays calm, very experienced," Klinsmann said. The other player I would credit along with Buddle and Johnson for the increased offense is Chandler in just the first half: 0:50 Weighted chip to Buddle at top of the 18 which he chested down to Johnson for a shot on goal. 10:00 the dribble right then weighted dish left to Johnson inside the 18 which led to the cross across the 6 that Jozy should have converted. 13:00 Weighted lob to Altidore at the top of the 18 to Johnson to Dempsey for a shot. 15:00 Weighted pass to top of the 18 Altidore to Buddle to Johnson... 23:00 Driven cross to Altidore who was just offside. 41:00 Weighted pass to Johnson just inside the 18 which resulted in the penalty. Can you name a single chance Bradley started? What attacking possibilities did Bradley create? What attacking chances was he involved in?
Off the top of my head, his through ball set up a sog by Buddle in the first 30 mins. He was involved in the build up to the pk Fabian earned. And he assisted on Clints goal. Also a beautiful through ball to either Chero or Jozy I think it was, down the right, which set up a cross which Clint headed right over the bar. Also completed 18 passes in the final 3rd, which is only 17 more then your boy Edu completed in his 3 game stretch.
- in a 433, i put Landon on the right and Dempsey as #10 - in a 442, i put dempsey up top with jozy, and Landon as #10 Williams is replaced in the first scenario, Buddle replaced in the second. Bradley should be on the field in either scenario.
This. The attack was much better with both Johnson and Bradley. They helped to create a lot more than Buddle, who besides a great shot- didn't hold the ball up well. That was a nice shot created by Dempsey, who chested it down and set up on a silver platter for him. The bolded part was HUGE... and has been largest complaint about Edu to date.
Agreed. Though "attacking mid" can encompass a lot of ground (CAM in 4-4-2 diamond or 4-2-3-1, RM/LM in 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, or either CM spot in an inverted triangle MF with a lone DM behind). And who plays where is also up for debate. Personally, I like Clint closer to goal and central. He's more physical, better in the air (maybe the best on the team), and IMHO, has better close control. I'd chose him for the CAM or WF roles. I like Landon more in space, which means wide. And I think he's a better crosser, generally speaking. And his speed gives him space and time to cross. Though a roaming WF/SS role would also work.
I agree with this. I think the idea of using LD as that false 10 is intriguing, but I prefer him wide with Dempsey as CAM. What JK goes with may actually be determined more by who wins the left mid position between Johnson and Shea. If Johnson wins that battle then, dempsey as an RAM make sense. It adds more unpredictabiltiy to the offense as we would have two creaters for Jozy and LD. With LD attacking space and findng space. If Shea wins that battle, then it may make more sense to go with two speedy wingers with LD on the right... and Dempsey plays as CAM. It should be fun watching it develop.
Edu is not my boy but that is a good way to deflect attention from the fact that MB did not provide any real offensive value. He did complete 17 passes up from the 23 total in his prior 3 games combined but were any of them dangerous? He also gave the ball away 14 times. Unlike Johnson did he ever cause any issue to the Slovenian defense? When Donovan returns against Italy in February baring injuries Buddle will be on the field, Donovan will take Bradley's place at AMR/RCM and Bradley will return to the bench. My "boy" Jones will be manning the #6 if he stays healthy but thats another issue.
C'mon 'coop, everyone knows how you feel about Edu and Bradley. And seriously, MB didn't provide any "real offensive value"? You can't be making that argument with a straight face.
Just out of curiosity, your statement clearly indicates that you think at least one US field player is better than Donovan and/or Dempsey so, who is this masked man?
Buddle made 24 passes and lost the ball 7 times which is outstanding for a striker. He Altidore, and Dempsey also played great front line pressure defense. in contrast Bradley lost possession 14 times and did not create a single chance from the run of play. The ratio is not true but at best Bradley passed the ball laterally and backwards more in the final third. He did not create anything. I like Harkes quote " I love the way Bradley just slows the ball down when it gets to him". Bradley replaced Williams and Buddle replaced Edu. Bradley and Edu have different roles why are we comparing them?
I confess to not knowing what 'coop is so you got me there. Please point out any chances he created from the run of play, that is my definition of "offensive value" I will be watching the game for the third time later, maybe I missed it.
Donovan should be given a free roam role at RW/ST. Donovan needs to find the game so placing him in one set spot is difficult. Dempsey is so effectively because Dempsey roams from his normal LM spot. If you watch his games at Fulham, Dempsey is all over the field but he is listed as a LM. Because Dempsey roams around, he often finds roam to get the ball and provide scoring chances. A 4-3-3 would probably be the best formation for Donovan and Dempsey.
You know who you are, coop... On to your second paragraph. Let me get this straight, in your mind a player provides "offensive value" (whatever that means) only if he provides a pass in the run of play that would of been an assist if the player receiving the pass would have scored a goal upon receiving said pass... Is this correct? Talk about shifting goalposts... Edit: And let me add that I love how you add the "in the run of play" qualifier. This allows you to dismiss the high quality set ball delivery that MB provided in the Slovenia match (quality we've been missing without Landon and/or Stu).
That's not how I saw it. He assisted on Dempsey's goal and delivered at least one nice through ball from my memory. When I talk about who replaced whom, I am refering to roles. Edu's role was a linking central midfielder. That was the role that Bradley played. I am still not sure what role Williams had. He seemed to play as a winger with heavy defensive responsibilities. That makes a bit of sense because the lineup with Williams included Shea on the left, with more of a true winger. Bradley played more centrally as did Johnson in diamond 4. Bradley normaly does play a lot of balls backwards. I think this has been a point of contention between him and JK who wants to see more risks. Edu plays balls forwards but he does this badley. Edu also kills attacks with his poor touch and can't seem to put together combination play. Bradley played the number 8 role much better. He got forward, made attacking runs, etc etc. He did well and is a better option in the center mid than Edu, unless they are going for a heavily defensive unit. I don't get the Buddle for Edu comment.. they were obviously playing different roles, so I don't see how one can say that. Williams played much wider as winger. I never saw Bradley play as winger. He played much more centrally than that. So that doesn't fit with me. If someone wants to say Buddle was in for Williams as both were offensive minded players and that Buddle just played further up the pitch than Williams, then I can go with it I guess.. but even then their roles were completely different in a different system. Edu and Bradley's roles were the most similar and I think Bradley is a better option at that #8 role, as long as he is playing an attacking mindset and players with discipline - which I think are the things JK is trying to get out of him. Really, aside from Holden, I think Bradley is our best option at that #8 role. Dempsey maybe.... but I think he is more of a liability defensively and is more valuable more on the attack.