Good morning all. I am coming to you from San Jose, Costa Rica, where the U.S. men's national team will be arriving today ahead of Wednesday night's crucial CONCACAF World Cup qualifier vs. Costa Rica. I will be providing updates from San Jose periodically so be sure to check in to SBI for the latest updates from San Jose.
The U.S. team touches down from Miami later this afternoon and will be looking to win at Estadio Saprissa for the first time in history. As for 'Los Ticos', Costa Rica looks to remain undefeated at home in this World Cup qualifying cycle.
With the match just two days away, it is time to start thinking about the lineup U.S. coach Bob Bradley will field on Wednesday. Injuries to Frankie Hejduk and Maurice Edu, as well as form and fitness issues for the likes of Jozy Altidore, Heath Pearce and Sacha Kljestan, will leave Bradley with some even tougher decision than usual.
Here is a look at the lineup Bradley could be using at Saprissa on Wednesday:
———————–Ching———————-
Beasley————-Donovan———–Dempsey
—————Bradley——Mastroeni———–
Bornstein—-Bocanegra—Onewu—-Spector
————————Howard——————
Now, if Jozy Altidore is healthy enough to start, we should see this starting lineup:
———–Ching—————Altidore———–
Donovan———————————Dempsey
—————Bradley——Mastroeni———–
Beasley——Bocanegra—Onewu——–Spector
————————Howard——————
Now it's your turn. What starting lineup do you see Bob Bradley using on Wednesday? What lineup would you use vs. Costa Rica? Think the United States will post its first win at Saprissa, or would you be happy with a draw on Wednesday?
Share your thoughts below.
Joe in Florida, if you want the US to be the best and to take control of this game then you need the one player who has the creativity,skills, and Big game mentality to do it and that is Freddy Adu…….Just watching Freddy vs the Super teams last year was like the birth of US soccer’s future talent level……….but it just shows how fast we forget moments like that; only because that said player is not getting his way in club ball and because of it people dont want him to start.
Howard
Spector——-Gooch———–Boca———Borstein
Dempsey——Bradley——–Maestro—–El Gringo
——————–Ching————Donovan—————–
First Sub Demerit
Second Sub Beas or Wynne
Third Sub Jozy
Any one else tired of Pablo? Give the Torres and Bradley pairing some quality time, we might actually keep possession on the road (our possession in Honduras sucked until Torres came on, playing in Mexico has to help in dealing with pressure from opposing fans).
Just keep Deuce and Donovan on the field, doesn’t matter where they start, they end up in about every attacking position on the field before the game is over.
Bornstein, like Twellman, isn’t International quality, Bradley needs to lay this one to rest. Wynne should start ahead of him, with Spector on the other side (or maybed Bocanegra on the left and Spector in the middle).
Too bad Bradley is too scared to play attacking soccer. Two d-mids forever!
———–Ching—————Altidore———–
Dempsey———————————Donovan
—————Bradley——Mastroeni———–
Bornstein——Bocanegra—Onewu——–Wynne
————————Howard——————
I like Bornstein at LB (Have you seen Chivas’s record this year?). I also like Wynne at RB (Same surface as Toronto and Marvell can get forward quickly). I also like Dempsey on the left as this is where he has been playing most this year with Fulham and I think it is growing on him.
Honestly, I don’t even care if Altidore is 60%. I want to see him on the field starting. I really feel that a so-so Altidore is an improvement. Do it Bob
Get Conor Casey on the red eye stat and play him up front, Altidore and Landon on the right and left.
——-Altidore———Davies——-
donovan———bradley—Torres——–demps
Beas—–Gooch—-Bocanegra—–spector
——————-howard————–
As I have said before, I love pablo, but he is NOT going to win us games in WQ2010. he cannot be the only other choice besides edu. Its time bradley, let Torres see what he got!
Adu has/had potential but he doesn’t play consistently, barely at all in fact, for Monaco, a mid-table French squad. That says something. Until the kid can hold down a regular starting spot somewhere, and truly influence a match, then no spot for him.
He has impressed me for sure, in particular, at the youth world cup when it was in Canada, but enough of Adu in the starting lineup posts already until he does something.
I feel like they’ll hold Jozy back as a sub. Coming off the surgery, I don’t see them throwing him in there against a physical team on the road. If he’s going to play a full match in this pair, it’s going to be in Chicago.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Donovan out on the wing instead of in the middle. He looked so much more comfortable out there against T&T with some space to operate where he can use his pace and some creativity. I really hope they keep him outside again. If it’s 4-2-3-1, I’d like to see the 3 as Donovan-Torres-Dempsey, with Pablo and Bradley behind them. Right now I think we can safely assume Ching is going to be the 1 in any 1-man front.
If Jozy’s out or is only good for a sub cup then this might be nice:
——————-Ching——————-
————–Donovan-Dempsey————–
——–Torres—Mastroeni—Bradley——-
Beasley—–Bocanegra—–Onyewu—–Hejduk
——————-Howard——————
The attack will revolve around Clint and Landon taking turns playing up next to Chingy but they play like that all the time.
I think TORRES has to start… in great shape, good form, starving to death for a victory after the disappointment against Pumas… much like Howard after F.A. cup, Dempsey after Everton, Edu after injury, Beasley after being overlooked, Gooch free agent, Boca big first year… Bradley the same.
Just a little worried about Donovan, though probably shouldn’t be.
Beasley is done for. He hasn’t played for Rangers and the last time he played for the USMNT he didn’t do well at all.
I think Eric Lijach is making the trip as an insurance policy or just a prize for doing well during those five days. He is seeing getting on the bus or plane with the rest of the group and the USMNT blog said he was going. Not sure if he can be added at last minute if he was not on the origianl roster. The injuries do allow you wiggle room so that might be it.
@ Sean
have you seen Torres played with Pachuca, And We Know about Adu and Donovan, they all have in comment is that they know how to control and keep position of the ball, Something like Barcelona does with Xavi, Niesta, they both play offensive, with Messi playing all around the field. Donovan, Adu and Torres do almost the same not only they are young. And for my Understanding I think Dempsey is playing Left Foward at Fulham and pairing him with altidore can provide a very good attacking formation. Lets get out this counter attack formation, Stop playing it safe BOB BRADLEY lets put some goals first, Come on we have a very Steady Defence with Micheal Bradley as the 5th defender. Please Stop about thinking that we are going to get murder, get creamed. Thats another think that Brazil, Spain, And Argentina is doing. Why not us. Stop playing that European Style.
Well if Lichaj is good why not have him on the roster.
No Bornstein. No Bornstein. No Bornstein. No Bornstein. Anyone but Bornstein. Anyone but Bornstein.
@ Jose A.V. — yes, according to the USMNT Blog, Lichaj did travel with the team to San Jose. It almost makes me think he’s got a chance to make the 18-man roster. Otherwise, why would BB take him?
Torres and Bradley in the middles. Beasley at LB. In each case, regardless of who is healthy.
Tomas, Conor Casey plays soccer. His football IQ can’t be that good, or he’d be playing for the Bronco’s, especially if he is strong as an ox.
I agree with Paul Lorinczi – Conor Casey should get a look. He’s leading the MLS in scoring right now, is still only 27, and is just a classy player. He’s not the fastest guy on the pitch, but he’s strong as an ox, and has a football IQ that’s off the charts. Just a thought.
—————–Ching———Altidore———
Torres—-Donovan——-Bradley——–Dempsey——
Bocanegra—–Demerit——-Oguchi——–Spector
————————-Howard——————-
Ok, here goes…
———–Ching————-
Donovan—————Dempsey
——Torres—Bradley——-
———–Pablo————-
Beasley–Boca—Gooch—Wynne
Tim(It wasn’t my fault)Howard
Never thought of it before, but I LOVE the idea of having a battle cruiser like Pablo roam in front of Boca and Gooch, which can help to free up our wicked-fast wingbacks. THEN, when Beas gets tired, because he hasn’t fired a shot in anger in ages, shift Boca to LB, put Spector with Gooch. This MIGHT allow Donovan the free space to play from DMB and off of Ching to score.
This is assuming Jozy can’t go. If he can, then I like #2 from Ives except Wynne for Spector. (I’ve said it before…speed kills.) If Edu gets healthy, then put him in for Pablo against HON.
I would have Marvell Wynne instead of Spector for his speed…Costa Rica has speedy players on the side instead of physical players…I doubt Spector is as speedy as Wynne…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberia
you people are children
I guess it probably sucks for the players, but as a fan, I’m loving the quick turnaround between these qualifiers. Although it definitely sucks that Honduras won’t be coming off a game too, but we can take ’em.
Also, if anyone knows of a good place to watch the game in Rochester, NY, post away and let me know.
Jersey Scouser – Not sure what Cooper has done to get a call over Casey.
Angel,
That lineup would get creamed against a physical Costa Rican side. I agree that Adu needs to play a part in the side but starting him and Torres together would be a death wish
JonnyG, I don’t mean to be a pretentious wiener, but I believe you’re thinking of a different Liberia.
So here’s a thought that I just found interesting – some of our future starters (for when the US host the World Cup in 2022) probably aren’t even in double digits in age, and are probably too young to stay up and watch this game.
And around this time in 2021, we’ll be discussing whether Altidore and Adu are too old to take the field still, or if we should let the newbies get some experience.
As much as I loved DMB at left back vs. El Salvador, I doubt we see it here because of not only his lack of playing time, but the fact that he is coming off an injury as well.
Also, as much as I love every minute Jozy is on the field, we’ve seen how valuable he can be as a game-changing sub, and be in the right place at the right time. Since he’s coming off surgery, that’s a good option, but obviously BB will have a better idea about his fitness than any of us.
———–Ching—————Altidore———–
Donovan———————————Dempsey
—————Bradley——Mastroeni———–
Beasley——Bocanegra—Onewu——–Spector
————————Howard——————
for those of you that follow Chivas more closely, how has bornstein been playing?? i would feel better about him starting if he appears to have regained his form, from when he was playing really well.
Go defensive and look for a counter attack or set piece goals. It is the no-brainer approach away from home against a top opponent. A draw would be satisfactory. And don’t we have a poor record in Costa Rica and at Saprissa Stadium? Saprissa is a turf field, too.
ERIC LICHAJ is seeing on a pic getting on the bus with the rest of the players, Is he replacing some ot the injured ones?
I’m not the biggest Ching fan, at all, but he has been very solid in the qualifiers. I know that forwards are supposed to be the goalscorers, but he brings other qualities to the field — especially on the road.
Thanks for teh map, Ives. I’ve allways wondered where Liberia was.
ERIC LICHAJ is he going on the trip too?
I can’t see why Ching would still get a run at this point. He scores against the little guys and dissapears when the big competition is on the field. Kenny Cooper did not help himself for the Nats but you’ve gotta give him a shot until Altidore is ready. I’d say run Cooper and Altidore up top and see what happens and bring in Ching as a sub.
Stop into the Del Ray Hotel and let me know how things are looking these days…;)
On the road in Concacaf, having surgery a month or so ago, and getting no PT…Jozy should be a sub.
Ives, In case you want to do some drinking…
Ron Centenario Añejo Especial is the Tico’s high end rum, and it’s killer (and the little bottles are perfect for sliding into the pocket- press box?). You can also get Flor de Cana (from Nicaragua)for really cheap. Go for the 12 or 18-year old.
And if you have not tried it before, you need to try Guaro. It tastes terrible and it’s cheap as hell, but it’s a Tico classic. I’d recommend ordering a Chile Guaro shot- Guaro, Tabasco, and lime.
Que lo pases bien, mae!
tedhill, that’s the lineup I want to see also with Donovan and Dempsey on the wings, and all three of Bradley-Torres-Mastroeni in the middle. Beasley and Altidore are better used as subs in this game.
just drop whatever ideas any of u have 3 in the back… not going to happen for very good reason
Im actually liking the 3-5-2 with Pablo in there to help out.
beasley at left back? really???? on the road in costa rica????? after he hasn’t even dressed for ‘gers in what seems like months????
no me gusta. frankly, im not doubting his talent, and i’ve always been a fan of his… but i’m a big believer in playing time, and he’s had NONE.
he shouldn’t be starting until he gets regular playing time in glasgow, or somewhere else. no way.
Costa Rico 3 – USA 1
Bradley sticking to the “Bucket” formation. Two holding mids, classic.
Felix and Jason, I think you guys are on to something. I think having Torres behind Ching can add to both our attack and controlling possession. If we’re going to go 4-5-1, I’d like to try that lineup.
————Ching————
————Adu————–
Donovan—-Bradley—-Dempsey
———–Mastro————
Spector—————Wynne–
——-Boca——Oneywu——
———–Howard————
– I would prefer Altidore over Ching, but we all know that’s not gonna happen
– I like Spector on the left, b/c lets be realistic, Wynne is gonna have to get minutes to prepare for the WC, and Bradley’s been putting this off for a while, now is the time
– Ditto for Adu, who has been stuck in an unfortunate situation where he is receiving little to no pt. He needs to be there for the WC as well, b/c he does things offensively that no other player on this team is capable of