OK, assume it's July and we made it to the Confeds Cup final against France, assume everyone is health and match-fit. What's your starting line-up? And don't fight the hypothetical! Guess what? I'll go first: ------Friedel ---Sanneh --- Pope --- Boca Reyna ----- Mastro ---JOB -- DMB -----Mathis -----Donovan ---------McBride
Take out Pablo and stick in Convey you got my "Hypothetical" line-up. Except in a 3-5-2 Considering the fact that Arena already said he won't call in Reyna? On to the more reality-based version ----Sanneh---Pope---Boca ----------------------------- ----------Maestro----------- ---Olsen--Convey----JOB- -------------LD-------------- ---------------------------- -------Wolff---McBride---- With all due respect to Popular opinion of Big Soccer, I'm still of a belief that Josh Wolff is a better striker than Mathis. I'm also of a opnion that it matters less who we put up top than how we play in the midfield.
not counting reyna- .................friedel ...........pope.......berhalter sanneh..........................lewis ................mastroeni LD...............JOB.............DMB .........wolff..............BMB subs- mathis bocanegra kirovski armas gibbs keller
Questionable players? Friedel Bocanegra Pope Sanneh(Barrett) DMB Mastroeni JOB Olsen(Convey) Donovan Mathis McBride My thought is definetly a good combo of vets with the new "class" I think if Olsen is healthy he holds down the right flank, but with the new threads this might not be true, so Convey might possibly be the attacking minded-flank player too fill in, Sanneh also a doubt after recently undergoing surgery this past week, if 100% he is a lock, if not look for Barrett to come back from the Danish Superliga, or I would even venture to say a healthy Cory Gibbs from St. Pauli, only other question I have is if Armas is 100% healthy, do you start him along Mastroeni, or O'brien? With the Maestro and the bulldog that is one helluva D-Midfield, without you have basically the same thing Pablo brings to the side of O'Brien, tough choice??? any suggestions
Go young-uns...... With Reyna out.... --------Friedel-------- Sanneh - Pope - Boca --------Maestro------- JOB - Convey - DMB -------Donovan------- BMB - Mathis Bench: Keller Wolff Cherundolo Olsen Berhalter Lewis Conor Casey (why not?)
Why does no one ever think of putting both Mathis and Wolff in the starting IX? They worked so well qualifying for WC2002.
Me too! That's exactly my lineup, but I might take Twellman instead of Mathis in case McBride was injured during the tourney. I like Wolff up top. McBride has proven to be deadly with Thomas Radzinski. I think Wolff is very much in Radz. mold so this would be interesting.
You're probably right Although he did against Mexico (admittedly out of need). One can dream, right? : ) In that case how about: ----Friedel---- Sanneh-Pope-Boca-DMB ----Maestro--- Donovon-JOB-Convey BMB - Mathis With DMB floating up from time to time for 5 in the middle (and Maestro dropping back, pushing Boca out to cover while DMB is upfield)?
I don't understand why everyone has Sanneh in their lineup. Sure he had a great cup, but he's been ailing with an injury ever since and IMO lightning doesn't strike twice -- based on his Bundesliga play he's just not good enough anymore... ------------- Donovan -- McBride ---------- --- Lewis --------- Mathis --------- Klein -- ---------------- Mastroeni ----------------- -- Barrett -- Bocanegra -- Pope -- Cherundolo ---------------- Keller/Friedel --------------
Corrected your post. I am one of Kliens biggest fans, but I'm not sure if he's one of the best 11 yet. I will certainly say that I disagree with the people that put Gibbs and Convey before Klien.
Hypo Start xi for France How can you guys forget Armas, he is so much better than Mastreoni, the only reason that Pablo got the nod was b/c Armas got hurt. Armas will be back in time for the start of the MLS season and Confed Cup. Ben Olsen is Laughable, after his two previuos games he is in no position to play the right side, why do you think he was sent home for the Jmaica game?? Mathis looks like he needs to lose a few pounds, along with gaining some hussle thats why he is out of my starting 11 Starting Lineup: Friedel Sanneh Pope Boca Armas JOB Reyna(if Healthy) Donovan DMB Mcbride Wolff Subs: Mathis, Convey, Klein, Pablo, Twellman, Cunning, Keller, Kirovski, Berhalter, Cherundolo Does anybody think that Joe-Max, or Stewart will be looked at for this tournie/s at all or are they more or less a thing of the past???
Friedel Sanneh Pope Boca Hejudk JOB Reyna Armas DMB Donavon BMB JOB is playing out of position, but if healthy, he is too good not to be on the field. You would see Frankie and DMB covering for each other on the left. Donavon seems to play better when being that trailing forward. The bench, is a crap shoot, whoever is playing the best at that time. I would like to see Bruce to bring some of the younger kids so they can expierience the atmosphere. As for Stewart, I read in the Washington Post that he said he will play if asked. I think he would do well in WCQ games during the middle of the European season when there is a lack of experienced central mids at peak fitness.
Close. Keller Sanneh Pope Berhalter Hejduk JOB Reyna Armas Lewis Donavon McBride Based on their present form, Lewis and Berhalter are too good to leave out, IMHO.
Re: Hypo Start xi for France Pablo offers all the Armas does defensively with added attacking flair. I agree that initially Pablo got playing time b/c of the Armas injury, but that means nothing going forward. Sometimes players are discovered through these circumstances, step up, and prove to be better than the previous choice.. Nothing against Armas, I just think pablo is a better option.
i think pablo is the better choice if we have our top squad but armas would have performed better on the lesser sides that faced arg. and jamaica - point: armas is steadier but pablo gives us the higher ceiling
Keller (Friedel got the WC) Pope..........Boca.........Berhalter Armas/Mastro Klein.....Donovan......JOB.....Convey Mathis............McB Reyna and Sanneh will not be fit If BA decides youth needs practice, then he may go with Cherundolo at RD and Boca at LD. Olsen is an alternative to Klein, although Klein looks more consistent and productive at this point. Donovan might replace Mathis or McB with Convey taking his place and DMB in at LM. Twellman for Mathis or BMB. Would BA dare put Boca at RD and leave Pope in the middle? Pope hurt, then Califf. The big unseen option is Gibbs who is getting trial by fire in Germany, but none of us have seen him recently. BA may or may not have plans. Gibbs can play LD and he attacks well from the back.
looks good to me, but like Ben, I don't know about klein being one of the best 11 at this time, he's definitly one of the guys I'd want coming off the bench at least.
-------Mathis--McBride----- DMB--JOB--Olsen--Donovan ------Mastroeni/(Armas?)----- ---Pope--Berhalter--Hejduk---- ------------Friedel------------ Having the European players helps, especially at the back. With only the MLS guys there's virtually nothing in the back line, but you might even be able to scrap together enough people to play four at the back. With 4 at the back, you'd probably want a 4-1-3-2, but I'm not sure who to take out of midfield. I like having Beasley and Donovan on the wings as it opens up the top spots for a target man like McBride or Twellman and another forward like Mathis. Or you could put Donovan just behind the strikers and play Olsen on the wing.