USMNT - World Cup qualifying - The Hexagonal

[PhillipJCY]

It looks as though both Beasley/E. Johnson and Shea better have their defensive boots on. They will be providing lots of cover for whoever ends up playing left and right back if we don't get too experimental (think Shea/Beasley at LB and Cameron at RB). Of course, JK might bring back the 3 d-mid/box-to-box formation with Bradley and Jones as the link to attack and (gulp) Beckerman sitting in front of the CB's. Clog the middle and hope Omar and Geoff take care of the numerous crosses that will be conceded by the fullbacks.

We very well could be staring at the same amount of points after these two matches than we had beforehand. I'm feeling ill.

 

[MrOtter]

Oh boy, I'm headed out the the game and I'm extremely nervous about it. We knew Howard was out and I"m pretty confident in Guzan, he has always been underappreciated by American's I think. However, I was really hoping F. Johnson would be making it. I feel like Cameron will be fine but I'm torn on Besler/Gonzalez/Goodson for the other spot. Goodson has plenty or experience, Gonzalez has size in the box (on offense as well), but Besler is probably the best distributor and maybe the fastest as well. Tough call. On the outsides I'm terrified. Beltran and Morrow? Not even the best in MLS, IMO. I'm afraid Rodney Wallace is gonna have all kinds of room overlapping and we know Roy Miller will play lights out since ******* up so bad for NY the other week. I think Beckerman and Jones are going to have to play right in front of the backline to have bite and be able to hold the ball in the middle. Then MB90 can play box to box but... then we don't have much attacking. Zusi and Shea on the wings makes sense but EJ and Gomez have both played fairly well on teh wings also but then is Dempsey the striker? You can't leave him on the bench... Unless he is still hurting then Jozy starts, or I would support Gomez as well. Agggghhhhhhh this is maddening, I just want to win but man it's gonna be tough.

/end incoherent ramble

 

[MrOtter]

Also: It says castillo has facial fractures!? Anybody know what happened? That sounds like a bad time

Edit: Oh yeah, and what's the deal with Eric Lichaj!? We seriously need some depth at fullback...

 

[boone7247]

It looks as though both Beasley/E. Johnson and Shea better have their defensive boots on. They will be providing lots of cover for whoever ends up playing left and right back if we don't get too experimental (think Shea/Beasley at LB and Cameron at RB). Of course, JK might bring back the 3 d-mid/box-to-box formation with Bradley and Jones as the link to attack and (gulp) Beckerman sitting in front of the CB's. Clog the middle and hope Omar and Geoff take care of the numerous crosses that will be conceded by the fullbacks.

We very well could be staring at the same amount of points after these two matches than we had beforehand. I'm feeling ill.

I read this and dropped a "Oh my God" after reading "Defenders." In stead of sitting back defensive we better try to play a possession game. I a thinking of the old baseball rule, if you lose your best starting pitcher during the season, you don't acquire a starting pitcher, you acquire a good batter. Maybe instead of relying on D we can count on your offense to carry us on Friday night. (which by the way the game time sucks! starts 15 minutes after the ISU game. Thank god for PIP)

The game in Mexico, could be a blood bath.

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

Cameron has been a jack-of-all-trades & played outside at Stoke some so it is possible we could see something like Omar & Besler inside with Cameron taking one of the outside spots. I don't know that JK would do that, but it is an option. No matter what you do though, there sure are a lot of questions marks on that back line.

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

Also: It says castillo has facial fractures!? Anybody know what happened? That sounds like a bad time

Collision with an opposing player in a match against Atlas.

Edgar Castillo injury update: Facial fracture likely to keep defender out of World Cup qualifier - SOCCER - Sporting News

 

[Deanster]

I got 2 tvs set up side by side, most of my attention will likely be on the Cyclones, but the beautiful game will be on as well.

The defensive has me nervous to say the least, but hopefully JK can set up a good game plan and possess the ball.

 

[PhillipJCY]

I think going experimental is the best plan after reading that Cameron has spent time at Stoke playing RB. A backline consisting of Cameron, Edu, Gonzo, and Player X would be intriguing as Edu would be able to distribute and track any speedy forwards while Gonzo can dominate the air. LB will get beat up, but I am hopeful that either Shea or Beasley will be playing LM and be able to get forward so CR can't just bomb down that side without having to worry about a quick counter. At the very least the two players who are on that left side need to combine together to equal one quality defender on that side if they cannot get forward.

We will see if JK leaves off the 3rd central D-Mid in favor of 2 wide players along with Bradley and Jones in the middle and 2 forwards up top. For me, a 4-4-2 is the formation I want to see.

I just hope I am drinking lots of alcohol for celebratory reasons Friday and not because both ISU and USMNT lost. Drinking alone in a dark room is not how I want to spend my weekend.

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

On the bright side, Guzan should feel right at home tending goal behind a makeshift, crappy back line.

 

[CYcoFan]

If Jurgen has any common sense at all (which we know he doesn't), he would start Beasley at Left Back and Edu at Right back with Cameron and Gonzalez at CD and not miss a beat.


Edit - I'd also like to see Shea out left, Zusi out right Bradley and Corona centrally with Dempsey and EJ up top

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

Well, this isn't encouraging.

http://aol.sportingnews.com/soccer/story/2013-03-19/jurgen-klinsmann-us-mens-soccer-coach-national-team-usa-american-world-cup-2013

Some of the article just sounds like a squad that's struggling to find its way after a tough defeat. But you've got to admit that the part about going into Honduras having trained with Bocanegra on the first team and then switching the CB pairing the morning of the match is concerning. Let me emphasize, I have ZERO problem with JK trying to move on from Boca. But when you've only got a couple of days to train for a match then let the guys you are going to go with get acclimated by playing together.

The stuff about JK basically being a giant zero when it comes to tactics, while obviously concerning, shouldn't really be all that surprising. This was the knock on him from his days in Germany where Low was viewed as the man behind the curtain when it game to actual tactical gameplanning.

 

[PhillipJCY]

That article paints a pretty ugly picture and I am completely buying everything that was said. JK says he wants the US to play a free-flowing possession game, but then he names lineups with a midfield that doesn't have a creative player in it. He thinks these concepts are great and will be able to work in his head, but he doesn't employ the right players that can effectively create what he wants. Instead he wants Bradley and/or Jones to be the creator when that is not a strong part of their skill set. We do have some true creators who aren't getting any playing time (Corona) and some who are not even on the radar (Feilhaber and Adu). Also, there is absolutely no excuse as to why more backline combinations weren't tried for the past 18 months. Now we fans are pulling out our hair trying to find a back 4 that will be able to hold their own against Costa Rica, let alone Mexico when the games are very important.

I think his best role in the future would be that of a technical director. He can get our youth system set up similar to that of Germany's and let other people deal with the daily operations and management of our National Teams.

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

JK strikes me as the guy who was such a supremely talented player that he's not a very good coach. He expects everybody on the squad to be as talented as he was and can't really wrap his head around the fact that some players have strengths and weaknesses in their game. He thinks it's as easy as rolling the lineup out the morning of the match & telling the boys, "Go get 'em".

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

The Cyclones aren't the only team with an important game today. It's match day. What's everybody planning to do since both games are basically on simultaneously? I'm gonna DVR the match & then watch that immediately following the ISU game.

 

[PhillipJCY]

I don't have access to a DVR so I'm going to do my best to split my attention 70-30 in favor of the ISU game unless it turns into a blowout for some reason. I would love to find a bar where they would show the match on at least one TV, otherwise I am doing the picture-in-picture and checking the @ussoccer tweets I get sent to my phone.

Let's hope for an offensive explosion from both ISU and USMNT cause I'm nervous about both defenses.

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

Low of 23 in Denver tonight with snow likely beginning to fall at first kick. I hope the Ticos left their sleeves in Costa Rica and that MrOtter is able to sneak a flask in.

 

[boone7247]

This is going to be one night when PIP will be welcomed. I don't have the time to DVR the match to watch after the ISU game (my preferred method). I am hoping for lots of offense from both teams. Defensive slug fests are not the strong point of either of these teams right now.

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

Mexico up 1-0 at Honduras at the half. At this point, I think I'm ok with Mexico running away with the #1 spot in qualification.

 

[shagcarpetjesus]

Honduras scores 2 goals in the last 15 minutes of play to tie Mexico 2-2. For all of the hand wringing over the state of the USMNT, Mexico hasn't exactly started with guns blazing either.

 

[boone7247]

1. Honduras scores 2 goals in the last 15 minutes of play to tie Mexico 2-2. For all of the hand wringing over the state of the USMNT, Mexico hasn't exactly started with guns blazing either.

With a win we are in good shape. Need a win tonight.