Gold Cup: USA v. El Salbador

The final match of the group phase, and I am hoping Bob starts with a strong squad that comes out and gets a couple of goals off the bat, puts it away, and THEN he can tinker with the line-up. However, true to Bob's positioning twists, I have included a twist of my own:

------------------------------ Guzan ----------------------------

--- Simek ----- DeMerit -------------- Boca ----- Sepctor ---

--- Mapp -------- Feilhaber ------- Mastroeni ---- Beasley --

---------------- Donovan ------------- Dempsey --------------


Unlikely line-up, I know, but would be fun to see what happens.

 

El Salbador was my "fun-etic" spelling. Sepctor is Spector's evil twin on "de3fense".

 

like the lineup, however i'd like to see Donovan back on the right wing where i thought he dominated against Guatemala. He had a lot of room to run at people when we switched the ball over to him so i'd like to see him over there, and i'd like to see Dempsey teamed with Twellman up front. Don't care much for Guzan...but if we have to give him a CAP, fine then.

 

Howard

Hejduk Boca Demerit Bornstein

Dempsey Bradley Clark Beaseley

Twellman Johnson

that's just a guess, though.

 

Howard

Simek DeMerit Boca Bornstein

Donovan Bradley Feilhaber Beas

Dempsey Twellman

 

If Bradley included Mastroeni in the squad for the tournament knowing in advance that he'd miss the first two group stage matches, I have to figure he'll play this one.

 

Don, you are always pulling for your boy Dax get the nod. Can appreciate that, he is showing some promise.

El Salvador is probably the toughest opponent the US has yet to face. I've been impressed with their side a few times, but by no means should we lose this match.

My prediction:

Howard

Simek, Demerit, Boca, Bornstein

Donovan (if Dempsey is still injured), Bradley, Feilhaber, Beasley

Twellman, Johnson

 

AND, Bradley made sure to mention all that in the post-match the other night. The Mastroe gets the nod tonight. Guzan, maybe.

 

Still not a fan of Mstroeni...don't think he has it anymore.

Jog on Mastroe

 

4-3-2-1 with Howard in goal and Dempsey up top. Donavan and Beas playing behind Deuce with Bradley, Mastroeni and Feilhaber in the midfield. No Boca, strangely enough, but hopefully Gooch can take a step forward today.

 

I like the lineup Bradley chose. They should be able to nip a few goals past El Salvador.

Unfortunately I can't watch the match. Stuck at work. Any updates will be great, because I'll only have matchtracker.

 

I don't like Dempsey as a target forward, but maybe he'll do well in that role. He can probably challenge for balls in the air at least.

 

Not working real well so far. Bease and Feilhaber are hardly seeing the ball. The midfield also looks like it hasn't really figured out how to move the ball around in this formation.

 

El Salvador is getting good movement in the attacking third. Right now El salvador is controlling the midfield better than the U.S. Bradley (Michael) looks frazzled.

 

Deuce has hit wood twice.

hehe.

 

Really hoping that Bradley turns out to be the finished product soon. I know he is quite young, but he has so much promise. These matches will build a lot of character in him.

Out of all the sides in the US group I thought El Salvador would cause us the most trouble. From what I gather on the matchtracker and posts it would appear that is true.

 

U.S. is playing better now, and the midfield has settled down.

 

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

 

Goal from the hometown hero. Nicely done Beas...even used his right foot.