from http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/latest_soccer_news/336532.html Goalkeepers: Kevin Hartman (Los Angeles Galaxy) Tim Howard (MetroStars) Nick Rimando (D.C. United) Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Chicago Fire) Danny Califf (Los Angeles Galaxy) Brian Dunseth (Columbus Crew) Nick Garcia (Kansas City Wizards) Chad McCarty (Columbus Crew) Eddie Pope (D.C. United) Ryan Suarez (Dallas Burn) Sasha Victorine (Los Angeles Galaxy) Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago Fire) Bobby Convey (D.C. United) Chris Klein (Kansas City Wizards) Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids) Richard Mulrooney (San Jose Earthquakes) Ben Olsen (D.C. United) Steve Ralston (New England Revolution) Pete Vagenas (Los Angeles Galaxy) Forwards: Jeff Cunningham (Columbus Crew) Landon Donovan (San Jose Earthquakes) Clint Mathis (MetroStars) Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution) I thought that Arena was going to use the Euro players against the Jamaican team? Why is he still using Twellman?
Other than Pope the defense is very inexperienced. Arena is smart to give these young guys a taste of international action, while still using a strong upfront lineup that will score.
USA Lineup vs. Argentina OK, against Canada (which BA proably knew wasn't really going to pressure the defense too much), we had this lineup... ---------- Howard Victorine Calif Bocanegra Convey --------- Mastro Klein ---------------- Beasley --------- Donovan --- Cunningham -- Mathis I think that we upgrade our defense a bit in this one -- or at least go with pure defenders. For example: Garcia Pope Bocanegra Suarez I'm not sure if those are the right guys for outside backs out of the group we have. Does Suarez belong on the left or right? Also, don't know much about Dunseth or McCarty to know if they're central or outside backs. Also, putting Olsen at RM would be better defensively than Klein. If Suarez belongs on the right, then maybe this would be better: Suarez Pope Calif Bocanegra I have no idea about the attacking options. Either go with what you did against Canada and see how they stack up against different competion or switch them around to see some different guys together.
Twellman has only seen action in two games, I say give him these two to see if he can produce. One could ask; "Why is he still using Cunningham ?". Cunningham has had plenty of chances to score on the international level. He has 6 caps and only one assist to show for it.
Re: USA Lineup vs. Argentina Suarez is traditionally a RB so your Suarez Pope Calif Bocanegra looks more like my lineup. and having Olsen's workrate on the right would be a plus...as long as he doesn't get injured
But folks, Arena has basically said that Bocanegra is his "vocal leader" in the central defense, so keep him there if you want an accurate prediction. For at least the Argentina game we will probablysee the same lineup as against Canada but with Pope over Califf and possibly Olsen over Klein: ---------- Howard Victorine Pope Bocanegra Convey ------------ Mastroeni Klein/Olsen ---------------- Beasley ------------ Donovan ------ Cunningham -- Mathis Of course various folks will still get ample sub time as Arena is in experiemntal mode.