Edson Buddle is getting splinters sitting on the bench so much. He is fresh to go 120 if needed, but it won't get to that. This game will end at halftime with USA up 3-0. Start the big men Buddle Altidore and power through Ghana's big lineup in the back. I can't wait till Buddle starts for the USA in this World Cup and I hope its Saturday. Buddle is the only Forward not to start. I think it's time.
Well, no way Howard, Boca, Dolo, DeMerit, Bradley, Donovan, Dempsey, or Altidore sit in an elimination game. I think the CM question has finally been answered with Edu's play vs. Algeria. Though Feilhaber has also been good, I think BB favors him as the first MF off the bench if he moves Dempsey up top. Thus Benny could start wide, but only if Dempsey pairs Altidore. The second question is the partner for Altidore. Dempsey would be my choice (I fear he might get outpaced on the wing), or Buddle (another threat on set pieces and can play with back to goal, let Jozy play off the ball a bit). I know Buddle wasn't great, but he still almost scored. I prefer Findley's speed and Gomez's guile off the bench against tired D's. The last question is if Gooch starts. I say yes. We are going to dance with the ones that brung us (at least on the back line). Only other question is who is the AM if Dempsey plays up top, it would be Benny, but I think we'll see Buddle/Gomez/Findley pair Jozy. We'll go with the 4-2-2-2 again.
Bornstein will probably start again to deal with Ghana's speed. He just has to be very VERY VERY careful in the box. 2 pks in three games, last african team, their history against us..... careful might be an understatement, unfortunately. Edu and Bradley to start to try and avoid the early goal. I think we'll happily go into halftime at 0-0, then we can sub in Benny or Holden for Edu or shortly there after. Up top, personally I like Buddle to pair with Jozy but I wouldn't bet on it. Gomez or Findley would not surprise me.
Ya. This. I think Bornstien starts Saturday. Boca was bettercentrally, it was our first shut out, and and Gooch just doesn't have it right now. looks like : Born...Boca...Demerit..Dolo in the back.
I agree with this, DeMerit is the only possibility to sit if Onyewu comes in and Bornstein stays. This would be a faster lineup against a very fast and young team. I am thinking Onyewu stays on the bench, probably. I am not as certain as you that this has been answered. Although, Benny has sure played well off the bench, he was a huge difference maker Monday. Don't forget Bob started Ricardo Clark against England in the first match. I believe he is still a possibility. Although not a huge fan of Findley when he was selected, I noticed his absence against Algeria. They appeared much more settled in the back than either Slovenia or even England with Robbie in for the US. I'm thinking a rested Findley returns to the lineup. I have always been in the camp that moving Dempsey up top would weaken the midfield more than the value he might add (or not) up top. I was unimpressed with Buddle's late play against Algeria and although less with Herc, I believe Findley is the best option. Bob knows more about Gooch than anyone on here to be sure. Both of the early goals can be laid at his feet. Bornstein is our fastest defender, he did fine against Algeria. He is also a better attacker than Boca. I'm saying Bornstein can do it two matches in a row. We will see. Absoutely, I do, also.
Buddle played a less than average game against a weak Algeria. This match calls for Edu, and as much as I hate to say it... Bornstein and Findley.
Is there a sense in this thread that Gooch needs to sit this one out? I'm kinda thinking that might be the way to go. Frankly, the team that started the second half against Algeria would suit me just fine, ditto the formation. Ironically we aren't going to win this cup based on our defensive prowess, because our defense is underperforming and may be the shakiest it's been in 2 decades...so we might as well throw our best punch.
How do you figure? Outside of that first Algerian shot that hit the post, we were unlucky not to be up 1-0 in the first half with all the chances we created: - Gomez shot outside the box for a corner - Dempsey's goal called back incorrectly for offside - Gomez's shot right before the offside - The Altidore shot over the bar on a wide-open net - Dempsey's 1 v. 1 on a great through-ball from Donovan - Donovan and Dempsey both missed on shots outside the box This was a hell of a lot more than what we created in the entire England game or the first half against Slovenia.
What I think Bob will play [LINEUP-4-4-2]Altidore,Findley,Donovan,Bradley,Clark,Dempsey,Bocanegra,Onyewu,Demerit,Cherundolo,Howard[/LINEUP-4-4-2] I would rather see Edu instead of Clark. It is possible there could be other changes due to the quick turn around...
I keep reading everyone's line up for tomorrow's match. When I see someone say Jozy would start on the bench I'm shocked at that, he is our best target forward and really holds the ball up well. No way he'd start on the bench. With that being said, Jozy is suspended for this match after accumilating his second yellow card in 3 matches. (I'm hoping that I'm wrong on that) But I havent seen anyone else post that. IF Jozy is suspend here is what we'll see: Howard Cherundelo, Demeritt, Boca, Bornstein Donovan, Edu, Bradley, Feilhaber Findley, Dempsey
cards reset at quarterfinals... agree, jozy holding ability and running at defenders... ah, buddle can't do it... findley is more off the ball, making diagonal runs... gomez more for a slovenia/algeria type match... altidore findley dempsey edu bradley donovan boca gooch demerit dolo howard i see bornstein getting beat physically, and gooch does have the 2006 amtch, despite the phantom penalty... gooch on set plays is needed to defend and score... usa needs to sit and soak up their pressure, let them exert themselves.. 2 days rest, they tire in the 2nd half and usa comes on hard
One man's trash is another man's treasure. Slovenia and England are more dangerous opponents imo than Algeria. Again, I am not a huge fan of Robbie Findley (many have seen my comments regarding the dearth of US forward options). My argument is that he creates more for the team with his speed and work rate than the others add with their superior technique and even finishing ability. And I certainly get that this is an unusual argument.
I could definitely see that. He got his feet wet vs. Algeria. Move Dempsey up top....put DMB on the left for his speed and defense. Question is how much speed does he have left....I haven't really seen him play in a long time.
I disagree, if there is a surprise I am expecting Stuart Holden at the expense of Altidore or Buddle in something like this: ----------------Howard---------------- Cherundolo--DeMerit--Onyewu--Bocanegra Holden-----Bradley-----Edu-----Donovan ----------Altidore----Dempsey----------
Given the way Ghana works to congest the middle it does make sense to consider greater use of our best crosser--Stuart Holden. Maybe not as a starter, but I think he could be our first sub if we are tied or behind in the second half.
Totally agree with the calls for Holden here. He also has a nice outside shot, something that could come in handy if we can't find much space 25 yards out.
Nothing against Stu, and I'd note I was one who thought Dempsey should start up top and Holden at RM before the tournament, but with the way Feilhaber played against Algeria, he's the first attacking midfield sub, not Holden. In fact, I think Benny played so well, we could see Dempsey up top with Feilhaber wide (but pinched in) for more possession. It we be a 4-2-2-2 like we've been playing (4-2-2-1-1), but could easily morph into a 4-5-1 with Dempsey, Feilhaber, and LD all taking turns at CAM, and Dempsey and LD rotating through shifts up top behind Jozy, and the two advanced MF's switching sides often. I think a formation that is fluid and could confuse a young Ghana team by putting people in different spots throughout the game.
That would be my take on it. With teams that try to play compact, you need to try to create gaps between the lines. Speed tends to keep the opposition backline back further, so as they attack there is more separation, and thus more space, between the backs/mids/forwards. Okay, you got me confused with that one. Ghana packs the middle, and you're looking to bring on someone for their crossingability?? So that you can more accurately dump the ball into the strength of the waiting defense?
Oh yeah, I get the intent. I just don't think Findley has actually done that, regardless of level of competition (that same Algerian team held England 0-0.) Outside of a few long-range shots and Altidore's tremendous effort, we didn't have many dangerous chances. Our best chances in the Slovenia 1st half were the Torres free kick and the Dempsey-Donovan near pass across the face of the goal. It's not like Findley's presence created these wonderfully open chances from the run of play (like, it could be argued, it did against Australia.)
The problem playing the pure speed move against Ghana will be the service to that speed guy. Ghana plays tight in the back and packs the middle. As such, I don't think our midfielders will necessarily have the time on the ball to hit that through ball to Findley (who may or may not have much space once he receives it anyway.) With Holden, those crosses would come from a right flank position, which would stretch the defense wide. A couple of those forces the midfield to unclog, thus opening up some better passing lanes.