OT: US World Cup Roster/my starting XI
The US Roster was just announced as:
(alphabetically)
Altidore, Beasley, Bocanegra, Bornstein, Bradley, Buddle, Cherundolo, Clark, DeMerit, Dempsey, Donovan, Edu, Feilhaber, Findley, Gomez, Goodson, Guzan, Hahnemann, Holden, Howard, Onyewu, Spector, Torres
All "Fire Bob Bradley" sentiments aside, who is your starting 11 against England? I would go with a 4-4-2 in:
Howard
Spector DeMerit Onyewu Bocanegra
Donovan Edu Bradley Beasley
Dempsey Altidore
top subs: Holden, Clark, Goodson
I can't really see anyone breaking into the starting 11 (maybe Clark for Edu?) unless injuries become an issue.
Also, we only have 3 players whose last name starts with a letter after H. That is kinda strange
I don't know, personally i'd run a 3-3-5 stack. But it's really more like a 3-3-4-1. The goalie is a hybrid.
have had Dempsey in the midfield and Ching up fron with Jozy, but that is blown to shit now. I think you are about right on this lineup though. Not a lot of subs threatening to break through into the starting spots.
Demarcus certainly has played himself into possibly starting. Not sure if it will happen though.
Its hard to believe that with the growth of soccer in this country, one of our 23 best players is someone who couldn't see the field in the Scottish Premier League. If he's played himself into a starting position, our team is in a precarious position entering this World Cup. I'm tired of watching him dribble too much and kick the ball off the opposing defenders more often than not - only to have Harkes say 'He's won another corner!" If he could make quicker decisions with the ball, he'd stop having every damn pass blocked! Maybe if he could be converted into a left back....
freddy adu
freddy adu freddy adu freddy adu freddy adu
freddy adu freddy adu freddy adu freddy adu
freddy adu freddy adu
But where is Denard Robinson?
the million dollar question for opposing defenses.
Although I could see Gooch starting if he proves to Bob in practice that he can actually jump, I think Goodson could get the nod for England. 50-50 there.
Also, Holden will start instead of Beasley. Beasley could be a good sub, but I think Holden's vision and technical ability give him the nod as long as he proves he can go the full 90 at 100%
We need someone who can just plant himself in front of the goal and stuff every loose rebound into the back of the net...
I'm thinking:
G - Maarten Stekelenburg
D - Johnny Heitenga
D - Giovanni Van Bronckhorst
D - Joris Mathijsen
D - Andre Ooijer
M - Ibrahim Affelay
M - Wesley Sneijder
M - Mark Van Bommel
F - Dirk Kuyt
F - Arjen Robben
F - Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
With Ryan Babel provided nice relief from the bench.
I LOVE THE DUTCH!!!! HUP HOLLAND!!!!
I think Ronald de Boer could still be an effective sub : )
And man I miss watching Overmars on the wing passing to Bergkamp.
Uh oh, just found the Bergkamp goal from 1998 v. Argentina on Youtube.
Hup Hup Holland.
I agree with the OP, but I would move dempsey back to mid and put Buddle up top with Jozy. Buddle has great speed and has really been playing well with Donovan in the MLS.
Yeah ideally Gomez or Buddle will start next to Jozy, but that means one of them shows us something in the next two friendlies (Gomez goal last night was not bad). Dempsey can move back to right mid and we have our best lineup on the field.
Even if Dempsey is up top, Donovan would play left wing and I think Holden would start over Beasley on the right side
how the fuck did ching not make the roster ... he actually provides us with something when hes up front and he links well with donovan
im not worried yet about gooch, other than the one jump ball i though he looked fine and even if not goodson impressed me
holden ... i thought he had an excellent game and made a real argument to see significant time in south africa
Were the substitution rules changed recently? I noticed that France used five substitutes in its friendly today against Costa Rica (won 2-1 by France). I thought teams were only permitted to use three subs. Or is that only in the WC itself?
Friendlies often operate under different substitution rules than FIFA sanctioned competitions like the World Cup. I believe the US and Czech were given 6 subs each last night.
Can the teams agree to however many subs they want to use in a friendly? Is there a FIFA upper limit?
i honestly think hercules gomez could get some playing time, considering the second foward spot is in limbo (and dempsey should be at mid btw)