USA vs Italy _ Confed Cup

Sorry, can't wait any longer to get this thread started. Are we gonna get mowed down this tournament, or will the American fighting spirit prevail? What about Rossi who could have been in our starting lineup? Will he start for the Italians? He started their last qualifier against Northern Ireland. Who do you hope to see trot out on the field next Monday?

 

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England), Tim Howard (Everton, England), Luis Robles (Kaiserslautern, Germany)
Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes, France), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Danny Califf (Midtjylland, Denmark), Jay DeMerit (Watford, England), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege, Belgium), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock, Germany), Jonathan Spector (West Ham, England), Marvell Wynne (Toronto)
Midfielders: Freddy Adu (AS Monaco), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Ricardo Clark (Houston), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus, Denmark), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca, Mexico)
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Xerez, Spain), Conor Casey (Colorado), Charlie Davies (Hammarby, Sweden), Clint Dempsey (Fulham, England), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles)

Considering the roster, against Italy I'd like to see:

Altidore
Dempsey Torres Donovan
Bradley Feilhaber
Boca DeMerit Gooch Spector
Howard

 

Against Italy:

------------------------------- Howard ----------------------------------

-------------------- Gooch --------------- Boca ------------------------
---- Spector/Wynne ---------------------------- Pearce/Spector ----

-------------------------------------- Bradley ---------------------------
-------- Dempsey --------------------------------- Adu/Beasley ------
----------------------------- Donovan ----------------------------------

-------------------- Davies ---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------- Altidore ------------------

Possession will be vital. Dempsey will end up having to defend more than he wants to on those vicious Italy counter-attacks, but if nothing else, I think Davies and Adu have motors that run strong, and they absolutely hate being dispossessed. Beasley does sometimes too, but how much of playing LB has further squashed his confidence. It just is not a good position for him. It is up to Donovan not to dissapear when we get the few opportunities to create things, which I think will be somewhat of forgone conclusion with Altidore, as he becomes the target man up top (how much better would he be if he spent just a month with Brian?). Bradley could be the key to getting a point (or 3) from this match.

Torres has shown he can play Latino style quite well, and he speaks their language, literally and figuratively. Probably needs some work on his Italian.

 

Was it ony 13? I meant 14, smart ass.

 

What I saw on USSoccer.com yesterday was 2:30pm ET/1:30pm CT.

 

I wouldn't mind the following:

Timmy

Spector-Gooch-Boca-Bornstien

Landon-Benny-Bradley-Torres

Dempsey (allowed to roam freely)

Altidore

 

Won't happen, but in the interest of mixing experience with young potential I'd like to see:

----------------------Howard-----------------------

---Spector---Onyewu------Bocanegra---Bornstein---

-----Dempsey----Bradley------Torres--------Donovan-------

----------------------Davies-------Altidore------------

 

I should probably mention that, as a fellow BC Eagle, I will unabashedly root for Davies under any circumstances.

 

I prefer Christian's starting XI except that I would definitely start Beasley - bring in Adu (or Torres) if needed. I want Beasley's speed and more direct ball in there v. Italy.

And I've got nothing against Rossi for playing for Italy, but that doesnt mean I wouldnt thoroughly enjoy some American making him look stupid.

 

I'll admit this lacks class, but it's a shame Pablo M. didn't make the trip just for the opportunity to give DeRossi a little retribution. I'm sure they understand the term "vendetta" in Rome, eh?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... ld&cc=5901

 

Daniella a role model - not. I dont feel for him a bit.

 

Anyone else notice that Jermaine Jones annouced his intention to apply to FIFA to be on the USMNT today? Should that be a new thread?

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... wD98P76DG1

 

http://www.fulhamusa.com/index.php?name ... pic&t=6188

 

At 10, 2 AND 4?!?!?

You're a crazy guy, HD!

 

Stay off the Twinkies, Don.

 

Interesting, garbled and somewhat ridiculous points:

http://yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=content&id=4800

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9 ... ations-Cup?