Jul 24
Dax McCarty replaces Nathan Sturgis on Olympic Roster
Dax McCarty who was a key member of the US’s qualification for the Olympics will replace the injured Nathan Sturgis on the US Olympic team. McCarty is a central midfielder and it is an interesting move to add him to the squad. Without Sturgis, the US only has four defenders on the roster, five if you count Maurice Edu who is primarily a midfielder. Sturgis pulled out of the team due to a right hamstring injury.
I personally think that Nowak has made a big mistake in adding McCarty instead of a defender. I think McCarty can hold his own but Nowak will be struggle to find cover on defense. This move however confirms that Nowak will likely be using a 3 man defense and we will then see a five man midfield. Here is the probable starting lineup for the Olympics.
—————–Brian Mcbride———————-Jozy Altidore——————-
Robbie Rogers———————–Freddy Adu————————Sacha Kljestan
———————-Maurice Edu—————–Michael Bradley——————
Michael Parkhurst——————-Michael Orozco———————–Marvel Wynne
———————————–Brad Guzan———————————–
I think either Parkhurst or Orozco will go out on the left so those two positions are interchangeable.
What do you think of Stugis’ pullout and then McCarty replacing him? What’s your olympic lineup? Any thoughts go below.
July 24th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Hmm, I am a McCarty man, but a defender would have been nice. But, the only defender they had as a choice from the list of alternates is Frankie Hedjuk and he is overage. I really don’t see why Michael Bradley is always put as a DM. He is a much better attacking option. I don’t know who i would put back there. we could play a 4-4-2 with Mo Edu playing as the 4th defender, 4 across the middle with Rogers on the left, Bradley and Adu in the center and Kljestan on the right, and Mcbride and Altidore up top. Our defense is probably our weakest link, so We have to push the attack. I think we have the options. The midfield and forwards are all attack minded players. We can do well with the lineup we have, we just have to have the defense and guzan put on an incredible show.
July 24th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
i’d tend to agree, but if we go with a four man backline, we have one defender on a bench and that’s not good. One injury and we’re screwed. I agree that I don’t like to see Bradley at D-mid but that is sort of the reality when Adu is in. Adu always plays attacking midfielder and the only way I can see us getting Bradley up is by playing him alongside Adu. That could cramp up Adu though. Also, if Bradley is up the field more, we leave the defense vulnerable. We could play a 4-3-1-2 which would let Bradley be a little higher on the field but I can’t see Nowak using him further up the field.
I’m disappointed that they didn’t take a defender because I see us being not only weak, but also, we don’t have enough defenders.