CONCACAF Playoff - Mexico v. US

The US released the roster of call ups for the October playoff. Plenty of solid players and re-treads in there but you could pick a stout first XI out of those names. The Mexico v. Argentina friendly still haunts me...Mexico is solid, and given a home field advantage (despite being the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA), I'm skeptical of the US's chances, but that's just me. I did enjoy seeing "Tim Ream (Fulham)"

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa); Bill Hamid (D.C. United); Tim Howard (Everton); Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

Defenders: Ventura Alvarado (Club America); DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo); Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City); John Brooks (Hertha Berlin); Geoff Cameron (Stoke City); Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC); Greg Garza (Atlas); Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy); Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana); Tim Ream (Fulham); Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City); DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland)

Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake); Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes); Michael Bradley (Toronto FC); Joe Corona (Veracruz); Mix Diskerud (New York City FC); Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach); Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution); Alfredo Morales (FC Ingolstadt); Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution); Danny Williams (Reading); Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy); Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC); Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC); Alan Gordon (LA Galaxy); Aron Johansson (Werder Bremen); Jordan Morris (Stanford); Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes); Bobby Wood (Union Berlin)

 

Nev, don't fret too much about the Mexico v Argentina match. El Tri has always matched up well with them over the years. My buddy always says if 'Mexico only played as well as they do against Argentina they'd be a world power.' I'm more worried they we've looked bad most of this year, and JK is going to be stubborn and put in 2 or 3 lesser players on the backline and the 2nd best GK in between in the pipes in a stadium that will have 65,000 Mexico fans in it.

 

Of the players in the prelim squad, here's what I think I would go with:



I think this would give us a nice mix of youth and experience. That being said, I could probably be convinced to pick an entirely different back line, that's how up in the air I feel it is with our defenders at the moment.

 

Disagree with your striker even though I'm sure that's what we'll see. I'd play Bacon. I'd go with Howard between the sticks since he's in good form. The rest of it looks okay, but has JK played Fabian on the right much? While Ream is capable at lb, I really like what I've seen from the Johnson/Zardes partnership on the left. That would leave Cameron or Evans on the right though & that's probably a big problem with Mexico's pace.

 

I actually prefer AJ to Altidore overall as well, but I feel like Altidore's size can give Mexico problems. Also, if you play Duece and AJ together you don't really have a player leading the line, since both like to come deep to pick up the ball.

I would play Guzan because he's played well for the US and doesn't deserve to lose his place. As far as the back line, I slotted Johnson in through process of elimination. I don't trust Cameron or Evans there against Mexico. I'm hearing that Johnson may not be fit in time for this game, so it might be a mute point.

 

Touché!

 

I think about a straight 4-4-2 that features most of the people Chicago listed save for Howard in goal, Yedlin dropped to RB, Johnson moved to LB for Ream, Dempsey in a MF role and AJ starting with Altidore up top.

 

I like it. But I fear that JK is allergic to a 4-4-2.

 

Is Fabian Johnson out with an injury (it was either hamstring or calf tear)?

 

I hear ya. JK is allergic because that formation has never before provided results for the US...just ask Arena, Bradley, etc.

 

Just read on ESPN that he returned to light training this week and he told ESPN he would be fit by the playoff game.

 

Former Fulham youngster Chris Smalling gives the US a hand by taking out El Tri's best player Andres Guardado in ManUre's loss to PSV in the CL. Guardado looks to be out 4 to 6 weeks due to ligament damage in his ankle. Hate to see injuries to any player, but it helps the Yanks chances for sure.

 

While I don't have a problem with either being in the mix, I'm glad Brooks and Chandler won't be starting in Pasadena http://www.espnfc.us/united-states/...ler-ready-to-train-again-but-john-brooks-hurt

 

I think one of the missing ingredients recently has been Jermaine Jones. When healthy, he's a force in both halves of the pitch. And lest I jinx him, he's cut down on his penchant for red cards. He's still listed as a midfielder, but Klinsmann has been using him in defense more recently. I think a move back to the midfield will make him more effective, and improve the overall chemistry of the team. And it would also be nice if the real Michael Bradley would start showing up again. And Howard is just a better keeper than Guzan. Fact. Is it really a must win game? If so, start the best guys. That's Howard. And Jozy. And Dempsey, Yedlin, Jermaine, Bradley, Zardes, Gonzalez, Cameron, Evans and Beasley.

 

And now Dos Santos is out for El Tri.
http://www.espnfc.us/confederations...ntos-to-sit-out-mexico-us-playoff-with-injury

What to do, der kommissar, what to do?....

Everything is falling into place for a US victory, except the match actually transpiring. I'm skeptical, at this minute, because the last trip to the Rose Bowl for a meaningful match began with all U.S. guns blazing, only to capitulate to Mexico a la Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

 

I guess I should have made sure Omar was gonna be IN the bloody squad before opining that he should be starting. Shaking my darn head. Maybe Jurgy WILL take the scousers job and WE can hire Klopp.