Looking forward, our next big test comes with a match-up against Spain (where we will likely struggle, but that's a story for another thread). The question is, based on what we've seen up through the Mexico match, what is our best line-up going into Spain? First thought-- we will miss Beasley, a lot. Being without him changes what we should do with the line-up. Second thought-- Jozy Altidore is here to stay. He just might go to the friendly in Spain and then move into a new apartment in Madrid. Second thought, part II-- Freddy Adu should be here to stay. We look so much better with him on the field. Third thought-- with the youth movement up front, we are starting to look better there, just as we start to look really shakey on the back-line. As long as Jozy and Freddy continue to develop, my main source of worry will be our defenders. Fourth thought-- man, I hate the empty bucket. Bob Bradley, on the road to Damascus, will hopefully see the light and free the US to try to start linking through the midfield. See below for how I think this can happen. My line up: ----------Howard---------- -'Dolo--Gooch--Boca--Pearce ----------Bradley---------- ---LanDo-----------Freddy ----------Dempsey-------- ---------EJ--------------- ----------Altidore--------- 1. If Beasley were healthy, he'd be out left, pushing Freddy up top and EJ off the field. Before yesterday, I'd have put Freddy up top and Convey out left. As bad as Bobby's looked in his last few US matches, though, I'd rather roll the dice with EJ paired up with Jozy up top than Bobby out left, Landon up top and God-knows-who out right. The other option would be LanDo up top with Jozy (which I think would be a GREAT pairing if we had another RM), Dempsey out right, Bobby out left and Freddy in the middle. I still think that playing Bobby is too much of a risk and Freddy's not ready to be in the CAM role for the US-- his defense is not (and probably will not ever be) enough. He's the second striker of our future. 2. Dempsey's not a RM, he's not a forward. He's a great AM with really good defensive bite to his game. I think he's the perfect center mid pair with Bradley. Dempsey might score less, but I think it's time to hand him the keys to the car. 3. I think Bob's empty bucket could ultimately work better with Feilhaber (or another player of his skill, but I don't see too many options there) on the field, but he's too rusty now and can't be trusted until he is playing club soccer again. 4. I don't think Pearce is a very good left back, but he plays good defense and has the speed to lock-down players if he stays home, which he would need to do backing up Freddy in this formation. We really need some new options at Left Back (Spector isn't it, either, he's too slow and projects to CB in the future). Until DMB comes back (assuming that he does come all the way back from that injury), we are vulnerable on the left side. 5. We really need some new blood to break through in defense, and Gooch needs to move to a bigger club and prove he can stick there this summer. Our defense looks more troubling with each match and if you think we had trouble with Mexico, just wait until we face Spain. Even with 'Dolo in place of Drew Moor (which is like giving the US another player on the pitch), we are still going to get exposed, which will lead Bob to continue to play two DMids in all our big matches.
The consensus seems to be that the USA personnel is better suited for success as a 4-5-1 or 4-1-4-1 ( or even a traditional 4-4-2) and not the 6-2-2. I don't think BB sees the problem and that's the problem. Here is my dream attacking team Bradley (destroyer) Adu Donovan Dempsey Beasley Jozy Essentially a 4-1-4-1 with Dempsey Playing deeper than Donovan, who is more of a withdrawn forward with freedom to move wherever
I like the players you picked, but this lineup has no ability to get wide. You need to be able to stretch the field of play and you have 6 people up top on here who usually lead the attack up the middle. I'd like to see something more like....... ----------Timmy----------- 'Dolo--Gooch--Boca-Pearce ----Edu/Benny--Bradley---- Clint------LD---------DMB ---------Altidore---------- I like how the US sets up with the two midfielders sitting next to each other. I think it helps with better distribution. Hopefully Bradley turns into a Carrick-like passer and player. I also would like to see Clint back on the wing where he can put his speed and tricks as much as possible. Also DMB has to be in there to stretch it on the other flank. Also would like to see LD back in his normal position as an AM, Adu is not ready to be an intl starter for the US in my opinion. And who else would go up top.
.................Howard.................. Dolo...Gooch.......Boca......Pearce .................Bradley.................. Dempsey.....Donovan......Beasley ...........Altidore....Adu............. Our problem against Mexico wasn't Gooch or Boca; from my viewpoint, they were rock solid. The outside backs and the d-mids were not good. Corrales and Moor got beat more times than I can count. Bradley and Clark were okay as destroyers, but gave the ball up to much in bad positions. Also, the two goals were because Moor had no clue how to mark his man on set pieces. Otherwise, it may have been a shutout, because Howard handled everything from the run of play. I am optimistic because the problems I saw the other night are very fixable: 1. Bradley, ditch the two d-mid thing, grow a pair, and put some of this young offensive talent we have on the field at the same time. At least play Feilhaber and Bradley together, because it worked in the Gold Cup. 2. There is no way that Moor and Corrales will ever be on the field together again in an important match. I would calculate there defensive incompetence produced around 75% of Mexico's dangerous chances, and also led to the goals (see above). 3. Gulati can always fire Bradley.
I agree with this lineup except I would replace Pearce with Spector, and perhaps switch Landycakes and Freddy. Forgot to add, "Who gets to fire Sunil?"
I am not so sold on the formation issues as much as getting the right players on the field. To play at the next level without soley relying on bunker and counter, we need players who have good enough skill to keep possesion under pressure. Granted we do not have the resources of Brazil or even Mexico at this point, but we need to keep on eye out for these types of players and push them towards playing in a way that works for the team. This challenge is there for Feilhaber, Adu, Dempsey, and Alvarez. In my opinion these are the players and more like them we need and then we need to be able to coach them on how to chose the moments for playing quickly versus dribbling etc. The players who we have that are cabable of either holding the ball well or passing under pressure are Beasely and Donovan. The rest of the team are liabilities to some degree. Forwards: Altidore and EJ are ok at keeping possesion under pressure and they bring important talent to their position. I would like to see Altidore develop his ability to take players on, but the kid is great for now. Davis seems a great option at left mid in the absence of Beasely since Davis has the skills to keep possesion and move the ball - I can only guess that Convey was played to see where he is given that this was chance to seem some Euro based players. Convey has never been very good at keeping possesion and relies on going forward as fast as he can or whipping in crosses. Sometiimes Convey will be useful but I think he is a limited player on the USMNT. Mapp also has good skills but he is way too inconsistent at this point and needs to round out his game to be more than waiting for the next spectacular run. Cherundolo and Spector are both great in terms of team possesion from the right back position. I have not seen enough of Wynne and Simek to draw a conclusion but they in the mix in my mind. Moor has less at this point - send him back to the farm to develop more. Hedjuk was never a great possesion player but hey, its the dude, and we all know that he brings home the bacon with fierce defending a tireless runs - no if only we had a skillful Frankie!!! I was very pleased with Goodison's and Parkhurst in terms of being able to play the ball and keep possesion out of the back. These guys will eventually replace Gooch and Boca. That Boca with his mind numbing clearances keeps being one of our better center backs is a sign that we have needs in this department. Clark disrupts but I would like to see him knock more balls to his team mates at speed and not just knock it to no one in particular (ususally the other team). Bradley is improving and seems more comfortable under pressure as time goes on. Feilhaber is comfortable underpressure but needs to play faster sometimes and cut down on the errant passes. Edu I want to see more of before commenting but he seems more comfortable than either Clark or Bradle¥ at this point in high pressure situations. Both Bornstein and Pearce are capable of playing under some pressure but neither will be the super midfielder any time soon; the one that improves the most in this respect, gets my vote. For an attacking LB Bornstein gets the edge, for a mroe stay at home LB Pearce gets the edge. The rest are rubbish. If we cannot spread out and maintain possesion against Mexico, we have little chance of playing well consistently against the best teams in the world. 2cents
Mexico is one of the best teams in the world but your point is valid still. Possession is a big problem and the only solutions I've seen involve Adu, Benny and maybe Bradley.
I agree with Specot over Pearce. I would also replace Boca. I think Adu at withdrawn and LD at AM makes more sense. Adu is much more clever in tight space that Landon. You will rarely see Landon even try to beat 2 players off the dribble, he is more effective running at a defense with speed and options. Also much more likely to do some defensive back tracking. Freddy seems to be playing this kind of more forward role for his club and it seems to suit him well. That being said, none of that is going to happen while Bradley is our coach.
I respect Pearce and Spector as players, but I'm truly hoping neither is our best option. Further, Bornstein may turn out great, but I don't believe he's ready for the tests the team will encounter in Qualifying and beyond. I'm still holding out hope that Gibbs will return to form. He's been out... two years now? So, waiting for Gibbs is like waiting for O'brien. Nevertheless, a healthy Gibbs would be my preferred option.
Gibbs was much better as a center back than a left back when given the opportunity with the Nats. Pearce, Bornstein, or Spector are the only realistic options for me right now, until a younger guy such as Wallace or Harrington improves enough to take it from them. And, on top of that, I still think Spector's best position is at center back. So, right now, at left back, my man is Pearce, since an outside back's primary concern is to still play defense; from what I have seen, Pearce is more advanced in this regard than Bornstein. However, the main problem here is that Bradley has some sort of issue with Pearce, because there is no other reason that a competent soccer coach (maybe this is the problem here) would start Corrales over Pearce in an important match.
I agree with everyone who puts DeMarcus on the field with one reservation-- he's hurt. He won't be back in full game shape for awhile and I want to see him prove himself before I count on him in a big match for the US. That's why I leave him out now (same thing with Bornstein at LB).
I know everyone is against a 4-5-1 and I am usually also but when you really think about it a 4-1-4-1 could be very effective for us specifically against top level teams, sort of what Arena tried to do but didn't seem to set the players roles right and I did not see the midfielders getting absolute freedom to get forward in with the lone attacker and create chances to score, we would have to really allow all 4 mids to attack with no limits with a destoryer in behind the centermids letting them be creative and attack whenever they desire, and the wide fullbacks covering the sidemids allowing them to attack whenever they desire as well, this would conjest things defensively and we would be very compact and hard to break down and once we won the ball should have several options to play the ball around and hold possesion, rather than aimlessly booting the ball upfield, then when the opportunity comes our 4 mids are set free and join the attacker, and the d-mid and defenders can occasionally run in as well obviously when the opportunity comes. --------------------Howard----------------- --------------Onyewu---Spector------------ Cherundalo-------------------------Bornstein --------------------Bradley------------------ ------------Dempsey-------Feilhaber--------- Donovan---------------------------------Adu --------------------Altidore------------------ We keep our 4 man backline intact, and have Bradley sitting back deep, making things tough for the creative mids on the other team, winning the ball and spraying the ball around the field, then getting forward and trying to create chances when the chance comes which he has done excellently for Herenveen. Dempsey and Feilhaber working through the middle with their ball skills and creativity should be brilliant, along with Donovan and Adu's ability on the ball creating havoc and mismatches down the flanks, Altidore I feel can be world class and allows us to run this formation, he is big and physical which will allow him to get the ball and hold it up, as well as being a presence in the air for crosses, yet also has the ability to put his head down and go to goal and create for himself. Team B: ---------------Guzan----------------- ---------Parkhurst---Bocanegra------- Simek---------------------------Pearce ----------------Clark------------------ -----------Edu-------Kljestan---------- Rogers--------------------------Beasley ---------------Johnson----------------- -Tough to decide between Beasley and Adu but looking towards the future in 2010 I think Adu might be slightly better with his ability on the ball.
I think Bradley will stick with the 4-4-2 he has been playing with With that I would go with ---------------Howard---------------- Dolo-------Boca------Gooch----Pearce ------------Bradley---Benny---------- Donovan-----------------------Beasley ----------------Dempsey-------------- ----------------Altidore--------------- *Adu/Convey for Beasley while he is hurt -I think even though Benny has not recieved much time at Derby he showed he was the best CM against Mexico. Aggressive on D and was able to connect and distribute in the attack.(We were missing this with Bradley and Clark) -Altidore is a must and I would like to see more of Adu in Dempsey spot But in the future I see a 4-2-3-1 ---------------Howard---------------- Dolo-------Boca------Gooch----Pearce -----------Bradley----Benny/Clark----- Dempsey-------Donovan-----------Adu ----------------Altidore---------------