United States of America (23) Man Roster
- Thread starter Nordecke
- Start date
- Status
Rook
Player Valuation: £80m
I think Bradley is a decent manager and gets way too much stick by the no nothing USMNT "fans" who think that Bradley is the main culprit that we aren't Brasil 1970. However there were a couple moves that just dumbfounded me.
One was not starting DeMerit in the friendly. Doesn't he need some game experience? You'd think that give that he will most likely be the starter you would want to see how the 1st CB in human history with no depth perception will perform on the world stage (he should wear an eyepatch, so even if we are shambles in the back at least we will look cool).
2nd was leaving Ching off the squad. If we give up a lead in the final minutes due to not being able to keep possesion late don't say I havent warned you. Its kind of funny because Ching was always one of the players that Bradley haters point to as being one of his favorites.
I wouldn't be too arsed to see Bornstein in the squad. He's terrible in defense but decent against lesser teams (assuming Algeria and Slovenia are lesser teams) and is decent attacking LB. He's like our Osman. Pearce my god he's terrible.
Gooch looks like he should be a sub only, I thought he looked good in the 1st 10 minutes but after that you could tell that his knee isn't ready for a starting role. So I guess we will have a back line of Spector ---- Bocanegra ---- DeMerit ----- Cheruldolo.
Around the 60th minute I was like well we should just stick Edu and CB and hop for the best. Then he was switched to CB and well so much for that idiotic idea.
BTW: Big ups for Gulati for scheduling one of our final matches before the WC on NextTurf. I bet the surface, which is harder than grass and therefore the best prehab available for players coming off ACL tears. Plus thanks to Gulati we will have a leg up against all the other teams in the WC who aren't familiar with how the ball rolls on NextTurf....uh wait a minute.
I'm still not feeling it for advancing. The Confed cup team had a legimitate shot at say making a semifinal run. Thanks to injuries, I'd be pleased if we just finish 2nd in the group stage.
My staring 11 would be:
RB Spector - awful season in EPL but did well on the right side for us last year and there is no one we could replace him with.
CB: DeMerit/Gooch and Bocangrea - DeMerit or Gooch whichever is more match fit. Bocangrea is a much better LB in my opinion but I don't think we can afford him on the right side.
LB Cherlondolo - not a big fan of him, there is no one else though.
RW Holden - he's best in central midfield but there is not room for him there in the starting lineup. His play and continued improvment has earned him a starting role. He's going to be one of Bolton's best ever buys. He's going to do the impossible and actually make them semi-decent to watch.
DM Bradley and Clark - Clark and Edu are pretty much the same player, I think Clark is a tad better though. Bradley for his detractors is one of our better players. I just hope his dad isn't afraid to sub him late when he tires and becomes a red card waiting to happen.
LW Donovan - though he will probably drift more to the center. I hope someone can create some room for him.
Strikers: Dempsey and Altidore - Dempsey has always been a better striker than winger. In the midfield he has the tendency to make stupid turnovers and shirk on his defensive duties. He doesn't have to worry about that as a striker. Altidore rounds out the best of an unproven bunch.
One was not starting DeMerit in the friendly. Doesn't he need some game experience? You'd think that give that he will most likely be the starter you would want to see how the 1st CB in human history with no depth perception will perform on the world stage (he should wear an eyepatch, so even if we are shambles in the back at least we will look cool).
2nd was leaving Ching off the squad. If we give up a lead in the final minutes due to not being able to keep possesion late don't say I havent warned you. Its kind of funny because Ching was always one of the players that Bradley haters point to as being one of his favorites.
I wouldn't be too arsed to see Bornstein in the squad. He's terrible in defense but decent against lesser teams (assuming Algeria and Slovenia are lesser teams) and is decent attacking LB. He's like our Osman. Pearce my god he's terrible.
Gooch looks like he should be a sub only, I thought he looked good in the 1st 10 minutes but after that you could tell that his knee isn't ready for a starting role. So I guess we will have a back line of Spector ---- Bocanegra ---- DeMerit ----- Cheruldolo.
Around the 60th minute I was like well we should just stick Edu and CB and hop for the best. Then he was switched to CB and well so much for that idiotic idea.
BTW: Big ups for Gulati for scheduling one of our final matches before the WC on NextTurf. I bet the surface, which is harder than grass and therefore the best prehab available for players coming off ACL tears. Plus thanks to Gulati we will have a leg up against all the other teams in the WC who aren't familiar with how the ball rolls on NextTurf....uh wait a minute.
I'm still not feeling it for advancing. The Confed cup team had a legimitate shot at say making a semifinal run. Thanks to injuries, I'd be pleased if we just finish 2nd in the group stage.
My staring 11 would be:
RB Spector - awful season in EPL but did well on the right side for us last year and there is no one we could replace him with.
CB: DeMerit/Gooch and Bocangrea - DeMerit or Gooch whichever is more match fit. Bocangrea is a much better LB in my opinion but I don't think we can afford him on the right side.
LB Cherlondolo - not a big fan of him, there is no one else though.
RW Holden - he's best in central midfield but there is not room for him there in the starting lineup. His play and continued improvment has earned him a starting role. He's going to be one of Bolton's best ever buys. He's going to do the impossible and actually make them semi-decent to watch.
DM Bradley and Clark - Clark and Edu are pretty much the same player, I think Clark is a tad better though. Bradley for his detractors is one of our better players. I just hope his dad isn't afraid to sub him late when he tires and becomes a red card waiting to happen.
LW Donovan - though he will probably drift more to the center. I hope someone can create some room for him.
Strikers: Dempsey and Altidore - Dempsey has always been a better striker than winger. In the midfield he has the tendency to make stupid turnovers and shirk on his defensive duties. He doesn't have to worry about that as a striker. Altidore rounds out the best of an unproven bunch.
pfim
Player Valuation: £40m
Edu was never going to be a CB option. I don't know what everyone was watching during the Olympics that year, but he wasn't that good. And that was against lesser competition. He's a midfielder.
Gooch needs to get fit because if he doesn't, our back line is going to stink. There really are no other good options if he sits. Bocanegra has to play LB for this to be successful.
Assuming we're going 4-4-2 (a safe assumption, even though it's probably not the best), I think the starters are:
Spector-Demerit-Gooch-Bocanegra
Holden-Bradley-Clark-Donovan
Dempsey-Altidore
Not sure that Dempsey will start at forward, seems funny that Bradley would take 4 forwards and only start one. But Dempsey is the best option.
Would still like to see 5 in the midfield. If that's the case, maybe Beasley gets a shot over Holden. If anyone but Bocanegra plays LB, I think BB will be forced to play Beasley for his work rate in tracking back.
If Michael Bradley wasn't the coaches son, most people's perspective on him would do a 180. He's 22, has starred in Dutch football, starts for a mid-table Bundesliga club, and has over 40 caps. How many American players have accomplished as much as he has by 22?
Gooch needs to get fit because if he doesn't, our back line is going to stink. There really are no other good options if he sits. Bocanegra has to play LB for this to be successful.
Assuming we're going 4-4-2 (a safe assumption, even though it's probably not the best), I think the starters are:
Spector-Demerit-Gooch-Bocanegra
Holden-Bradley-Clark-Donovan
Dempsey-Altidore
Not sure that Dempsey will start at forward, seems funny that Bradley would take 4 forwards and only start one. But Dempsey is the best option.
Would still like to see 5 in the midfield. If that's the case, maybe Beasley gets a shot over Holden. If anyone but Bocanegra plays LB, I think BB will be forced to play Beasley for his work rate in tracking back.
If Michael Bradley wasn't the coaches son, most people's perspective on him would do a 180. He's 22, has starred in Dutch football, starts for a mid-table Bundesliga club, and has over 40 caps. How many American players have accomplished as much as he has by 22?
N
NHRevs
Guest
The Edu as CB option is probably only for injury / card crisis -- a real possibility -- or maybe a late-game tactical option, substituting CB for attacker, dropping Edu back. Giving him some game minutes in a friendly just makes sense. It's never going to a good choice, but it might be the best choice available.
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