For me, the inarguables are Dempsey, Gomez, Williams, Bradley, Bocanegra, and Cherundolo. I'll be shocked if any of them don't start, and Gomez is the only one that might not go 90.
Also, I wanted to avoid 2 kinds of players in this lineup:
A - The two who haven't seen much USMNT action lately (Gordon, Corona, & Kljestan)
B - Those at risk of missing Guatemala for yellow card accumulation (Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Fabian Johnson, Jermaine Jones and Graham Zusi). After all, the Guatemala match is much more vital to qualification for the Hex.
Obviously, B wasn't quite possible, since I just couldn't do without Bradley. Unless Alan, Joe, or Sasha really impressed during camp I don't think any of them gets more than a bit role in this match.
The US needs to approach this match with aggression. Williams, Beckerman, and Bradley can all win the ball quite well. My main concern is what Kyle Beckerman bring in the transition to offense, and whether he'll have the quick outlets he needs available to him once he wins the ball. Williams-Bradley-Dempsey-Gomez-Johnson should be perfectly capable of cycling the ball around and scoring in Antigua.
Parkhurst makes me a bit nervous, and I wouldn't mind Cameron in his spot and Goodson at CB. Howard and this backline should be steady enough on a night when they shouldn't have a whole lot to do.
Subbing Zusi, Kljestan, Edu, Jones, and/or Corona for Gomes, Johnson, or Beckerman could quickly shift tactics as Klinsi sees fit. Take out one of the forwards and suddenly you could be in a 4-5-1. I like the idea of Zusi and Kljestan for Gomez and Beckerman, closing the match with a midfield of:
------------------Zusi-----------------
--Dempsey--Williams--Kljestan--
----------------Bradley---------------
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Steve Fenn
about 12 years
For me, the inarguables are Dempsey, Gomez, Williams, Bradley, Bocanegra, and Cherundolo. I'll be shocked if any of them don't start, and Gomez is the only one that might not go 90. Also, I wanted to avoid 2 kinds of players in this lineup: A - The two who haven't seen much USMNT action lately (Gordon, Corona, & Kljestan) B - Those at risk of missing Guatemala for yellow card accumulation (Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Fabian Johnson, Jermaine Jones and Graham Zusi). After all, the Guatemala match is much more vital to qualification for the Hex. Obviously, B wasn't quite possible, since I just couldn't do without Bradley. Unless Alan, Joe, or Sasha really impressed during camp I don't think any of them gets more than a bit role in this match. The US needs to approach this match with aggression. Williams, Beckerman, and Bradley can all win the ball quite well. My main concern is what Kyle Beckerman bring in the transition to offense, and whether he'll have the quick outlets he needs available to him once he wins the ball. Williams-Bradley-Dempsey-Gomez-Johnson should be perfectly capable of cycling the ball around and scoring in Antigua. Parkhurst makes me a bit nervous, and I wouldn't mind Cameron in his spot and Goodson at CB. Howard and this backline should be steady enough on a night when they shouldn't have a whole lot to do. Subbing Zusi, Kljestan, Edu, Jones, and/or Corona for Gomes, Johnson, or Beckerman could quickly shift tactics as Klinsi sees fit. Take out one of the forwards and suddenly you could be in a 4-5-1. I like the idea of Zusi and Kljestan for Gomez and Beckerman, closing the match with a midfield of: ------------------Zusi----------------- --Dempsey--Williams--Kljestan-- ----------------Bradley---------------