Aug 12
What Should the US Lineup be VS. Nigeria
With the deciding game of the group stage coming up tomorrow for the US men, Peter Nowak has the most difficult decision of his career to make. A win or a draw sees the US advance to the quarterfinals of the Olympics, so the right lineup will make the whole difference. The most troubling part of the situation is that Nowak won’t be able to use either Freddy Adu or Michael Bradley due to yellow card accumulation. He now won’t be able to use his two of his most dynamic players which will make a difficult task even more difficult.
Here’s the lineup that I see Nowak using:
—————McBride————-
McCarty——–Kljestan——–Holden
————Szetela–Feilhaber——-
Orozco——Edu—Parkhurst—-Wynne
————–Guzan—————
On the defensive side, there are no other options, we can’t afford to play Patrick Ianni so that stays untouched. The midfield will have five so we can be a little bit more defensive. I’m putting Mccarty out on the left because Rogers doesn’t play defense, and he can’t service McBride effectively. Feilhaber and Szetela will play defensive midfield together and clog the midfield. Kljestan will be the attacking midfielder, the same role he plays for Chivas USA so well. Holden obviously stays on the right because he has been one of the best and most consistent players for the team in the tournament. Finally, McBride will be the lone forward because there are some injury concerns about Jozy Altidore, and, Jozy has been very effective coming off the bench so far in the tournament.
What do you think of the lineup? Can it get us a tie? What are the US’ chances to advance? What lineup would you use? Your thoughts below.
August 12th, 2008 at 11:24 am
That’s pretty much the same lineup I have except I’m just not sold on McCarty however his work rate could prove to be very effectuive but I’m not sure he offers the same counter attacking options that Rogers does. I’m still think Peter may opt to go with Rogers for his experience in the tournament thus far. Also, I’d obivoulsy have Jozy in over McBride if there wasn’t the injury concern (I’d still like to see him introduced around the 60th minute). I do think this team can get the result but the US has historically not shown too well when they control their own destiny. I’m still convinced that Japan will be the spoiler and knock the Dutch out. In addition, is this not Benny’s biggest game of his young career?
August 12th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I’m not crazy about Mccarty, but he’s a good defensive player and that’s what we need. Nowak will probably go with Rogers, but we’ll get more of the same: Bad crosses and no defense. I think this is a good game that we can win. If we win, we avoid Argentina which would be the best thing of all.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
We can still avoid Argentina if we draw in some scenarios.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
If we tie and Holland loses then we still win the group.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
yeah, but I fully expect the Dutch to win against japan. I think we have a good chance of advancing out of this group. What do you guys think? If we avoid Argentina I can see us making the medal round.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Japan doesn’t want to go winless. They’re going to play hard. I think they can get a draw.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I’m really hoping we advance and especially win the group. I agree that if we can avoid Argentina I certainly think we can get a result against Ivory Coast. Any live commentary for the game? I certainly plan on watching the Japan-Holland game on the computer during the USA game.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Remeber when Korea bailed us out in 2002? That’s what I’m thinking Japan does.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I like the lineup, but I might actually switch Kljestan and Holden. Holden moving to the center of the park is what stabilized us against the Dutch, so I think maybe that could be an option again.
August 12th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
I dont see Rogers being dropped from the list, but I do like McCarty, I think he is a good player on both ends of the ball and can get the job done. The only thing I don’t want to see is Patrick Ianni step onto that field, he is terrible and is taking up space on our olympic roster that an eight year old could fill. He is slow and short and from every game I’ve seen him in stupid, if he is on the field things could get ugly.
August 12th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
and in regards to Japan it could happen, the Japanese women put our women in first in the group demolishing Norway 5-1 after the norweigians beat our girls so maybe the Japanese men wont wwant to be outdone and will play the game of their lives.
August 12th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Would have liked to have seen Brek Shea on the squad I think he would have fit in well as a sub. And Lanni is a waste to have on the squad. as for the lineup it will probably be as mentioned in the blog. If Nowak actually wants to give Mcbride some chances up front he will put McCarty in over Rogers.
August 12th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Let’s all not forget just how creative Feilhaber can be. Hopefully he’ll be able to show a little of that magic because we will need it badly.
August 12th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
——–Mcbride
——–altidore
Klestjian–feilhaber–Holden
————-Edu
Szetela–Orozco–Parkhurst–Wynne
August 12th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I think it will most likely be a bit more defensive than that JPC. I bet there will be 5 midfielders.
August 13th, 2008 at 4:29 am
Wrong again:
Wynne-Parkhurst-Edu-Orozco
Rogers-Holden-Klejstan-Szetela
McBride-Altidore