Huge game on May 8th! Bragging rights are on the line here. I think Bruce Arena's best chance of winning would be to start:Goalie=Tim Howard,Defenders=Frankie Hejduk,Eddie Pope,Carlos Bocanegra,Midfielders=DeMarcus Beasley,Clint Mathis,Bobby Convey,Chris Klein,Pablo Mastroeni,Forwards=Brian McBride,Landon Donovan...Subs if needed should be Earnie Stewart,Cobi Jones,Chris Armas. What do you fans think? GO USA
3-5-2 again? okay, I will buy it, it worked last time, defenders, i agree, hejduk, pope, bocanegra midfield, Beasley, klein, armas convey and stewart forwards donovan and mcbride Armas is healthy, and while mastroeni played great, i think chris still has his spot (maybe he'll only go 45). I'm not convinced of mathis' midfield potential, and i think arena wants to win, so i see him as a late sub at forward. Stewert is a great asset in the midfield. If we play a 4-4-2, convey drops to left back.
I like the 3-5-2 as well, but with two holding midfielders, helping to track Borgetti and Co. If the flank players wanted to help back as well, that would be a bonus. I think as in the Round of 16, our strength will be on the couter attack. By the way, where's Wolff? Is he injured? He would probably be on the bench for me, but he would be a great option. Howard Bocanegra Pope Garcia Armas Mastroeni DMB Convey Donovan Mathis McBride Donovan given the free role to interchange with Mathis Subs: of course if we're ahead Cobi and Mulrooney, if tied Hedjuk's speed down the flanks could help, if behind Earnie
after last saturdays MLS game, Mathis and Howard should not start . Note: Mathis scored a fine goal, but his form doesn't merit National team representation
I would like to see Brown get a Cap.........Nothing against Howard but, I want to see Adin get a shot too.
------Howard-------- Hejduk-Pope-Bocanegra --Armas-Mastroeni-- Stewart-Donovan-DMB ---Mathis--McBride--- as crazy as this sounds, I think this 352 might end up looking a bit more like a 442. hejduk attacks up the right while Stewart pinches in. Mastroeni and Armas alternate playing slightly farther back then the two Dmids normally do so it gives the shape of a 442 so earnie can pinch and hejduk can attack. In a 352 your outside backs are pinched in more then in a 442 which would mean we'd need to keep hejduk a tad farther back hen normal to help with defensive support and that Earnie will be a workhorse on the outsides (the outside midfielders are more like true wings in a 352) It amkes me wonder why Ben Olsen wasnt called up. Our two ideal players to play outside mid in a 352 would be him and DMB. Interesting omission..... I can also see Martino getting maybe 10 mins if the game isnt close and moving Donovan up top with McBride and taking off Mathis (or take off Mcbride). I can also see Chris Klein on for Stewart in about the 70th min and maybe if we want to switch to a 442 we can throw Convey in a LB for Armas (since Chris is coming back fomr the injury). Thats my prediction...
Why is Kyle Martino off the Roster?????? Why Has Kyle Martino left off the Roster? He is arguably the most talented midefielder in MLS at this point.
I agree with you about Martino, he looks like he has real class. I haven't watched MLS until this year, did he come out of nowhere or has he been around for a while. Regardless, he should be on the squad, likely instead of Klein. Again, where is Wolff? Injured? And I hate to say it but I agree with the Howard comment. He had an awful game on Saturday. I just hope the Man Utd scouts weren't watching.
Martino was rookie of the year last year. Where's Wolff? He sucks, who cares. (Actually, my own personal feelings aside, Wolff is hurt)
I'm not sure, he had a goal and hit the post twice. That's perilously close to a hat trick. He played extremely well and actually looked fast. 3 - 4 - 3 Howard Califf - Pope - Bocanegra Cobi - Mastroeni - Mulrooney - Beasley Mathis - McBride - Donovan Mathis and Donovan will try and stay forward but will track back for the ball. Use Donovan to make runs off of balls into McBride. The M & M boys in the middle will share defensive responsibilities, with Mulrooney coming forward a little more often. Cobi tries and draws some early Yellows and uses his hustle to disrupt Mexico's possession. Beasley and Donovan try and stay together on the left as they give us by far our most explosive attacking combination. When they combine, some of the best defenses in the world will have trouble. Pope organizes the back line, while Bocangera and Califf try and use their physical advantages against the Mexican attackers. I think it's fair to Tim Howard, considering the current rumors, to give him a match against a top side so that ManU will have a good match to evaluate him by. Subs: Brown, Stewart, Hejduk, Convey and Garcia. Garcia can come on for Mathis or McBride if we have a lead late we're trying to protect. Convey and Stewart can replace Mulrooney and Cobi if we need offense.
Here is my guess: Howard Garcia Pope Bocanegra Maestro Armas Klein Convey Beasley BMB Donovan Even though I don't like Califf, I think there is a good chance that he gets the start over Garcia. Jones and Stewart will sub in based on who is not doing there job. If Bruce goes 442, then: Howard Hejduk Pope Bocanegra Convey Klein Maestro Donovan Beasley Mathis Mcbride
I really think we need Kyle Martino in the starting XI. That kid is the first true #10 midfielder I've ever seen for the USA. Very talented. Here is what I'd go with for Mexico: Howard Hejduk Pope Bocanegra Pablo Klein Beasley martino landon mathis McBride
I am surprised that Martino isn't on the roster. I think our starting strikers will be McBride and Mathis, Donovan will start in the midfield.
I realize that Martino isn't on the roster, but if i were the one calling the shots he would be starting for this game.
I think Bruce will go with mostly veterans in the starting lineup. I have Cobi and Earnie starting, and I wouldn't be suprised to see Convey on the bench either. Maybe Hejduk could lineup on the left and put Garcia at RB? I think Mastroeni will start over Armas, though. G-Howard D-Hejduk, Pope, Bocanegra, Convey M-Mastroeni, Beasley, Jones, Stewart F-McBride, Donovan Bench-Brown, Califf, Garcia, Mulrooney, Armas, Klein, Mathis
Good post. It's close to how I see things going down. This is what I see Bruce doing, not what I would do. I see: Howard Hejduk Pope Bocanegra Convey Klein Armas Mastroeni Beasley McBride Donovan Stewart could possibly start over Klein, but I'm leaning towards Klein.
i'm sorry, a McBride-Mathis combo up front just ain't gonna get the job done thursday night, folks. now's the time when you start breaking in youngsters...hell, that's what El Tri's gonna do. BA will do what he always does: too scared to play youngsters in friendlies or says they haven't "earned it" yet (perfect example: Ed Johnson -- this guy should be playing every time). so by the time WCQs start, he has no trust in the youngsters so they never play. then when the world cup starts he realizes his lineup is too old so he has to christen some youngsters AT the world cup. bruce, why not make it easier on yourself and start the process now, instead of the day before our first match at Germany '06...
I've seen a few people post formations including Mastroeni and Armas together in the starting 11. I honestly do not believe that we'll ever see the two of them on the field at the same time. This is a home game, so why would we be so defensive and play two d-mids? Yes, Mastroeni is talented and can certainly go forward, but we need an a-mid and that's either going to be Donovan or Mathis, plain and simple. The Kyle Martino issue is valid because he's playing well right now, but I think that there's plenty of time to bring him around, if he's truly our best potential talent at the a-mid position. Here's what I think Arena will do Howard Bocanegra Pope Hejduk Armas Stewart Mathis Klein Beasley Donovan McBride
Hejduk would probably only start with a 4-man backline. He's too light to play as a central defender with three across the back. Even with the right midfielder playing deeper, the defense would still be exposed on that side if Frankie went forward.
true. If you play 3 in the back, you take away the only rationale for having Frankie on the field, which is making crazy runs out of the back.If you want a pure defender( as 3 in the back MUST be), any of the other defenders are better.
I'd like to see BA have the team play a 4-2-3-1. I think it would lend to some our strengths in terms of attackers and 2 outstanding midfielders for getting the ball back and controling it. GK : Howard LB : Garcia CB: Pope CB: Bocanegra RB: Hejduk DM: Armas DM : Mastroeni M: Beasely M: Donovan M: Mathis F: McBride Bench : Brown, Califf, Mulrooney, Stewart, Jones, Klien
I do like the idea of Armas and Pablo together in the middle, especially with our lack of good holding midfielders with the MLS only group. Donovan can do the job in midfield, but I tend to think the more time he gets up front the better. I hate always having to drop our most dangerous forward further from the goal. With Beasley on one wing and if we go with Stewart on the other, we'll have enough attacking power without an offensive minded center mid, especially considering Stewart can pinch in well and is not afraid to do so often. Besides, with an all MLS lineup against a Mexico team that has been playing well lately, a defensive stancs isn't necessarily a bad thing. If we're in the usual 442, I'd be happy to see something like: .............Howard ..Hedjuk Pope Boca Convey Stewart Arms Pablo Beasley ........McBride Donovan
Don't know if you watched the Dallas vs DC match, but EJ is not ready for senior international matches. He has the raw skills, but doesn't play well with teamates. Too often he pouting and walking around because his teamates didn't get him the ball. He doesn't have a good enough work rate for MLS, so no way Bruce will call him up to the big team. Players need to earn their spots, EJ hasn't yet.