Is there a thread for this? If so, I will delete this but I looked quick and didn't see much. Anyways- what did you guys think of last night? I really liked Fabian Johnson at RB- him and Zusi seem to work well together and have some chemistry. Also seeing Disk score with the #10 on was pretty sweet-- is he kinda "the up and coming" guy since he has the #10? I'm not huge on the USMNT, but love to watch and was hoping this thread could help anyone interested become more in tune with what is going on with the team! Timpegoose RedAL925 MoonBBad Not sure whoever else to tag off the top of my head. JFace907 too I suppose. I know I'm missing plenty of guys, but they will find this.
We looked like shit. I'm hoping we can chalk it up to them basically going through a 2 week preseason fitness camp right before this game, but we will definitely have to show better against Turkey/Nigeria. I actually thought Brad Davis looked pretty good despite originally thinking that he shouldn't be on the team.
They looked like 11 players on the field instead of 1 team...very disjointed, no chemistry between anyone, not good. I really like Mix and Johannson, but I don't think either of them start.
Some thoughts. 1. Bedoya -- Call me intrigued... I love his two way ability, and his pace on the flank. I think he is going to be the guy that gets the LM role in the WC, but I'd like to see him get more involved in the attack. 2. Jones vs Beckerman -- I get why he's in there, I think he is a better player overall than Beckerman, however I still don't think he can be a true #6. He wants to be a box to box midfielder, more of the #8 which really is what Bradley's role generally is despite us forcing him as a #10 type CAM in the Diamond. He has better range than Beckerman but will make bone head plays. I think he plays a better ball, but he takes more risks. Beckerman really will play simple and I personally think Bradley has more confidence that he'll stay home vs Jones. This will definitely be a battle to watch. If we go with the 4-4-2 diamond I think we need to start Beckerman, unfortunately. 3. Wondo -- Man the guy has great football instincts and IQ. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time. The only problem? His ability. He's not the biggest guy, he's not the fastest and he seems to really struggle with the ball at his feet. If only he had better touch on the ball he'd be a really great compliment to Altidore, but Dempsey clearly would be better up top as the other striker. Aron Johannsson I think is the better player and should get the nod over Wondo. 4. Fabian Johnson -- We've found our Cherundolo replacement. Forget Yedlin, who looked terrible BTW. Fabian is the guy and looked great last night. Excellent pace up the flank, picked his spots, and is in great form. 5. Back Line -- Sorry Timpegoose we really should roll out Johnson -- Cameron -- Beasler -- Chandler as our back four. I think they need to play now, and play the rest of the qualifiers. In terms of talent they're the best we got. Chandler is better than Beasley, who didn't play poor btw, period. Chandler lost the ball pushing up high, but we were tooling a shitty team and I think he'd be much more disciplined against better competition and has the pace, like Johnson to get up the wing and join the attack if necessary. 6. 4-4-2 Diamond -- If we're going to play it, and Dempsey can play against Turkey, I think we should roll out this iteration: Chandler--Cameron--Beasler--Johnson ----------------Bradley----------------------- Zuzi----------------------------------Bedoya ----------------Dempsey--------------------- --------Altidore----------Johannsson------ While I think Bradley did very well against Mexico as the facilitator in the 4-4-2 Diamond, I still think we need a more creative presence there and the only thought I had would be to stick Dempsey there and let two pure strikers up top. The other option would be to put Mix as the CAM and replace Johannsson with Dempsey, but I am not sure I trust Mix at this point as I haven't seen enough of him. If only we had Donovan...
Good stuff Moon- I really agree with Bedoya and Fabian especially. I think we need to let Mix have a game at that facilitating CAM role against either Nigeria or Turkey and see how he does. Wondo just plays like an American out there.
I don't really understand the Wondo bashing; he's the only natural finisher in the entire 23. Americans don't even know what that means. The biggest problem plaguing US Soccer is a lack of identity, and it's why I loved the Jurgen hire. I saw it in talent evaluations on the youth level for years. You think about the Italians - stout defense, they get stuck in on tackles, and they generally incorporate the soles of their feet in their play. Germans are solid in the back, strong target play, and use their size/strength and creative 10s. Spanish are the creative, English are the direct, and Brazil has the flare. I could go on. I'm not saying we need to self-identify with any of these styles, I'm just saying if you were to try, you'd have no idea where to start. If anything, Jurgen will fix that. Regardless, you need to give your poachers burn. Jozy is as useless as a cock flavored loli-pop, and Aron is still coming around. For me, Wondo is a must start every match.
http://www.espnfc.com/news/story/_/...says-clint-dempsey-fit-play-vs-turkey?cc=5901 Now that we can assume Dempsey will be in the starting lineup, post your predictions and subs. What say you friends?
I never thought I would like Beckerman to start, but I would prefer him over Jones at this point. Beckerman has really come around over the last year. Other than that I like what we rolled out there. Just need them to gel so we can break a defense down a little better. Dempsey obviously adds more of that than Wondo, so we'll see how it goes against Turkey. Also, did I hear right on the Inside the USA thing today that Donovan is the first guy called in if a forward goes down?
You heard right on the Donovan front but it ain't happening. Now did I hear right, you are now in favor of the diamond?
No way, unless it's Michael Bradley sitting back there. Then maybe. But I'd still prefer the 4-2-3-1. I'm afraid to see what Ghana or Germany would do to us in the midfield with one guy trying to cover all of that space. It wouldn't be pretty.
Also any thoughts why Jürgan isn't playing chandler nor Fabian at their natural positions? Timmy naturally is a lb and Johnson a rb.
So what about: Chandler--Cameron--Beasler--Johnson ----------------Bradley----------------------- Zuzi----------------------------------Bedoya ----------------Dempsey--------------------- --------Altidore----------Johannsson------ Subs: Johannason ~> Wondo Dempsey ~> Mix Bradley ~> Beckerman Cameron ~> Gonzalez Bedoya ~> Green
If Bradley is back there by himself, there's no way he's getting forward. I like ArJo as much as the next guy, but in order for Bradley to do what he does best, he needs a partner, or he needs to be at the top of the diamond
I think the diamond is more of a "down a goal in the 70th minute" thing. Bradley will be paired either Jones (more likely) or Beckerman and Jozy will be the lone striker. I really think we'll get over run in the middle of the field running a diamond unless the wingers pinch in and we really count on our outside backs to get forward and provide width. There's a reason 95% of the top teams in the world run a version of the 4-2-3-1 (4-5-1) or 4-3-3. The only team I can think of off hand that runs a diamond midfield is Real Salt Lake. Manchester United dabbled in it a little bit in Fergie's last year, but they didn't use it a ton. It was more of a wrinkle. Maybe JK throws it in against Portugal as a wrinkle, I think it could work against Portugals central midfield. Moon's idea would be interesting in the attack though. I'd like to think we'd at least create a ton of chances and if anybody is going to run all day it would be Bradley. Apparently the guy was still going when the beep test ended. For anybody that hasn't done it before, that's insane. I made it to stage 14 and felt like a god lol. Only 2 other people have ever finished it in USMNT history, Landon Donovan and Frankie Hejduk. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-stage_fitness_test
Liverpool ran a 4-4-2 diamond midfield and were devastating offensively. But they also have insane forwards. More importantly, their defense was awful. It'd be suicide for USMNT to run a diamond midfield IMO, especially with an inexperienced back line. Not too mention, we don't really have mobile enough forwards for that formation. All of our strikers are target men. Midfield is our strongest position, i'd much rather get as money mids on the pitch as possible and hope for the best.
Observations: 1. Altidore stinks. He is rarely moving into space and doesn't seem to create chances. He must have balance issues, as he always ends up on the ground. 2. They need to clone Bradley, so he can play both CAM and CDM. I'm not sure Beckerman can play against top competition. He seems a step slow when he plays. 3. Zuzi made some creative passes. I like watching him play. 4. I want to see how the defense holds up against Turkey and Nigeria. I only had a chance to watch the first half of last game, and they weren't really challenged.
Altidore can stink, but if he's confident and sharp he is a real handful. Especially at the International level where defenders don't really know his game. Lets not forget him destroying a prime Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique a few years back. All that said, he needs to pick it up a level for this tournament for sure. Love Bradley--plays simple and with power which will always be an effective way to play futbol. Not a huge Zuzi fan in particular, but he has been playing well lately. Speculative balls in behind the defense and a motor up and down the flanks. IMO, Timmy Howard needs to play out of his mind if the USMNT are to have any chance of advancing. Or CBs (whichever it may be) will be inexperienced and that is never a plus. Hopefully Bradley and co. can do of job of protecting them from midfield by tracking back effectively.
Beaser actually has played really well as of late starting at Azteca he was phenomenal. Cameron has played well too. If Fabian does well and chandler can step up, cause Beasley is not the answer we can be ok back there. Key is these guys need to figure out each other and fast. Hope that happens. I agree that the diamond is not the answer but the lineup I posted above was if Klinnie continued with the diamond. I too would prefer the 4-2-3-1 with Bradley and jones back there Dempsey and Dempsey as the cam. I get the altidore hate cause he plays lazy at times. But he is our best option as a lone striker period. He's quick, and very strong. He got better last game as time went on but he needs to step it up. I really hope he scores before the WC to get some swag back.
Besler doesn't scare me so much, he's been a rock for us. I think the last game was an anomaly. I'm a lot more worried about whoever pairs next to him. It's either Cameron who he hasn't played with much, or Omar who kinda sucks. I'm definitely hoping it's Cameron though.
Howard; Johnson Cameron Besler Chandler; Zuzi Jones Bradley Davis; Dempsey Altidore Probably the back four we see in Brazil. Bradley at top of diamond
