here is my starting XI vs el salvador 4-4-2 alignment Howard Barrett Bocanegra Califf Suarez Beasley Mastroeni Donovan Olsen Mathis Twellman
I'd run out... Brown Suarez Dunseth Bocanegra Barrett Donovan Maestroenni Martino Beasley Twellman Mathis
My 11 Rimando (Howard's better, but Nick's the hometown hero) Barrett Bocanegra Suarez Beasley Klein Mastroeni Olsen Donovan Twellman Mathis I think Bruce should stick to the 3-5-2 that pummelled Mexico. This is the formation of the future. I think the 4-4-2 is on the outs. I'd even stack mathis and Donovan with Clint up top. Let Landon run like hell while Clint picks his spots. Who do you think will skipper the squad. I'd give Pablo my vote. Landon is too young, but maybe the armband will help with him mature a bit. I think Benji Olsen could take the helm as well. He looked ready to make a solid return when he came back to United late in the season. He was never really fully fit, but he improved immensely with each game. I just hope we kick the Salvadorian bastards asses. The stadium will have plenty of them in it though as they all love that worthless *************** Qunitanilla. I think my grandmother could produce as many goals as he did.
The way Brown played throughout the playoffs was ridiculous, he'll start in goal. Considering the fact that we are playing El Slavadore we'll play a 3-5-2 because if anyone from outside knowing soccer watches this game they will want to see goals. We can play a 3-5-2 becuase we are going to kill them. Bruce was at the USOC Final game, he saw how well Dunseth played, he might have a sot to get some PT. He won't start, that'll ne Bocenegra, Barrett and Califf. In Midfield you know the vets are gonna start so there is Donovan, Beasley, and Mastroeni. Look for Martino's first cap to bein the center of midfield with Olden out wide right. TT has paid his dues and he'll start up top with Mathis. So, your line up will look like this. Brown Barret, Bocenegra, Califf Mastroeni Olsen, Martino, Beasley Donovan Mathis, Twellman Does anyone know the substitutions that will be allowed in the game? Normal three or more cause its a friendly?
Well I'll have a go here too 8) Mathis Twellman Donovan DMB Hernandez Mastro Olsen/Klein Barrett Boca Califf Brown If Bruce goes with a 4-4-2, which he might, I'd expect to see Califf off, Saurez on the right side of defense, and Mastroeni paired with Boca in the middle.
You may be correct about "should not", but where do you get that he doesn't "deserve" a start? He was derailed by injury, not by lack of performance (quite the contrary) or attitude (although I personally find him a bit peevish it doesn't seem to affect his performance much). In a "real" game of course no way, but for this type of game (patently experimental) I challenge you to find someone better slotted for long-term (5+ years) potential to the national team AT HIS POSITION, as a previous poster pointed out. Steve freakin' Ralston, perhaps? Lordy!
No way should Califf start over Suarez. Suarez is the real deal. Even if we go with 3 defenders Suarez should start.
We'll obviously play a 4-4-2, since we have a bunch of new defenders to trot out there. Brown Suarez-Califf-Boca-Barrett Mastroeni Olsen/Klein----------------DMB LD Twellman--------Mathis
XI Can someone please explain how Rimando can be a hometown hero in DC? In the pointless category of hometown hero, especially for a game like this, I'd list both Olsen (UVA player with Arena and MLS Cup winner with United in '99) and Brown (W&M) before listing a goalie who's been with United for one season, a season without making the playoffs. I hope to see a 3-5-2 for this game, but think Bruce will use a 4-4-2.
Didn't Brown say that he had been playing with a fractured foot throughout most of the season? If i remember this correctly, than shouldn't he probably be resting it? Why is he even called in? Wouldn't it be better to let it heal a bit first?
I just have to remind everybody that suarez will play for the simple fact that we need to cap him to he can't play for Uruaguay. I haven't seen him play much so I am looking forward to the opportunity to see what he has to offer. I went to the MLScup and was impressed with Danny Calif. He deserves a chance in this game as well. As for Adin Brown, he was hurt so I see him playing because why else would you call in a hurt player if you don't plan on playing him. I really like what Bruce Arena is doing here. He is calling in alot of young faces but not rewarding anybody for not playing good this year. All these guys played steller for the past year and thats why they have been called into camp.
Even if Suarez plays against El Salvador, it will not cap tie him to the United States... As for the starting X1, here goes my shot at it.... --------------------- Howard -------------------- Suarez -------------- Boca --------------- Barrett ------------- Mastro -------- Hernandez --------- Klein --------------- Donovan -------------- Beas --------------- Twellman/Mathis ----------------- A couple of notes.. Look for the DC players to come into the game in the second half.. They'll definitely get bigger ovations if they sub into the game as opposed to subbing out.. The status of Twellman's knee could be the deciding factor if he even plays at all.. If he is healthy enough to go, he'll probably start and then be relieved by Cunningham...
Somebody please tell me that Barrett plays better for SJ than he did for DC a few weeks ago in Europe! Despite netting the only goal, he looked like total crap. I have seen SJ but a few times this year and didn't really notice anything special about Barrett. With DC he looked terrible, and was just shanking the ball everywhere. Maybe it was just Agoos juice on the ball, but he was seemingly having a hard time out there against some aging fellows. Everyone seems to think that he should be in there vs ES, but I am not so sure... Regardless this will be an interesting game and we should see some serious effort out there from the new guys.
Re: XI Rimando was awesome towards the end of the season. If we didn't have him, we certainly would have not had the chance at making the playoffs we did. The team's failure was not his fault, dumbass.
Here's the roster as of 10/29/2002: http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullst...id=23628&itype= Given that roster, a starting 4-4-2 Brown Suarez - Bocanegra - Califf - Barrett Olsen - Mastroeni - Hernandez - DMB Twellman - Donovan And a starting 3-5-2 Brown Suarez - Califf - Bocanegra Olsen - Mastroeni - DMB Donovan - Hernandez Twellman - Mathis I like the 3-5-2 formation very much. Strength and creativity down the middle with speed and manoverablility on the outsides. Plus, I think you've got to get Mathis, Donovan and Twellman on the field at the same time, somehow. And if you play a 4-4-2 you've got to get Barrett out there. What other serious options do we have at left back? Not many by my reckoning.
This lineup is pretty damn good. Twellman/Mathis and Donovan attacking could be the trio of the future. Klein can whip good crosses in too.