Sunday, June 11, 2006

If I were Bruce: The US lineup for the opener

Keller

Onyewu Pope
Cherundolo Lewis
Mastroeni
Dempsey Reyna Beasley
Donovan
McBride
First subs of the bench:

Convey
Johnson
O'Brien

I would employ a 4-5-1 or more truly a 4-4-1-1 formation that utilizes Landon Donovan's playmaking by using him as a withdrawn striker/attacking midfielder. I have doubts about John O'Brien's fitness and believe that Clint Dempsey is currently playing at a very high level and thus should start. Eddie Johnson should come off the bench, because much like game changing subs for Trinidad and Mexico the other day, Johnson's pace and fresh legs could devestate an injured and aging Czech side late in the match. Bobby Convey should be the first sub regardless of the game situation. Convey is versatile and can play anywhere in the pitch.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've never heard of most of your lousy players.

Kartik said...

Are we just going to get Brits commenting on the USA team here?

Anonymous said...

Kartik, you are obviously an Indian who understands International Sport. Take it from me, you can not educate the mindless American public about the beautiful game. It is too complicated for them. Let them enjoy their games like Baseball that lack tactics and Basketball which involves no strategy whatsoever. The Yanks only care about games that they can dominate.

Anonymous said...

Heading out now to watch the game. I'd start O'Brien over Dempsey but everything else looks about right.

USA USA USA!

Anonymous said...

Don't get your hopes up Yanks. Kartik, we could use someone of your Football knowledge cheering for England across the pond. don't waste your energy on the useless USA.

Anonymous said...

YANKS BITE! HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

3-0. Yeah the USA has some team.

Anonymous said...

Making fun at your expense is all too easy. As many of us on this website have said over the past few days England is a superior team and USA is probably the worst team to qualify for the finals.

Here is why:

- USA has virtually no players playing at major clubs in Europe

- USA has a disjointed midfield which relies on speed but which lacks skill and quality

- USA has nobody on its squad who is a quality finisher. Look at Costa Rica whom you claim you are far superior to. They got two good opportunities to score and took advantage of both.

-USA lacks a ball control midfielder.

- USA tried to play longball but unlike England your backs do not play balls that land on the strikers feet.

The above points have all been obvious for some time about USA. You do not have the great Brad Friedel to mask you defeciences this time and you do not have a class wing player like the black fellow who played in germany, his name escapes me this time around.

USA will not get a point in this world cup. Those of us who have brought up the obvious problems in your side have been met with disdain and insults on this website. We however have gotten the last laugh.