With Mathis in recovery from groin surgery and Convey probably with the U-20's. Who will Arena place on the pitch vs. a Japanese squad that has several Euro-based players along? Since Keller is taking a trip back to his beloved Washington State, then I would guess he'll start as GK. I expect Victorine, probably recovered from injury, to get another try at RB. Garcia might be his sub? Hejduk, back from Switzerland, might start at LB (deja vu, WC 2002). Pope (probably up to speed 3/29) and Bocanegra should fill the central back slots. Mastroeni at DM (Mulrooney sub?), Klein at RM (Olsen sub?), Donovan at AM, Beasley at LM, McBride (back from EPL duty) and Twellman/Cunningham as forwards. Certainly injuries could change everything.
I think Bruce will try Benny at the attacking mid again and move Landon up top. LD and BMB seem to work together the best.
mcbride said he wasn't sure he'd be in seattle in a recent interview. bruce had asked him but mcbride seemed to be sitting on the fence. it's a long way to go from england, only have to head back to columbus. plus i think he'd have to cut his stay short in england by a weekend. (i could be wrong.) i'd like to see martino play, presuming he's back in health. buddle too. maybe call in broome for left back and fulfill wanderer's fantasy.
His last game withe Everton is march 22 against Arsenal. Everton's next game is April 6, which is after the loan is up. I really don't expect him to play the whole game, but it would be nice for him to play a half.
Hejduk should get a shot at his more natural right back position first, we sure as hell don't need him on the left booming balls out of play and downfield. It looks like Bruce is set on keeing Bocanegra at the LB spot until someone(Broomer, Gbandi, one of the youth team prospects) can push him back to the center. I'd like to see Suarez as a center back since it's obvious that the Bruce doesn't like him at RB. Thumbs down to Ben Olsen as attacking mid---let's try someone who actually plays there in MLS--Martino. Hopefully McBride doesn't come back so that Edson Buddle can get a call-up and have a go at forward.
I agree with this entire post except having Bocanegra on the outside -- I'd rather have him playing in the center.
Should be interesting with quite a few key guys missing. I' be happy to see McBride come back for this one as we could use him, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't. Keller in goal's a given if he's making the trip. Defense will see Boca and Pope for sure. Frankie is likely if he's around, and maybe Sasha again, although I presonally think he's not cut out for it, or really much of anything on this team. I'm split on throwing Convey out there again. Midfield is gonna need Donovan in the middle again. Nobody else is ready to do the job yet. Please god, no Olsen in the middle again. That was just pathetic. Beasley will get the spot on the left with Pablo in the middle and Klien seems to be getting all the chances on the right, although I wouldn't mind seeing Olsen there. Martino is an interesting option, but I haven't seen Bruce trot him out for a while. If McBride comes back, he's automatic up front. I wouldn't be surpriused to see Cunningham get a start this time around since we're a bit thin. I'd be surprised to see him pair up Twellman and McBride, although if McBride stays away, I figure Twellman for a start. I'm guessing we'll look something like this (assuming that McBride comes back, which is assuming a lot) ............McBride Cunningham Beasley Donovan Pablo Klien ......Hejduk Boca Pope Sasha ...................Keller Bench: Howard Convey Vagenas Garcia Buddle Olsen Twellman Of course, all this will likely change once we see who actually gets called to camp, always a few little surprises.
Would be nice to give Oneywu a look during this match, and maybe Casey to give him 30 minutes in the second half, too bad Gobbs is out, he's a young guy I'd like to see us work into the starting lineup. O'Brien is just beginning to practice with Ajax, I wonder if we can give him a little run around too. As far as a starting eleven, I would like to see Keller and Howard split halves, this would be a good test for Howard and some more quality minutes to get under his belt. This would also be a good time to give Donovan some more minutes playing central midfield, and to work Twellman up top, perhaps with Razov. Midfield should be solid with Donovan, Convey and Mastroeni central, Olsen and Beasley wide. I say a backline of Onewu, Pope and Bocanegra would be solid and be given a good test by the Japanese attack.
For this game at least, we haven't been so thin at attacking center mid since we had to call Tab Ramos up vs. Barbados. The usual suspects: Claudio Reyna-injured John O'Brien-don't see Ajax risking him Clint Mathis-will be recovering from surgery Landon Donovan-SJ has a meaningful game on 26th. Bobby Convey- with the U-20s Possible solutions: 1. Play a tired Landon. He's 20, he's fit. At least he won't have to travel much. Should work. 2. Kyle Martino. If Benny O gets to make his debut in the center vs. Argentina, why not Kyle vs. Japan? 3. Benny O (reprise) I hope we go 1/2 with Landon and 1/2 with Kyle.
starting XI Euro players like Kirovski will not be called in. This match vs Japan will be MLSers vs a B+ Japanese squad. Buddle if not called in for the 4 previous matches will not be called in. We should approach this match as important. Though a friendly it will be good practice for an MLS-based squad against a semi-full national squad and preparation for the group of death in France in June. The addition of a healthy O'Brien, a consistent Berhalter, maybe a recovered Sanneh(and don't forget the dubious roles played by Kirovski and Cherundolo) may give the MLS-based squad the possibilty of getting out of the first round in France.
Re: starting XI Disagree. The only reason Buddle and Martino were not called in were because they were injured. This might be Bruce last chance to get these guys in for a camp before Confed Cup this summer. For strikers, I guess Twellman, Cunningham, and Buddle.
Here's my lineup: McBride / Twellman (Buddle) Beasley/Donovan/Mastroeni/Vagenas/Olsen Bocanegra/Pope/Hejduk Keller
i asked on another thread but never got an answer .... so i'll ask here: what's up with armas? when will we see him work his way back into the lineup? (that'll be the starting lineup by the way. Overrated Pablo can go back to the bench thankyouverymuch). any fire fans out there know his situation? Also .... agree or disagree with my assessment of Pablo, but let's be honest: Bruce is probably going to give Chris every chance to win his spot back. Just wondering when that process will start.
I think it's wishful thinking to imagine that Armas will gain his spot back OVER Pablo Mastroeni. I do believe that he will make for an incredibly important back-up D-Mid, much as Williams did for Armas way back when. Times change - live with it. Mastroeni is solid and brings that much more to the offense.
Wow, look at how far we've come. Now our backup DM is Chris Armas. Just let that sink in. Yes, we've got some areas that are much stronger than others but overall our squad is so much deeper, and has more quality on the bench than just a few years ago. Kevin
not doggin on mastro ... good player and all. but I think armas is better. Masto on the bench? could happen. Times change afterall.
MLSers vs Japan Might Arena call in either Earnie Stewart and/or Joe Max Moore for this match given that they are in the US right now? Both are proven MF/F's and the USMNT will be missing Mathis. Stewart is probably in form since he has just left NAC Breda in mid-season. Moore is probably not in top form given his lack of first-team playing time recently.
Re: MLSers vs Japan Stewart has repeatedly said that if Bruce calls him for a match that he will be on the first flight out. Depending on who is healthy and in form, it might not be a bad idea to have one or both of them on the bench as insurance.
Re: Re: starting XI For strikers, I guess Twellman, Cunningham, and Buddle. [/B][/QUOTE] I know everyone doesn't think EJ is ready for the Senior Team...But i would just bring him in and see what he can do...There are some guys in camp that have not shown anything so why not?
Re: Re: Re: starting XI I know everyone doesn't think EJ is ready for the Senior Team...But i would just bring him in and see what he can do...There are some guys in camp that have not shown anything so why not? [/B][/QUOTE] For this game at least, EJ, like Convey, is hopefully going to be with the U-20s.