I realize that by starting this thread i am bound to stir more controversy than it is probably worth. But for entertainment's sake i'm going to create MY starting XI i would like to see take the field in the first friendly. ( I'm aware that i will be lambasted for including rolfe due to my home-town bias but i think his play against scotland warrrants his inclusion.) If you wish to view the roster to see whose available the linke is here: http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=291966 I actually took the time to write this down on paper so it wouldn't just be a sloppy, unbalanced 11. Formation: 4-4-2 Starting 11: Eddie Johnson, Chris Rolfe, Pablo Mastreoni, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Kyle Martino, Chris Albright, Heath Pearce, Jimmy Conrad, Eddie Pope, Matt Reis. Forwards: Rolfe, Johnson. (I think they could make a great pairing for the future if they learn to play off one another.) Midfield: Martino on the left, and Donovan on the right but also drifting into the hole to support the strikers. Dempsey and Mastreoni in the holding roles in the center. Defense: Albright on the right playing more as a wing-back to allow Landon more freedom to roam inside, with Heath Pearce on the left. Pope and Conrad holding down the centre back slots. Goalie: Not sure to be honest so i pluged in Reis. Subs I'd like to see: Wolff for Rolfe in the 70th minute. Hejduk for Albright in the 55th minute. Carroll for Mastreoni in the 65th minute.
Don't worry rolfefan1717. Nobody will accuse you of a hometown bias for including Rolfe in your starting lineup.
Bruce may go with some regulars over new guys for sure -------Hartman/Reis (Makes no Difference)----- --HeyDUDE---Pope------ Albright---Pearce--- ------------------Mastro-------------------- ---Q/Ralston------------------------Martino-- ------------------Landon------------------- -------------Ching--------EJ--------------- subs we gotta see for D are Dunivant for Mid will have to be Clint,Adu and Carroll Forwards only Rolfe but im sure either Twellman and especially Wolff will jump into starting spots if EJ is not ready yet This has to be Popes and Ralston last horrah If anyone else impresses in camp then hopefully they emerge in the friendlies.
----------------Johnson---------Wolff -----Adu---------------Donovan--------------Ralston -----------------------Mastroeni --Pearce--------Conrad----------Pope-----------Albright ------------------------Hartman subs (if there are 5): Carroll for Mastroeni; Quaranta for Ralston; Rolfe for Wolff; Twellman for Johnson; Noonan for Donovan (move Adu to a-mid)
Vs. Canada (using more of the marginal guys in this one since I think Norway will be a tougher test): -----------------------Reis------------------------ -----Hejduk------Pope------Albright-----Pearce---- ----------------------Olsen----------------------- ------Klein----------Dempsey-----------Quaranta-- --------------Twellman----Johnson---------------- Subs: Donovan for Klein (move Dempsey to RM), Carroll for Olsen, and Guzan for Reis at HT; Adu for Quaranta and Jaqua for Twellman around 65-70' vs. Norway: ------------------------Reis------------------------ -----Hejduk-----Albright-----Pope------Pearce------ -----------------------Mastro---------------------- ----Quaranta----------Donovan----------Ralston---- ------------------Johnson-----Ching---------------- Subs: Conrad for Hejduk (move Albright to RB) at HT; Dempsey for Ralston and Rolfe for Ching around 70'; Klein for Quaranta around 80' For the SK and Japan games, see who does well vs. Norway and Canada then plan from there
If Benny Feilhaber can get named for the squad against Scotland, I'm pretty sure that Freddy will be named for one of the friendlies. Not sure if he will see the field, though. That remains to be seen.
IMHO, Freddu will see the field in at least one friendly and put an end to this Ghana speculation. Of course, I am one of those who prefer him over Ralston for Germany, so what do I know?
At least for the 1st game, Bruce will start his most experienced lineup... ---------Hartman Albright-Pope-Conrad-Hejduk ----Mastroeni---Olsen Ralston-------------- -----------Donovan -------Johnson-Wolff- Expect the subs to be guys who will be in direct competition for roster spots: a Left back,a Right Wing, a holding mid, a utility midfielder, and a striker Pearce for Hejduk (Left back) Quaranta/Klein for Ralston (Right wing) Noonan/Dempsey/Martino for Olsen ("utility" midfielder) Twellman/Ching/Jaqua for Johnson (Striker) Rolfe/Noonan/Quaranta for Wolff (Striker) Carroll for Mastroeni (Holding Mid) If Adu impresses in practice, look for him to be a token sub in the 89th minute of the first game.
Thanks, I was just going to ask when Aldark has ever played CD? I thought maybe I ripvanwinkled or something. Has he ever played there with Bruce? Hey, it's the Tony Sanneh path - maybe he'll switch inside for a few months then surprise everyone by pulling a BigCat in Germany. Yeah, that's the ticket. Hey, I've got a lovely slightly used car for sale. Mildew smell? Naaa. And just ignore the Aint's sticker on the window...
I like that lineup a lot , and its too bad Mapp is out , I would love to see him playing on the left. If LD wants a break , I want to see more of Tino on the right also. I love Rolfe up front , and im glad hes getting a good look, but please Bruce , dont play Ching...
I like Rolfefan 717's lineup, though with four or five games, there is a lot of time for experimentation. One thing I would like to try is: Goalie (who cares); Albright, Pope, Conrad, Pearce; Quarenta, Mastro, LD, Dempsey/Noonan; Johnson, Wolff. I am still looking for a viable right midfield wing position so that the USMNT has that option, and Quarenta has the best potential. It also gives LD work in a central role, in case Reyna is not available. Noonan/Dempsey and Quarenta can switch sides so we can see if Noonan is an option on the right. It doesn't mean I don't want to see Adu, Carroll, Dempsey in the middle, Hejduk, Klein, Martino and Twellman get real shots.
-------------------EJ------------------ ------------------Wolff---------------- -----------------Donovan-------------- --Pearce---Dempsey--Mastro--Quar---- --------Hejduk--Conrad--Albright-------
I'd expect Ej--Wolff Adu--Olsen--Mastro-Donovan Pearce--Conrad--Pope--Albright --------GK-X---------------
Wow: off to the races. Scoobs it seems like recently I've taken exception to a few of your posts and I don't know why it's happened these last couple weeks but this looks more like one of the practice squads than a pre-WC friendly squad, even if it is only domestics. I'd be happy to be wrong but put me in the camp that at least for starting line-ups Bruce is going to field more experienced players; what the XI who end up on the field at the end of these friendlies I think is much more wide open. But to start: ------------ Hartmann -------------- Albright - Conrad - Pope - Hejduk -------------- Maestro ------------- ------ Olsen ---------- Martino ---- ---------------- LD ------------------ ------- Johnson ---- Ching --------- Oddities of oddities: there's no LM in this camp! In fact, this is really more of a box w/LD in a free role, even though it looks like a diamond here. Ching gets the nod based on his rapport w/LD.
AFAIK Freddy seeing the field for a friendly would NOT cap tie him at this age. I'd still like to see what he can do IF he earns it. Has this camp started yet? I'd love some field reports from the camp on who is impressing and earning minutes and who is washing out. I seem to recall someone was able to give inside comments during training for the Gold Cup.
Keeper: Doesn't really matter... Pick Hartman. Backs: Pope and Conrad in the center seems like a virtual lock. Since Pearce is the only Euro in camp, since left back remains an open position, and as long as he trains well, I'd expect him to start over Hejduk (who is a known quantity), especially in the opening game against Canada. If you don't test Pearce now, then when? Albright is competing for a reserve right back spot, so he starts against Canada, too. Midfield: Donovan and Mastro seem like locks, given the need for some veteran Nat's in the starting midfield. I could see Mastro coming out sometime in the 2nd half, since there is no need to risk injury, Arena needs to test other defensive mids, and you want Mastro ready for the other two friendlies. The other two mid spots will be more interesting. No classic left mid in camp, so does Arena play a "box" and add Carrol or Olsen into the lineup? Who is the other attacking mid in a box -- Martino, Dempsey, Quaranta, or maybe Wolff? Or does he just shoe-horn any old mid into the left side and stick with either Ralston or Quaranta on the right? If finding a right mid is important, then Quaranta should start, given his youth and need for experience. I'll bet we see the box with Olsen (Arena likes his grit) starting next to Mastro as one of 2 defensive mids (Carrol in the 2nd half), and Dempsey attacking along with Donovan (Quaranta or Martino in the 2nd half). Striker: If he is healthy, Johnson is a sure bet; the guy need to play. If he isn't ready, then Wolff starts. I think Arena is looking for a backup target guy, so I'll bet he starts Ching. I understand that, but I'd rather take a look at Twellman, in spite of his smaller size, next to Johnson up top. I think Twellman is a better sniper, I'd like to see how he plays with some key starters like Johnson and Donovan, and I'd like to see if he finally got that scoring monkey off his back in the fall. I'd also like to see Rolfe in the 2nd half. Personally, I'd also like to see Adu in the 2nd half, but I think that wouldn't be Arena's style in the Canada match with the young 1st timer. He could play either as an attacking mid or a striker (which would be a more logical role as a late-game sub in a WC match). If he works hard in camp, Adu will get 10-15 minutes at the end of either of the next two games. So, against Canada in game #1: -------------Hartman-------------- Albright----Pope--Conrad----Pearce ----------Olsen--Mastro----------- -------Donovan------Dempsey----- ----------Johnson---Ching--------
This looks like a pretty solid guess. Could be totally wrong, but well thought out. If Arena goes with that formation, I would just say that I think he would play Carroll in front of Olsen.
about all I ask for is that Freddy get the chance to get extended minutes playing with Donovan and Johnson
That could be fun for a fan. Someday I'd like to see all of the following players on the field together: Donovan, Beasley, Adu, Johnson, Convey, O'Brien. I'd like to see what that combo of skill and speed could do.
That is why I am going to the first two friendlies. I think that is what we need to determine if he will be a viable option in Germany. I am expecting to see all of the field players appear over the course of those two games. It will be fascinating to see who steps up and punches their ticket to the WC.