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Who should the USMNT start vs. Panama?

USAvsCanada (ISIPhotos.com) 

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Coming off the U.S. men's national team's Gold Cup opening 2-0 win against Canada, head coach Bob Bradley has a quick turnaround before Saturday's Group C match-up against Panama. He will have just a few days to decide whether to stick with the lineup that beat Canada, or make some changes.

There weren't many negative performances among the starters vs. Canada. In fact, there were more standout matches than there were worrisome ones.

What changes could Bradley make? None really standout. Maurice Edu looked solid as a substitute in his brief appearance against Canada, but the combination of Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones was so dominant it's tough to see them not starting together again.

The truth is it seems like a safe bet we'll see the same lineup against Panama, with a win basically clinching the group and making the third group game against Guadeloupe a match Bradley can rest starters.

What lineup would you like to see against Panama? Think Bradley should start the same group?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. —–Juan—Jozy—–

    –Donovan–Bradley–Adu–Dempsey

    –Bornstein–Ream–Goodsen–Cherundolo

    I chose Bornstein and Adu as this would be a good match to assimilate them into the squad. Have Bocanegra, Jones and Edu ready to get some action as well.

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  2. I can agree with your point to some extent — you may be right. But if I’m looking for a wildcard to fill the 23rd and final spot on my roster, I may do just that — *especially* given his ability to create, as you say. I’m just saying that even if Freddy doesn’t make the bench vs. Panama, I would not consider it a waste of anybody’s time to have brought him along.

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  3. Am I the only one worried about Ream’s one on one defending? He gets nutmegged like a rec league player and folks still want him in the lineup. He gets beat with speed over the top. US won because Canadian strikers were inept at finishing. Ream is going to be in trouble against Panamanians’ individual ball skill.

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  4. Are you serious? I would pick Adu over Sasha even if Adu played back to back to back games (all in one day).
    Must be a relative.

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  5. +1
    I think a Panamanian bus-parking would be less than effective. Pretty sure we can beat them in the air, and them packing the box would probably just lead to fouls in the box.
    That really is where Wondo is best. He doesn’t have the speed or strength of a lot of forwards but he gets himself in great positions and he’s a brilliant first-touch finisher.

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  6. I don’t disagree with the sentiment of resting our big guns, but Wondo really isn’t a lone striker or target forward kind of guy, as we saw in the Chile match. He needs someone to work off of, and really seems to play best when he is tucked in just behind another striker. As long as we have the luxury to experiment, why not try him and Agudelo up top for a half, sliding Freddy back into Sacha’s spot there? Could be interesting…
    That back four also frighten me a little, but should still probably do okay against Guadelupe.

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  7. I think Holden (post-recovery) and Diskerud both have long futures with the USMNT. Also, both are extremely creative players.

    Benny and Bedoya are both young, too. Remember… Landon was struggling in Germany at an age close to where these guys are now.

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  8. Starting Wondo and Juan against Guadeloupe…sure. Starting Wondo (and likely needing to waste a sub on him at half) when there’re still 6 points up for grabs… maybe not the best.

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  9. The US is playing the fourth or fifth, sixth or seventh, and eighth or ninth best teams in the competition in this group (despite itself being the highest-ranked team). How is that “lucky”?

    CONCACAF isn’t a deep confederation– clearly the USA should win all of these games– but Group C is actually substantially the hardest of the three groups. Group B is an absolute joke, and the only competitive game in Group A is going to be the international friendly that Mexico and Costa Rica play long after both of them have already qualified to the next round.

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  10. i watch every usa game, my feeling on bedoya’s touch is based on having seen just about all of his international caps. i dont know how he is in sweden thats why i said im not sure if its just nerves. that break away was definitely one more example of his poor touch but no, it wasnt what i was basing my point on.

    sacha’s young career has already had peaks and valleys and hopefully hes coming out of a valley. most would agree that he got hit pretty hard when his transfer to celtic didnt go through. but hes a talented player. noone can a put up a hat trick in international soccer without real talent.

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  11. If you’re trying to say that the Turkish 2nd league is poor, I agree. But if you think that the 2nd league is so poor that Adu doesn’t face stiff enough competition to be in game shape for the national team, I disagree.

    Or were you trying to say something else?

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  12. You know what, scratch that last part. I figured they’d have more players playing locally, but nope. Still, they conceded two goals to a 10-man Guadeloupe and looked vulnerable defensively.

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  13. Wondo should start. Panama seem somewhat disorganized in the back and probably aren’t even at the level of a good MLS defense.

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  14. “For me he just needed to be playing at a decent level and have some confidence.” You made my point for me. Thank you.

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  15. “And you will probably find that it is the general concensus around these parts. ”

    I’m not convinced that’s exactly the bedrock of sound analysis you might think it is.

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  16. Your reply would be much more credible without the subtle attack on their understanding of the game. Everyone has their opinion; and its not a terrible idea to opine based on league quality, though all of your points are credible.

    You can be smart without being mean.

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  17. You will be seeing JB make the starting 11. Gut feeling is that JB will get the start vs Mexico in the final. With that said, it would behoove us to get JB some minutes soon.

    Do I agree with playing JB at all? NOPE…however, you will eventually see him and if he aint playing as many games as he can then he will butcher that position when we really need him to perfom at his best…what little his best may be. The only change I would make.

    At some point, I would like to see Roger and Sasha twist an ankle before they impact us negatively.

    Thank you and God Bless America…

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  18. I don’t think this specifies what side Deuce is on. Just shows he is sitting in the hole behind Jozy. I like when Dempsey has freedom; though I would bet against Edu over Jones at this point.

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  19. MMMmm, even accepting the crazy formation, you need speed and workrate on wing. Jozy would be gassed 30 minutes in. Lando is a much more natural fit for wing and Jozy, with his big body, and developing target skills is much better up front.

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  20. You realize he has Dempsey playing in a “false nine” position, right? He’ll be playing in the middle of the field in this formation.

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  21. i see adu as a natural #10, but that doesnt workk w BB formations or personnel. that being said he be a very affective left winger or played slightly behind a lone striker. he also always brought the best our of jozy in the u21 matches.

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  22. Im callin BS on Bedoya being brick-footed. You base his first touch on the very first oportunity he got on a ball over the top where he pushed the ball too far up trying to break from his mark with about 30 yards to work with. If you followed his career, you would not make that statement. Im just saying…

    Sasha may have had some streak moments with Chivas however, at the international stage, he is garbage. He is a good player and for the most part does well at the club level however, he seems to Sh*t himself when he should be making a very simple pass.And you will probably find that it is the general concensus around these parts.

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  23. …so is it wrong to root against USMNT in the hopes that I don’t see this lineup?

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  24. Lighten up, Overstatement Boy. While Sacha is certainly in a better club situation, plenty of Nats have fallen into difficult club situations yet have excelled with the MNT when called upon (Feilhaber, Altidore, Boca, Jones, and Junior in recent memory). If BB feels like he needs more possession or or more playmaking, he may draw upon Adu off the bench. Sacha is the more conventional, choice, but given team needs on any given matchup, choosing Adu over Sacha is hardly, “moronic,” don’t you think? Especially considering Sacha’s recent form w the Nats.

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