Highlights of the USMNT vs. Guatemala game

U.S. looked horrible in the first half. The second half was much better.

However, and I hate being this guy, Guatemala was about as bad defensively and undisciplined offensively as you can possibly get.

I'm not taking anything away from the win. No matter how you slice it, scoring that many goals in a shutout is impressive. I'm just saying maybe temper the expectations a tad.

quote:

---

I think that people are just happy to have Stuart Holden back from a very frustrating injury saga and Donovan from his gap year

---

It was great to see Stu do well last night. Donovan? He was serviceable.

You have to be trolling on Donovan. He offers finishing and service that easily among the best on the USMNT.

It seems like we are locked into the 4-2-3-1. I want some form of:

Altidore
Dempsey Holden Donovan
Bradley Jones

Could Bradley or Holden play in a more advanced role than in the past, or do we need them back in the midfield and playing as more of a box to box guy?

quote:

---

It seems like we are locked into the 4-2-3-1. I want some form of:

Altidore
Dempsey Holden Donovan
Bradley Jones

---

Absolutely, IMO. That 4-2-3-1 would fit this squad perfectly. Pretty similar to the setup Arsenal had last year. Podolski/Cazorla (Dempsey) would usually play in from LM with Gibbs/Monreal (Johnson) providing supplementary width in the attack.

The double pivot can really play to our abundance of talent (eta: relatively speaking) at DM. I saw it mentioned in another thread, but Cameron could be huge for us as a stopper if we have the lead in the 60th+ minute. I also think we can finally have the CM to really start possessing the ball in that 4-2-3-1, unlike in the past. The formation gives us the versatility we need.

The lineup should be

-----------Altidore-------
Johnson - Dempsey - Donovan
------bradley - Holden ------

IMHO.

Cameron comes in for Holden or dempsey when we're up at the 60th as well. (I include dempsey because holden is better at keeping possession and could move up into AM if cameron comes in and take the CM role)

LD said in the post game interview that about the 30th min, he talked to Jurgy and they decided for LD to move up top with Herc to allow Corona more room to create. It seemed to work because we didn't look back after that.

nvm

quote:

---

Was anyone else unimpressed with Brek? He was not sharp and looked to be loafing

---

You and I saw 2 different Brek's. The one you described was him in his past few National Team outings, the one last night looked hungry and like he wanted to be back out there again.

quote:

---

Off topic but Mo Edu, you'd imagine, would be definitely on the chopping block. He needs some more PT or he isn't going to make the WC

---

agreed, him and Klejstan are suddenly outside looking in imo.

my realistic WC roster:

GK: Howard, Guzan, Rimando

Def: Gonzalez, Besler, Cherundolo, Beasley, Goodson, Parkhurst, Evans

Mids: Bradley, Jones, Donovan, Shea, Corona, Cameron, Holden, Zusi, F. Johnson

Forwards: Altidore, Dempsey, Gomez, E. Johnson


This would give us a pretty versatile roster:

Beasley can play Def/Mid
F. Johnson can play Def/Mid
Cameron can play Def/Mid
Dempsey can play Mid/Fwd
E. Johnson can play Mid/Fwd
Donovan can play Mid/Fwd

Wouldn't surprise me if somehow Danny f'in Williams gets put on this WC team.