List your picks here, I'd take: GK: Howard, Brown, Cannon D: Pope, Barrett, Bocanegra, Franchino, Cullen, Suarez, Robinson MF: Convey, Hernandez, Beasley, Martino, Olsen, Ralston, Victorine, Coralles F: Donovan, Twellman, Quaranta, Mathis, Cunningham Alex
final 18 GK: Howard, Rimando Def: Bocanegra, Pope, Suarez, Barret, Cullen, Curtin Mid: Beasley, Mastroeni, Victorine, Vagenas, Olsen, Ralston Att: Mathis, Donovan, Twellman, McBride
My final 18 howard, brown bocanegra, pope, suarez, heaps, cullen, califf/curtin bealey, mastroeni, victorine, vagenas, olsen, ralston, martino mathis, donovan, twellman
Howard Brown Lalas (I suppose he's earned it) Pope Bocanegra Mulrooney Barrett Suarez Donovan Olsen Beasley Mastroeni Klein (comeback player of the year and is a physical mofo) Martino Mathis Razov Twellman Buddle
I'm sorry I llike Victorine, but Hernandez has proven himself a bit more in the playoffs and has more natural talent...I'd love to see what Bruce could do with him. =)
************, forgot Mastroeni. Final 18: GK: Howard, Brown D: Mastroeni, Pope, Barrett, Suarez, Bocanegra, Franchino MF: Convey, Hernandez, Beasley, Olsen, Martino, Ralston F: Donovan, Twellman, Mathis, Quaranta
Goalkeepers: Brown, Cannon Sorry, but Tim Howard has not convinced me at all this season. He's been caught out of position far too often. Brown and Cannon have been very solid. Adin Brown gets the nod to start for his first cap, on the grounds that he's on form right now. Defenders: Suarez, Pope, Bocanegra, Mulrooney, Barrett, Califf I think it's sound policy to include at least one veteran on the back line, both as a basis for comparison and so the younger players can get used to playing with at least one regular starter. Thus I have Pope in the mix. I'd like to see a starting back line of Barrett-Bocanegra-Pope-Mulrooney, with Suarez coming in at right back. Califf deserves another look, as he seems to have cut down on the gratuitous hacking. Midfielders: Mastroeni, Beasley, Olsen, Donovan, Martino, Victorine, Broome First, note that Convey will already be with the U-20 team. The idea here is to continue to develop Donovan as a #10, while also trying out Martino as a playmaker. We should try Victorine as a defensive midfielder, where he was very effective for the Galaxy. Broome has played well enough to get a shot. I suppose this shortchanges Daniel Hernandez, but we have too many players who deserve a shot at the national team. I might be willing to drop Danny Califf to include Hernandez, but even that is somewhat iffy. Suffice it to say that Hernandez is my 19th man. Starters are Beasley-Mastroeni-Donovan-Olsen, but Beasley sits at half in favor of Broome. Forwards: Twellman, Mathis, Buddle Need I say more? (Like Convey, Quaranta will be playing in U-20 qualifiers.) Twellman and Mathis start. Substitutions to make: Barrett for Mulrooney, Broome for Beasley, Victorine for a defender (Mastroeni moving to back line), Buddle for either of the forwards, Martino for either a forward or Olsen (Martino to center mid, Donovan to vacated position).
Also forgot Mulrooney. Put him in for Franchino. Starting 11: GK: Howard D: Mulrooney, Pope, Bocanegra, Barrett MF: Beasley, Mastroeni, Convey, Olsen F: Donovan, Twellman Alex
Pope is out with minor knee surgery, Convey will be out with the US U-20's. An argument could be made for Lalas being in Pope's place, as a veteran defensive "organizer" to help the young 'uns. I think I would prefer Cullen or Heaps, though, since we know what Lalas can (& can't) do. I also wouldn't mind Martino in place of Convey. Winoman
buddle is out...he is still in a cast from the broken foot he received in the playoff's against new england, and hobbled to the stage at the us open cup last week on crutches to receive his medal.
So who's left? I'm not including McBride, on the grounds that we learn absolutely nothing from having him score a hat trick... Ideally, the "organizer" in the back should have played in the World Cup - how about Llamosa?
Also, don't forget that Mulrooney fractured his ankle and had two pins put in. He was hobbling around the last time I saw him (Oct. 11). But I'm not certain he'll be 100% for this game.
I initially included LLamosa in my lineup on another thread, but the more I think of his postseason play, I wonder if there is anything gained by having him dressed for this match. Maybe it's ok to go with all young players in the back for this friendly, just to use Pope if you must have a veteran. So let's try (assuming a 3-5-2): GK: Brown - Rimando (will Howard be ready to play by then?) D: Pope, Bocanegra, Suarez - Barrett, Heaps M: Mastroeni, Maisonneuve, Donovan, Beasley - Ralston - Hernandez, Henderson F: Twellman, McBride - Razov, Mathis
442 ******Mathis******Twellman****** DMB****Mastroeni****Donovan****Olsen Barrett****Boca****Califf****Suarez **************Brown************** 352 ******Mathis******Twellman****** DMB*********Donovan*********Olsen ******Mastroeni******Vagenas****** Boca*********Califf*********Suarez **************Brown**************
Here's the roster as of 10/29/2002: http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=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. Thoughts?
3-4-3 ----------Howard---------- Suarez----Califf-------Bocanegra ---------Mastroeni-------- Olson----Martino-----Beasley ---------Donovan-------- ----Mathis--------Twellman