The United States will take on No. 1 ranked Argentina in a friendly that is expected to draw more than 70,000 fans to Giants Stadium. It is the third of three very difficult friendlies, and the last match before the Americans begin World Cup qualifying.
In other words, it’s a pretty important match.
Now we still don’t know what the roster is for the Argentina match, but that doesn’t mean we can’t think about the possible lineup we will see, and should see, against the ‘Albiceleste.’
Here is the lineup I think we will see on Sunday:
Potential USA lineup vs. Argentina
———————–Dempsey————————
Lewis——————Adu——————-Beasley
————Bradley————Mastroeni————–
Pearce—–Bocanegra——-Onyewu—-Cherundolo
————————Howard————————
Now, if Landon Donovan and Jozy Altidore are healthy (which is uncertain right now), here is the lineup I would like to see:
————————Altidore————————-
Beasley—————–Adu——————Donovan
————–Bradley————Edu——————–
Pearce——Bocanegra—–Onyewu——Cherundolo
———————–Howard—————————
Why no Dempsey? He has looked sluggish in the past two friendlies and seems like he needs a rest. I put Beasley on the left here but could just as easily slot Eddie Lewis in there given how well he has played recently. If Altidore can’t go I would actually really like to see Kenny Cooper get a start, but for some reason I don’t see him getting a start when he hasn’t even gotten call-ups in a year. (I replaced Mastroeni with Edu in the lineup I’d like to see. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mastroeni get one more run at his native Argentina, but I would rather see Edu match up against Argentina and see if he can improve on his Spain performance.)
Now it’s your turn. What starting XI would you like to see Bob Bradley use against Argentina? Share your thoughts below.
Cooper is on-form and scoring goals and is strong. Why not play him? Altidore is still scoring goals. Dempsey is not doing much of anything and I’ve never understood why anyone wants to play him up top.
Brett, I’d rather think that LD really wants to play and is a scratch based on fitness tests – he probably shouldn’t have made the trips at all as you suggest but for the opposite reason. A groin injury that gets worse can wipe out half a season, and eliminates any speed off the mark a player had if he tries to play through it.
Id like to see
Howard
Dolo-Gooch-Boca-Pearce
Edu
DMB-Donovan-Lewis
Adu
Cooper
the only reason Lewis is in here is if you throw out a lineup with this much offense you have to counterbalance Adu’s defensive liabilities and tell Lewis basically no forward runs. I doubt we will see this but it would be interesting
Is there an issue with Cooper and Bob Bradley?
I’ve got love for the older team members, but we’ve seen what they can do. Give the kids a chance.
smokeminside- assumptions are the mother of all foul-ups :D…. like my censoring 😀
dunno if you’re saying this to keep the convo going, but ill bite…
Cooper has the strength, build, speed and technical ability to be one of our top forwards… it was unfortunately he broke his leg last season (that was the injury correct??), as he was on par with excelling past double digits in goals and wouldve contended with Golden boot… this season even with an under-performing FCD, he’s managing to get goals, and spectacular goals at that… i truely enjoy watching him play and hate playing against him… always seems to manage goals when i dont want him too (against the fire 🙁 )…
I’d like to see Cooper given the chance. Pair him with Altidore. Give Adu plenty of time with them and LD on the right and DMB on the left.
Okay, folks….I don’t understand all the love for Cooper. He’s scored a few goals this season but Bradley has never favored him. In an interview last year, before Cooper got hurt, Bradley was asked about him, and this look of doubt crossed his face. Then he gave a mini shrug and said something like “we’ll just have to see; he has a lot to work on.”
Okay, flame away…:)
There’s no way Dempsey should start up front Ives…I don’t even want to see Dempsey play as a winger…I say Bob Bradley should use him as a box to box midfilder that way hee can provide more on the field…
And lets be honest…Dempsey really hasn’t performed well for the NT as a foward or winger…Time to try something new
Give Cooper a shot, WTF….?? We know what everybody else is going to do.
First – Kinsale Tavern on 3rd ave near 93rd street. Tons of screens and they like the footy.
Second – anyone know what the Argetina lineup will be?
With the consistency in which Bocanegra and Onyewu concede goals up the middle, Bradley needs to start trying other combinations at center half. Particularly in meaningless friendlies.
Is it me, or does Adu look out of shape?
Here’s the lineup I’d like to see against Argentina.
———Altidore———–
Rogers—-Adu——Donovan
——-Edu—–Bradley
Pearce—Boca—–Onyewu—Dolo
———-Howard————
Cooper in for Altidore, Lewis in for Rogers, Demerit in if we give up more than a goal in the first half. Bradley needs to keep playing. For me, he needs to show improvement in decisionmaking and fitness, and I’m starting to wonder if he cannot handle internationals b/c of the importance placed on speed and no aimless chasing. If he is gassed he needs to come out and have BB tell him that is a 90 minute position if he’d like to start again.
What I’d like to see by the time our opening game in 2010
————-Altidore———
————–Adu——–
FNG—–Edu/Bradley–Donovan———-DMB
Pearce–Boca/Orozco–Onyewu/Orozco—-Dolo
————–Howard————-
FNG stands for fearless new guy with good pace/attacking skills whether Rogers, Alvarez, or someone else. FNGs of the past are guys like Ribery in ’06, DMB in ’02, and Arrellano in ’98 (too bad he was a supersub). With Donovan in this role the US can actually keep posession.
Here’s what I’d like to see.
————-Guzan————-
Hejduk-Onyewu-Bocanegra-Pearce
Dempsey-Bradley-Mastroeni-Lewis
————–Adu—————
————-Cooper————-
If Donovan is available, I’d bring him in for Mastroeni/Bradley and move Dempsey to center mid. Even if Jozy is healthy, I’d like to try Cooper up top and save Altidore for qualifiers. I wouldn’t have any complaints either about looking at someone new in central defense simply because there’s nothing more to learn from the Bocanegra-Onyewu pairing, but I don’t see that happening. Maurice Edu for Mastroeni would also be OK with me, as would Rogers for Lewis.
Why would you want to see Mastroeni start? The guy is past his prime, has slowed down and has a tendency to draw cards. I would rather see Edu get the start or Szetela called in.
If its Rico Clark, I’m going to be pissed.
If the US comes out in a 4-5-1, this match will be boring. We’re playing the best team in the world, our chances of winning are close to nil, we might as well play an attacking formation and come out firing than play a defensive war of attrition against them. They’ll just pierce our defense anyway.
Bob should have some fun and play attacking.
No one Bradley is planning to use the following two weeks should play more than a half in this one.
The euro based players are coming off long seasons and most of the key others ones are carrying knocks.
The Grenada series 4 years ago was no walkover, so next week is way more important than this ‘friendly’, in other words: it is a glorified scrimmage.
andacagar- why?? you going to set off the fire alarm?? or blow air-horns in the middle of the night?? 😀
Spencer- and heres the other arguement… “lets get the youth prospects a chances”…
Bradley is getting heat from fans on losses to big teams, i could only imagine the heat he’d get if we went for a youthfull inexperienced route…. HEY I KNOW, lets get some of the U17’s up here and get them some experience… i mean its only a matter of time before they are our hopes of 2014-2018, might as well get them ready now… eh?? eh??
what you are proposing is a slippery slope… and the problem with our “youth prospects” is that they’ll be venturing out to Asia for the Olympics… too many call-ups will anger the clubs they play for (obviously speaking towards MLS)
anybody know where the Argentine team will be staying and what their schedule is?
Toronto fans must be green with envy. They can’t even draw 15,000 to see their national team in Toronto
chris- this arguement of BB playing MB b/c he’s his son is getting old and still as rediculous….
dont know if you’ve ever played for your dad (or seen a kid coached by his dad) but they tend to be harder on their kids and less forgiving then if it were some random kid… this idea MB is only playing b/c of pops is incredibly dumb…
MB cannot control an ENTIRE midfield, which is what’s been asked of him for the past 2 games… Edu did well to shorten the size of the field for him, but too much is being asked of both of them… push up and get in the attack, now drop back and play defense, ooo cover the side they are crossing it to, pressure the ball… perhaps the empty bucket is the problem… 2 defensive mids may be too defensive overall
I’d like to see Edu get the start again. I think he deserves it, he played better than Bradley did. And I am sick and tired of seeing overage players come in. I don’t care if they prevent us from losing worse, a loss is a loss so lets see some of our young guys get some experience.
I would like to see a MLS heavy line-up personally but seeing how it wont happen really how about this..
Altidore
DMB – Adu – Donovan
Bradley -Mastroeni
Pearce – Edu – Onyewu – Cherundolo
Howard
I would like to see Edu play some center back. Boco got caught ball watching a few times and gooch had some terrible reads and got froze on the goal and took out boca.. so I think it would be nice to see some other options.
Cooper
Altidore
Bealsey Adu Donovan
Bradley
Pearce Bocanegra Onyewu Cherundolo
It doesn’t even matter at this point, they won’t play to win nor will Bradley make in-game moves to win.
Sure it’s meaningless, but as a fan it is frustrating. We simply look terrible. Freddy was probably the best player on the field against Spain but of course he was taken out. Bob Bradley, I ask you this: is it so hard to beat Grenada that you can’t try to win ONE of these three big time friendlies? Seriously, can you try once? Please?
great weekend… french open finals, euro 2008, usa vs argentina… whoa 😀
4-3-3 anyone?
——-Jozy—–
–Freddy—CD
——-MB—–
—Edu–Mastro–
Beaz-Boca-Gooch-Dolo
I know it looks wild-but I think Beaz should get a run at left back and he and dolo should have full freedom up and down the touchlines. Three middies clog things up with MB distributing.
If landon can go then Freddy comes on in the second half.
I’m thinking Lewis would be better on the left over Bease if Cooper & Altidore are in. They would get better service in the air.
Oh man! Imagine if the team played with 12 players! It would only lose by 2 goals.
Seriously though, here’s hoping Jozy will start. Dempsey doesn’t deserve anything but a rest on the bench. The guy can’t even go a full 30 right now. I don’t mind seeing Bradley get the start, but he himself will last just 50 minutes.
I could definitely see Lewis and Mastroeni get the starting nod.
Hope Cooper gets some minutes as well.
bench EJ
bench Rico
really thats all I can wish for
Ives,
Is there anything to suggest that Johnson wont be in the starting line-up? I would MUCH rather see dempsey up top, but see no reason to doubt that Bradly will absolutly start Johnson given his track record.
4-2-3-2 or what have you…
4-4-2
Altidore – Cooper
Lewis – Adu – Bradley – Donovan
Pearce – Bocanegra – Onyewu – Cherundolo
Howard
hey DL – CLASSIC!
although the 4-5-2-1 sounds like a steve sampson concoction
i also like your second roster.cooper is in good form so i would like to see him get some time
Dempsey & Bradley, Jr = tired, they need rest & the Argies require running all day.
Maybe bring them off the bench in the 2nd along with E.J. Who scored against Argentina the last time we played them in the Copa America. On a penalty, but he was the one brought down. Yes, we were winning 1-0, then they shellacked us.
David – Even though we may need an extra man against Argentina, I don’t think the refs would let us pull off a 4-5-2.
Chris – If Bradley hasn’t shown you anything then you must not have seen the first half vs. Spain. He and Adu are a great tandem in the middle, with Adu running and defenses, distributing, and creating and Bradley playing the destroyer role. Bradley brings a lot to our midfield and needs to start. However, BB obviously needs to be more responsible about taking M. Bradley out when he is gassed.
i’d like to see this lineup sunday
———–Altidore——Cooper———–
–Lewis————Adu———–Donovan–
———-Bradley—–Mastroeni———–
–Pearce—–Boca——-Gooch——-Dolo–
—————–Howard——————-
Ben, I’m not sure what you’re talking about. There’s plenty of effort–look at how gassed Michael Bradley was! The simple fact is that we’ve been outclassed in the last two matches. The U.S. played pretty hard against Spain, and Spain just happened to be A LOT better. If Bradley went on an expletive-laden tirade, I bet the players would see it for the sham it is (something you seem to recognize, given that you finish with “blah, blah blah.”
Where we’d probably agree is that American players need to get overseas and test themselves on a regular basis against top competition under more tactically-astute coaches in games played at a faster pace. (That means you, Landycakes). Simply put, our players have to get better–technically AND tactically–if we’re going to compete against the world’s best.
I think Bradley’s a good tactical coach, although his in-game management leaves much to be desired. However, players must develop their in-game tactical awareness by continually playing the best the world has to offer, and that ain’t happening in MLS.
second lineup is great as far as when the US has the ball. what people are missing is that our back 4 WILL NOT be able to keep up with the speed of argentina’s attack on and off the ball. trying to keep the ball in order to neutralize argentina’s speed will be next to impossible with either lineup so look for the two center backs to be torched all night. unfortunate but true, boca and gooch are not suited to play against this style…saw a little bit with the spain game, will come out sunday night in full
At this point who i’d like to see on the pitch, and who bob plays favorites with is different. With the WCQ so soon, its hard to get rid of the coach, but this guy is just throwing the same lineups together (back 4 in particular & no cooper up top). Bob these guys have shown us nothing (your usual forwards, your son after bout 40 min, other holding mids, and 2 out of the back 4 everygame). If you are unwilling to change the faces, then at some point USSF will be changing you.
I like your second lineup ives, but I think Lewis deserves the start over Beasley, and don’t see Bradley starting Mastroeni.
I’d like:
Altidore Cooper
Bease Adu Mastroeni Donovan
Pearce Boca Onyewu Dolo
Howard
I think if Argentina saw both of those monsters up front their backs would think twice about venturing fwd. I know we are going to play a lot of balls over the top anyway. Why not play our 2 best target fwds together?
Bradley? He hasnt shown me anything. That kid needs to take a seat but with Daddy as coach that won’t happen.
beasley looked like he tweeked himself against Spain… personally i say give Lewis the nod…. if altidor is still out, then i say give Cooper the nod… Dempsey hasnt shown me anything for quite some time…
if LD doesnt start this game then im truely questioning his devotion….
seriously, i pointed this out earlier…
injured for england game, flies back to toronto and sits the bench but is available.. then injured for spain, and if he’s injured for argentina as well then why was he even allowed on the roster?? why not take him off and then if he’s ok, bring him in?? its getting annoying, especially b/c ill have to read all the posts about not having a true starting XI, etc…. >.<
Ives,
do you know who is training with the team for this one? Presumably all of the Euro-based cats are here but, for example, is Edu still with the team? I like your second selection but with Lewis in on the left and Maurice on for Pablo.
As much as it pains me to say it, Freddy, Jozy, and Dempsey are the only ones even worthy enough to step out on the field…
smaller place to watch would be like Slainte on Bowery…honestly, any pub in nyc will most likely have the games on, don’t goto a “sports bar” though, make sure it’s the pubs, most the staff are irish/scot/central american & they’ll put it on if it’s not already.
but if you want more “atmosphere” (more soccer diehards), then yeah Nevada’s is your best bet likely
Sorry for repeating comments but I felt like this is a more relevant post… I’ll be up in NYC for the game but am looking for suggestions on where to watch Euros?
Thanks for those that have already suggested Nevada Smiths and Zum Schneider…
On topic, I would also love to see Kenny Cooper get a look and think that Lewis deserves another start after a couple strong performances.
can someone at least tell whomever is out there the game isn’t a scrimmage and some actual effort is required. you would think with the lack of passion on the player’s part it was some glorified charity game or something. seriously, bradley needs one of those expletive-laden tirades on how he’s not going to take this kind of effort anymore and maybe some players are taking their positions for granted, blah blah blah.