Photo by ISIphotos.com
The U.S. men's national team is preparing for its road game of the Hexagonal Round of World Cup qualifying, with a trip to El Salvador slated for Saturday. With two qualifiers in five days, U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley could be looking to shake up his lineup a bit in one of those matches.
Which one will it be? Chances are it won't be El Salvador, since road qualifiers in Central America are notoriously tough. In other words, don't expect too different a squad for Saturday's match from the group that defeated Mexico last month.
There will be one definite change in the lineup, with starting goalkeeper Tim Howard serving a suspension for yellow cards. Brad Guzan is likely to get the start, but veteran Marcus Hahnemann is in camp, which could make the decision on who to start just a bit tougher.
Here is a look at the squad we should expect to see vs. El Salvador:
——————–Ching——————
Beasley———-Donovan——-Dempsey
—————Bradley–Kljestan———–
Pearce—Bocanegra–Onyewu—Hejduk
——————-Guzan——————
As easy as this lineup should be to call, you can't help but wonder whether the presence of veteran midfielder Pablo Mastroeni might not tempt Bob Bradley to go with the veteran over Kljestan, who didn't have the best game vs. Mexico.
The goalkeeper spot will be debated this week (and SBI will offer up a closer look at the battle tomorrow) but the fact that Guzan has actually been with the team for much of the past year tells me he will get the call.
What other wild cards might we see? Could we finally see Carlos Bocanegra as a left back for the national team? Probably not, at least not with Heath Pearce finally starting to see some steady playing time at Hansa Rostock.
I doubt we will see many drastic changes. If anything, I think the Trinidad & Tobago qualifier next week in Nashville is the match more likely to include several new faces in the starting lineup, particularly if the U.S. team rolls to a victory in El Salvador as expected. I think the T&T is where we are more likely to see the likes of Jose Francisco Torres and Jonathan Spector (who spoke with USSoccer.com about his return to the national team).
Who do you think should start vs. El Salvador? Think Bradley should keep the same ten field player he used vs. Mexico? Would you like to see some experimentation in a road qualifier? Think the U.S. team is destined to win regardless of who starts?
Share your thoughts on the U.S. starting lineup in the comments section below.
As long as people are posting their desired starting 11:
—Altidore—Donovan——
——–Dempsey———-
—-Bradley—-Edu——–
-Beasley———–Hedjuk
—–Boca–Gooch–Spector-
———-Guzan———–
Cherundolo in place for Hejduk once he is back from injury.
Our bench might look like : Guzan, Califf, Wynne, Edu, Torres, Adu, Davies.
Cooper better work on his finish if he wants to be part of the WC.
Guys like Mastroeni and Hejduk are vets and really experienced. Give them a few more caps as subs and let them go. We need a fresh young team.
————Altidore—
–Beasley—Donovan—Dempsey—-
——–Kljestan—Bradley—
—Spector—Boca—Gooch–Hejduk–
That’s gonna be our lineup for the WC, might as well try it out now. Give Altidore the 1st half and let Ching take his place in the 2nd.
I would like to see Torres instead of Klejstan.
John V, Streep is hurt
Cherundolo is hurt, I presume?
Kljestan has played right behind the forwards for Chivas and is traditionally a more attacking minded midfielder. This said… he does play more of a possession game and is not an out and out attacker. He has developed his game to become a more complete midfielder. His defensive skills and “box to box” skills aren’t that of Junior Bradley, but he is a good option for his passing skills from a deeper role.
With that said… I also don’t mind starting a second traditional d-mid on the road. Yes, I know our goal is to win every game now a days in CONCACAF, but it is just as important to not lose.
Hey has anyone Marcus Tracy seen this guy play, He did very well in the UEFA Cup against Manchester City and now score a nice goal with his team, I know I know, I not saying to call him for the USA Team. But Bob Bradly should keep an eye on him, Scout him out and see how is process is going aboard. Plus he has the size and speed of a good striker with Altidore at top.
Steve, I agree 100% about Ching. Best target option Bradley has right now. I also don’t understand why people are hating on Kljestan so much. Sure, he didn’t play that well against Mexico but his call-up for that game was deserved and I don’t think Bradley even expected him to play against Mexico the way he did against Sweden. Besides, you can’t call either Bradley or Kljestan attacking midfielders; rather, they compliment each other by both being box-to-box midfielders.
@milkshake of despair, You must be right about sending probably the B team, But I seem the Confed. Cup too many times and they have send a very decent team and sometimes the A team. Plus Mexico already won the Confed. Cup against Brazil. Brazil had a Young Ronaldinhio and young Kaka on their lineup. Plus they brag about it all the time. Last Confedaration cup it was a strong one too with Germany, France, Argentina and other. Remember that the B team for Italy, Spain, Brazil, are pretty good too.
Madmax I think you might have lost any argument for that lineup with Pablo out on the wing.
-Ching-
-Donovan-
Beasley-Edu-Bradley-Dempsey
Pearce-Boca-Gooch-Hejduk
Subs- Altidore, Torres, Wynne
I would love to see Spector for Hejduk and anyone but Pearce. Edu is getting minutes now and was in the mix six months ago. Ching has to start- he has been in top form for the last three months- the guy was hurt last year during MLS and now when he is healthy he is productive for the US.
Pablo playing = bad fouls right outside the box.
I’ll be a dissenting voice here. I don’t think we’ll see many changes in Nashville, barring injuries. Bob has stated many times, the only goal that matters right now is qualifying. He is not going to risk 3 points just to get some experience for the young guns. That can come later once we have a stranglehold on qualifying.
@Agnel, re: Confed Cup. I have a theory I’d like to hear your thoughts on. Do we think Italy, Brazil will send their A team? I have my doubts. I could see them sending B teams. It saves face if they perform poorly. They are still qualifying as well. Just going to confeds cup gives the Coaches and staff the experience they need, which I would argue is probably more important than the players. What do you think?
Ives, I agree in part and disagree in part.
1) I think the lineup vs. the Sallies will be close to the Mexico line-up. GK and CM are the only real spots up for grabs: Hahnemann v. Guzan and Kljestan vs. Mastroeni.
I’d go for the GK who is playing (Hahnemann) and more experienced. And I’d keep Kljestan in there, though I think Pablo is a good option. I think BB will go with Guzan.
2) Same lineup (or as close as we can) vs. T&T. WCQ’s are not the time to experiment. We can do that after we are qualified.
Maybe a new face or two because of yellows or a knock, but that’s it.
—–Donovan–Ching—–
Dempsey–Bradley–Kljestan–Adu
Beasley–Boca–Gooch–Spector
———Guzan————–
WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS.
That said probably not likely.
—Altidore–Donovan
Torres–Dempsey–Bradley–Pablo
Beasley-Onyewu–Bocanegra-Spector
———Guzan—————-
The El Salvador game is on ESPN2 @ 9PM Eastern and the T&T game is on ESPN2 @ 7:30PM Eastern.
I think the line-up should stay very similar for the El Salvador match. I would like to see a few changes for the T&T match.
I think Bob Bradley have to start thinking in getting a strong team for the Confederation Cup, I really don’t want to see another Copa America Performance. If we want the rest of the world to take us serious we need to send a strong team. So we need to get a steady team that can compete and win all the points the we need to qualify in this elimination and the prepare the other team to compete the second round and get ready for the Gold Cup. The Only time we need the A-team on the second round is against MEXICO at the Azteca Stadium. So lets get this start it.
I’d also prefer Spector over Hejduk…his long run-ups are gonna cost us sometime very soon…
Sub for Heyduk, ease the mileage on his knees, put in someone who is still proving themselves. I think that what Ives put up is currently the USMNT’s best 11 (except Howard instead of Guzan).
Also, I wouldn’t play Altidore or Adu, neither of them play regularly, they’re not going to be at match sharpness.
on the topic of Pearce and Bocanegra – who would come in for center back to partner Gooch? I don’t think Califf is all that great, maybe Parkhurst? He still has to prove himself and this situation might be a little to much of a trial by fire…
Pablo Mastroeni in the game??!! I think its a joke that hes on the team. He once had the capability to be a decent player and a hack. However what you call being a veteran for someone who was an above average MLS player, I called old age that has made him an average and midfielder. There is no reason that he should be in this lineup. Especially with the talent that we boast in the midfield. Sure some of them are young but what better way to get them experience!! Especially against the likes of “El Salvador”!! I mean seriously, Pablo should not even be in the conversation. I do not understand the logic Ives.
I cant wait for the games. Hopefully we can start well early in the match.
at some point the younger guys have to get some run in the hostile central american away games…start spector at RB and Guzan in goal
I think Sacha is best when his hair is long.
This game is way too important for Osorio style tinkering. Let’s go with the stalwarts, and maybe try to work Spector and Altidore in as late subs. If Altidore gets some pt, I’m hoping he finds a way to show some grit and energy – that he really wants this. Make Altidore take the spot from Ching, don’t just hand it to the kid.
I’d like to see Torres for Klejstan and Spector for one of the outside backs in these two matches. And maybe if we get up big in one of them, Beasley to LB.
Pablo over Sacha
Spector over either Pearce or Hedjuk
Hahnemann over Guzan
Spector and Hahnemann in form and have to play at a much higher level than MLS. Sacha is in his early season red card mode and Pablo is a better holding midfielder.
I dont understand Pearce starting. Spector and easily play left back. Pearce has been barely been playing LEFT MID for a poor bundesliga 2 team that is about to be relegated. Spector is now in the starting lineup playing for a high mid table EPL team. It shouldnt even be close.
i think we’ll definitely see the lineup that ives has suggested. the line up is fine, my only problem is we need to get some of our young guys experience in big games playing against good teams playing with other starters – they need more experience than just playing in games after we have qualified, playing with all young people against bad teams. that way when mexico rolls around again, we can have some players to choose from as opposed to our last game against mexico where the lineup chose itself. im not saying any drastic changes, but maybe just spector for heyduk, torres for kljestan – just one of those to get the guys some experience…as much as i would like to say altidore should be up top, i think we need to stick with ching as the starter, though i do think that we can make one or both of the 2 changes mentioned above, still win, and let the guys get some experience (hejduk for sure needs no more experience).
I don’t know why this always bothers me…but why do people have to refer to it as the “USMNT”? Do people really come to these forums to talk about the Women? Can we please just say “USA” from now on?
I’d play Pablo over Sacha, but otherwise stick with Ives’ lineup.
If we can win the road game, then we’ve got room to play with the lineup at home, and consider changes like Altidore for Ching, Spector or Wynne for Hejduk, Edu for Sacha/Pablo, and Torres for Dempsey or Bradley (or Donovan).
I also wonder if Bradley wouldn’t consider sending some of the MLS guys home for the 2d game if we win the first, so they can get back to training with their teams that don’t have the FIFA break.
Either way, it’s nice to have a player pool big enough to have these arguments.
I fail to understand why so many people hate Brian Ching, hes the best target forward we have right now and our team needs a player that can hold the ball up for us sometimes, plus hes not bad at setting others up and has shown some nice touches. He’s not a flashy forward or a lethal finisher but until we have one of those, he is what this team needs. Love Altidore but I just don’t think we have any superstar options just yet.
I wonder if Dempsey would play better if we put him on the left, kinda like how he plays with Fulham…
“Probably not, at least not with Heath Pearce finally starting to see some steady playing time at Hansa Rostock.”
His playing time is at left mid, though, not left back.
Look, we all know that Bradley is EXTREMELY adverse to change. So he’ll keep playing Pearce at left back long past when a change is due. But, based on where they play the bulk of their professional minutes, Bradley is playing BOTH Pearce and Boca out of position! Neither guy plays significant minutes any more for their professional club at the position that Bradley is playing him. So, even acknowledging Bradley’s reluctance to change, I am kind of surprised.
I’d like to see Kljestan grab some pine after that preformance in Columbus.
I like Gotham SC’s line-up…..thought i’d go for Edu over Kljestan.
no. Klejtan is not an offensive midfielder.
Posted by: Kid Presentable!!! | March 24, 2009 at 09:52 AM
This comment is just wrong, since Kljestan’s biggest obstacle coming into the league was proving himself as a complete midfielder and not just an attacker (like Freddy Adu). He didn’t have have many defensive duties at all while at Seton Hall.
What I am asking is, I don’t see Chivas USA much, but does he always play the more holding role now? I always got the impression that he was at his best with more freedom to attack and create.
John V
Well said.
Yay for Ching…..another unworthy call-up!
Univision is showing the game and i think Espn
start spector! and torres should get some quality minutes off the bench
——Altidore–Ching———-
Dempsey–Bradley–Klejstan-Donovan
Beasley-Onyewu–Bocanegra-Spector
———Guzan—————-
because it works in fifa 09
I’d rather see Edu or Torres or Merryl Streep than Kleijstan. But that’s just me.
Put in Spector for Heydude. He’s tested, plays in the pressure cooker that is the EPL. It’ll be fine.
But yeah, not too many decisions out there to make. The lineup is pretty well set.
no. Klejtan is not an offensive midfielder.
While i’d like to see a few things changed….like maybe Klejstan and Pearce….you cant argue with putting the team on the pitch that got the result!
I DEFINITELY want to see some things mixed up in Nashville though….i’ll be a bit disappointed otherwise.
I’d go with the “Keep it simple stupid” strategy…
Same lineup, including Kljestan.
Isn’t Sacha at his best as an offensive midfielder as opposed to playing the more holding role?
I could see Klestan sitting for the road qualifier, but I think your starting lineup is pretty close to what we will see. If/when we get the result we need we could maybe see Altidore start up top and Adu in the game somwhere.
Will this game be on TV?
I’ve got tickets for the Nashville game. Really excited to see who they put on the feild for that game.