Figured this was a big enough US game to get it's own pre/in/post thread. Here's to a 2-0 victory for US.
Mexico roster: GOALKEEPERS: Guillermo Ochoa (Club América), Luís Ernesto Michel (CD Guadalajara), Moisés Muñoz (Morelia) DEFENDERS: Rafael Márquez (FC Barcelona / SPA), Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven / HOL), Johnny Magallón (CD Guadalajara), Fausto Pinto (Pachuca), Israel Castro (Pumas UNAM), Oscar Rojas (América) MIDFIELDERS: Pavel Pardo (VFB Stuttgart / GER), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Francisco Arce (Santos Laguna), Andrés Guardado (Deportivo la Coruna / SPA), Antonio Naelson (Toluca) FORWARDS: Giovani Dos Santos (FC Barcelona / SPA), Carlos Vela (Osasuna), Juan Carlos Cacho (Pachuca), Adolfo Bautista (Jaguares de Chiapas), Antonio de Nigris (Ankaraspor / TUR)
Interesting that Hugo selected a naturalized Mexican citizen after getting all over LaVolpe for doing the same thing...I guess that sort of thing goes out the window when you're desperate to defeat the yanquis, seeing as you got your job on the promise that you could... Is it Wednesday night?!
I'm hoping Adu gets the call-up (and plays) so I can see Dos Santos and Adu on the same pitch, this is going to be a great player rivalry for years to come
I'm sure Benny will get called in, because with the players in camp right now our midfield duo would be Clark and Beckerman.
I hope Bradley is in for this one, he has been absolutley tearing up Holland. I wanna see him match up against Mex for the first time.
It's actually a groin strain, here's the full clip: "A solid three weeks of national team training for Taylor Twellman has come to an end, the striker picking up a groin strain during Thursday's morning session. An MRI examination revealed no significant trauma, and team trainers expect Twellman to be fully recovered in 2-3 weeks. He will return to New England later this evening." http://mnt-ussoccer.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html#7814915905095561695
Anyone got any recommendations for a viewing location for a couple of travelers who will be in the area between Newton and Waltham on Wednesday night? Yeah, I know we're both DC United guys, but please have some pity...
Yeah, Jozy's down in Bradenton at the U23 camp. Also, apparently Rolfe was left off the roster: "Fire forward Chris Rolfe has been left off the U.S. roster for its exhibition against Mexico. Rolfe came off the bench for the United States' previous exhibition against Sweden." http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/soccer_redcard/2008/02/rolfe-left-off.html
US roster: GOALKEEPERS (2): Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton FC) DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Ramiro Corrales (SK Brann), Drew Moor (FC Dallas), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock), Eddie Robinson (Houston Dynamo) MIDFIELDERS (9): Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Bobby Convey (Reading FC), Brian Davis (Houston Dynamo), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Eddie Lewis (Derby County) FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (New York Red Bulls), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Pat Noonan (Aalesund FK)
Nope: http://mnt-ussoccer.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html#3818870634248234994 I'm nervous about Moor being our only right back. Apparently Cherundolo was supposed to be coming in for the match, but he suffered a groin injury earlier today: http://mnt-ussoccer.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html#1864386864711282744
I would assume that someone like Pearce or one of the midfielders will play RB. I cant imagine starting Drew Moor(who was terrible in Copa America and terrible against Sweden a couple weeks ago) against Mexico. Also, did Conrad get hurt or something?
What do people think about this starting eleven: Howard Parkhurst - Onyewu - Bocanegra - Corrales Feilhaber - Clark Donovan ------------------- Convey -------------Adu Altidore---------
Mine -----------------Howard--------------- Pearce-Onyewu--------Bocanegra--Lewis ---------Clark---------Bradley--------- Donovan--------------------------Convey ---------------Dempsey----------------- --------------Altidore------------------ If he called Howard in, I assume he plans on playing him(although I was of the mind that this would be a good game to get in the good graces of Everton and give Guzan a big match.) Like it or not, Onyewu-Bocanegra is still our best center pairing and I dont think Parkhurst would be good on either flank, so I go with Pearce on the right and Lewis on the left. Feilhaber has barley played at all recently(I know Clark hasnt either) and would proably be better suited off the bench, and Bradley is beyond on fire right now(I thought about maybe putting Bradley in at attacking mid instead of Dempsey, and putting Dempsey up top) Donovan and Convey on the flanks, Dempsey at attacking mid and Jozy up front.
I wouldn't change your personnel, but for the US I might move Dempsey to right mid and slot LD into a forward position. While Clint has been playing forward at Fulham, we really want LD in the center of the pitch with reduced defensive responsibilities. It's hard to tell if this lineup is really a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3 (with one of Bradley/Clark sliding up into the right midfield role.)
-----------Guzan--------------- Lewis----Boca--Gooch----Phurst -----------Bradley-------------- Convey----Dempsey-------Donni -------------Adu--------------- -----------Altidore------------- thats me.
I like Drew Moor, I don't see why people want to rag on him. Don't see a problem with the roster, should be interesting.