usmnt replacements for (probable) game against Argentina
Bedoya, Jones, and Wood out. Who do you think replaces them, and do you think we switch formation?
Assuming we keep the same formation, options look limited at striker. Zardes, Wondolowski, and ?Pusilic?
If we move Zardes over -- which I don't like -- then we're replacing three midfielders. Dagbe looks like an obvious replacement, but who would be the other replacement(s)? Beckerman as a second DM?
My best guess: 4-2-3-1
Yedlin Cameron Brooks Johnson
Beckerman Bradley
Dagbe Deuce Zardes
Wondolowski
With Pusilic coming on late as we're down.
Narlignton Dagbe?
Getting Yedlin back is nice, but no Bobby Wood hurts a lot. He was playing fantastic.
And it really sucks that Wood's card occurred on an improper restart by the referee. Jones hadn't yet left the field after getting sent off.
If it is 4-2-3-1 I like
Yedlin Cameron Brooks Besler
Beckerman Bradley
Zardes Nagbe Johnson
Dempsey
I like this better since it means Wondo is not a starter.
This is what I'm hoping for. It allows Johnson to drop back to help Besler (and he's going to need help) but free enough to move forward when US has possession. Nagbe's better in the middle than out on the wing. Beckerman allows Zardes a little more freedom to try to attack. And it leaves Pulisic, then Wondo, available to come on as subs if we need a goal.
Don't know what Wondo would add to the team as a starter, other than getting in Dempsey's way. He's certainly not one to make the kind of runs that Wood was making and not the kind of player that's going to be particulalry effective on the break.
I fear that we're going to see Wondo, Zusi, Beckerman.
Johnson is world class on the wing and looked very unfortable in his two games at left back. Definitely get Nagbe in the middle and I would go with Zusi on the left moving Zardes up front. I would be mad about Leaving Dempsey alone up top, keeping Zardes on the wing and getting Beckerman in a 5 man midfield either. We will be doing a lot of defending.
...is unplayable outside of CONCACAF.
I agree that we need a two forward formation.
We learned our lesson in the last WC. Dempsey needs another strike partner to work effectively. Sadly, that is probably Zardes.
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Yea, I don't know where that comes from either.
If I remember correctly Beckerman played amazingly, to many's surprise, in 2014 WC.
Not that that means anything, but, in sports there certainly seem to be some players that for whatever reason either rise or sink to their competition level (I feel like the wings did this a lot when they had great teams), playing really crappy against lower-tier opponents, but doing really well against top competition.
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for Jones and who for Wood? Wondo? Puli?
EDIT: I see below you would want Nagbe and Pulisic starting. Would be intereting. Doubt we'll see it in a semi for the first time (even though, yes, we're short players and playing with house money at this point).
I agree with you Beckerman shouldn't start in ideal circumstances. Because of the available players, I think he get the start because of his experience next to Bradley.
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I agree with you. I think I said it in the thread last night, but one option(4231) I said was to have same back 4 as last game. This would push Johnson up to RW. Have Bradley and Nagbe play the pivot in front of the back 4. Zardes at LW Puli in at 10 behind Dempsey.
I just think JK will opt to start with Beckerman because of his experience next to Bradley. Not saying that I agree or want that. I just think that is what is going to happen.
Ah, I see. I think we're on the same page then, because the lineup you described is exactly what I've been saying I'd like to see.
For the most part I don't disagree with you. That was just another option for people who are against having Beckerman start the game. Also I'm highly in favor of playing the young guys.
The formation that you actually commented to above is my best guess with the current situation.
I would love to see Perry Kitchen get a shot. Hearts apparently loved this guy as a box-to-box type midfielder this year. He could be a good replacement for Jones. Obviously a lesser know commodity, but is certainly more mobile than Beckerman.
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Beckerman is slow and provides absolutely no offense. I'm baffled he's even on the team.
I'm a much bigger fan of this because Johnson already is a midfielder normally anyway. Besler showed he's pretty solid at left back and with Johnson supporting him, that gives us a lot of speed and support on both wings.
Exactly the squad I was thinking of. Though I was thinking a 4-4-2 w/ Nagbe up front with Dempsey.... I don't like Zardes and his 1st touch up front, and seems like Nagbe and Dempsey can take turns tracking back for the ball and connecting with each other.
no Wondo.
I'm still not over him blowing that sitter against Belgium. I was hoping to never see him on the USMNT after that.
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Yes, there are legit reasons to not include Wondo on a USMNT rosters. But none of them are 'missed one goal in one game'. That's a silly, lazy arguement.
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I never said this was a rational response.
More seriously, I don't see him providing value over a Nagbe or Pulisic, if you need someone to poach a goal late after Clint has run out of gas, he's a great fit. Otherwise, I just don't see what he brings to the table(against Argentina) and would prefer for him not to start. I also think Klinsmann keeps going to him at the expense of developing other options.
I get your point, but I'm pretty sure that goal would have counted. If I recall replay showed Wondo well onside.
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one of the most stacked club teams in the world, so hard to make any conclusions about what it means (other than that he's not an elite player ready to play ahead of the best players in the world at this point). Would like to see him go somewhere else and get a chance.
He played for Hamburg this past season. Not exactly a stacked team. And he was awful. Just awful.
I highly doubt Wondo starts. I would think Zardes would be paired up top with Dempsey before Wondo.
I'm going 4-4-2. Same back four from the group stage, Zusi moving to the right where Zardes was, Bradley playing the spot Jones was, Beckerman sitting in front of the defense, Nagbe in Bedoya's spot and Zardes and Deuce up top.
Either way, if Argentina is our opponent - we are screwed. Our only hope is that our extra rest will make us far more fresh than Argentina will be. But then again, Messi has just been putzing around on the bench for most of this tournament so he'll be pretty fresh.
I think we'll lose this one 3-1 or 4-2 or something like that. Argentina's defending isn't great, but their attack is far superior to what we can put out there. Luckily, our suspended players are all more forward thinking players (though Bedoya and Jones do quite a bit all around the pitch). Our back four has been fairly solid. If we win, it's gonna have to be one of those classic American efforts of gutting out a 1-0 victory.
I dunno. We made the semi's and will likely play against Argentina. Expectations have to be low so may as well swing for the fences.
I'd be interested in seeing the 4-4-2 or 4-1-3-2 with Dempsey & Zardes up front, Bradley & Nagbe in the middle. If its the latter I wonder about Beckerman backing Bradley if Nagbe could play one of the sides in the midfield. Zusi at the other midfield.
Have to keep the original back four together against Argentina. Very unsure about sticking a centerback like Besler out on the wing against the talent Argentina has.
Someone has to feed Dempsey. The guy is legit but he needs someone feeding him the way Woods and Jones have been which is why I'd like to see Nagbe in there.
Pulisic off the bench if Zardes gets tired or is ineffective.
I would keep Besler in at left back. Put Johnson at Right Wing. He looks so much more comfortable on the right side and he's capable of covering a lot of ground ala Bedoya. Bring in Nagbe and Zusi. I say to move Zardes up top with Deuce, but he's such an effective defender it gives me pause to move him up top.
I agree Fabian should be RW, but not with this roster. If Besler is going to stay at LB, I would much rather have Fabian over Zusi helping to cover.
Guzan - Yedlin Brooks Cameron Belser - Zusi Bradley Nagbe Johnson - Dempsey Zardez
Lets go for the win!
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Antonio Valencia kicked out on Bedoya (I think?, maybe someone else) well after the play and Jones came in to defend his teammate but kind of attempted a little slap to the face of Valencia. It was weak, and I don't think he made contact, but the rules are the rules and you don't go for someone's face so it was an immediate red card for Jones. Very stupid of him, totally lost his cool. It was a cheap play by Ecuador but it was the second yellow for one of their best players, so it actually would have been a huge positive for the US if Jones hadn't retaliated.
Wood shortly after got his second yellow of the tourney on a questionable tackle, and Bedoya got his second yellow of the tourney for grabbing the jersey of an attacker who had him beat just outside the box late in the game when US was holding on by a thread. So they're out by accumulation.
We had like 6 guys with yellows going into the match so it was going to be tough not to lose anyone, but IMO, losing Wood was a killer (not a guy that's replaceable without a big dropoff) and for Jones to get a pointless red was so stupid of him.
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For everyone but Jones, it's accumulation. Under Copa rules, yellows accumulate up to the semi-Finals.
Jones's card was idiotic, and USMNT fans should be irritated with him. Valencia (Ecuador's best player) took a stupid and obvious foul on Bedoya for a second yellow in the match. Jones was perturbed, and right in front of the AR (and not far from the CR) punched/pushed Valencia's teammate in the face.
Stupid, stupid, stupid - any ref who sees this intentional hand to the head stuff is supposed to pull a straight red. And that's what the ref did. And the "punch" was really weak sauce. More like a "get the fuggoudahere" push than a punch.
This put us at 10 v. 10, and Ecuador with the prospect that if it moved on, it was moving on without its best player.
It was a truly boneheaded move by Jones. You would think that a veteran leader like him would be able to control his reaction a bit more, especially given the advantage just given to the US at the time.
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Di Maria has the speed to burn people on the outside, but has the moves to cut inside as well. Without good discipline, that would draw in a defender to feed Messi and Aguero.
The million dollar question is if Di Maria will be fit for next week.
8-1-1
Guzan
Yedlin Brooks Cameron Birnbaum Besler Castillo Johnson Orozco
Bradley
Dempsey