Jul 30
USA Olympic Team Ties Ivory Coast 0-0
It was an early morning kickoff for us following here in the USA, and the US team was able to get a result against a talented Ivory Coast squad. This match was just a tune-up for the Olympics so we can’t take much from it, except for the lineup Nowak chose. Some fans had speculated that the USA would use a 3 man back line but it appears Nowak will go with four in the back. After the jump you can see the full lineup.
———–Altidore——-McBride————-
——————Adu———————-
Holden———–Bradley—————Kljestan
Orozco——Edu——-Parkhurst———Wynne
—————-Guzan———————-
It is a solid lineup which utilizes all three overage players in their preferred positions. We can expect a McBride-Altidore partnership at the olympics, and we can expect the same midfield for the olympics as well. The defense was an interesting choice. You could have guessed Wynee and Parkhurst but what surprises me is that Edu is playing at central defense. We know he can play there but it looks like Nowak thinks that the midfield is too crowded, and since Edu can play defense, he’s going to use him there. This then moves Orozco out to be a left back.
This looks like a solid lineup and it will probably be the one that Nowak uses to open the Olympics.
What do you think of the result? What about the lineup? What changes would you make? What strikes you as odd? Your thoughts below.
July 30th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Tried to play way too many long balls instead of building the attack through the midfield. Overall, the team did not leave me too impressed. They gave the ball away far to easily. Orozco looked good playing away from his natural position, but other than Guzan nobody really stood out for me. That being said, this was a tuneup game to work out the kinks and hopefully they’ve done that.
July 30th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
yeah, let’s hope they got the kinks out because this squad has real talent. I don’t understand why we always play longballs, it just doesn’t make any sense. I guess the rationale is that there are two big strong forwards up top, but that rarely works. the best teams play out of the midfield, we can’t we emulate them, it’s such a conundrum.
July 30th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
It also seemed like we were clogging the middle of the field. We need to use our wings better and stretch the field because I think wwe certainly have the pace to do so. I’d also like to Rogers starting on the left.
July 30th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
was the game televised? i never anything about it being on tv. also i think that is a good line up for us. is there another warm up match?
July 30th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Found it on the net. It was a pretty grainy,choppy feed but still watchable. Go to http://www.myp2p.com usually gives links to live streams of games. We play Cameroon on Satruday in the final tuneup.
July 30th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
The link is http://www.myp2p.eu
July 30th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Did Feilhaber come on at all? I really think a 3 man back line would suit them better. keep that formation but take Orozco or Wynne out and put Feilhaber in the middle with Bradley. That may help control the ball a bit.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Nowak used everybody except for Chris Seitz. I agree, possesion and play out of the midfield is key. It actuallly presents an interesting issue because if you want to keep a four man back line and you want to keep Adu up high, then you are forced to drop a forward, and we know that both of our forwards can start at full National level.