US Squad

[Rook]

Did anyone see the qualifers this week. Bradley's formations still have me scratching my head. He's starting to reach his sell-buy date. Granted Honduras is a quality team with some excellent players on the squad but we were lucky thanks to the handball from their JV back 4.

What's Conner Casey doing in the lineup? Why not at least a 4-4-1-1 with Donovan right behind Dempsey. Altidore (who probably shouldn't be in the lineup either he looks like he ate too much Paella in Spain and has the body of a 32 year old now) shouldn't be starting either.

Beasley is a left sided player so naturally he was brought in to play the right. We had 2 defensive mids in the center. Donovan does most of his damage in the center of the pitch not on the wing.


On the bright side though:

Feinhaber always plays well for us. He was the best player on the pitch on Saturday. Not sure why he's such a bust on every club side he played for. He's like the US's Faddy.

We may not be the best in the world on corner kicks but we are defo top 3. Our CBs aren't too great at defending but are perhaps our 2 best goalscorers. Hogdson added some physicallity to Dempsey's game and he looks like a poor man's Cahill on corners. Bradley is also excellent at grabbing goals on corners. Donovan's free kicks aren't that great but his corners are deadly.

I can't believe I'm saying this but the ideal coach for the squad is Big Sam. If he'd turn our side into a shin kicking, play for corners squad and we'd be very tough out.

We also need to nationalize Arteta

I like that kid on Honduras, Nunez. We should pick him up before Steve Bruce does and turns him into a 10M player.

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

Watched both games and was sad at our pourous defense. Costa Rica could have doubled their advantage. Beasley just can't play back there. Howard didn't have a chance the back four was at sixies and sevens. maybe Moyes can have a word with Bradley.

I will say I was happy with Bocanegra's goal against Honduras But the US needs to firm up. If we do get to the big show it will be on a cameo appearence if we don't get any better than this. 16th in the world just didn't get that ranking before the Costa Rica game. #43 put the fear in us.

 

[Neiler]

Hows our boy Michael Bradley doing?

 

[Rook]

Hows our boy Michael Bradley doing?

Was suspended in the Honduras match. You can't really tell much watching him play for the US. No journalist or even Michael himself knows why his dad is determined to keep him as a defensive mid. You'd think Bradley would know how to deploy his own son. He's only allowed to go forward on corners.

Heard he was a bust for Borrisa Mosengladbach until Christmas then came on after the break and was arguably their MVP at seasons end. So guess its going well for him.

 

[TX Bill]

Nunez used to play for FC Dallas.

Rico Clark I think just forced his way back into the reckoning after his performance against Honduras (MoM in my opinion.)

Casey playing as Ching was hurt.

Torres was our best player against Costa Rica and was pulled at halftime. I think we'll see him in the starting lineup against Mexico at Azteca.

 

[Rook]

Nunez used to play for FC Dallas.

Rico Clark I think just forced his way back into the reckoning after his performance against Honduras (MoM in my opinion.)

Casey playing as Ching was hurt.

Torres was our best player against Costa Rica and was pulled at halftime. I think we'll see him in the starting lineup against Mexico at Azteca.

My MoM was Feinhaber, but Clark was excellent. Edu is going to lose his starting place if he can't get a run of matches at Rangers.

Casey or Ching should never be starting. I could see Ching as a sub because even though he's slow as dirt, he can create his own shot in matches where nothing is going right and we are resorting route-1 footie. Altidore needs all the exp he could get and I'd play him in the U-21s as well because w/ the lack of PT he's regressed and looks out of shape. If we are playing 2 strikers then for the time being Dempsey and Donovan have to be up front with Bradley in a Cahill type role.

I've always been a big Palacios fan and think he's the best player in CONCACAF. However if you think about it is a pretty sad inditement for our confederation that we don't have anyone better than Wilson Palacios.

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

I agree with TXBill Torres was a breath of fresh air against Costa Rica and he was subbed first go figure. I believe everything normal was out of whack that game. Nobody looked half arsed please pardon my french.

 

[Neiler]

Was suspended in the Honduras match. You can't really tell much watching him play for the US. No journalist or even Michael himself knows why his dad is determined to keep him as a defensive mid. You'd think Bradley would know how to deploy his own son. He's only allowed to go forward on corners.

Heard he was a bust for Borrisa Mosengladbach until Christmas then came on after the break and was arguably their MVP at seasons end. So guess its going well for him.

Nice one mate.

 

[Icarus]

Torres looked very good on the ball against Costa Rica, although it seemed like he was out of position for the first two Costa Rica goals. To be fair those goals weren't his fault though. Sadly him and Adu might be the only US midfielders who can maintain possession under pressure and neither don't seem be very high on Bradley's depth chart.

In Altidore's defense he's been riding the pines at Xerez and has only recently come back from a toe injury, so he's far from match fit.

Definitely true that Bradley was arguably one of the key figures behind Mochengladbach's survival from relegation.