Pre-match: U.S. MNT Oct. 10 vs Ecuador

I'm predicting a Scotland-like beat-down. When is the last time we've seen Jozy and Donovan play together? We will remember how good Jozy is with good service after this match.

 

Remember guys, LD is a forward. He cannot play in the midfield.

 

damn. intriguing

 

JK can't put him in midfield, if the did that would leave him exposed to his WC selection reasoning.

 

The last time Gyau played LW/LM was vs. Mexico U23 friendly, USA won 2-0 and he was declared best player along with Mix

 

Wow, JK changing his formation so he can start and keep LD away from the midfield. This is getting ridiculous.

 

Wow. That is some PACE in that line up. And yes, I'm including the #LegenD in that statement.

 

julian green!! clap clap clapclapclap lol

 

Jurgen's lineup selections confuse me every single time.

 

LD Forever. The reason I started following international soccer in 2010 for the World Cup.

 

What's confusing about this one?

 

orozco

 

Very fast lineup.

Glad to see Garza, Mix and Yedlin get the start.

I have seen enough of Michael Orozco to last me.

Would have preferred a look at Tim Ream, even at Central Defender.

 

klinsman is probably hating this presentation lol

 

Why does my friend's birthday dinner have to start in half an hour?!

 

Chandler, who was deemed a LB, pre-World Cup, starting at right back. Yedlin at RM. That's pretty much it.

 

Does that mean I'm supposed to take up a new position because of that?

What I've seen is a GK with poor aerial ability at the international level. I'm not questioning his overall ability. He's not a bad GK, but the talk of him competing with Guzan for a spot is crazy and I think its time to move on from him in a back up role. Let some of the younger GK's get a chance in a back up role.

 

I don't think Rimando is one of those GK's that needs a shot to prove himself. I think what he is able to do is known, and now its just a matter of where that stacks up. He's quick off his line, great with his feet and has great reflexes, but his aerial game isn't too good. I think Guzan's the clear #1 with Howard out, and there are no real challengers. After that, you could say Rimando's next, but why not give some of the younger GK's a chance? What's going to happen at the end of the 2018 cycle? Are we just going to stick with the same three GK's again this cycle and be starting from scratch at the beginning of the 2022 cycle when Howard, Guzan and Rimando likely retire from the National Team?

At some point, you need to bring in younger players. If Rimando was so overwhelmingly better than the younger options, then you keep him with the team and don't change everything. I don't think that is the case, and its why I'd like to see some of the younger GK's get a chance.

 

All I'm saying is we've yet to see enough of Boyd. He needs more of a chance. About three full games worth of playing time not scoring is not enough to prove Boyd shouldn't be on the National Team. Everyone knows what Wondo is about and he's gotten plenty of chances. Boyd's gotten very few, so its time to give players like Boyd a chance instead of calling up players like Wondo.

 

I don't think I'll ever convince you, so believe what you want to. We'll have to see who's right.

 

And Guzan is good in the air but TERRIFYING to watch with the ball at his feet. For several great examples, watch the replay of the USA-Ecuador game that just happened. Both of them have flaws, albeit different ones. I still think Rimando should be on the team until he drops in quality. Regarding 2018 WC, I'm not so sure that Tim Howard will make it to then. He strikes me as the kind of player who will suddenly suffer a drastic drop in form and never come back from it, but that's just me. Whatever happens, Bill Hamid and, to a lesser extent Sean Johnson, will both get somewhat regular callups to the national team over the next several years, so I'm not going to be concerned if neither of them (or some other younger guy) is in the squad for the 2018 WC (assuming we make it there, of course).

 

I'd like to see Boyd get chances, problem is that we still have to prepare for the Gold Cup and I don't know if I want to take matchdays away from Wondo if he can contribute in that tourney. The issue for Boyd is that Wondo gets plenty chances for MLS heavy friendlies. Boyd's biggest chances come during the Euro heavy friendlies but that's when we tend to call Jozy and Johansson. Boyd will get more chances with time, but sometimes you have to go with the known quantity. FWIW Boyd is hurt and Wondo was a late addition. We might have seen Boyd in these friendlies. It'll probably only be for about 30 minutes but we should get a chance to see him in the friendlies next month.

 

MLS and the International game are a little different if you haven't noticed.