Pre-match: USA @ Ukraine. March 5th 2014 *CANCELLED* ...or maybe not

i don't think we need to go that far. i think becoming a consistent realistic threat to win (we currently are not), with consistent deep runs past the first knock out round would do it (we currently don't seem to get out of the first knock out round no matter how many voodoo dolls we make).

 

To be fair to Williams he has played out of position many times, while Beckermen has not.

 

AJ at left midfield; a right-footed, center forward who doesn't play the position at his club and didn't excel in his previous league of play until moved centrally. Hopefully JK avoids this brain-wave. Altidore doesn't need another game of terrible service from the left especially if Bedoya is on the right.

 

You're right, but although I don't remember the specific game, there was at least one where he looked horrible in CM.

 

So who would you rather see at LM? Shea? Hell no. FJ and Castillo at LB? No thanks.

LM isn't tied up - I'd basically rather see what AJ can do there then any other option.

 

Look, I'm not talking about random fans wearing knock-off jerseys in Hong Kong. That was the professional assessment of our team by the manager of the #18 ranked nation in the world. We are about as obscure a team that finds itself in the top 50 in the world as you're going to find. Somehow, despite everything, I find myself continually amazed at how obscure we remain.

 

the opinion of one person is almost irrelevant in the context of our team being "known".

 

AJ is right-footed? Everywhere I've seen, he's either listed as "left" or "both."

 

Exactly...we really have no other viable choice..

Put Fab at LM, then we are are basically conceeeding that left hand flank defensively with Castillo who has shown time and time again he's a liability on defense.

Put Fab at LB, and Shea is really our only other option. Shea is not on good form and has shown time and time again he's inconsistent. I'd rather put AJ out there since he's on great form. I'd prefer him at S.S but we literally have no one else. Shows how important Julian Green is in the long run.

 

Hmm can't find it and kinda unfair to him as a player..edit: looks like he played CM vs. Jamaica, Antigua and Guatemala but the majority of the time he's been played on the wing :/
http://www.football-lineups.com/footballer/44496/?t=619&s=549

 

I gave up twitter for lent...So....Where's that line-up?

 

#USMNT</a> XI: Howard; Cameron, Onyewu, Brooks, Castillo; Jones, Kljestan; Bedoya, Dempsey(c), Johnson; Altidore.

I'm a little bummed, to be honest, that we couldn't have found a way to get AJ on the field with Dempsey and Altidore.

 

U.S. Soccer ‏@ussoccer 52s
#USMNT XI: Howard; Cameron, Onyewu, Brooks, Castillo; Jones, Kljestan; Bedoya, Dempsey(c), Johnson; Altidore. Watch on ESPN2 & UniMas at 2ET

 

I like this lineup. I like FJ playing in a more advanced role.

https://twitter.com/BrianSciaretta/status/441274105455579136/photo/1

 

Yeah, but I have a strong suspicion that he and Dempsey are looking a bit like an either/or proposition in the starting lineup this summer. In any case, Dempsey and Altidore both need a chance to break out of their respective doldrums, and that's first priority. I hope we see AJ given at least 25 minutes to see what he can do, though.

 

AJ is a lock to make the team. Castillo is not, and this is his chance.

 

He's the best LM we have (unless Donovan is played there), but also the best LB. I don't like this because it looks like Klinsmann is going to be relying on Beasley at LB for the WC

 

I'm not sure that he WILL, particularly given who we are going to play against, but that is indeed the quandary.

 

I think you're right, but I don't think it should be an either/or proposition.

 

Edgar Castillo, let's see what you got.

 

Dempsey or AJ?? Sheeeeiiiid. That's not even a realistic either/or propostition. I'm watching AZ vs Liberace in Europa League. He's a nice player, but that special quality is lacking. If Dempsey is still sub-par come May AJ ain't the answer. You change up the tactics.

 

I still think there's a more than negligible chance that he starts Donovan and Zusi/Bedoya together on the wings, which would push Johnson back to LB. But we can't test that theory today because two of those players are unavailable for this match.

 

Is Liberace a real club name? Because I am imagining their kits to be amazing.

 

It's a Czech club; Liberec. Just messin about.

 

Dammit. I really wanted it to be some 2nd Division French club or something.