The Official USA Thread

[Ceching You Out]

Findley instead of Ching is the only real surprise. Which is confusing on two fronts -- (1) Ching seemed a lock to go unless he somehow pulled up lame after yesterday's game and (2) Findley?! Can't we do better?

[fdawsoniv]

I liked that article. I did not like our performance last night and I sure hope we can get/stay healthy. If not, we may have a repeat of 2006. My prediction of 5 points may be overly hopeful now.

[hasdgfas]

I liked that article. I did not like our performance last night and I sure hope we can get/stay healthy. If not, we may have a repeat of 2006. My prediction of 5 points may be overly hopeful now.

Keep in mind that we didn't dress 8 players who are all likely to be starters. We should be ok.

[Daaaaave]

I want someone to explain what robbie findley brings to the table that a half-fit charlie davies doesn't.

fitness ?

[Splendifornia]

I guess they think that Findley's speed has more of a chance to be a game changer than Ching's work rate. So throw him in there in the 65th minute and let him gas the defense?

I think a Findley-less squad already has the pace to cover that. Ching would bring the opportunity to batter tired center-halves relentlessly along with the possibility of a clever layoff.

I'm still just worried about Gooch.

[Splendifornia]

And it just hit me that the last World Cup featured Eddie Pope, and the tournament before that featured Carlos Llamosa. Seems like they were in the frame decades ago.

[Gordon Comstock]

fitness ?

if we're ever in a situation wherein we're relying on robbie findley's fitness we're ****ed.

[Daaaaave]

I'm just glad we left ching at home.

[Splendifornia]

if Findley weren't an ex-Beaver and Ching an ex-Sounder....

[Gordon Comstock]

ricardo clark is an atlien and I support his inclusion in the first eleven.

[Splendifornia]

well Megan Rapinoe is a Reddingite, and I support her inclusion in the USMNT. and then a movie about it.

[Splendifornia]

I can't help but see Findley as a Brian West/Jeff Cunningham type. Effective (at times, incredibly so) within his niche, but not threatening to translate his value to effect at the international stage. Ching has always been a poor man's Brian McBride; he can be relied upon to at least cause something to happen.

Granted, I don't know **** about Slovenia's or Algeria's backline. Maybe there're some traffic cones just waiting for a speedster to bypass.

[Ricky Riccardo]

Granted, I don't know **** about Slovenia's or Algeria's backline. Maybe there're some traffic cones just waiting for a speedster to bypass.

If your team goes in with that attitude...

[Rio_V]

Only shock for me is no Ching, but that is not to say it bothers me. I could care less. Not a fan of Ching. Findley is fine. He shouldn't play anyway. Altidore and Buddle with Gomez coming on as a sub. Wouldn't be surprised to see Gomez outplay both of them tbf. He looks in form.

Worried only about the backline. It has to be better and Gooch has to get into form. Hate to say it but he is the most important player on this squad.

[spartans5]

Gooch has got 2 more matches to get under his belt than he should be alright, remember, last night was the first match he has played since his injury

[Rio_V]

Exactly. That is the concern. He really needs those two matches. I hope it is enough.

[MrDiCanio]

Where does J-Spec play in your side? Is he a regular starter?

[spartans5]

He is our starting right back

[MrDiCanio]

Awesome, glad to hear it.

Looking forward to seeing him in his natural position

[fdawsoniv]

I meant it is a concern given our current fitness issues. It is clear that we need our first choice XI to be at their best for our dreams to be realized. If they're off form or injured, we're toast, because our backups are a major step down.

[spartans5]

We aren't a major power in soccer right now, so that's to be expected. What other nation in our realistic tier (not the one we think we are in), has a ton of depth?

[Razzler]

You got anymore warm up games before you play us?

[AllStar4]

v. Turkey (May 29)

v. Australia (June 5)

[Ter]

Anyone know when they will announce the squad numbers? Want to get the away shirt with EDU on the back before the game against England.

[Rio_V]

v. Turkey (May 29)

v. Australia (June 5)

Not exactly making it easy on ourselves, are we?

[Fausto]

Well the Squad look a lot as i imagine, but I dont know who Hercules Gomez is where does he plays is he any good?.....

[Splendifornia]

If your team goes in with that attitude...

Congrats on your uncomprehending post.

[hasdgfas]

Well the Squad look a lot as i imagine, but I dont know who Hercules Gomez is where does he plays is he any good?.....

He plays in the Mexican league. Played for Puebla last year, but is moving to Pachuca. He tied for most league goals in the Mexican league last time through with 10 in 14 appearances.

[Daaaaave]

We aren't a major power in soccer right now, so that's to be expected. What other nation in our realistic tier (not the one we think we are in), has a ton of depth?

mexico, uruguay, greece, serbia, and ivory coast.

[Kizzak]

I think a Findley-less squad already has the pace to cover that. Ching would bring the opportunity to batter tired center-halves relentlessly along with the possibility of a clever layoff.

All Ching brings the opportunity to do is fall down in a heap looking for a foul on long balls

[bflaff]

Are you suggesting that doesn't work?

[Splendifornia]

Gimme joke about Italy I choose to forgo.

[Splendifornia]

Shaky start vs. Turkey.

[Splendifornia]

Turkey goal. Turan. We look...bad.

[AllStar4]

Hard to argue with that. We probably ought to be down more than one.

[Splendifornia]

I don't like Dempsey playing as an out and out striker in this setup. Maybe it's a way to take physical strain off of him.

[Kizzak]

I still don't know wtf the team is thinking

spector loses the ball at the top of turkey's box and he's one of the two players that even come close to getting back on the counter

dempsey as a striker looks a bit better if he gets on the end of that jozy pass

imo, our midfield just looks clueless atm

edu for clark and holden for feilhaber might make things a bit better

[Splendifornia]

Dempsey's perfectly competent up top, but imo Landycakes is lost by himself in that band between the forward line and midfield. What really worries me is that I can almost see our heads explode with bewilderment when the Turks make these ridiculous obfuscatory runs on the break. Bad linkage between defense and midfield. I'm curious to see how Edu does in Clark's place.

Don't see any reason for Feilhaber playing.

[Kizzak]

findley looks to have potential as davies-lite

[Splendifornia]

I think Torres has the best positional sense out of him, Edu, and Clark.

[Kizzak]

yeah, I'm starting to put torres above edu as well

findley needs to get the ball in the box, if he can do that I'm liking him as the second striker for us

[Splendifornia]

Haha, Hiddink looks like every single crusty piece of Eurotrash that haunts the streets of Palm Springs.

DEUCE 2-1

[Kizzak]

and then holden provides good arguments for why he should play

[Rio_V]

The usual suspects solid - Howard, Clint, LD, Jozy - against a good side.

Other than a braindead pass Feilhaber actually looked very composed on the ball in the first half, but I hated the overall setup. Clint and Jozy not quick enough up front for what we will need.

Torres and Findley intro changed the game. Officially a big fan of both. If they play with that kind of drive and enthusiasm, they should both be starting. I like the way Torres sticks the boot in, too. Findley never looked the least bit nervy. And, he can flat out fly.

Thought Clark was as much to blame on the Turk goal as anyone. He just stood flat footed as Spector went by him and even after he lost the ball didn't make a move to hustle back. Maybe his head wasn't in the game, but this is no time for that! He has to be sprinting all the way to cover the right wing vacated by Spector.

One thing that really concerns me is that we are in a lot of trouble of Bocanegra gets hurt. He has played pretty well on the left. Bornstein was instantly garbage. In any event, you can bet England will really test our fullbacks early and often. Spector was shaky.

Overall, a positive way to head out of the States.

[Splendifornia]

I want to see Herculez next weekend.

[Rio_V]

He will probably get a chance to play for at least a half. Australia should be a nice measuring stick.

[mlyons]

Why would Bradley put out a perfect lineup to play 4-3-3 and then cram them into a flat 4-4-2 with two players out of position? It's ridiculous how much better the team looks with both Donovan and Dempsey out wide than with one of them up top.

[Rio_V]

Yep. Just hoping that he was trying something to see what it would look like b/c it really...really didn't work.

[hasdgfas]

Why would Bradley put out a perfect lineup to play 4-3-3 and then cram them into a flat 4-4-2 with two players out of position? It's ridiculous how much better the team looks with both Donovan and Dempsey out wide than with one of them up top.

because it's Bradley. He doesn't do anything different. I was able to predict pretty much every single substitution he made, and that's with some players we haven't really seen before.

[mlyons]

The substitutions were fine (apart from Holden for Altidore, which would have made sense if he had switched to a 4-5-1 to hold the lead); it was the starting lineup that didn't make sense.