Photo by ISIphotos.com
The U.S. men’s national team is set for a historic trip to Cuba this weekend when it travels to Havana for a World Cup qualifier against the Cubans. There will be plenty of political storylines thrown around regarding the game, the U.S. team’s first in Cuba since 1947, but when you stick to the soccer you realize that this game means a lot more than just an excuse for some Americans to travel to the land of Mojitos.
A win on the road would give the Americans six points from two road matches, leaving them in a dream position with four matches remaining. Three of the next four would be home matches, meaning any concerns about a stumble in this round of qualifying would be minimal.
First things first, the U.S. team has to go to Havana and actually win. The uncertainty about the environment and atmosphere the team will be playing in makes it difficult to gauge just how difficult the task will be. What we do know is that Trinidad & Tobago went to Cuba two weeks ago and recorded a 3-1 win there. That makes the chances of the U.S. team sound promising, assuming the Americans can put together a good performance.
With that in mind, here is the starting lineup you should expect to see when the U.S. national team takes the field in Havana:
———–Ching———-Dempsey———–
Lewis———————————Donovan
————–Bradley—Edu——————–
Pearce—–Onyewu–Bocanegra——Hejduk
—————–Howard————————
No, there are no surprises in that group. The biggest question mark is the health of DaMarcus Beasley, who did not dress in Rangers’ win against Celtic last Sunday. If he were healthy enough to start I could definitely see Beasley deployed on the right wing, with Donovan going up top and Dempsey going to the bench. Dempsey has struggled mightily and could use some time out of the lineup. Frankie Hejduk should get the nod at right back over Olympic standout Marvell Wynne.
Now it’s your turn. Using the players who were actually called up, what starting lineup would you like to see take the field against Cuba? Give us your suggestions below.
I think the vast majority of us are disillusioned with the direction of this program. We were lucky to escape Guatemala with a win, and this game doesn’t anticipate being any less difficult. One would think it a mistake to field nearly the same, exact lineup, but such is the nature of BB and the USSF. This squad badly needs and infusion of youth and talent.
But Brett, don’t you think the majority of our WCQ’s are hackfests? I just don’t see where the caps and thus experience are going to come from if our younger guys don’t get them now.
I agree with you that Cuba may be a bit of a war…but waiting until we’re playing Holland or Brazil in the group phase in S. Africa is going to be too late to toughen up the younger players and let them gel with Donovan, et. al.
Thoughts?
Yeah, jh. This was it for me. I finally caved on the topic after two years of being BB supportive. I give up.
Now we have our share of…alarmists in the mafia, but there are quite a few dozen who know a bit about the game. Unless the silent majority is out there and happy about these rosters, then I’d say that the cynics have it.
Cheers,
this game is not to be taken lightly…. the cubans will come out and play physically, just like the guatemalans… these lower level games are going to be a hack fest and im GLAD the likes of Adu and Jozy are not in it… they would be tackled left and right…. let the drones work out the weaker opposition and then bring in the talent at the later stages…
but either way, this game is not to be taken lightly…. we are not a super power team… we can be upsetted just as much as any other team
Wow, I’ve never seen this much cynicism, on this site, from this group of readers before, regarding the USMNT, and I’ve been a reader since day 1.
I’m not saying I disagree with any of the posts above; in fact, I’m just as cynical about the direction of this team under this coach as most of the others I’ve read.
It’s just kind of amusing (in a demented sort of way) to see. The VERY SAD thing is that I don’t see this tiger (BB) changing his stripes any time soon.
Sit Dempsey, and bring him of the bench. Anything to snap him out of his funk.
Hope that EJ doesn’t come in and score a meaningless third goal in a 3-0 win and give Bradley yet another excuse for more call-ups.
Beat me by a minute, A.S. While I agree in principle, there is no shame in losing to Ghana….I don’t mind how the WC 2006 went down, that group was tougher than anticipated. (also, we disagree rather vehemently on MBradley, so be it). But we DO agree that this roster will have to change at SOME Point before the WC2010. Sigh.
If Ching plays, I’m going to cry.
I think Ives’ lineup is exactly what I’d expect from Bradley. It could not be less exciting, but we will win the game, which will likely be quite unexciting, as well.
Isaac, I’m sure we won’t lose this game, which is exactly why we should be developing the players who will see the field in the WC in 2 years. Seems almost unanimous on here too…which is odd. 🙂
No, Isaac, I don’t think anybody’s worried that we are going to lose against Cuba. Likely we will come away with a 1-0 win, or at worst a 1-1 draw. I doubt that many commenters worry too much about games against teams ranked 80 (Cuba) (Cuba is, after all, ranked higher than Equatorial Guinea (81) or the Cape Verde Islands (82), although both those teams are ranked higher than Guatemala (100)).
I doubt that many people are even worried about qualifying for 2010.
I AM worried, however, that if we continue game after game with these same players, we’re going to repeat in 2010 the same debacle we had in 2006 and 1998. Unimpressive wins with unimpressive players against CONCACAF teams just leave me feeling that we’re going to have more losses in the World Cup against the likes of Ghana, Poland and Iran.
Imagine that this game for the Cubans is like our 06 WC match against Italy or how Iran felt about WC 98 against us…they want it bad. They are not playing for the tie.
If you think that hejduk and lewis should be on this team then you have mental health issues and should stop watching so much MLS.
Franky shouldn’t have even been in France in 98 and given the young talent we have he shouldn’t see the field now either.
I like mastro but his time is past as well.
Lewis is the best of the old men we continue to throw on the field because of their “experience,” but he too should not be out there in 2010.
It’s Cuba. It’ll be a hostile environment but it’s not like we’re in UEFA and going to Italy or some other huge venue. Get the kids out there and let them figure it out. It’s a waste to put people out there who won’t have a chance to be on the roster in 2010.
A friend of mine was once coached by BB. Told me that he is a great tactician and a great 1st team coach. A game manager he is not and I think we can see that with the lineups he continues to give us.
We have to start putting Dempsey at right mid Donovan at CAM or withdrawn forward. We are completely wasting Donovan over on the right. I think Dempsey (while it’s not his preferred role, either), is far better suited to it than Donovan. Bradley is just deathly afraid that Dempsey’s gonna make a defensive mistake at midfield, but isn’t that what the freaking right back is for? If Beasley is healthy, the lineup with this roster has to be Ching up top, Donovan CAM/withdrawn forward, Beasley LM, Dempsey RM, bench Lewis (he’s a decent late game sub if we have a lead). I agree on Hejduk over Wynne for RB.
With this lineup, it’s no wonder Subotic is going German.
Is anyone actually worried that the USA will lose against Cuba? Everyone seems to be pissed off at the fact that Jozy Freddy and Kenny didn’t get the call up to a game that will be relatively easy for the USA.
Am I the only one who thinks we should try Beasley out at left back? I’m not saying try it in an important game, but why not experiment with it after we’re guaranteed a spot in the next round or in some meaningless friendly? If Eddie Lewis and Bobby Convey can get looks back there, then why not? Beasley is faster than both of them and better than both of them at helping out defensively as a midfielder. Then, we could get another attack-oriented player (Rogers, Holden, etc.) onto the field on the left side.
If we switch Donovan with Dempsey then I’m fine with this line up. I think having Edu in the Central-midfield will allow more composure and slightly more possesion in this game. In fact id like to see this.
———-Donovan——-Ching—————–
—————–Bradley———————-
Beasley——————————–Dempsey
——————-Edu———————–
Pearce—–Bocanegra—Onyewu———Hejduk
“Using the players who were actually called up, what starting lineup would you like to see take the field against Cuba?”
I would suggest Ives ask a diferent question: of the players called up, which ones do you absolutely NOT want to see on the field.
Here’s my list of players (based on the team called by Bradley) I wish were banned from the team:
Hejduk
Orozco
M. Bradley
Clark
Lewis
Ching
Dempsey
Johnson
So, conveniently, that leaves 10 field players and 2 keepers that I wouldn’t be angry at seeing on the pitch. Now, there’s a problem in that Cherundolo is out for the Cuba game, so I guess that means Guzan will have to play in the field. So be it – I’d rather Guzan play in the field than Eddie Johnson or Michael Bradley.
Awful starting lineup Ives. When is bb going to come to his senses and leave lewis,heyduk,mastro, off his selection. They are too OLD!!!! and are not that good.What is he thinking not including Adu, altidor, these players have superior talent and must break into this team. heres a thought, bb doesnt think kenny cooper is good enough for this team, well guess what BB your not good enough to coach this team GO AWAY!!! we need an international coach with pedigree, not some loser who wont bring up our best players.
Louis is exactly right:
——Altidore—Cooper——–
Beasley————–Donovan
——-Adu–Edu———
Pearce————Wynne
—–Bocanegra–Onyewu——
———-Howard———
Until we get here, we will NEVER get out of the first round.
I’d move Lapper out and play Caligiuri at D-Mid.
Oh, and as for this game – playing the same old, same old against another CONCACAF minnow? Who cares. We already know what this team can do: go 3-and-out at the World Cup. Give me something to get excited about.
———–Fire B. Bradley———-Fire B. Bradley——–
Fire B. Bradley——————-Fire B. Bradley
———Keep M. Bradley——Fire B. Bradley————
Fire B. Bradley–Fire B. Bradley–Fire B. Bradley—-Fire B. Bradley
—————–Fire B. Bradley————————
A prediction for Saturday:
We struggle to string together more than 2 passes, exhibit zero attacking prowess or creativity, one of our defenders scores on a set piece, and we eke out yet another win showcasing our boring and ugly brand of futbol…
…ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Puhaleeese!!!!
NO MORE Ching, Dempsey, Lewis & Hejduk.
Time is up. Move on.
Adu, Altidore, Cooper and X (I don’t care but anyone else.)
I hope none of our guys defect…
If Ching starts this game, I’ll just cry. I will actually weep. I won’t watch. If the best striker this f’n country can put on the field is that guy, then I f’n give up.
I am not usually prone to hyperbole about these things but now, Bradley has actually gotten me to rant about him. It took a long time. I’m there….I don’t want to watch another f’n kickfest throwing longballs down the pitch to a guy who can’t handle them. Or worse, since we’re playing a Barbados-class team, we’ll win by a bunch and Ching will get called up for actual important games. Then we know what happens.
I’m simply going to cry.
given the circumstance of this match, i definitely wont complain about the “experienced” guys getting the nod.
there are going to be more americans on the field than there will be in the stands.
I don’t think that trying to get a currently useless EJ back into form is too bad of a plan. While Ching is pretty average at best up front for us, EJ has been both amazing and horrible. While I’d like to see unproven players getting a chance as much as anybody (Altidore, Adu, Cooper, Davies, Rolfe, etc.), with the roster that Bradley continues to bring along, I’d like to see the players with the most potential to help us in the future given the playing time to get back into form. This means we should never be seeing Hedjuk or Lewis unless we really have to. Lets put EJ and Dempsey out there and get them some confidence against a team that we know they can play against. Here is what I’d like to see starting based on the only possible logic that could explain EJ ever being called up.
————Johnson————-
————Donovan————
Beasley——————Dempsey
——-Bradley——-Edu———
Pearce———————Wynne
——-Bocanegra–Onyewu——–
————-Howard————
——Altidore—Cooper——–
Beasley————–Donovan
——-Adu–Edu———
Pearce————Wynne
—–Bocanegra–Onyewu——
———-Howard———
Oh wait almost half those people werent called up…
Freddy Adu. Sheesh!
Not sure if I even care anymore. Just one huge clusterf***.
I think that clint should be a sub, that’s when he was at his best. I think landon should play underneath Ching and that beasly or lewis should be on the left and Klejstan should start on the right, he’s interchangeable and can flow into the middle if need be.
4-1-2-1-2:
_________Cooper-Cooper
_____________Cooper
Cooper_________________Cooper
_____________Cooper
Cooper__Cooper__Cooper__Cooper
_____________Cooper
Ok in all seriousness this is a world cup qualifier and we’re not that deep into qualifying. Anyone who doesn’t think we should field as strong a team as we can (with the guys who were called up, obviously) is nuts!
I’d like to see Cooper and Altidore up top with Adu in support…oh wait…never mind.
Atleast Michael Orozco’s Olympic performance earned him a shot at a senior cap…oh wait…never mind.
All the best players are emotional wrecks. Dempsey looks jaded these days…or something.
Where’s Reyna?
Looking forward to another Ives opinion piece article like his latest ESPN one.
Let’s not ask real questions to real people.
Let’s just blog and give opinions.
“Playing all that youth would be reckless.” Sigh. Are you responding to internet 6 year olds? Most want to see one creative youngster. Is that to crazy to ask? Have a reporter question BB on EJ? How hard is that? Sigh.
Hey, where’s Reuna. He should be valuable now if healthy?
Can we get off the Dempsey bandwagon until he starts playing (and playing well at Fulham). Maybe we just don’t have any other options on the right or up top… but why not Donovan in that position and Ching up top. I’d take anyone over Dempsey at this point based on what i’ve seen recently. I used to love the guy but he’s out of form.
Ching
Donovan
Beasley Klesjan Dempsey
Edu
Pearce Oneywu Boca Hedjuk
Howard
Subs: EJ for Ching, Bradley for Edu, Wynne for Hedjuk
Dooley replaces Lapper in my lineup with Perez as withdrawn a-mid. Wegerle up top.
How about just letting some unknowns play? Maybe –
Cooper-Hercules
Alvarez-Adu-Edu-Gavin
Pierce-????-????-Wynne
Whatever. Just test new blood out there. If anything happens to them then whatever. We still have our A-list safe. But seriously, Bob would win a lot of points if he test new players. If we lose this game we still got 3 at home.
yawn… another CONCACAF sleeper with a boring lineup, that overall, wouldn’t be able to compete with WC quality teams. If, Bradley grows a sack again, I’ll get excited. Having said that, the US should be able to roll out the U-21 team and beat a side like Cuba.
Expectations — EJ gets 2 goals and Bradley lets that ride for another 2 years of follow-up unproductive play. Lewis and Hejduck get older, and my Texas boy Dempsey continues to look a shell of his self.
I’m really beginning to lose faith in Bob Bradley as he, once again, fields a team with two D-mids, no offense and no creativity. Going out to win 1-nil against inferior teams like Cuba is a great way to risk screwing yourself out of the WC. Donovan needs to be in the middle. He’s useless on the wing
——Ching——–
Beasley————–Dempsey
——Bradley–Donovan–Edu———
Pearce————Hejduk
—–Bocanegra–Onyewu——
———-Howard———–
To Ives and anyone who cares to chime in:
Will Ching and Hejduk make the WC squad in ’10? Or are they around to serve as a veteren presence for the qualifiers?
Put the youngbloods in to get some time
I agree with most everyone else in that Donovan should play as a forward and Dempsey should play out on the wing. If Beasley is healthy I’d rather see him take the place of Lewis.
Given the players, I’d play a 4-2-3-1 with the following
Ching
Lewis – Donovan – Dempsey
Edu – Bradley
Pearce – Gooch – Boca – Hejduk
Howard
My subs would be for Lewis (DMB) and Hejduk (Wynne).
That said, I will say that we don’t seem to be readying the guys that will / should be playing at WC ’10. I came across an article on Argentina that stated the senior men’s team took 7 (!!) of their olympic players to the next set of qualifiers. Unclear if Ives will let me post to another site but it’s by Gregory Sica on the CNNSI.com site. Here’s the link just in case it’s allowed: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/gregory_sica/08/26/argentina.olympics/index.html
Now, it’s true that Argentina *won* the Olympics and their U23 team had Messi, but you would think the senior MNT for Argentina would have a lot of talent as well.
I think Argentina understands that doing well at the WC is everything. So, they develop their players with an eye to seeing who can contribute at the WC. It seems like a good system.
Anyway, looking forward to a 1-0 US win on a set play header by Gooch or Boca.
FOR GOODNESS SAKES ITS JUST CUBA…. We are not playing baseball, or a sport they are good at, like cigar rolling, or illegal rafting
I would start like this
—–Perez———Wynalda
Ramos—-Harkes—-Lapper—-Wegerle
Lalas—Agoos—–Doyle—- Mike Burns
————-Mullet Meola———–
Subs: Jones, Dooley, Kloplas, Preki
——Ching—Donovan——–
Beasley————–Dempsey
——-Bradley–Edu———
Pearce————Cherundolo
—–Bocanegra–Onyewu——
———-Howard————
—–Ching——————–
—————-Donovan——-
Beasley—————-Dempsey
——Bradley——Edu——–
Pearce—Boca—-Onyewu–Wynne
————Howard———–
Donovan moves up top, Dempsey out to the wing, where he can take on defenders. I still hate our forward pool with a passion. I think Wynne deserves a start. I would like to see Kljestan get into this game as well.