With a pair of
USMNT games fast approaching, I figure it’s time for me to put in my two
cents..
These are always hard to
predict, because none of us get the chance to be there while these guys are
practicing, so who really knows what the heck is going on out there… *man I
wish I knew what was going on out there*
GOALKEEPERS (3):
Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson
(Chicago Fire)
I see all of these guys as
being pretty equal, with Hamid being my pick for lesser of the three (everytime
I see him it’s like he’s making a bonehead move) and Johnson as the
frontrunner. It’d be nice for Hall to get the nod since it is at the BBVA in
front of his home fans, but then again Jurgen isn’t really keen on sentiment.
Remember that time we played in Belgium…? Sacha Kjlestan doesn’t.
DEFENDERS (8): Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), A.J. DeLaGarza (LA Galaxy), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Connor Lade (New York Red Bulls), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Justin Morrow (San Jose Earthquakes), Jeff Parke (Philadelphia Union)
I think the toss up here will
be between Besler and Parke, because I’m almost certain that Omar will be
starting. I’d give the nod to Besler as it’s the more likely CB pairing for the
future and he’s left footed. Not to take anything away from Parke, I still hope
he gets some clock and represents well for the U! Beltran on the right, Morrow
on the left.
MIDFIELDERS (8): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (out of contract), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Joshua Gatt (Molde), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
The midfield is just so damn
hard to predict… I love it! I’m thinking of this two fold, Jurgen knows that
the Canada team we’re playing really isn’t that strong, but at the same time
he’s keeping an eye on players with the WCQ on Feb 6th in mind. Conventional
wisdom tells me that Beckerman without a doubt will be starting at CDM (him not
in the starting lineup would be the biggest shock for me). Mix and Zusi bring
the best attack minded combo to the middle of the field with Benny first off
the bench.
FORWARDS (4): Juan Agudelo (Chivas USA), Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Will Bruin scoring two goals
against Tijuana has gotta count for something right? He’s really started to
grow on me, especially after his playoff display. I just don’t see Wondo
leading the line in any single striker variation that Jurgen may concoct
(4-3-3/4-5-1/4-3-2-1…) So doubt he gets the start. Agudelo seems to really
shine in that late sub role so that’s where I see him again and I don’t really
like EJ wide on the left, but it worked in that last round so why not try it
again. That leaves us with the right side of the field. Now Gatt has tremendous
potential and a ton of speed, but I still have not been able to get over
Bedoya’s performance in the 2011 Gold Cup. I thought he was a terror down that
right side and filled in admirably for Landon, which wouldn’t ya know, is where
we find ourselves again in 2013. Gatt has the slight edge in actually playing
in a Jurgen camp before (Russia game), but I think that Bedoya had a better
ending to 2012 than Gatt and will parlay that into a starting nod come the 29th
in Houston. Or… I’m way off, neither of those guys line up out there and JK
throws Zusi out there and Benny in the middle with Mix ??? Either way, can’t
wait to see what Klinsman does with the roster. I’ll do another one of these
for Honduras too it’ll be great, see yall then!
Oh and here’s my USA v CAN
lineup. Thanks to @ThisIsASN for
these lineup creator doohickey #bestthingever
