Starting Lineups for the Round of 16?

[Cowbell Herpes]

Here's how mine pans out:

GK Tim Howard
D Jay Demerit
D Carlos Bocanegra
D Johnathan Bornstein
D Steve Cherundolo
M Michael Bradley
M Landon Donovan
M Maurice Edu
M Clint Dempsey
F Jozy Altidore
F Hercules Gomez

For obvious reasons I have Howard in the Net. One of the best keepers in the World, he better get the nod. I really like how are D played today, Demerit and Bocanegra have had a great tournament so far. I think that Onyewu just isn't ready for the World Cup so he's riding the pine to let that knee continue to heal. Cherundolo brings a sense of leadership having played in the last 3WCs; he's not bad streaking up to assist the offense either. Bornstein really held it together today. I let him ride that wave of confidence into the next game. Michael Bradley may be the coaches son but that's not why he's on the team, he's proved that today, if he hasn't already. He's had a good tournamnet overall. Donovan is our leader, he's our best player, he's our calm veteran-sounds weird to me, seems like it was yesterday I was watching him and Beasley play the part of our wiley youngsters in our 2002 World Cup run. If we lose Donovan, we fall apart (not completely but it's a severe drop off). Dempsey is a good offensive player that's showed me during the WC that he can come back and defend. Edu is a solid midfielder, he scored the game-winner against Slovenia that was disallowed by a phantom call. I can't say that he's stuck out to me besides that, which is better than playing bad. He's been a good fit whenever he's played, so why not?. Jozy Altidore is a big target, he knows how to use his body, he just doesn't use it enough. He has a pretty decent touch but he needs to put one in the back of the old onion bag to prove how valuable he really is, we need goal production from him. Hercules Gomez played well today, he had some chances at the goal that he should have put in and he had the assist for another goal that was disallowed by a botched call; let him show what he's got. FIndley has yet to produce and hasn't really shown me enough to get another start.

 

[JohnDawg]

other than that, good analysis.

 

[Cowbell Herpes]

I seem to have blanked on that part. My bad for the misinformation.
In my defense, Donovan has been the captain on many occasions during qualifications

 

[majors42]

Yeah, Bornstein had a decent game but he is more likely to screw something up than he is to get it right. Spector is taller, faster, and has great crossing ability. Edu has been the best of the worst to play the other midfielder compliment to Bradley. I would like to see Buddle get the start and see how he does. He looked great against Algeria when he came in. I like bringing Gomez off the bench to provide that spark later on.

 

[AzzurriDawg4]

I wasn't as impressed with Buddle. I think he is good in the air, but he looked clumsy with the ball at his feet. I just don't think he and Altidore compliment each other. I am on team Hercules.

 

[Cowbell Herpes]

Buddle didn't show me enough control with the ball to get the start. I've been on team Buddle from the start, but I liked what I saw from Gomez, a lot. Has nice control with the ball, he's not afraid to take a long shot - which is something our team seems to be a little intimidated by. Also, he just has a nose for scoring goals. In the warm-up matches against Turkey and Australia he came in and found the net, he won the game against turkey for us. I think Buddle looked really good against Australia but he hasn't really gotten in there and "mixed it up" as my Grandad would say.

I like Spector too. I am actually with you on this, Ghana has some beefy players - by soccer standards - and he is bigger than Bornstein, I think he could handle them a little better. My ruling: Spector gets the start.

 

[BillFremp]

He has been a liability in club play. Bornstein had a good outing and, as we've seen with our three rotating forwards, it takes at least a half of play in this tournament before you really get your sea-legs, or confidence, or quit being dazzled by the lights, or whatever. I think Bornstein has calmed down and has confidence. Let him ride that.

I don't think Buddle played well at all. His wayward pass to no one from teh touch line when Altidore was open at the far post comes to mind. He looked timid - like it was his first ever world cup action and the bright lights got to him. Of our three scrubby forwards, I think Gomez is playing the best right now.

I agree with your lineup except that I think at some point, you have to bring in Fielhaber. He had an excellent game against Algeria. Maybe if we need offense late, bring him in at outside mid and move Dempsey to forward.

As far as the team in general, I don't think you've given Michael Bradley nearly enough credit. To me, behind Donovan and Howard, he is our best player. He is just solid and he goes end to end for 90 minutes. He has the motor and the grittiness that you want out of your center midfielder, but he can also be dangerous on offense. A true jack of all trades, master of none.

 

[Cowbell Herpes]

He's got that scrappy, hard-nosed feel to him. He is a Great player, good on D, pretty decent on Off. and he isn't afraid to get dirty or take a card for a tactical foul.

 

[patdog]

One thing about his dad. For all the criticisms many (including me) have had about him, he's definitely instilled that hard-nosed, scrappy attitude to the whole team. This team will just fight and battle you all the way to the end and they never give up. Need a 3-0 blowout against Egypt to advance in the Confederations Cup?No problem. Need to overcome an 0-2 deficit in the World Cup? Done. Need to score in stoppage time to advance? Piece of cake. Get legitimate goals disallowed in back to back games? Just keep fighting. I posted a couple of days ago that the USA scored 9 goals after the 86th minute in qualifying and that was more than twice as many as anyone else in the world. That tough, fighters mentality is the reason for that. And that can carry a team a long way.

 

[SilentDog]

2 Big questions to be answered:
1. does Gooch get back in the lineup bc that will determin Bornstein's fate? if Bornstein can learn to stay on his feet and not get wrongfooted he'll do better. his service is poor as well but he is faster than Spector so that's why he'll get the nod first if Gooch is still sitting.
2. does Findley get back in the lineup? he hasn't shown much, has done nothing...

i like Edu in the middle vs Clark with Feilhaber coming in later if we need offense or Clark if defense is needed.
i like Findley up top for speed, bc i think Gomez is better off the bench and there are no better options.


otherwise no suprises. i think an organized and tight back four will be difficult for Ghana. we need to be able to handle their athleticism, so i hope Gooch gets the nod and bocanegra gets pushed out wide.

 

[patdog]

He's got potential, and a lot of speed, but he's way too inexperienced. And it showed bad in the first 2 games he played in. I thought Gomez did a very good job in the 1st half Wednesday and was surprised he got pulled so early. I say start him and then bring Findley in around the 75 minute mark.

 

[eurotrash]

Liked what I saw from Herc. An early shot made the defense and goalie pay attention thereby freeing up some other players (Dempsey). Buddle can replace a tired Altidore if needed.

Bornstein did fine against speedy Algerians so I guess he'll get the nod again. He's a little faster than Specter and has better recovery speed (not really a compliment because he gets beat too often). Gooch probably sits again.

Do we bring Rico back for defense or stick with Edu? Edu brings more offense which might help actually help the defense by keeping Ghana honest in the back. And the team responds when Benny hits the pitch so I see him getting minutes.

Ghana has great speed and good skill on the ball. Their defense has been stout as well. It won't be easy. But the Nats can score and we don't give up. I see us in the quarterfinals prompting another round of unfunny and unoriginal posts from Coach while the rest of the country celebrates a great American achievement.

 

[SilentDog]

Edu is a near equal to Clark defensively and a head better offensively.

Findley is really more of a decoy to stretch the back line of teams to open up some space for Altidore. Gomez can do the same but i still think his role is supersub. Gomez>Findley but you have to think tactically about what will work better, speed or positioning. Bradley could go either way with Findley or Gomez.

Bornstein is terrible. i'd rather put Beasley back there (who covered for Bornstein on numerous occasions in the warmups anyway).

 

[SilentDog]

Findley won't be on the 2014 roster. he's only there bc Davies isnt.