Pretty important tournament coming up. We need to win to qualify for the 2013 Confederations Cup. Who do you want to see? Bob will be relying heavily on nearly all of the same guys as he did in SA. I think the 4-1-3-2 might be the best fit. Here's what I'd like to see and who I'd like to see on the bench: Altidore -- Dempsey Donovan -- Bradley -- Holden Jones Bocanegra -- Gooch -- Spector -- Cherundolo Howard Subs: FW Davies, Agudelo, Bunbury MF Torres, Mixx, Feilhaber, Edu, Bedoya, Shea? DF Boss, Ream, Opara, Gonzalez, Lichaj GK Guzan, Hamid?? DF is such a shit show. We may even be better suited to a 4-1-2-1-2 with Spector joining Jones at CDM and Boss or Ream dropping in on the back line. Regardless, Bob will fuck this up. What would you do?
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation Still can't see Davies making the roster considering how little he has played lately. That being said if he plays well with DCU then by all means include him. Bunbury would be nice, but the real travesty is if we don't include Agudelo. He should make every tournament roster from now on. I would imagine that the roster looks very very similar to the WC.
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation Yea... we'll probably see Clark and/or Findley. No reason to include either or Torres and Gomez. Buddle still deserves a shot too but the key is going to be including the right youth guys that are going to anchor the team moving forward while also bringing in the vets that will win this tournament for us. I hope we get to see SOME younger guys get meaningful time, but for the most part, we'll be seeing those players at the 2012 Olympics and the 2013 Gold Cup.
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation That won't happen under Bradley. It takes a lot to break into his roster, I'm shocked we finally got Agudelo and Bunbury in.
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation Barring injury, these guys are locks. 1. Howard 2. Guzan 3. Landon 4. Dempsey 5. Bradley 6. Jozy 7. Holden 8. Edu 9. Jones 10. Cherundolo 11. Gooch 12. Boca 13. Bornstein 14. Goodson 15. Spector (versatility helps him) Then the next group: FW - Buddle, Bunbury, Agudelo, Davies, Findley MF - Feilhaber, Mix, Bedoya, Kljestan, Torres, Clark (also a CB option now), Shea DF - Lichaj, Chandler, Demerit, Whitbread, Ream, Gonzalez, Opara GK - Yelldell, Robles (no need to pull an MLS GK away to just be 3rd string and not play) And of course there's always the possibility of someone playing themselves onto the team with a strong season like Hercules for the WC
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation I would love to somehow get all of Jones, Edu, Holden, Bradley, Landycakes, Dempsey and Jozy on the field at the same time, but even Jones and Edu at CDM spots gets me aroused. and I think Lichaj can win the RB spot
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation We'd have to run a 442 which I wouldn't object to. Or a 4-2-2-2 but that's too slim for Dempsey and Donovan I think. The 442 would be nice to see Altidore -- Dempsey Donovan -- Bradley -- Jones -- Holden Edu playing on the back line or switch Jones and Edu. That's the only way I could see us getting those 7 together at once. I do agree that Lichaj can win that spot between now and this summer but it's going to take a nose dive from Cherundolo or a move inside for him. I just really hope we can form a decent back line and wish some of our depth in midfield was spread out elsewhere. There are going to be some guys that could've started in the last cycle riding the pine for us in midfield now (Shea, Diskeruud, Torres).
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation a 4-4-1-1 with dempsey behind jozy and the two outaide MF playing like wingers (Landy cakes and ???) could also work just think dempsey is more effective in a regressed striker or tweener striker/CAM role or more of a roving striker where he would be most effectve
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation Lichaj's chance to become starting RB as the 2014 cycle moves forward will be next year, Dolo is the captain of the 4th place team in the Bundesliga. Also, Chandler will be competition for Lichaj.
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation I don't pay nearly as much attention to the European leagues as you do, so I'm curious to see why you have Goodson as a lock. He's never really stood out in the National Team and CB seems like a position where Bob has actually been trying to break in the guys like Ream and Gonzalez. Also seeing the logjam in midfield and all the question marks on the backline has me warming to the idea of trying to slot in Edu back there.
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation Goodson is the furthest thing from a lock. He was a weak link during the WC. I see Spector and Gooch tentatively starting unless Jones or Edu makes a switch to the very back. Dolo and Bocanegra are going to be tough to surpass.
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation Outside of Gooch and Boca, Goodson (along with Demerit) is the best pure CB on the roster, and Boca will likely be playing LB. Edu is ok for an emergency but if you remember the Poland friendly, Edu struggled at CB and he never plays that position for Rangers. Goodson's position is set, which is why you didn't see him for Chile, plus he was moving to a new club. For which, he's immediately come in and will be the starter for a much better team than Ream or Gonzalez plays for, a team that could possibly be in the Champions League qualifying rounds next year if they finish 2nd (Brondby is currently 3rd). Is he a lock like the others? No, but I'd say his chances are very high, especially since we don't know what type of form Demerit will be in after having not playing a competitive match since Ghana. Plus, Goodson will be much more apart of the 2014 cycle as Demerit will be. Whitbread is certainly in the discussion if he continues to start for Norwich.
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation I would like to see a 4-3-3 in the Gold Cup Donovan-------Altidore--------Dempsey -----Bradley----------Holden----------- ----------------Jones/Edu------------------ Boca-----Gooch-----Spector/Goodson-----Dolo -----------------Howard--------------------- This would probably transform into a 4-5-1 if/when we play Mexico.
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation Goodson is being overrated in here. He was unprotected by Dallas in the 07 expansion draft and chose to go to Norway. He has taken a small step up to the Danish league, to his credit, but that league is run by Copenhagen and nobody else. He'll be at the peak of his career in the next couple of years in a pretty weak league. I don't think Ream stays in MLS much longer and Lichaj deserves to start just as much as Goodson, as he could be playing in the top flight next season.
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation I don't think Goodson is great, but he's the best choice we have right now. If Ream starts off the MLS season even better than last, then I would start giving him more consideration.
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation Yep, this is for the Gold Cup and right now Goodson is at a higher level than Ream. In a couple years, I think Ream will be better. One thing that concerns me about Ream is that he's pretty slow by CB standards, but he has passing ability out of the back we just haven't seen with an American CB. Goodson is also a beast on set pieces offensively and defensively, and just behind Gooch from winning balls in the air during the run of play. I'd rate our young CB's with most upside as: 1. Boss 2. Kitchen 3. Opara 4. Ream 5. Gonzalez Two different positions. Lichaj's competition will be Chandler in the future, and possibly Valentin, Veeder, Sarkodie. And Spector can be that emergency utility type guy too.
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation Even though the official schedule will be announced in a week or two, looks like our Gold Cup run will take the USA from Detroit to Tampa to Kansas City in the 1st round of play. Definitely buying tickets if they go to Tampa.
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation Charlotte is a 45-55 minute drive from here Wont you be coming from Cola?
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation Thought the schedule would have been released by now, really want to plan it out according to my schedule this summer.
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation Just saw something that said March 8th Watson, Might could do that. If it's there might be a few more
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation Just dug around on their website, it lists Raymond James as a host on June 11th. If that's the case then thats a Saturday and definitely a game I could make.
Re: Gold Cup roster speculation The draw is sometime this month. U.S. will be in: Detroit, Tampa, KC Mexico will be in: Charlotte, Dallas, Chicago
My prediction is: Group A Mexico El Salvador Guadeloupe Group B Honduras Costa Rica Jamaica Cuba Group C Guatemala Panama Grenada
USMNT to face Canada (in Detroit), Panama (in Tampa) and Guadeloupe (in Kansas City) in CONCACAF Gold Cup http://bit.ly/eQMZpA
Mexico, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador Jamaica, Honduras, Grenada, Guatemala USA, Canada, Panama, Guadeloupe
I'd say group A is the toughest, 3 of those teams were in the final stage of the Hex. U.S. vs Canada in Detroit should be a fun atmosphere.
New stadium A week of exclusive pre-sales is to begin Wednesday. Those wishing to purchase tickets are asked to call the local stadium box office or local MLS team for further information. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on March 16 through www.Ticketmaster.com.
Yeah and I don't even care we are playing fucking Panama. Anyone know how much do tix normally go for?
In 2009, i think we got ours for 80. That was for the Quarters in Dallas, and I think they ranged from 40-120. This year, I want to do the Semis in Houston or the Final in Pasadena.
Can't wait to go to Tampa, beat some Panamanian ass and throw their carcasses in that fucking canal. Let's do this, soccer board friends.