I think LD and Clint need to spend some time on the pitch together. Personally, I'd go back to what we saw against Scotland in terms of MF. Either bring in Clint for Torres, or swap out one of the CMs and move Torres centrally. Two things I DON'T want to see. Bradley as the DM. Edu has one of, or the most advanced, CM. I'd go like this: --------Edu------- --MB/JJ--JFT---- LD-------------CD -------Herc------- Let Mikey and Jermaine each have a half. Or ----------Jones---------- -----Bradley---Torres---- Donovan------------Dempsey ------------Herc------------ This can morph into 4-2-3-1, with any of the 3 being capable of playing centrally. Or we can try the same setup with Edu at DM or Jones in Mikey's spot.
If we're playing this as gel time for the first XI (at least the first half), I say we go back to the Xmas tree, with Donovan and Dempsey as the "2," Dempsey replacing Torres. ------------Gomez/Boyd--------------- -----Dempsey------------Donovan---- ----------Bradley------Jones----------- -----------------Edu--------------------- Castillo*--Boca---Cameron--Cherundolo ---------------Howard------------------ *Assuming Johnson's carrying a slight knock.
could be very wrong but i just have this feeling gooch starts. after his apparently poor showing against Brazil it would make sense to give him the chance to get his confidence back and also to evaluate him against concacaf to determine how serviceable he will be going forward.
Absolutely. It's their WC. And unlike a lot of Caribbean minnows, their side is made up of pros, most of whom play together. Which is not to say they're not entirely outclassed. They have 2 players that would be a part of our player pool, both of whom are starters in the Championship. The rest are USL, League One, League Two, Conference... The other thing to remember is that they're the weakest team in the group by far, which means that you have to expect everybody to take full points off of them and run up the goal difference. Anybody who has a bit of an off-day and doesn't will probably be at a distinct disadvantage in the 3 horse race for 2 spots.
You're underestimating them. They actually have a few players who would see time on our national team if they were American (Blackstock, Leigterwood)...
A VERY good point. Yes, we should be Antiqua and Barbuda, but not only that; we should crush them by many goals to ensure finishing in the top two. They'll probably finish 4th in our group, and maybe with 1, 2 or 4 points. It is quite possible that Guatemala could finish 1st if they can get a win or draw against the US, which leaves us 2nd at best. Goal difference might be critical if that happens. It's just not worth going into any WCQ feeling that any lineup will get the job done. Look at all the MLS sides that got knocked out of the USOC this week when they put their benches out there.
They have a player who will be playing in the EPL next year, as well. Not that it makes a huge difference from what you're saying, but an EPL player, 2 Championship players, and a team of pros. They won't be THAT bad. I agree with your assessment. We probably win 3 or 4-0, but I'm not expecting an absolute thrashing ala Barbados in '08.
Here is SBI's predicted lineup: http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_...-tailgate-and-who-should-the-usmnt-start.html
It's regular friendly. The significance of the match is to honor the best 11 Canada has ever produced in 100 hundred years. I was surprised to learn that Dero didn't make the 11.
I want to see Gomez up top with Dempsey. Dempsey creates a lot of chances and Gomez is a good finisher. I also think we should have torres. I like this line-up, just switch boyd for torres.
I assume you don't mean a direct swap in the same formation, correct? No way Torres would thrive pushed up that high.
Those 2 players will not suck. They deserve recognition & theyre certainly players to watch for Antigua. The rest of the team however will "suck" but they shouldnt be taken lightly. I actually think this team could give Guatamala problems. We will beat them but the national team as a whole including the fans should be aware & wise of who these teams are & what they can do if we're on a bad day.
Haha no. I meant pushing Gomez to where Boyd is, Dempsey to where Gomez was and Torres to LM. Donovan also is a RM, not LM as the line-up showed.
Now that high pressure has been exposed as one of our weaknesses, JK needs to show CONCACAF we can slice the pie however we like. Flat 4-4-2 and good luck to Canada. Like going back to an old girlfriend, we'll feel comfortable, but eventually realize we left for a reason.
1 GK Tim Howard Everton 6 DF Steve Cherundolo Hannover 96 20 DF Geoff Cameron Houston Dynamo 3 DF Carlos Bocanegra Rangers © 23 DF Fabian Johnson Hoffenheim 10 MF Landon Donovan Los Angeles Galaxy 4 MF Michael Bradley Chievo 13 MF Jermaine Jones Schalke 04 16 MF José Francisco Torres Pachuca 8 MF Clint Dempsey Fulham 17 FW Jozy Altidore AZ
Ives Galarcep @SoccerByIves RT @SNGerryDobson: #canMNT starters. Hirschfeld; Jazic, Hainault, McKenna, Edgar; Johnson, DeGuzman, Ledgerwood; DeRosario, Occean, Ricketts
USA lineup: Howard; Cherundolo, Goodson, Bocanegra, Johnson; Bradley, Jones; Donovan, Dempsey, Torres; Gómez. USA subs: Altidore, Cameron, Edu, Onyewu, Parkhurst, Rimando, Wondolowski. Not in uniform: Guzan, Beckerman, Boyd, Castillo, Corona. via Grant Wahl