We'll start from the top:
Up front: Jozy is out and neither Dempsey nor EJ function well as a lone striker. Bacon gives them a threat up front who has great goal presence and the ability to create chances.
Across the middle: Landon - we know what he brings to the table. Clint - plays well in the center forward role and can partner well with LD to his left and Bacon in front of him. EJ gets the start over Zusi who has been pretty underwhelming in his USMNT appearances. Hasn't shown enough skill to create space to be the effective provider that LD and Fabian have been. EJ isn't perfect, and I think at least some criticism of him may be warranted, but he plays aggressive, physical soccer and that's what the US needs tonight...particularly against a smaller Mexican back-line
Back Four - Almost getting to the point where we're defending by committee. The soccer equivalent to baseball's "staff day". Nonetheless, Fabian starts at LB.
Beasley was targeted by Mexico back in March and he looked lost at times, often caught ball-watching and losing Giovani Dos Santos behind him while he watched 30-40 yard passes sail over his head to the person he was supposed to be marking. Fabian's one on one defending isn't great, but he's the best option at left back and can get forward in space created by LD.
I'm not a huge fan of Clarence Goodson, but with Cameron and Besler out he gets the start. I think this is going to be his permanent depth chart role going forward.
This is a huge game for Omar Gonzalez. Becoming a DP and staying with the Galaxy raised some eyebrows and made people (including myself) question whether he would have benefited from a steeper learning curve abroad. Even though Goodson is the "veteran" I think OG has to step up and be the leader in that back line and have a performance like the ones we saw earlier this year where he was aggressive and dominant in the air.
Finally, I think Orozco plays again at right back. If he was good enough to get a start against a team in an environment where we have never won before, he's good enough to get the go in Columbus. No glaring "Bornstein-esque" mistakes. Just part of a back-line that didn't execute and was punished for it by the Ticos. More athletic and bigger upside than guys like Parkhurst or Evans. Let's see what he can do in the biggest rivalry game this year.
Last but not least: Keeper
I love Brad Guzan. He had a stellar last year at Villa (recall that he won the Team and Supporter player of the year awards there) while Tim Howard underwhelmed. We all watched Friday's game and I have some of the same concerns everyone else has been echoing - namely: are these (arguably) softer goals going to start becoming more frequent? But I just don't see how you can bench Howard after that one game. Most, if not all of the goals were from defensive mistakes...TEAM defensive mistakes. Missed assignments leading to free headers and breakaways. I think we all found ourselves shocked Tim didn't make some of those saves because we're so accustomed to seeing his top-class heroics. Let's not forget that Friday was one game and try to avoid becoming like our sport name-sharing counterparts who create "quarterback controversies" after every loss. The time is coming when Guzan will take* (*Read: pry from his hands) the crown from Howard, but that time is not tonight. I expect a great performance from Howard tonight...plus...I am going to the game tonight and I am really looking forward to cheering "Tim Timmery Tim Timmery Tim Tim-er-oo...we have Tim Howard and he says ______ _____." Someone come up with a similar chant for Guzan and we'll talk.
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Joe Bott
over 12 years
We'll start from the top: Up front: Jozy is out and neither Dempsey nor EJ function well as a lone striker. Bacon gives them a threat up front who has great goal presence and the ability to create chances. Across the middle: Landon - we know what he brings to the table. Clint - plays well in the center forward role and can partner well with LD to his left and Bacon in front of him. EJ gets the start over Zusi who has been pretty underwhelming in his USMNT appearances. Hasn't shown enough skill to create space to be the effective provider that LD and Fabian have been. EJ isn't perfect, and I think at least some criticism of him may be warranted, but he plays aggressive, physical soccer and that's what the US needs tonight...particularly against a smaller Mexican back-line Back Four - Almost getting to the point where we're defending by committee. The soccer equivalent to baseball's "staff day". Nonetheless, Fabian starts at LB. Beasley was targeted by Mexico back in March and he looked lost at times, often caught ball-watching and losing Giovani Dos Santos behind him while he watched 30-40 yard passes sail over his head to the person he was supposed to be marking. Fabian's one on one defending isn't great, but he's the best option at left back and can get forward in space created by LD. I'm not a huge fan of Clarence Goodson, but with Cameron and Besler out he gets the start. I think this is going to be his permanent depth chart role going forward. This is a huge game for Omar Gonzalez. Becoming a DP and staying with the Galaxy raised some eyebrows and made people (including myself) question whether he would have benefited from a steeper learning curve abroad. Even though Goodson is the "veteran" I think OG has to step up and be the leader in that back line and have a performance like the ones we saw earlier this year where he was aggressive and dominant in the air. Finally, I think Orozco plays again at right back. If he was good enough to get a start against a team in an environment where we have never won before, he's good enough to get the go in Columbus. No glaring "Bornstein-esque" mistakes. Just part of a back-line that didn't execute and was punished for it by the Ticos. More athletic and bigger upside than guys like Parkhurst or Evans. Let's see what he can do in the biggest rivalry game this year. Last but not least: Keeper I love Brad Guzan. He had a stellar last year at Villa (recall that he won the Team and Supporter player of the year awards there) while Tim Howard underwhelmed. We all watched Friday's game and I have some of the same concerns everyone else has been echoing - namely: are these (arguably) softer goals going to start becoming more frequent? But I just don't see how you can bench Howard after that one game. Most, if not all of the goals were from defensive mistakes...TEAM defensive mistakes. Missed assignments leading to free headers and breakaways. I think we all found ourselves shocked Tim didn't make some of those saves because we're so accustomed to seeing his top-class heroics. Let's not forget that Friday was one game and try to avoid becoming like our sport name-sharing counterparts who create "quarterback controversies" after every loss. The time is coming when Guzan will take* (*Read: pry from his hands) the crown from Howard, but that time is not tonight. I expect a great performance from Howard tonight...plus...I am going to the game tonight and I am really looking forward to cheering "Tim Timmery Tim Timmery Tim Tim-er-oo...we have Tim Howard and he says ______ _____." Someone come up with a similar chant for Guzan and we'll talk.