USA National Team Thread

[Dreath]

Err is Brad Friedel injured or retired or something? Why is Kasey Keller in goal?

 

[Voltaic Borusse]

Brad Friedel is retired.

 

[$teauA]

and Keller is amazing

 

[::shinji::]

tough luck US fans, I was really rooting for you guys in the Czech game tonight. The future of MLS and popularity of soccer in North America (yes, Canada too) really rides a lot on your success Not all is lost, I've seen you guys play countless times and I know you're a better team that what was on display today, a win against Ghana and a tie or historic win over Italy and maybe you're through. keep up the fight....

here's hoping for a Portugal-USA rematch, in the final this time though

 

[modena_10]

yeah, i expected more out of the americans. the early goal really deflated you guys and lifted the czechs.

but not for one second will i underestimate you. hell, you guys are now coming harder than ever.

can't wait for saturday.

 

[Fotbalguy]

"what has 22 arms, 22 legs, & no goals in life?
...the u.s. men's soccer team......

:rockman sorry

 

[$teauA]

That game was s*it. We need to come out flying against Italy to even have a chance.

 

[pede54]

well the USA need the win as opposed to just wanting to win, that makes a difference. As long as the ref is wide awake to any dodgy behaviour they are in with a good chance of taking this one. keep the faith........

 

[Run DMB]

OK, let's talk Ghana.

So, Pope and Mastroeni have to miss the game. Pope can be replaced by either Bocanegra or Conrad. If Boca replaces him, we have to bring back Eddie Lewis, which I don't want to do.

Mastroeni can be replaced by either O'Brien or Johnson. The former seems likelier.

So my guess as to what we'll see:



------------Onyewu-----Conrad--------------
---Dolo--------------------------Bocanegra--


------------Reyna-------O'Brien--------------
---Dempsey-----------------------Convey----
------------------Donovan-------------------


-------------------McBride-------------------



I'm worried about Reyna and McBride considering they went 90 in both of our games so far. They're going to be fatigued. Especially McBride, he's coming off a long Premiership season. Reyna was injured for most of his, so he should be fresher.

 

[Luis Ah-Hoy]

Same formation as Portugal's...

Is that Josh Wolff any good?

 

[Run DMB]

Same formation as Portugal's...

Is that Josh Wolff any good?

Not really. He's a forward who can't score goals. Otherwise he's quick, good on the ball and combines well with his teammates. He's been linked with Everton recently, but I don't know if anything will materialize. Decent, unspectacular player.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Would The Bruce consider playing O'Brien at left back like he did for Ajax? Because then we could play the 4-4-2 with Johnson.

Cherundolo-Onyewu-Bocanegra-O'Brien
----------------Reyna
Dempsey----------------------Convey
---------------Donovan
-------Johnson---------McBride

 

[barthez4]

I think against Ghana we need to play a 4-1-4-1 again. They have a very, very good midfield and are very physical. I personally don't think that a 4-4-2 with Reyna and Donovan could last against Ghana's midfield.

 

[Run DMB]

Would The Bruce consider playing O'Brien at left back like he did for Ajax? Because then we could play the 4-4-2 with Johnson.

Cherundolo-Onyewu-Bocanegra-O'Brien
----------------Reyna
Dempsey----------------------Convey
---------------Donovan
-------Johnson---------McBride

Definitely an option. Actually, that line-up was the first that went through my mind. The only thing that bothers me is that Reyna is all by himself as a defensive midfielder. He would have to cover a lot of ground, and I'm not sure he can do that. Seems like a defensive liability to me.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Definitely an option. Actually, that line-up was the first that went through my mind. The only thing that bothers me is that Reyna is all by himself as a defensive midfielder. He would have to cover a lot of ground, and I'm not sure he can do that. Seems like a defensive liability to me.

Yeah, I was also concerned about Reyna all alone in defensive midfield. Mastroeni really frees him up and is one of the most important players on our team, it's a real shame we won't have him against Ghana.

About the 4-1-4-1, look man, we need to win here. A draw and we're out of the cup. I don't think we've gotten one shot on goal in this entire tournament playing the precious 4-1-4-1. McBride just isn't enough to create a spark by himself. Now if he's holding the ball up and playing through balls to a fast moving Eddie Johnson? Or if Johnson creates space with his speed, then gets it to the outside for a cross into McBride, well that sounds good to me.

But I guess in the end we'll just play the same damn formation with O'Brien taking over for Mastroeni in defensive midfield. If we draw 0-0 or lose without scoring, I am going to be pissed. Johnson is more effective than McBride, he can create for himself.

 

[barthez4]

Yeah, I was also concerned about Reyna all alone in defensive midfield. Mastroeni really frees him up and is one of the most important players on our team, it's a real shame we won't have him against Ghana.

About the 4-1-4-1, look man, we need to win here. A draw and we're out of the cup. I don't think we've gotten one shot on goal in this entire tournament playing the precious 4-1-4-1. McBride just isn't enough to create a spark by himself. Now if he's holding the ball up and playing through balls to a fast moving Eddie Johnson? Or if Johnson creates space with his speed, then gets it to the outside for a cross into McBride, well that sounds good to me.

But I guess in the end we'll just play the same damn formation with O'Brien taking over for Mastroeni in defensive midfield. If we draw 0-0 or lose without scoring, I am going to be pissed. Johnson is more effective than McBride, he can create for himself.

Looking back on what I said, I think you're right. I think the scoreline result of the Italy match clouded my vision, I forgot how bad we've been attacking. It's just that the first thing that came to my mind was the midfield battle against Ghana, and I just plain don't think we can with with Reyna and Landycakes as our central players against Essien and company. I'm just trying to analyze if the attacking positives we get from Johnson and McBride are enough to overrule the negatives from playing the previous two against Ghana.

 

[$teauA]

We have to be more attacking minded against Ghana or we won't win or score for that matter.

I'd start this:


---------------------Keller---------------------


Cherundolo---Onyewu-----Conrad-----Bocanegra


Dempsey-----Donovan-----Reyna--------Convey


-------------Johnson------McBride-------------


Why not play a classic 4-4-2? The 4-5-1 has proven to be disastrous for our attack and frankly I can't believe Arena has been stubborn enough to keep it this long. I mean it didn't even do that many wonders in the warm-up games leading to the WC (3 goals in three matches ...) so why stick with it?

 

[Tom]

I have to say, i thought USA's wingers in the last match were so good. Dempsey looked amazing down the right and Convey (think he played most the game on the left) was very good.

I'm impressed by the Americans going forward, but at the back i still fear you may ship goals.

 

[Luis Ah-Hoy]

Well, you do have two big and strong CB's right there...

 

[barthez4]

I have to agree with you Tom in that Deuce looked really good against Italy. He was really the best attacker in my opinion, while he was on. Once he was taken off, it was Donovan.

Here is what I think we need to do...

-------------Keller-------------
-------------------------------
Adu-----Adu------Adu-----Adu
-------------------------------
-------------------------------
Adu-----Adu------Adu-----Adu
------------------------------
------------------------------
---------Adu----Onyewu------