If you're the manager, who is your starting US National team. And what formation? Imagine we're playing Mexico for a WC berth, if that influences your lineup, and that all questionables are healthy. Here's my list: Formation: 3-5-2 GK - Friedel LB - Sanneh CB - Bocanegra RB - Pope LW - Beasley LCDM - Mastroeni CAM - O'Brien RCDM - Reyna RW - Convey ST - Mathis ST - Donovan I think Mathis and Donovan both have the ability to drop back to set some things up also. Post yours or rip mine apart.
I'm a bit more biased toward the 4-4-2, though the 3-5-2 does have its' merits: ------------------------------------Friedel-------------------------------- Sanneh---------------Pope---------------------Bocanegra------------Gibbs ------------------------------------Reyna--------------------------------- --Convey----------------------------------------------------------Beasley ------------------------------------O'Brien-------------------------------- -------------Donovan--------------------------------McBride-------------- I thought about putting Mastroeni in at RB instead of Sanneh & left Mathis off the list because of JOB but I still think my line-up could be VERY effective!!
I like the 4-4-2 myself - it's what I've played in for my entire life, the only reason I think the US would be more effective in a 3-5-2 lineup is that we need to be able to possess the ball more in the midfield. Since we're less poised and tactically sound under pressure than our southern neighbors, we need to push that extra man into the midfield. We also have very athletic and gifted marking backs that can win balls in the air, crucial for having 3 in the back. Just my $.02
So are you sold on Casey? I didn't get a chance to watch the MNT vs. Poland but I heard he had a solid (albeit unspectacular) match. I like that you moved LD outside, but do you think his work-rate could hold up at probably the most exhausting position? I like his pace on the ball and his vision is arguably his best quality...
Friedel Sanneh-Pope-Berhalter Reyna-Mastroeni-O'Brien-Lewis Donovan Wolff-McBride In the second half I might bring on Cobi to slow down the game and maybe even Jax-Max and Llamosa to take time off the clock. Worked fine last time
That smile is simply that NO ONE HAS PENCILED IN ARMAS! Can someone please contact Bruce? Anyone? Please!
-------Donovan---McBride---------- -------------Mathis-------------- DMB-----------------------JOB ------Armas-----Reyna---- ------Boca----Pope----Gibbs/Berhalter -------------Friedel----------------- On the bench Keller Convey Masteroni Wolff Berhalter/Gibbs Dolo Sanneh JOB would be playing that Earnie Stewart role, allowed to float all over the field. Gibbs and Berhalter are a toss up, can't really go wrong with either, IMO.
4-4-2: Friedel LB-Vanney RB-Gibbs CB-Pope CB-Boca RM-Donovan LM-DMB/O'Brien DM- Reyna/Mulrooney AM- Mathis/Convey F-Mcbride/Buddle F-Casey/Ching
I personally like the 4-4-2: Keller Cherundolo Pope Boca Gibbs Mastroeni Reyna Beasley Mathis Donovan McBride Bench: (18-man roster) Convey---first middie sub off the bench Wolff---first offensive sub Mulrooney---has the nod over Armas at this point for backup DM O'Brien---Don't know why he isn't in my starting XI, maybe because I havent seen him play in a while...if healthy, he definately starts. Sanneh (if healthy) Berhalter (very sssslllooowww, but makes up it with defensive instincts) Friedel---toss up between him and Keller Or, a 3-5-2 against tall, European type teams: Keller Gibbs Pope Boca Mastro Convey Reyna JOB Beasley Donovan McBride Either line-up I think would be very effective. It seems hard to get our best 11 all together at the same time. Hopefully by the time qualifying rolls around, they'll be injury free and ready to go.
ill post a 4-4-2 and a 3-5-2 friedel sanneh gibbs pope boca convey reyna JOB DMB donovan mcbride friedel sanneh pope boca convey JOB reyna mathis DMB donovan mcbride bench for both: howard berhalter cherundalo conor casey lewis wolfe edson buddle/kyle martino forza inter
Friedel-GK Gibbs-RCB Pope-CB Bocanegra-LB RWM-Cherundolo RCM-Reyna CM-O'Brien LCM-Donovan LWM-Beasley Withdrawn foward-Mathis CF-McBride
***-------Donovan---McBride---------- -------------Mathis-------------- DMB-----------------------JOB ------Armas-----Reyna---- ------Boca----Pope----Gibbs/Berhalter -------------Friedel-----------------*** Armas?????????????????????? Your high...right?????????????? That's it, you must be smoking something right now.
***Well, he's a great scrapper and has a tremendous workrate...still, his touch on the ball is suspect.**** He will be fine against the likes of Grenada where we should have a big advantage, even in the 2nd round against the likes of Panama and El Sal, & Jamaica/Haiti his faults will be overcome. Against technically skilled teams we cannot afford to have dead spots like Armas out there anymore. If we want to progress and become more dangerous he CAN'T be in there. Unfortunately, he seems to be one of Bruce's guys where he puts the blinders on and forgets everything else. If Pablo or Claudio/JOB (big if's there) are healthy and Armas starts it would be A Terrible Coaching Error. Just unforgivable. Many options on the field where Bruce can tinker and I have never ever criticized him on those, other than the other obvious mistake in Agoose. Again, good for CONCACAF & MLS, but obviously over matched against top teams. Armas is UNFORGIVABLE. He sets the whole dynamic of the squad back by his complete inablity to pass. He is in a key role that can not only be defense. His hospital balls put our skilled guys at risk as they recieve them (if they travel more than 5 yards) in positions that they can't do anything other than be clipped or tackled from behind. His workrate is great, but it is misleading. His give aways and poor passing always send the ball right back at the D and put them under immense pressure. Dead spot. Pure D, all of the time.You might as well put Vanney on the left and you might as well play Pope, Bocs and Gibbs up the middle. Gibbs is a much better defensive mid than Armas, and he has decent ball skills. Armas just can not be on the field starting for us anymore. It is a step backwards into the dark ages. It's so obvious and painfull to watch. Just like Goose at the cup. Just not good enough at this level with the players we have available (Claudio, Pablo, JOB, Gibbs, Sanneh, hell let Clark have a go against Grenada if we blow them out in game one - he is the future). Except for Clark (untested and young of course) the above mentioned offer so much more than Armas can EVER offer. One dimensional at best. It's so painfully obvious. C'mon Bruce, don't brain lock. Maybe injuries and luck won't bail you out this time.
Great post TAKK - I whole-heartedly agree that Armas shouldn't have a spot with the USMNT, his touch, passing and pace are all liabilities at the international level. I was a bit surprised to hear that he was getting some attention from a few clubs in the EPL over the winter transfer. Go figure. I hope your right about Clark getting the nod against Grenada - I'd like to see how he fares on the international stage.
I was actually in agreeance with you until I came to this sentence. Gibbs has the touch of a caveman, and it showed in the recent holland friendly. With 3 to 4 candidates to replace armas, how could you even entertain the idea of inserting gibbs in to midfield? At this point he is an athletically adept, competent DEFENDER that needs to work on his skillset, let him stick to what he does best.
Well, I am sold on Casey for now....we've got plenty of qualies for him to prove himself. I think you've hit upon the key for US/Landon relations- his work rate. I believe that his speed on the right wing is the key to open up the middle. DMB can slash, and so can LD. Turn them loose and make the D spread out and panic when we have some holders/distributors in the middle. Think about it for a minute....if you're defending us, where do you put your best guys? If you put them outside, you've got Reyna, JOB, and Clint in the middle. If you focus in the middle, you've got two absolute terrors sprinting in on the wings. IMHO, if Bruce were to tell Landon that this is simply where he would help the team most, he'd do it, and he'd play D as well. He's played on the wing effectively and defends when he knows its vital. I'd be so excited if we did this in Dallas, cause I'm on the 2nd row in at midfield at the Cotton Bowl!
Amen, and Amen- preach preacha! Love the guy, just don't think he's got the tools to play with this team anymore.
---------------------Friedel----------------------- ----------Pope-------Gibbs----------------Boca--- --Cherundolo-----------Reyna---------------------- -----------Donovan------------JOB---------DMB---- ---------------------Mathis------------------------ ------------Wolff---------------McBride------------- I think you play Gibbs at CB and put Pope (our best defender) out on the right (our most vunerable area). Gibbs is good in the CB rool. Pope can cheat into center though because we've got Cherundolo playing on that defensive RW roll. He's our second best option on the right. He can also run with the ball down that right side. Push Reyna more in towards a DM because I really liked what I saw from him in that posistion in the US/Pol game and he can bring it out of the back. Bring Donovan back to a RM/RW role but you also have JOB in the CM so Donovan and roam a little and make runs if he needs to. Put DMB out on the left flank. I know it looks like Boca is exposed a little but DMB is great and coming back to help out. Donovan is not known for that but Cherundolo is there. Mathis goes in the AM. I think he has the creativity and ability at that position. Wolff and McBride up top. Subs would be Convey for JOB, Casey for McBride, Sanneh for Cherundolo
Gibbs would be far from my choice at D mid. I was just trying to point out that Armas is what you described in Gibbs. Competent defender with limited ball skills. Why not Gibbs over Armas? At least he won't look like a child out on the field like Armas did against Holland. Also, now that I think about it, Gibbs did play mid for St. Pauli when they were in the 2nd and 3rd divisions. Still is a much better choice than Armas. Hands down.