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The U.S. men's national team has reached the CONCACAF Gold Cup final yet again, and has done so with using basically the same lineup for the quarterfinals and semifinals. This leads to the simple question: Does Bob Bradley tinker or does he keep the same starting lineup for Sunday's final vs. Mexico?
Considering how well the team played in beating Honduras in the semis you would think that the lineup could pick itself for Sunday, but there are still some questions. Does Kenny Cooper deserve a look as a starter? Is Jimmy Conrad recovered from the nasty concussion vs. Panama? Will the short turnaround time from Thursday to Sunday lead to a change?
With all these things in mind, here is what Sunday's starting USA lineup should look like vs. Mexico:
————-Ching——–Arnaud————-
Rogers———————————-Holden
———–Beckerman—–Pause—————
Pearce—-Marshall——-Goodson——–Heaps
———————Perkins————————-
Yes, that's right, we have Bradley standing pat and going with the same group. The Cooper-Arnaud debate seems to be the most popular one, but we see Bradley going with Arnaud's energy and speed, and Cooper coming off the bench in a super sub role he has slid into nicely.
The back-line was stellar vs. Honduras and should remain the same. Now, if Jimmy Conrad can go, Bradley might want his experience in the lineup, but can you really bench Goodson after he scored in the semifinal?
Those are the only real question marks at this point in the tournament, unless there's an injury we don't know about.
What do you think of the U.S. team using the same lineup for the final that beat Honduras in the semifinal? What changes, if any, would you make?
Share your thoughts below.
first
Posted by: stephen | July 24, 2009 at 01:39 PM
Fail.
When oh when will this childish first sh*t stop????????
That said, I think Ives is probably right and I think USA will find the win! GO NATS!
Holden crossing to Cooper, who would then head the ball in, is great in theory, but when has Cooper EVER had an aerial game, despite his height?
Arnaud gets the start, Cooper’s a late sub at best. Rogers better be ready to track back, b/c he plays on Dos Santos’ side of the field, no?
I agree with the same lineup, just replace Pause with Cronin, and it will make the team more effective.
could we put conrad as a wing back? He did score a goal vs Mexico in AZ back in 07.
Start Cooper over Arnaud, Quaranta over Pause, and the rest looks fine. I still don’t care for Heaps but I don’t trust Evans either.
Honestly though, Bradley won’t want to change his formula. He’ll start the same 11 and use the same subs unless something out of the ordinary happens.
AdamTheRed
“I don’t really care if Pause helped get the team to the final, we need to win this thing”
What exactly has Pause done to get the team to the final, but win two or three balls in four games. I agree he should be replace by eith Clark, Evans or Cronin
———Ching——-Cooper——-
Rogers——–Beckerman———–Holden
—————-Pause——————
Pearce——-Marshall—–Goodson——-Heaps
—————-Perkins—————–
cooper is garbage
Bradley loves playing with 1 flat out D-mid and one 2 way midfielder.
personally i’d love to see Holden in the middle replacing Pause and Quaranta on the wing
CLARK!
We need his presence in center-mid.
I don’t really care if Pause helped get the team to the final, we need to win this thing.
Pause should start with Beckerman because the communication between those two has been astounding. Either one is capable of losing possession once in a while but each time, the other is there to cover. Defense will win this game and those two have been nearly perfect in the middle.
Quaranta has not shown me enough to feel good about a start for him but if he does play, I hope he’s in for Rogers. Holden is doing the job nicely on the right and later can move to the middle.
Goodson/Conrad…dunno. Tough call if JC is perfectly healthy. If not, Goodson has to be in there. He played well even besides scoring the goal.
Replace Pause with Holden in the middle with Holden, then throw Quarranta on the right.
Posted by: The Athority | July 24, 2009 at 01:49 PM
======================
My thoughts exactly.
But Kevin’s line up (Kevin | July 24, 2009 at 02:33 PM) is quite good too
i’d like to see Jozy, Benny, and Marvell in for Arnaud, Pause and Heaps. giving the ‘C’ team a chance is nice and everything but but after they get whipped by Mexico i think Bradley will regret not bringing in a few ringers…
Any chance Bob calls up Jozy or Ricardo Clark? They seem like guys we could use the most. Jozy for Arnaud and Rico for Pause. Not sure if Jozy is still in the country or not, and the Dynamo have a game Saturday. Losing Clark would absolutely gut Houston, and Bob is usually pretty friendly to MLS teams.
Chivas USA, however has the weekend off, hmmm….
Start the same lineup that was used last night against Honduras, with maybe one exception: Conrad for Goodson.
Even if Coach Bradley stays with Goodson, I have no problem with that
Ok. After thinking about it I decided that I do want Marshall to start. I agree with with the genius who said start Santino instead of Pause…
I don’t care who starts for either team – as long as the final score is US:2 MX: 0
Then, let’s keep the 2-0 scoreline going by beating them in Azteca in a couple of weeks by the same score!
———Ching——–Cooper————-
—————-Arnaud—————–
——-Holden————-Quaranta——-
————-Beckerman—————-
Pearce—-Marshall——-Goodson—-Heaps
—————–Perkins——————-
Yeah, I know it will never happen. But I think that is easily the most dangerous we can be. We obviously don’t need two holding mids; Pause hasn’t done anything at all, and not necessarily in a negative way- he just hasn’t done anything at all, good or bad.
Kyle,
I have to disagree about your comment that Cooper’s finish was a no-brainer in the Honduras game. No doubt it was a beautiful setup by Holden but I’ve seen A LOT of forwards miss those. Cooper did a really nice job of quickly reacting in a tight space to guide the ball into the corner. It looks easy but it’s not.
what about are other players that can come in such as guzan, altidore, and others?
Off Topic but I am disappointed that the game won’t be broadcast on an HD channel. Even worse is that FSC’s feed seems to be worse than most other standard definition TV.
———Ching——–Arnaud————-
Rogers—–Beckerman—–Cronin—–Holden
Pearce—-Marshall——-Goodson—-Heaps
—————–Perkins——————-
Subs:
Cooper for Arnaud
Quaranta for Cronin move Holden In
Clark for Rogers when he gets tired
Holden should be in the middle where he can be more active but I think you are right, Bradley will stick with what works and he should.
In the midfield I would like to see:
Rogers, Beckerman, Holden, Quaranta
I am not a big fan of Logan Pause right now. I think we would be better off with Holden in the middle of the field, in front of Beckerman, with Quaranta on the right. If even Rogers or Quaranta are struggling or gassed,…bring Pause in off the bench and move Holden our wide.
I think that Cooper deserves the start. People keep saying that Cooper is too selfish but pardon me if I am wrong but I would want the striker to be selfish. Cooper is there to score goals (4 goals in 7 appearances). As a forward that is what you would expect. People keep saying that Ching does a great job of creating opportunities for other but if he or his teammates are not going to convert those opportunities then you need to look to Cooper.
Ching doesn’t play for the Dynamo on turf so I’m not sure if him starting coming off an injury is a given for the final. Although I like the idea of Ching playing big against Mexico’s small back line, given the turf I could see Bradley saving him for Azteca and going with Cooper.
bring in jozy!!
All the sudden?
How about Quaranta for Rogers and Holden on the left? Rogers still annoys me becuase he looks so lackadaisical attacking defenders and the ball. Maybe that is his tactic to go slow and speed up? Just looks like he is not trying sometimes. But that would be my only change or change idea. If I was in BB’s spot and seeing them everyday it might be different.
Cooper super sub is cool. Maybe Robbie comes on to run at tired defenders. Or Santino does.
Can’t wait for this one.
I agree that Pause is extremely underwhelming. I would like to see Cronin, rather than Quaranta, take his place. Cronin provides a calming presence that can possess the ball better than anyone on the team.
I agree that Goodsen is the right choice too.
I like the height argument with Cooper. At the same time I don’t think Cooper has shown himself to use his size well. If he can learn to use his size well, then he would be a beast.
I would keep Cooper on the bench, but bring him in earlier in the match say around the 65th minute, so that he can have more of an impact. Arnaud will probably be tired by then in any case.
I would like to see Quaranta come in for Pause around the 75th minute to play wide. Holden could then slot into the middle of the pitch.
All Cooper does is score goals. Plus Arnaud did nothing but turn the ball over last game. I’ve seen enough. Holden to Cooper. Holden to Cooper. Say it with me.
Why Pause WhY?
Off the topic…
Will there be a third place match. I have not heard anything about it.
One reason to prefer Cooper is to further increase our size advantage over Mexico. With Holden’s all of a suddent accurate delivery on set pieces (especially corners), it would be a lot to expect Mexico to contain Cooper, Ching, Marshall, Goodson, and the Flying Heapster the entire game.
If Conrad is healthy, I’d insert him into the starting XI over Goodson. Goodson has done an admirable job, but Conrad’s veteran leadership would be critical in what is sure to be a high emotion game, (even if they aren’t the A teams).
Gotta dance with the girl who brought ya. As much as I would love Bradley to call back some of our ‘A teamers’, this group has developed a chemistry and is finding ways to win games. This has always been they key vs mexico, so let’s hope it works again.
As for Cooper…PLEASE NO. Yes he has 2 goals in 2 games (usually a good measuring stick for a striker), and he did play MUCH better againast Honduras, but we will be chasing most of the Mexico game and Cooper doesn’t work like Arnaud (not many do). In addition, he really didn’t do anything to create thoe goals (Holden played him in on the first and he just got kicked, and Ching and Holden left a ball on a tee for his againsr Honduras). Sorry, Cooper hasn’t shown enough to me to warrant a staring spot (but I don’t pick em). Whoever plays, lets continue the domination!!!
Replace Pause with Holden in the middle with Holden, then throw Quarranta on the right.
Do not start Cooper. We will need more than just his flashes of brilliance.
And don’t wait too long to bring Quaranta on. Depending on how the match goes, no later than the 70th and maybe a bit earlier.
If Conrad has recovered to the point that he can REALLY roll then send Marshall to the bench. We need Conrad’s experience.
Heaps makes me nervous. I can’t quite explain it but he does. Still he has a a lot of experience against Mexican club teams and in some big games so maybe you leave him in the starting XI…
Why Pause?
Is anyone else underwelmed with Logan Pause’s performances so far? I’d love to see Bob really go on the attack, leave Pause on the bench, slide Holden more centraly with Beckerman (like he plays with Clark at Huston) and start Tino on the wing.
Just read that Mexico and the Nats will be sharing a plane to New York before the final.
Awkwarrrrd.
Arnaud really does more harm than good being on the field. Cooper can be selfish at times but at least he provides a legitimate scoring threat.
Basically both players lose the ball too much. Arnaud loses it being a donk while Cooper loses it trying to do too much. I’d prefer the later.
We will win.
Probably OK with this lineup, but would sub in earlier depending on the gameflow. Mexico will be the best team we’ve seen in this Cup of course, speedwise and on the ball. Would rather see first sub around 60th minute, maybe let Arnaud wear himself out and bring on Quaranta or Cooper. Then take out Rogers or perhaps Pause around minute 70, depending on the flow of the match.
If it’s not broke, don’t fix it. And I say leave Jimmy Conrad off. No need to mess with a head injury for what amounts to not much more than a championship of the minor leagues (Although I reeealllyy hope we kick Mexico’s ass).
I am definitely okay with sticking to the guys that got us there. I’d be leary starting Conrad while he’s recovering from a concussion.
Cooper has played well when he’s up against tired legs, and Arnaud seems better at the role of “support forward” to Ching’s target role.
I feel like Rogers hasn’t been at his best the last few matches – so I might consider Quaranta out right.
If Conrad can go, I’d play him over Goodson, not as a slight on Goodson, but Conrad is a vet and is really experienced.
I’d prefer to play Quaranta over Pause, but Quaranta on the right and Holden in the middle. But they really dominated possesion in the last game with the Pause/Beckerman parternship. So I understand staying with it.
I’d stay with Arnaud for now. Cooper is too selfish of a striker still for him to fit into this team concept. Let that tank of a forward come in later once Mexico had a long game.
first
Hey Ives,
Any idea what the lineup will look like for Mexico?
I’m worried about players like Geovany dos Santos being contained by our inexperienced back line.
Can’t wait for this game, I ordered tickets months ago (Red Bull Season Tix holder, pray for me) and crossed my fingers they’d make it this far and its paid off. 6th row in the US Supporters section! LETS GET IT!