The second match of the Jurgen Klinsmann era with the U.S. national team is set to take place Friday night at the Home Depot Center with the United States taking on Costa Rica, and while it is the less intriguing of the U.S. team's two upcoming friendlies, it should still help shed light on Klinsmann's work with the team.
After seeing some young players step up in the team's 1-1 draw against Mexico, it is a safe bet we will see some of the same relatively new faces who did well against Mexico in the starting lineup to take on Costa Rica.
Here are the players who will be available to take on Costa Rica:
GOALKEEPERS-Tim Howard, Bill Hamid
DEFENDERS-Carlos Bocanegra, Edgar Castillo, Timothy Chandler, Clarence Goodson, Michael Orozco Fiscal, Tim Ream, Jonathan Spector
MIDFIELD– Maurice Edu, Sacha Kljestan, Jeff Larentowicz, Robbie Rogers, Brek Shea, Jose Torres, Chris Pontius
FORWARDS-Juan Agudelo, Jozy Altidore, Teal Bunbury, Landon Donovan
So who might we see start against Costa Rica out of this group? Here's one projected lineup we could see:
PROJECTED USA LINEUP vs. COSTA RICA
———-Altidore——Donovan————-
———Torres—————Kljestan——–
————-Edu———Larentowicz———
Castillo—Bocanegra–Orozco—-Chandler
——————–Howard———————
——-
Some thoughts:
I could definitely see Klinsmann throwing Bill Hamid a start, but you also wonder if he'd want a young goalkeeper playing behind a defense that hasn't played together.
The USMNT could come out in a 4-2-3-1, which would put Donovan on the wing, but I get the feeling we'll start seeing more of Donovan in more advanced roles as a second striker.
Maurice Edu should get the start, but it will be interesting to see whether Klinsmann leaves him alone in a 4-1-4-1 or pairs him with someone like Jeff Larentowicz. Could Klinsmann sit Edu and save him for the Belgium match? That is entirely possible, but Edu needs national team minutes to show that he truly is capable of holding down a starting job with the USMNT.
So why isn't Brek Shea starting? He's logged SERIOUS minutes for FC Dallas lately so you wonder if getting a start here would make the most sense. Yes, he's young, but I'd bet on Klinsmann wanting to see Shea in both friendlies. A Shea start wouldn't surprise anybody, but him coming off the bench in the Costa Rica game shouldn't come as a shock either.
Torres, Castillo and Orozco all seem like safe bets to start. Yes, Castillo was shaky against Mexico, but Costa Rica could be the type of opponent he has a solid game against, a game that could help build some confidence in him.
—-
What do you think of this lineup? What starting lineup would you like to see Klinsmann go with against Costa Rica?
Share your thoughts below.
I could see a 4-2-3-1 with the following starters:
———-Hamid———-
Chandler–Goodson–Bocanegra–Castillo–
—–Larentowicz—–Edu—–
——–Shea——–Rogers—–
———-Donovan———-
———-Altidore———-
I could see Hamid getting the start mainly because “Why not?” We all know Howard is the starter until he decides he’s going to retire, so I think we need to get a look at who’s capable of filling in for him in case of injury or suspension.
I also think Rogers and Shea performed too well in the last outing against Mexico not to get the nod. I wouldn’t be stunned if Bunbury or Agudelo got the start over Jozy. I’m still not convinced that Jozy is our best option up top. He has moments of greatness, but also has long spells of “disappearing.”
I don’t understand why nobody ever wants to try the 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1. you would DOMINATE the center of the pitch.
—Altidore—
—Donovan—
—Shea—
—Torres—
—Edu—
—Larentowicz—
—Chandler—
—Spector—
—Fiscal—
—Bocanegra—
—Howard—
I Think this is more like who Klinsy will start. But I expect the shape will start out more like a 4-4-2 with Altidore and Donavon up top.
Hey Post…you are spot on. Those saying that you don’t know anything are the ones in denial about who actually performs well and those players that they would like to see get an opportunity. Funny how quickly the game changed when LD was freed from defensive assignment and allowed to roam. Torres played a more CAM role and what happened? Even the analyst, speaking in regards to that very tactical change, mentioned that it was the difference between the first half and the second half. Fact of the matter is that LD has been tried there and is much more effective on the wings or used as a withdrawn striker with more freedom to roam into the midfield if he chooses to. If you start Shea and Rogers on the wing along with Altidore, and give LD the CAM role…its going to be a long night.
In Mexico they tend to defend a little open because of the quality of players with technical skills. You can’t pressure all the time in Mexico because the players tend to move constantly. Unlike the MLS, players in the Mexican league are not scared when the ball heads their way, pure fact. Torres does a decent job in maintaining composure when the ball is on his feet. Here’s his issue. If our USMNT players knew how to move around a bit more Toress wouldn’t have such a hard time distributing. Look at ADU for example. He must take on 2-3 players in order to create space for other U.S players so he can distribute to an open manl,… he is the only player in our pool who understands that he must be the one opening space for his lousy players who just stand around the 50yrd line like a bunch of Zombies. Torres isn’t ADU, he believes his U.S teammates will spread the field like his folks over in Pachuca, but sadly that is not the case. Look at Castillo against Mexico for another example. He tried coming out with the ball on the left side instead of kicking field goals like our USMNT players have been train to do so. He probably lost more than half of his possessions because our players don’t move away from their LINES. At Club America he has no issue coming out from the back or dishing out the ball… that is why he is on our roster today. We need a few technical players on the pitch, NOT a 100% ROBOT lineup. Torres isn’t the problem, it’s who is around him. Shea, Duece, Agudelo, Holden, and Adu would seriously make him look like XAVI if they were all on the pitch at the same time. “MOVING OF THE BALL IS THE KEY”
100% spot on.
“MB has potential to be an important contributor to the USMNT”? News flash Biff, MB already has been an important contributor, like in Mexico 0 – 2 MB in Columbus WC qualifier. The extent of denial regarding Michael Bradley is mind boggling.
Torres is a good player but when under pressure or not given time/space to work with, he makes bad passes or loses possession. Is he good enough to play in Mexico, yes because they do not press you full field. However at the international level, we’ve seen already that when he is always pressured, e.g. Costa Rica – USA WC’2010 qualifying and against Slovenia WC’2010, the guy cannot adapt.
Ives. Your projected lineup has no width; based on the teams Klinni has put together in the past, he views width as more important than Bradley did.
Agreed! He is one of the most pedigreed players we have and overlooked by people who
have no clue how to play soccer. That’s why
its good we have a former soccer player like Klinsmann as coach because you can be assured he knows what kind of ability is needed to play at international level and win things.
Amen, well spoken, as a fellow Terp alum I am with you
Ives, is that the lineup you think Klinsmann will trot out, or the lineup you would put together?
Why does Ream sit the bench again? Orozco impressed against Mexico, but is he our future CB?
I am very intrigued by the combination of Kjlestian, Donovan, and Torres with Jozy in front of them.
Predicting a 3-1 win by the USA.
I love the fact that people put Orozco as a CB all the sudden. He had ONE average game against an average team. Remember the Olympics? No, you don’t, because none of you remember anything outside the last performance. He made an unbelievalbly crucial mistake as an outside back and cost us the game, but everyone here is ok to throw him into CB? Unreal if you ask me. Great skill, good player… but if you think he’s OUR CB, you’re really, really mistaken.
You’re more impressed by goals scored in MLS than in the Netherlands? That’s just… wow.
Not really. Ives gives his predictions in these posts, and he’s usually got a little inside info.
Fail. A USMNT lineup with Robbie Rogers cannot possibly be better than one without.
Also, I’m pretty sure we can all think of worse lineups than the one Ives posted.
oh, man. that is fun to watch. Donovan looks good. cannot wait to watch these guys in action…and i see beckerman at least gets to spend time in camp before the RSL game Saturday against Philly.
Lineup I wish I could watch:
———Altidore———
Dempsey–Donovan—Shea—
—–Holden—Bradley—–
Lichaj—John–Boca—Dolo
———Howard———–
I would also want to try Torres/Klesjtan maybe Spector or Fabian Johanson (haven’t seem any of his play) in place of MB (all to take the role of the distributor) and leave Holden as the tackler. Before you criticize Holden in such a defensive role remember who led the EPL in tackle without fouls prior to his injury.
Down the road sub Chandler for Dolo. Haven’t made up my mind who would take over for Boca and for all I know John may not make it on the national level all remains to be seen. This is just who I, personally would like to see on the field at some point.
“The problem is the fanbase gets totally fixated on a certain player at a certain position and completely overlooks their faults/misplays. They are in love with what ‘they could be’ instead of what ‘they actually are.'”
Yep, that sums up quite well what we endured for years with Michael Bradley, who hogged 90 minutes every frickin’ game whether he was in form or not or getting club play or not. (i.e., except for the first-half in the June 4 Spain friendly, when MB got to relax on the bench as Edu-Jones were thrown to the lions in what looked to me to be a personal tactical move to justify Edu’s subsequent benching in the Gold Cup).
I do believe MB has potential to be an important contributor to the USMNT, but he has not yet shown it. If he gets lots of minutes at Verona and works hard on improving his skills, like good ol’ Jozy has done in extremely difficult circumstances (Hull City, Turkey), then he might succeed in earning a steady spot on the Nats and I will support him 100%. Klinsmann, I think, is the best thing that could have happened to MB.
Does this 4-1-4-1 transition into a 4-3-3 when the team is attacking? If so I like the idea.
Klejstan and Torres are not the ideal flanking center mids but so long as Edu is strong in defense it will allow them to get forward with confidence. Then LD and Shea can push out wide and attack the flanks and Jozy can provide a target in the box. Furthermore, give LD freedom to drift inside and back a little to facilitate the attack and ask shea to be more disciplined and receive the ball in wide areas before attacking towards goal.
Potential subs
Pontius/Rogers for Shea/Donovan. Bunbury seems to be built better for the central striker role but Aguedelo could surprise.
That would be an odd midfield for a 4-3-3 playing two wingers in a much more central midfield position.
http://worldsoccer.about.com/od/skillsandtactics/a/4-3-3.htm
This article is great about explaing the conventional 4-3-3. Specifically read the section on all around midfielders as that is the position that you are asking chandler and shea to fill.
I like Pontius out wide as well, as a DC fan I think he has a tendency to pinch inside that hurts him. I believe he is at his best receiving the ball out wide left then attacking players towards goal on his right foot. Majority of his goals have come from this type of play. He really has been a threat, so much that MLS defense are paying extra attention to him now. I wonder how it will translate to play at the international level. Can he make that leap? That’s the question I want answered.
Please don’t refer Juergen as Coach K. As a terp alum it brings to mind a certain dukie ( a coach I respect), but still a dukie non the less.
——Altidore–Agudelo——
Shea–Torres–Spector–Donovan
Castillo–Boca–Orozco–Chandler
————Howard————–
Give Spector a chance in the middle. He reads the game better than Edu, is a better passer, and is also very strong defensively when tracking back, unlike when he’s 1 v. 1 with speedy wingers when playing RB.
Chandler and Spector allowing Donovan the freedom to go inside and providing width and service from the right side, while Castillo and Torres do the same for Shea on the left.
the more I think about it, the more I like a triangle of
–
–Altidore–
-LD–Deuce-
with those two guys behind Jozy he can use his size to play a really effective holding striker. Plus LD and Deuce can track back to assist Edu and allow Shea and Rogers to keep the field wide on the wings. and more narrow formation with a bit more of a defensive posture would see Shea and Rogers switched out for a MF trio of Spector Beckerman Edu.
either way I think you get the youngsters in against Costa Rica. give them a taste of CONCACAF play.
in Belgium I’d like to see (4-3-2-1):
———–Altidore—————
——Donovan——-Dempsey—–
Shea———Edu———–Rogers
Castillo-Bocanegra-Goodson-Chandler
———–Howard—————
(subs: Beckerman, Spector, Agudelo)
So I could actually imagine something like this tomorrow (4-4-2):
——-Agudelo—Bunbury——-
—Pontius———–Kljestan—-
——Torres–Larentowicz——–
-Castillo–Orozco–Ream–Spector-
———–Hamid—————
I think it’s a lineup that could lose, but these friendlies are about trying things out. Hope Castillo gets is act together. Sucks about Lichaj….
————–Josmer
——Agudelo—–Lando
—-Brekken——–Rogers
—————Edu
Boca-Ream-Goodson-Chandler
4-3-3
Rogers sucks, but he scored last game, so you gotta play the hot hand. Otherwise, put your best players on the field. Front three can switch up.
Plus a bajillion. Even with the glut f midfielders we have in the pool I have never understood why this guy has been a periphery player. you are spot on when you say if any other player had that kind of a seaosn they would be a lock to start.
I would rather see him and Bradley fighting it out for a center mid spot than see him relegated to the back line.
I’d actually switch torres and edu, but still have Edu in the DM role, just have Torres build play from deeper back.
Shea——-Altidore———-
———————Donovan-
——Torres—-Dempsey——
————–Edu————
Johnson————–Chandler
——-Orozco—-Goodson—–
I don’t want to read all of these so if this lineup has been said, sorry.
– – – – – – Altidore – – – – – – – –
– – – – Donovan – – – – – – – – – –
Shea – – – – – – Torres – – – Pontius
– – – – – Edu – – – – – – – – – – – –
Castillo – Boca – Goodson – Chandler
– – – – – – Howard – – – – – – – – –
Has-beens?? More like never was or not yet for a few. And the answer is that Brian’s lineup would beat yours like a drum haha
I’m really liking the 4-1-4-1 formations here. I think my ideal lineup would be:
————–Altidore———-
————–Donovan———–
—-Shea——————-Rogers-
———–Torres/Klestjan——-
—————-Edu————–
–Castillo–Boca–Goodson–Chandler
————-Howard————–
I’m not a big formation guy so I’m not sure exactly how a 4-1-4-1 would fit on a team level, but I think something like this really lets us take advantage of our personnel. Speedy backs up the flanks; Edu as a destroyer with limited offensive responsibilities; Torres or Klestjan as the deep-lying playmaker; true wingers in Rogers and Shea (Shea versatile, but playing great at FC Dallas there for now); more freedom for Landon to roam the field.
Any thoughts?
I’m in 100% about Torres. The problem is the fanbase gets totally fixated on a certain player at a certain position and completely overlooks their faults/misplays. The are in love with what “they could be” instead of what “they actually are”.
Yes, Torres could be a great linking, deep-lying CM, a poor-man’s Andrea Pirlo, the issue he is terrible on the defensive side which is an issue considering the space he prefers to occupy and he has way too many giveaways to justify his role.
Unfortunately, we are going to have to watch him put in a fair-share of mediocre performances until the coaching staff and fanboys realize that Paco Torres isn’t the player he’s been hyped up to be – and that his game, as it now stands, does not translate to the international level.
To add, I wouldn’t mind trying Spector in for Edu.
———-Jozy———
-Shea—-Landon——Sacha-
——Torres—-Edu——–
-Castillo——————-Chandler-
———–Boca–Goodson——–
———–Timmy————-
Have LD moving freely and interchanging with any of the top 3. Edu sitting slightly deeper than Torres and splitting Boca and Goodson to create a back three while Castillo and Chandler push up when on the attack. It is what I would go with given the players available. Criticize, analyze, do what you all will. All I know is this time tomorrow, I will be at just about the 50, and 4 rows back watching our Yanks!! So excited, my first USMNT game!
Just got my tickets to the game!
Dude,
Torres is not an ‘under the striker’ MF….if anything, you’d switch him an Edu having Mo play higher.
I got to agree with Ives, Jurgen likes what Donovan brings as a 2nd striker. Secondly, my guess based on the first game is that Coach K is going to play with a solid #6, which means Larentowicz starts….really the only reason to bring him to camp was to cover for Beckerman….so the lineup is going to be closer to Ives projected lineup with the possible exception of a Shea or a Rogers getting a start. And it wouldn’t be a surprise to see ‘goodson over Fiscal-Orozco
interesting ideas, especially on Edu/Torres/Sacha
wouldn’t mind seeing this lineup. I prefer Agudelo off the bench though, coming in fired up and making things happen vs. starting and, well, not making as much happen. He’s done well in that role off the bench, and I’d like to see him do that for both games. so maybe LD up top somewhere and Rogers or Sacha on the right?
I wonder about these things too
Robbie Rogers obviously earned the start after his last stellar performance against Mexico so I expect to see him on the field with Torres, Shea and Donovan.
would this line-up beat the USMNT has-beens?
EJ-Davies
Beasley-Benny-Clark-Adu
Convey-Pearce-Onyewu-Wynne
Guzan
Altidore
Shea—torres—Donovan
Edu—-kljestan
castillo–Boca–orozco–chandler
If we wanted a first choice lineup then Johnson for castillo and bradley for Edu
Howard
Chandler–Orozco–Boca–Castillo
Kljestan–Edu
Donovan
Pontius–Altidore–Shea
Would be nice to see that. Rogers is fine instead of Pontius. I have just been hoping he’d be called in and be looked at in a wing position high up the field. He reminds me of a younger Dempsey. I hope to see him. Hopefully he has been impressing JK.
I like this.
I hope Klinsmann sees players for what/how they are and not what other coaches have labeled them as.
we are tied up on Robbie Rogers?? Torres?? Shea??? Guys that play (are not outstanding) for Columbus Crew?? Pachuca???
Imagine if we had a player that last season:
1.played MIDFIELD in a league like the EPL
2.Currently Plays and goes full 90 for A TEAM in the CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE
3.got an ASSIST in a 5-1 win versus Burnley
4.SCORES A GOAL in 2-2 draw vs Everton
5.Got 2 ASSISTS in 2-1 win vs Birmingham
6.SCORED A GAME WINNER in 2-0 win vs Barnley
7.Played an outstanding game vs MANCHESTER CITY (in Midfield)
8.SCORED A BRACE against MANCHESTER UNITED in the Carling cup
Well we do have this player….. JONATHAN SPECTOR…..Imagine if Bradley, Kljestan Rogers, Torres OR any other player on the team had a resume like this???? He’d be a guaranteed starter in midfield, not rotting in defense where he clearly doesn’t belong
And he’s overlooked for players like Torres whose done nothing outstanding for Pachuca, Brek Shea (outstanding young prospect but still very green around the ears) and Rogers??? Brek is better but Rogers????
Wow….
I can’t see Klinsi not trying to win this game in the first half. I think he goes strong with the squad he has then expirements in the second half. I also think, Shea comes off the bench and gets the start against Belgium. We’ll probably see Ream, and Torres in the second half as well.
Altidore-Agudelo
Donovan-Kljestan(Torres)-Edu-Rogers
Castillo-Boca-Goodson-Chandler
Good lineup, except Spector in place of Larentowicz.
No way Larentowicz coming in from nowhere and starting
over a player like Spector. Spector should not be played as an outside back; no speed. He’s good in the middle of the field for his vision and passing.
Attention haters!
Ives did NOT include Ream in the lineup! Can we stop with the accusations of a man-crush and/or NY bias?!
Thank you! That is all.