WC Qualifiers

[meyers7]

Two WC Qualifiers coming up for USMNT.

Friday vs Costa Rica at Red Bull Arena. 7:00 ET (ESPN)

Tuesday @ Honduras 5:30 ET (BeInSports, Universo)

Arena called in:

GK - Howard, Guzan, Rimando
DF - Cameron, Besler, Gonzalez, Ream, Hedges, Villafana, Zusi, Beasley, Lichaj
MF - Bradley, Pulisic, Nagbe, Johnson, Bedoya, Acosta, Arriola, McCarty, Roldan
FW - Altidore, Wood, Dempsey, Morris, Wondoloski

We know Brooks, Yedlin, are injured.

I'm thinking for Costa Rica

Howard
Zusi - Cameron - Besler - Villafana
Johnson - Bradley - Pulisic - Nagbe (in a diamond)
Altidore - Wood

I'd be happy with that.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Agree with that formation/the players involved. Would prefer Lichaj at right back, has a little more pace and much more experience, should have brought in Chandler regardless, but its fine, Zusi is more or less just does his job. Would like to continue to see Arriola, either getting some starts or off the bench as a change of pace sub, he's very direct and can take people on, plus he works his behind off. We need to dominate CR here, make up for them dismantling us in the first match.

 

[SubbaBub]

Two WC Qualifiers coming up for USMNT.

Friday vs Costa Rica at Red Bull Arena. 7:00 ET (ESPN)

Tuesday @ Honduras 5:30 ET (BeInSports, Universo)

Arena called in:

GK - Howard, Guzan, Rimando
DF - Cameron, Besler, Gonzalez, Ream, Hedges, Villafana, Zusi, Beasley, Lichaj
MF - Bradley, Pulisic, Nagbe, Johnson, Bedoya, Acosta, Arriola, McCarty, Roldan
FW - Altidore, Wood, Dempsey, Morris, Wondoloski

We know Brooks, Yedlin, are injured.

I'm thinking for Costa Rica

Howard
Zusi - Cameron - Besler - Villafana
Johnson - Bradley - Pulisic - Nagbe (in a diamond)
Altidore - Wood

I'd be happy with that.

Could also do

Howard
Gonzales Cameron Ream
Johnson. Villafana
Bradley Nagbe
Morris Pulisic Wood

 

[meyers7]

Could also do

Howard
Gonzales Cameron Ream
Johnson. Villafana
Bradley Nagbe
Morris Pulisic Wood

I don't really see Arena going with at 3-4-3. And I certainly don't see him NOT starting Altidore.

 

[businesslawyer]

I would expect the first prediction is close to spot on. I expect Dempsey to start over Wood (and for Wood to start in Honduras), and think Ream is about even money to take Besler's spot.

 

[bobbygt]

Zusi at right back is a liability.

I guess both Ream and Villafana have always been on the left, so I wouldn't mind seeing Lichaj there.

 

[ZooCougar]

Zusi at right back is a liability.

I guess both Ream and Villafana have always been on the left, so I wouldn't mind seeing Lichaj there.

True about Zusi, but Lichaj was worse. Wasn't Lichaj benched for the semis and the finals this summer?

Other then Wood, Dempsey, Johnson and Tenacious P, this team is so blah. I don't even look forward to watching this mess.

 

[bobbygt]

I plead total ignorance about Lichaj (I shouldn't have mentioned him since I know so little about it).

 

[shizzle787]

0-0 20 minutes in. Very attractive play from the U.S. so far.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Ref totally botched that penalty non-call

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Yeah, just when Cameron has been on a good run, he plays absolutely awful. Ream and Cameron should be nowhere near the first team sheet in the Homduras game.

 

[ZooCougar]

I hate to say I told you so. But Bruce sucks.

American soccer coaches suck too.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

I hate to say I told you so. But Bruce sucks.

American soccer coaches suck too.

I agree, Bruce is not the answer, far too slow to react

 

[Forte]

The US soccer defense makes UConn's look good. Terrible touches, passing and field awareness

 

[ZooCougar]

I agree, Bruce is not the answer, far too slow to react

Arrogant. Overrated. Doesn't run a tight ship.

 

[LIuconn]

Glad they fired the guy who made people earn their spots!

 

[progrocks]

Bruce has been a total difference maker.

JK got zero points from MEX and CRC.
BA got one point from them.

HUGE difference, huge.

 

[ZooCougar]

How bout that Geoff Cameron?

 

[UConnTrumbull]

The sad thing is how forgiving the Hex format is. It's almost impossible for the US and Mexico to fail to qualify. 4 years ago, Mexico was in our position and still managed to get fourth. US will likely finish at least fourth with 4 more points out of 9. And soon, CONCACAF will get 6 WC spots? Insane.

 

[djct1999]

That performance, particularly our back line, was totally disgraceful. Fact is, we have only a handful of guys worthy of playing at a world class level. The rest are simply not good and don't belong.

That second goal given up by Geoff Cameron was what I practice all the time with my u8s. Anytime your center back plays like he was 7, you are going to be exposed.

 

[UConnDan97]

They were bad last night. No doubt. But this thread cracks me up.

When Arena wins? "Its the same squad Klinsmann would have chosen!"

When Arena loses? "He's horrible! MLS puppet! Doesn't know anything!"

Sometimes, professional players crap the bed.

The Boneyard, folks...

 

[SubbaBub]

There was nothing good about last night:

Why are you playing Costa Rica in NY?
Why for the most critical hex game do you:

Play a new Center back pairing?
Play your worst option at RB?
Play your entire attacking midfield out of position?
Play Altidore (Leave your best scorer on the bench)

Forget the 2-1-7 substitution at the and Howard letting in two softish goals. Johnson was also out of form.

Nagbe can't play the middle on this team.

Pulisic shouldn't be forced to his opposite side. He should be in the middle as the first name on the lineup sheet. Everyone else adjusts.

We now have too many strikers in the pool. Dempsey, Wood, Morris is all you need. I'd like to see Pulisic under Wood and Morris in a 4-4-2 diamond or under Wood in a 3-5-1-1. We have a ton on options at wingback, Johnson, Yedlin, Zusi, Villafana, and zero comfortable pairings at Center back.

The match at Panama is essentially a play in for the third automatic bid and will need a result in T&T, and a win at home vs. Honduras. We do not want to be playing must win games during the last round.

 

[ZooCougar]

They were bad last night. No doubt. But this thread cracks me up.

When Arena wins? "Its the same squad Klinsmann would have chosen!"

When Arena loses? "He's horrible! MLS puppet! Doesn't know anything!"

Sometimes, professional players crap the bed.

The Boneyard, folks...

He sucks in general. He gets zero credit for winning the JV Gold Cup with his A- squad.

 

[BlueMAB]

Arrogant. Overrated. Doesn't run a tight ship.

So basically, he's the American Klinsmann

 

[LIuconn]

I can't believe playing CR in NY is seen as a mistake. What a dumb excuse. They got curbstomped and that happens in Columbus or Seattle the way they were thrashed down the middle of the field.

Put someone in net capable of hitting the deck quick enough to stop a tight-angled falling down goal. Tim Melia? Hamid?

Would love to cater to our best players' natural positions and tendencies. Let Wood go lone wolf up top and Pulisic at the 10 spot.

And bring some youngsters to travel and experience the setting. Olosunde, Sargent, etc instead of Dax and Wondo