Who should start vs. Trinidad & Tobago?

                                                                               Photo by ISIphotos.com

Now that the really hard work has been done, it is time for the U.S. men's national team to finish off its World Cup qualifying group.

The Americans can essentially do just that on Wednesday when it takes on Trinidad & Tobago at Toyota Park on Wednesday. A win would put the U.S. team at nine points, giving the Americans a five-point lead on second place in the group regardless of the outcome of the Guatemala-Cuba game, and a seven-point lead on third-place Guatemala if the Cubans can tie 'Los Chapines'.

Yes, there would still be three games to play, and there are mathematical permutations that could give us a final standings with the USA in third place, but that would require a collapse if amazing proportions.

Trinidad & Tobago is far from a pushover. The 'Soca Warriors' have four points from its first two matches and did something the Americans weren't able to, score multiple goals in Cuba (in a 3-1 win in the group opener). Young midfield ace Keon Daniel has been a revelation, scoring three goals in qualifying after two matches to help make up for the absence of injured striker Kenwyne Jones.

So what team should Bob Bradley use to face Trinidad & Tobago? This is what we will likely see:

---------------------Ching---------------

Beasley-----------Donovan--------Dempsey

---------------Bradley----Edu----------------

Pearce---Bocanegra--Onyewu---Cherundolo

-------------------Howard---------------------

I could see Eddie Johnson getting a look, as well as Ricardo Clark, but I see Bradley using essentially the same squad that beat Cuba (with Cherundolo back in for Hejduk). If he wanted to get a little daring and go after T&T he could sit Edu and start Johnson and play a straight 4-4-2 with Michael Bradley as the lone deep-lying midfielder.

So what will the Americans face? A pretty fast and skillful T&T team that doesn't have quite the fire power of past teams, but that can still move the ball well and finish. Daniel is also a very good free kick specialist so Michael Bradley and co. will need to be careful about fouls near the box.

Here's a closer look at Trinidad & Tobago, with some video highlights from their 3-1 World Cup qualifying win against Cuba (note that the field is much faster in this match than in the U.S. team's 1-0 win in Cuba, and also it wasn't raining like it was in last Saturday's ugly 1-0 encounter. Looks like the Cubans figured out that letting the grass grow would slow things down.):

So it's your turn. What starting lineup and formation would you like to see the U.S. national team use against Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[jmac]

Is Bradley suspended from the match due to yellow card accumulation?

Regardless, I would dump one of the DM and play either Kleijstan as the second CM or put EJ up top with Ching and have Donovan play CM.

Our CBs are not great at distributing the ball, and having two DM that aren't that good at it either inhibits or build-up and possession game.

[A.S.]

Let me guess - Bradley's going to start a team just barely good enough to get us a 1-0 victory against another CONCACAF minnow. I feel so warm and happy.

[gaucho]

@jmac

Miracle of miracles, Bradley's first yellow of WC qualification, including Barbados, came against Cuba. I do believe that the next yellow will earn him a suspension, though.

[Dannyc58]

Altidore & Cooper up front.

Oh thats right, the unimaginative pr*ck didn't select them for the team.

BRADLEY OUT!

[Justice]

Michael Bradley careful about fouls near the box? HA! Outrageous!

[Jason]

-------------Ching----Donovan-------------

Beasley---------Kljestan--------Dempsey

-------------------Edu----------------

Pearce---Bocanegra--Onyewu---Cherundolo

-------------------Howard---------------------

Free up Donovan and let him just have one assignment: Attack. He has shown at times during his career that he can make a B-line for the goal and a terrorizing force.

Kljestan can handle the creative responsibilities and link up passes to our forwards and wings. Edu has the speed to handle the D-Mid role by himself. It's a waste deploying him and Bradley when neither of them can connect passes to the attack.

[brett]

BB is obviously going to go with the MB and Edu, as we are playing the 2nd place team in the group.... a conservative route is going to be taken....

however, i must say this.... just b/c T&T beat Cuba 3-1 doesnt mean anything.... Cuba is going to play them differently then they played the US.... plain n' simple... while T&T isnt to be taken lightly, they dont command the same pressence as Mexico or the US in CONCACAF...

[Betinho]

I just hope that Edu and Beasley have been allowed to get some rest between these games.

[Tony in Quakeland]

I like Jason's line up.

JASON FOR NATS HEAD COACH!

[Tyler]

if the yanks go up a goal or two in the first half (it could happen, wait, ) it would be nice to see them rest michael bradley. give edu a shot to go it alone as a holding midfielder. give sacha a chance to see if he can create in the attacking third. let's see something out of the box for a change.

[MetroStars Fan]

I'm sick and tired of Bradley! He couldn't win in New York and he's still the same crappy coach. Let's bring in a real coach. I hope we lose to Trinidad & Tobago. Then we wouldn't even be winning the group and there would be pressure on Bradley. I hate Nowak too!

[Ginto]

-------------Ching----
------------------Donovan-------------

Lewis---------Kljestan--------Dempsey

-------------------Edu/Clark---------------

Pearce---Bocanegra--Onyewu---Cherundolo

-------------------Howard------------------

I'm torn between Edu and Clark. I remember Edu having a decent match against Guatemala (just relying on an old brain here) but an uneven match against Cuba.

Rico needs to play some as I think he can play the DM role just fine by his lonesome too. There's no reason Beasley and Bradley need to be out there based on their recent performance. Holy cow, that's just been horrific.

Landon has been too quiet and if he's just behind Ching, I think they'll be fine. Brian has played really well...kind of makes me think he'll lay an egg here.

A moment of silence for Jozy & Adu who aren't here. I still get angry when I think about why we're playing without these two. Bradley is with a new team. Edu is with a new team. Bocanegra is with a new team, so don't blow me any **** about how they have to settle. Give me a flipping break.

Seems really odd BB called in EJ and he hasn't seen the pitch at all. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. Just saying.

[Erik Abarca]

------------------------------- Johnson---------------------------------

-------------------------------Donovan---------------------------------

Beasley------------Bradley----------Kljestan-------------- Dempsey

Pearce------------- Onyewu-------- Bocanegra--------- Cherundolo

-------------------------------Howard-------------------------------------

[brett]

MetroStars Fan - "He couldn't win in New York and he's still the same crappy coach. "

theres a long list of coaches that fit that record... :D

oddly enough BB had success at Chicago, and left a quality core of players for Preki.... perhaps it's just NY that fails, and not the coaches??

regardless of how you feel about the coach, wishing the US failure isunacceptable....

[Matt Johnston]

Ives,

Did I read that correctly, "Bob Bradley" and "daring" in the same sentence? We are talking about Bob Bradley, the coach of the U.S. national team, right? Daring is not a term in his vocabulary.

Who would I like to see given our current squad? This

-----Ching------Donovan------

-----------Dempsey-----------
Bradley---------------Klejstan
------------Edu---------------

Hejduk---Onyewu--Bocanegra--Wynne

------------Howard--------------

but we won't see that. Although it is technically a 4-4-2, it is simply too offensive minded for Bob Bradley.

I think the Bradley "radical departure" of the 4-5-1 that started against Cuba will probably be seen.

[RK]

I was thinking that I would skip this game, because it would be boring, but maybe we'll score a few more since we're at home...

[Mingjai]

I like Jason's lineup as well. The only change I would make is that given Beasley's form (or lack thereof) start Lewis and bring Beasley on in the early second half.

It's just a shame we're not seeing this (or a similar variant):

-----------Altidore----Donovan-----------

Beasley---------Adu--------Dempsey

-------------------Edu------------------

Pearce---Bocanegra--Onyewu---Cherundolo

-------------------Howard---------------------

[mig]

Gotta love the music...I like that Soca Warriors song.

As long as plays Dempsey and Donovan in their proper (my opinion) locations, I'm pretty flexible in what I want to see tomorrow...given the roster.

It would be good to see a bit of Sacha out there, even as a sub. I'm one of the last ones to be believe that MBradley's development is very important to this team and that he is already a valuable asset to the team.

Should be interesting....or not. :)

[anotherbodymurdered]

Wow a lot of very well reasoned debate here today. TEH INTERNETS FOR USMNT COACH!!!111 2010 YES WE CAN

[wrong]

there are multiple things id like to see change, but i would be sooo happy if bobby just doesnt play 2 D mids. for clarification, i am classifying as bradley/edu/rico/mastro as d mids. id still like to see him partner a smarter, faster, better distributor at CB with either boca or gooch (they are both big and dumb and we only need one person out there with their abilities), but again, id be so very pleased to see just 1 D mid.

2 possible lineups that arent too drastic
ching
donovan
beas - edu - dempsey - klestjan
pearce - onyewu - boca - dolo

OR

ching - johnson
donovan
beasley - edu - dempsey
same back 4.

let donovan play the ACM role. i also think this would be a good way for EJ to play. bob had been playing him as a lone forward, and EJ obviously was boound to fail at that. he needs to play with a target forward, so i think its worth it to try him there with ching, hopefully he can use his speed and not be an idiot

[Beckster]

Would like to see them trying something different that is more attack minded:

--------Donovan--Ching
-----------Bradley----------
Beasley-------------------Dempsey
-----------Edu-------------
Lewis---Boca----Gouch-----Dolo
Howard

[Ernie]

I wish Bradley would play Cooper that way everyone would at last realize he is not good enough to play at the international level.

I like Cooper, and Twellman for that fact, but that doesn't mean we would suddenly score 4 goals a game if they were played.

And as for those who label Bradley an "Unimaginative pr!ck," there will be no convincing you of your folly will there?

[cmurt]

----------Ching-----Donovan-----

Klejsten-------------------Dempsey

-----------Edu----Clark----------

Pearce--Bocanegra--Gooch--Cherundolo

--------------Howard---------------

[KingSnake]

ABCAOJ

(Anybody But Ching And/Or Johnson)

[Yossarian]

Ginto,

You realize that Beasley was clearly the best player on the pitch against Guatemala, don't you? Benching him for Lewis, unless DMB is injured, is pure crazy talk.

I'd love to take Jason's lineup, but whereas Klejstan has excellent offensive instincts and makes good runs and can finish, his first touch is much poorer than you want in a #10 and he turns the ball over far too much for us to run the game through him. Perhaps we could pair him with LD in the midfield and run the show through Landycakes, freeing up Sascha to be creative like:

----------------Ching-----------------

Beasley----Kljestan---Donovan---Dempsey

-------------Edu/Clark/Bradley---------

Pearce---Bocanegra--Onyewu---Cherundolo

-----------------Howard----------------

I think that's the most offensive talent we could have in the lineup without being completely reckless.

I also think Edu should probably sit or sub since he's had an insane last couple of weeks and seems to be showing some wear and tear.

[brett]

ernie- simply playing devils advocate, but wheres your proof that cooper cannot play at an international level...

if my memory serves me correct, Cooper has 1 cap and 1 goal.... far more effective then any of our other forwards :P

[Isaac]

I think its about time to test players like Sacha Kljestan and Marvell Wynne who were both stand outs at the Olympics. But i have a question: If USA ends up in Second place, does that mean they dont get to the next round?

[Gerald]

Top 2 go through

[Tony in Quakeland]

brett:

not to revisit yesterday's disucssion but...

If caps per goal was an indication of future value, a certian Eddie johnson would have become our best player.

[AllNats]

I agree with Ives' lineup. I thought MB played vey well against Cuba (though I know many would disagree) and I would like to see Edu again. He didn't look especially good against Cuba (save a few very good passes) but I'd like to think that was a combination of exhaustion, jet lag, and nightmarish field conditions. This formation hasn't been especially exciting, but it has gotten the wins. And really, if Ching and Beasley had finished their relatively easy chances, that game would have been 3-0.

That being said... As long as we grab the three points against T & T, I would really like to see some serious experimentation with both the lineup and the formation in the last three games. This means bringing in and starting players like Altidore, Adu, Cooper, Buddle, Davies, etc... It also means toying around with a 4-4-2 with only one holding mid. Or if we really want to keep the double holding mids setup, I wouldn't mind seeing a 3-5-2. It may backfire badly, but if we have already clinched, there's no harm in trying more attack-minded formations.

[Tony in Quakeland]

Oh, and brett...

You were unimpressed with my efficieny argument regarding Buddle vs Cooper yesterday. :-)

[Isaac]

With all the crap we give Eddie Johnson, now would probably be the best time for him to prove himself. A line-up like this really wouldn't scare me all that much.
---------------Johnson---Ching----------------
-------------------Donovan--------------------
----Lewis--------------------------Dempsey----
-------------------Clark----------------------
---Pearce---Bocanegra--Onyewu---Cherdundolo---
-------------------Howard---------------------

At around half time we substitute Lewis for Beasley, 60th Minute Donovan switches with Eddie Johnson and Kljestan comes on for Johnson, 72nd minute Edu on for Clark.

btw thanks Gerald.

[Matt]

I'm thinking this, essentially the same team as against Cuba, with Cherundolo returning at right back:

GK: Howard
DF (R-L): Cherundolo-Onyewu-Bocanegra-Pearce
MF: Dempsey-Bradley-Edu-Beasley
FW: Ching-Donovan

I would like to see one attacking midfielder in the middle, but with no Adu in the squad, I'm thinking the Bradley-Edu combo in midfield once more with the offensive pressure to be provided by Dempsey and Beasley down the wings, with maybe Donovan being the playmaker in a with drawn forward slot. Really, not much change from Ives.

[Isaac]

...where'd my comment go...i spent like 10 minutes on that.....

[Isaac]

oh there it is.....wtf?

[John]

here's an idea, since we're playing a relative minnow at home why not experiment with an attack minded lineup? maybe a 3-5-2? bob can still have his beloved twin destroyers while having a little more attacking options on the field.
possible staring X!
-----------howard--------
cherundolo-onyewu-bocanegra
--------bradley-edu-------
kljestan---dempsey---beasley
-------donovan-ching---

but this will probably only be in my dreams

[brett]

Tony- so it would seem... but EJ had years of games to attempt to keep form... Cooper hasnt been given the opportunity...

the guy mentioned Cooper is not fit for Intl' play, yet my 1 statistic clearl points out that he is (saying with a sense of humor, not a matter of fact sense)

having a 100% goal per cap ratio cant be seen as a negative on his intl' career :P
-----------------------------------------

shots per goal means nothing... i could probably find another forward that is less qualified but takes very few shots yet scored some goals... Rolfe had a VERY low shot to goal ratio in comparison to other forwards last year, yet he is not fit to play for the nats... that ratio is not correlated to how productive the forward is....

[PanchoMiguelMoralesdeConejo]

Count me with those that would choose to sit Edu & Beeze. Beeze was dangerous against Guate, but that was after it was a 10on10 game which allows Beeze to use his speed up the left flank. T&T are not Guate & will be as athletic as Cuba was, negating Beeze speed.
So I would expect
-------------Ching-----------------

Lewis------------Donovan-----------Dempsey

-----------Kljestan--------Bradley---------

Pearce---Bocanegra--Onyewu---Cherundolo

-------------------Howard---------------------

Depending on how Ching recovers from that game, BB may go with Johnson up top...that would not surprise me either.

BTW John, no chance you would see a 3 man line of Dolo, Gooch & Boca. If a 3 man line it would be Orozco and likely Edu with Gooch (or Boca but probably Gooch). But this will not happen, note what happened when Dolo was tossed against Guatemala, BB went straight to Hejduk pulling Dempsey to maintain his 4 man back line, which by the way was the intelligent thing to do.

[Milo]

---------------------Ching---------------

Beasley-----------Donovan--------Dempsey

---------------Bradley----Edu----------------

Pearce---Bocanegra--Onyewu---Cherundolo

-------------------Howard---------------------
thats what I want to see.

[Milo]

what times the match and what channel?

[Yossarian]

Pancho,

Did you SEE how badly Lewis got exploited against Guatemala? The Guatemalans attacked him every time, and he turned the ball over... every time. Beasley is probably the best field player USA has and you people are ready to bench him after one mediocre outing? Are our memories really this short? I'm blown away.

[tom]

----Altidore----------Johnson
---Rogers-----Adu--------Dempsey
--------------Edu--------------
------------Subotic------------
Spector------Onyewu-------Simek
-------------Howard-------------

Ooops...One too many doobies. Must be somking the opposite of whatever Bradley has in his pipe.

[joe k]

i agree with yossarian. beasley is still deserving of a starting job.

and i just don't buy the hype with kljestan. he's decent for an MLS team, but i'd rather not see him on the pitch for the national team.

[Mark]

The lineup put forward by Ives seems likely to me. I think that's the right way to go for this game, get vets on the field and lets nail this thing down.

I think the team is going to play very well at home regardless of who is on the field. Hopefully that will quiet some of the nonsense put forward on this site.

Then for the October games I'd expect to see some of the younger guys since there will be some margin for error.

[brett]

tom- its easy to post lineups without the political aspect coming to mind....

and subotic isnt a possiblity atm...

[Justin]

----------------Ching----------------------
---------------------Donovan---------------
-----------------Dempsey-------------------
Lewis------------------------------Klejstan
--------------------Edu--------------------
Pearce----Bocanegra----Onyweu----Cherundolo
------------------Howard-------------------

I am already tired of Bob Bradley. We mine as well have just kept Bruce Arena. Time to get a foreign coach that will pick based on talent, not favortism. With that said this is the squad I like based on the pool of available players, which I would definately make some changes to. Ideally I think the following lineup would give us the best chance of success, but hey, I am no Bob Bradley/Bruce Arena.

---------Altidore----------Cooper----------
------------------Donovan------------------
Lewis-----------------------------------Adu
--------------------Edu--------------------
Pearce---Bocanegra----Onyewu----Cherundolo
----------------Howard---------------------

Bench:
FW: Ching, Dempsey(with the lack of forwards)
MF: Mastroeni, Bradley, Beasley
DF: Demerit, Spector, Parkhurst
GK: Guzan

[Johnny Hoboken]

I think we should get a creative team in there who can put goals in the net. I will take into consideration who Bradley will have for this game even though I would love to see Altidore and Adu playing. If you follow an example of the Italian team a few years back, they had Totti playing behind Vieri and Del Piero. Obviously our guys are nowhere near that skill level but it seemed like Totti (a very creative player) was able to get a lot of chances for the two strikers. Sasha, who is developing into a great creative player could gain some great experience playing this roll if not blossoming into a great playmaker. Besides, the best time to try is against a team like T&T.

Ching----------Donovan
-------------Klejstan--------------
Beasley-----Dempsey------Edu
Pearce----Bocanegra----Onyweu----Cherundolo
----------------Howard-------------------

[brett]

Justin - foreign coaches play favorites all the time... look at JCO and Wanchope... Wanchope should NEVER had started let alone played a single game for the fire.... but JCO has coached him before...

[rocky]

I would love to see this sometime, but I think we will have to wait until a a qualified experienced coach comes in.

----------Altidore--------Cooper-----------

--------------------Adu--------------------

-------Donovan---------------Dempsey-------

--------------------Edu--------------------

--Beasley----Onyewu----Subotic------Wynne--

-------------------Howard------------------

This woulb be a great combination of size,speed,and power to play with any team in the world. When will bb come to his senses and realize db is are best left back. I am also monitoring jose fransisco torres's progress at pachuca. he could be a player for 2010.

[son]

ives, whose going to watch a 9min clip unless they have NO life

[JDay]

I think the national team could do a better job coaching themselves and deciding which formation would work better and be more effective then what B.B. seems to do.

Frustrated!

[Sandro]

Wow that video of TT vs Cuba is bad quality. The music is upbeat, but geez the field looks very dark. Bring on Altidore!!!

[Vman]

These proposed lineups without Michael Bradley in it are the most wishful of thinking. It will be essentially the same lineup as Cuba, but with Cherundolo at RB, possibly Clark instead of Edu, and maybe Johnson instead of Ching, all possibilities that Ives alluded to. Ho-hum for sure, but that's the way it goes for Bradley's bunch. Maybe Marvelle Wynne can get in the game at some point, along with Kljestan

The best we can hope for in the forseeable future is the further integration of Adu and Altidore. Bradley is just too conservative
for much else.

[Frankie Football]

Why dont we ever use are substitutes effectively....this is what our lineup should be (and is reasonable):

------Altidore----------Donovan------
----------------Adu------------------
-Beasley---------------------Dempsey-
----------------Edu------------------
-Pearce-Bocanegra--Onyewu-Cherundolo-
---------------Howard----------------

With these substitutions.....

1. Bradley in the 65th when either Edu, Bocanegra or Onyewu get in foul trouble/wears down...if the latter two then Edu slide in at CB... (sidenote edu/bradley should be in open competition for that DM spot so that one of them is forced to learn how to distribute out of the back......)

2. Klejsten for Dempsey in the 70...(Neither one is good enough to play the full 90, maybe splitting the time would keep them fresher and more useful)

3. Third Sub is open ended based on injury/strategy....

Also...I am of the opinion that Subotic will not be playing for the US, its clear we want want him, by virtue of him not coming, its clear he does not want to be here....

Lastly, count me a charlie Davies fan, at least he looks like he wants it out there,(cough cough...dempsey...)...davies slides in at forward donovan to RM 2010...

[Tom R]

Robbie Rogers and Chad Marshall should get the start-oops, they are not on the roster.

[Thom]

Why do we even have this post? so we can debate the merits of who is better between Dolo and Heydude?

I am rooting for a upset. Will still have 6 points and maybe, just maybe, one of the morons who run the USSF will be shocked into noticing that we are going no where WC 2010 with this current regime in charge.

If I were a 10 year old girl, because then it would be a fair fight, I would punch Suni right in the mouth for being such an arrogant twit who doesn’t realize how over his own head he is.

My wife will not even watch the games anymore because she grew up in Soutrh America and says what we play tactically isn't football- it's kick ball while waiting on set pieces to score.

She's right.

I have been a patient and ardent supporter since 1990. I have travelled to 3 WC's and watch everything on TV iI can. I've even attended friendlies vs. the likes of Haiti.

Between the Concacaf Champions crash by NE and Chivas, the Olympic fiasco with Benny the di*khead not guarding his post, the continual wash out of U.S. players in Europe, the MLS's inability to get on the same page as the rest of the world, and above all the brain numbing tactics and player selection of the national team i am at my lowest point as a fan since I fell in love with the sport.

On that note- do us a favor T&T - put a 4 nil shellacking on us for our own long term best interest.

[brett]

Thom- as i stated before, wishing failure on your own team is unacceptable.... regardless of what you think might happen, it'll take more then just 1 loss to T&T to get BB fired... alot more...

perhaps if we fall out of the groups and let guat and T&T move onto the hex, then we'd probably see a change, but nothing less....

ive never seen anyone wish their team failure just to hold onto hope that it may cause a coach to get fired

[Jason]

For anyone who has seen Maurice Edu play pretty extensively:

What are your thoughts of him playing either right or left back or right wing? From my limited looks at him, he seems to have a good sense of making runs and joining the attack. With the log jam of Bradley, Clark and Edu, I thought it would be better to move him somewhere else where his offensive instincts could be utilized more.

But I do realize that I haven't seen enough of him to determine if that is a good option or not. What do you guys think? Good idea? Bad idea?

[Thom]

Brett- well now you can say you have seen it all and I stand by my wish.

The status quo and complacency is killing us. Do yourself a favor- get a little outraged and start raising hell where ever and whenever you can.
Our program is bad shape. Our players are not proving their worth at a high club level. Right now I give us a 30% chance of having to play South America's 5th place team with means no South Africa 3 and out. Mexico and Honduras are not better than us but they will win their home games because they have true home field advantages. So if we have one slip up to say a Costa Rica at home all of a sudden it will get very dicey. And this team under this coach playing kick ball football with 2 defending midfielders is ripe for that to happen. Put it another way- without Howard we may have only 2 pts and maybe 1 as we sit when you look back at both games.
Brett- we have the money, the young talent , and the infrastructure to be a consistent top 15 nation in soccer and what is stopping us from achieving are the idiots who choose our staff, stifle the creativity out of kids at 15 years old, and a bunch of no nothing blowhards making all the decisions. And one nil victories over tiny, insignificant nations are perpetuating this. You think Klinsmann didn’t take the job because any other reason other than he knew the bureaucracy in place would kill his efforts to turn this all around?
We need big events to bring on big change. Think big Brett- sometimes bad things need to happen so good things can come. I want to beat Spain one day- not just say we played with them pretty evenly.

[jpc]

--Donovan---Klestjian--
Beasley---Edu---Bradley
Pearce--------Wynne----
----Boca---Oneywu------

- I would essentially have them play without a forward, and allow both donovan and klestjian to float back and forth from the midfield
- I hate the fact that we continue to play guys like ching and johnson simply b/c they are "true" forwards, when the truth is that they simply shouldn't be on the field right now b/c their not good enough
- Can anyone explain to me why we need a striker, when they simply are not the caliber of the rest of the attacking players? is our offensive so dependent on the hold up play of brian ching? How many times have we scored b/c ching held up the ball and laid it off to another player for a goal?
- our offense is so disjointed b/c the gameplan when pressure is applied seems to be to play a long ball to the striker hoping he can hold possession, which is effective maybe 20 percent of the time. I'm sorry but that's not how the sport is played anymore.
- I believe that we have the talent to move the ball forward as a unit and have donovan and klestjian release forward when space needs to be created, and have wynne and pearce overlapping as attackers out of the back. Only playing long ball when we want to b/c open space has been created, not when we feel we need to due to pressure
- I think Bradley will be good on the wing w/ Wynne. Two players who play with a certain reckless abandon. Bradley's mistakes passing out of a deep midfield position are killers to any sort of offensive flow (Edu and klestjian have the same problem at times). But those mistakes are a bit more tolerable on the outside as long as they have a dangerous intention and put the defense on its heels
- I would also like to see Clarke in for Edu at some point, I think he's fantastic, and the most dangerous player on the team shooting from distance

[smokeminside]

Brett, be careful....Thom will think you're driving a minivan.

[Sean]

-----Ching-----
---Donovan-----
Beasley---Dempsey---Kljestan
-------Bradley--------
Pearce---Boca---Onyewu---Dolo
----------Howard--------

Baby Bradley is our version of Gennaro Gattuso, the player who imposes his will with hard work and crunching tackles. yes, he makes some foolish mistakes with those tackles, but at least he has the cojones to make them. Dempsey was our most creative attacking player against Cuba, plus he put the ball in the net from open play, anyone who thinks he won't start is crazy.

[brett]

Thom- i wont disagree with anything you stated, but i would not wish our national side failure...

do i think BB will survive past 2010?? depends on how he does in 2010 im guessing... however, BB has introduced youth players to the team...they've gotten looks... and will continue to get looks.... Wynne, Orozco, MB, Edu, and Kljestan are all part of the roster for the Cuban and T&T game.... Jozy and Adu will become part of the squad soon enough.... if Rogers rebounds from his mediocre Olympics we'll see him 2nd to Beasley.... the players are moving up the ranks, and we'll see them soon enough

we need to stop over analyising things... Bar Feilhaber, this is the roughly the same squad that beat Poland 3-0, Equador 3-0, and mexico on many accounts... the US manages to get the results at this level... im more concerned about getting the results rather then making it look flashy... a 1-0 win against Cuba and Guat?? ill take it, altho i agree they werent great wins...

[Jason]

jpc - I like your lineup but would switch Dempsey in for Klestjan. I only state that because somebody up top needs to have some skills in the air. Dempsey is better suited for that role but he doesn't take away the flair that Klestjan would bring. This is simply to cover kick offs and crosses from the wing. If the game was played purely on the ground, then I think your lineup would be perfect. Although, there are only 9 guys on the field. Where and who is the 10th player?

The theory behind using a true striker such as Ching and his hold up play is to allow players to make dangerous runs. They should be strong enough to hold off defenders and win the 50-50 ball. That is of course, just the theory of it.

[onezerowontcutit]

Klestjan has the skillz to create that tweeked pass to unleash Deuce, lando, or Beas(would prefer to see freddy thou in this case) Freddy and klestjan can do some of they're mind boggling ish they did up in the olympics that put the dutch on their @$$es. Jozy up top, hands down. Ching is an OK target man, but Jozy has that finesse driving into the box and running at people that you dont see too many big men having. back 4 are a given. as for the bradley/edu/clark decision...I dont know...edu was pretty bunk in cuba...bradley is on and off and clark doesnt get the nod...Rico is probably the best passer, but not as imposing as the others...Give rico the nod and hold bradley for a real test...since he has a yellow already...

[brentmcd]

here's an offensive-minded formation to get us some goals. can't believe i'm starting Mr. Excitement, but here goes....

-----------Ching----------EJ------------

Kljestan-------Lando----------Dempsey

--------------------Edu--------------------

Pearce-----Boca---Gooch--------Hejduk

-----------------Howard---------------

[daisychick]

I love all the people that think Michael Bradley can't pass the rock effectively. How about this for all you haters?

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_9666564.html

That's right - the stats don't lie. 97% passing accuracy against Cuba.

[brett]

daisychick- people tend to take the 3-4 bad passes and focus primarily on those... i tend to ignore the hate...

[brett]

i think MB needs a break... we have enough players to fill the center... send him back to Germany and let him role with his club.... way too much intl' football mix with club for this kid... come back refreshed for either the tail end of groups or beginning of hex

[COACH]

----------Ching-------EJ--------------

---------------Dempsey----------------

Beas----Rico(or Bradley)----Landycakes

Pearce-----Boca----Gooch-----Dolo-----

We need to work around a creative offensive CM & Landycakes just doesn't have the balls for the position and lil' freddy just ain't here!
Put the big guys up front & middle.
Put the fast skillz on the wings and let them overlap into the box a la c.ronaldo/messi or whip in crosses all day long.

[John]

This SHOULD have been the starting line-up

-----------Altidore--------Adu-----------

-----------Klejstan--------Dempsey---------

---Beasley-----------------------Donovan---

------------Edu----------Bocanegra---------

---Pierce--------Onyewu-------Cherundolo---

Bench
Cooper/Ching
Lewis/Clark/Mastroeni
Parkhurst/Wynne/Hejduk

3-5-2

Forwards: Altidore, Adu
Attacking Mids: Klejstan, Dempsey
Defensive Mids: Edu, Bocanegra
Wingers: Beasley, Donovan
Backs: Pierce, Onyewu, Cherundolo
Goalie: Howard

BUT, the National Team is too afraid to play with a three man backline and the formation is too offensive minded for BB to comprehend. For God's sake, get Landon out of the middle...this isn't the MLS, it's international play, he won't dominate like he does in the U.S. Also, Bradley is only on the team because he is the coach's son...he sucks!!! There, I said it...I am tired of our midfield getting dominated by EVERYBODY because of Donovan and Bradley giving the ball away all the time. We sucked with Bruce Arena, but we are not any better with BB...way too timid and no chemistry at all...what a waste of talent...and we thought David B. would boost American soccer, yeah, just like Bill Clinton almost got back in the White House...pitiful!!!

[John]

Oops...one too may Mids...Edu or Bocanegra in the back then...