When the U.S. Men's National Team takes the field at Estadio Azteca on Wednesday night, they will be facing arch-rival Mexico with a squad that will look far different from what most would consider an A team.
There is no Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo or Jozy Altidore, which means Jurgen Klinsmann will have to rely on some new faces to try and help the USA earn a result in Mexico City, a place the United States has never won a match.
The Americans will have some stars, such as Tim Howard and Landon Donovan, but they are likely to feature some starters who don't have many appearances. How those newcomers respond will determine whether the Americans have a chance, or whether Mexico wins in a blowout.
In case you missed who was called up, here are the players who will be available for the USA on Wednesday.
Who will Klinsmann turn to on Wednesday night? Here is one lineup we could see face Mexico at Azteca:
(UPDATED) PROJECTED USMNT ROSTER vs. MEXICO
——Donovan————–Boyd————–Gomez——–
———————Torres———Jones———————-
—————————Beckerman————————–
Johnson———–Edu————-Cameron——-Beitashour
—————————Howard—————————–
==========
Here are some thoughts:
The one change here from the original lineup we posted is Maurice Edu starting at centerback ahead of Michael Orozco Fiscal. Multiple reports from Mexico suggest that Edu is set to play centerback alongside Geoff Cameron. That's definitely an intriguing move by Jurgen Klinsmann, but it may be a good move from a long-term perspective because of the glut of central midfielders and dearth of quality centerbacks in the pool.
Beasley isn't a traditional forward, but can play wide in a 4-3-3 and has done so in the past. Klinsmann could very well go with Brek Shea in that left forward role, but you would imagine Klinsmann goes with an experienced player in a sold-out Azteca.
Orozco Fiscal hasn't been in the mix in a while, but he has played against Mexico before and isn't likely to be fazed by the atmosphere at Azteca. Matt Besler has been playing very well for Sporting Kansas City but it's tough to see Besler starting against Mexico in his first call-up.
Why no Maurice Edu? If he were in mid-season form then he would be a good bet to start, but since he hasn't been playing and awaiting a move away from Glasgow Rangers, it seems unlikely he starts. Beckerman and Torres are in season and Jones is about to start the Bundesliga season. (UPDATED- Klinsmann looks set to try Edu at centerback).
With only one natural right back on the roster, Steven Beitashour looks destined to start vs. Mexico. Seems like a crazy first cap, but it should be noted he started in the MLS All-Star Game against Chelsea and played well. He has been a standout for San Jose all season and should get the nod unless Klinsmann tries someone like Fabian Johnson or Edgar Castillo at right back.
Chris Wondolowski has enjoyed an outstanding season in MLS, but I see Terrence Boyd getting the call in this one. He's off to a good start with Rapid Vienna and is a good physical presence as the target forward in the 4-3-3. Even if Wondolowski doesn't start, he is a safe bet to see playing time in Mexico City.
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What do you think of our projected lineup? Who would you plug into the lineup that we left out? Who was included in our projected lineup that you don't think should see the field?
Share your thoughts below.
i’m guessing, based on reading varies quotes from the US players/coaches, i think it’ll be one of the following three formations:
Gomez – Boyd
Beasley – Corona(Torres) – Jones – LD
Johnson – Edu – Cameron – ?
or:
Gomez – Boyd – LD
Torres – Jones – Corona
Johnson – Edu – Cameron – ?
or:
Beasley – Gomez – LD
Torres – Jones – Corona
Johnson – Edu – Cameron – ?
I like it!
ahahaha, brilliant!
i can haz too!
i watched Torres get subbed off at halftime last weekend for Nery Castillo. anyone comparing Torres to Modric is dreaming. Torres is not good…
isn’t this why people hated Bradley? Bunker down and hope for the best
Yeah, I was at that Poland game, in Chi-town. From what I remember he did fine, but I suppose that wasn’t quite Mexico in Azteca. I’d be alright with Edu getting some minutes at CB, even if its just so he can cover there in a pinch down the road.
Rivalries often times come down to the “mental” game. If it was all about tactical and technical prowess Mexico would beat us every time. Mexico clearly enjoys a technical superiority and they are now winning the mental game.
I for one am excited to see how a young, untested us side with no mental baggage from this rivalry will fair. And as PD stated, at the very least we will vet some much needed depth
Agreed. I’d like to see what DW can do in CDM.
Maybe not 100% percent relevant, but just read this over on US Soccer:
“What Mexico read well is that how the global game has evolved over the last couple years… that they need to have a style and have a player that buys into it 100 percent and works as hard as he can. Based on those elements and their preferred system, they automized sequences and where and how the players moved and they’ve doubled and tripled their position… (players). Certain players that are normally on the team aren’t there, but the players that are there play exactly the same roles. I think they have matched what was going on globally. If you want to be in the top 10 in the world, you have to adjust to this type of style.” JK
I think that this is a quote to remember as we continue into qualifying. Until we’re meeting these criteria, any major result can be attributed as much to exceptional individuals and luck as to having a strong national program. This is why we’ll see a 3-3-4 for a long stretches of the game tomorrow, (even though we’re still currently better suited to 4-4-2) this is why Chandler is still in the mix, and this is why it’s good to see new faces, even in a lion’s den like Estadia Azteca. When you think about this quote as being JK’s mantra, a lot of his choices since taking over make perfect sense.
Benny and Adu are nowhere near their best playing, I think you are thinking more with your heart than with your brain.
Depends on who scores first. If Us opens the scoring the Mexicans could get rattled and this could get very interesting. If they go down early and are forced to chase it will get ugly.
Either way the squad that JK has picked will learn tons from this fixture, so it’s not a total loss.
Yeah, there aren’t that many Ronaldinho type of scoring #10 midfielders anymore. CMs tend to lie deeper, have more defensive and ball winning responsibilities and mostly begin the attack rather than join and finish it. That being said, I still think the jury is out on Torres and his USMNT performances have been decidedly mixed. He occasionally makes that nice, clever diagonal through ball to spring a teammate, but also has shown the tendency to disappear, miss defensive responsibilities and get overpowered. This will be a good test for him.
sometimes having players out of position open up new options for future games. Maybe this game will shakeup our development, we have been a bit stale as of late.
Switch Torres for Beckerman and Boyd for Wondo and you got a deal.
+1 for the win.
To beat the Mexicans you will need to put 9 guys behind the ball, stuff the midfield, close out any passing lanes and force them to use the wings to cross the ball.
This is their weak point (wings/crossing the ball) and despite LaVolpe’s evolution of their game to make it more European, they still tend to return to their old ways of going through the middle. Before LaVolpe, wingers were unheard of in the Mexican game. Now you have guys like Guardado and Barrera who are pretty decent.
If we can force them to play the long ball (our strengths), that will frustrate them and the game will be manageable and we could bring in Gordon with about 5 mins remaining to do what he has been doing all season.
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Without any clear centerbacks on this roster, I have to wonder why Chad Marshall didn’t get a call up. He’s a solid coordinator, and was part of the team that went down to Azteca in a well-played rebound game after the Gold Cup in 2009.
Thats true, I just read that and he also played in a friendly against Poland back in 2010. Does anyone recall how he did?
The edu cam backline makes me nervous. Both great athletes/talents, but with edu pretty unfamiliar with the role, and without boca keeping the line organized, i worry about through balls and being on the wrong side of close off-sides calls… i think mexico will expose them
Unfortunately, we’re gonna see Orozco on the right. Mark it down.
The USWNT
B0NER
if i ever saw this line up on the field i would shoot myself in the face.
Yes, this.
Zusi in at 60
LOL
Or just throw Besler in since he is the truest CB on the team.
Shea tends to disappear against good talent. If he gets on the field..lets see this time
DMB – always fast, not always good, rarely great. The parade has passed him by
Benny – surrounded by one of the worst teams in MLS. How can he ever look good? Put Donovan on that team and he’d be mediocre. Benny needs more chances but dont think Klinsmann likes him much
Adu – best player in a US kit at last Gold Cup. Klinsmann doesnt like him and he will never call him. He can break down a defense with his passing. Work with him…don’t shun him
Beckerman – Jergen has a man crush on him. He’s not all that
This is the lineup I would enjoy seeing even though it will not happen:
Shea…….Gomez……Donovan
…..Torres…..Zusi………
…………Edu…………..
Johnson.Besler.Cameron.Beita.
……….Howard………….
I could handle Beckerman in the CDM role too,
The reason Zusi fits here is because he rotates well into the back in a 3-3-4 at SKC.
Fabian Johnson could rotate out with Castillo.
Torres could make way for Donovan in midfield if need for another attacker like Wondo or Boyd.
Besler and Cameron would surprise as a tandem. Besler is as solid as they come and a true left footer, and Cameron’s versatility and aggressiveness would be backed up greatly by a partner at CB in Besler.
Shea gets back on the field in the correct position.
Herculez continues to rip up Mexico.
Happy Day.
Agreed. I too, am a fan of Beckerman and more importantly he is familiar with the several formations the JK is experimenting with.
One of the most important tasks of the head coach is selecting an executing a suitable formation.
We all saw the debacle of the U-23’s at Olympic qualifying when Porter brought in a 3-3-4 (or 4-3-3) but failed to coach the midfield and backline how to execute it, resulting in holes that the opponent’s coaches noted and exploited. Having the right players to execute the formation is paramount to success. If you see players “out of position”, it’s for a purpose. Most likely these players are more familiar with a particular formation. Edu in the backline was tried before with some success, but he will have to tame his urges to go forward and to provide cover, especially with the speedy and technical midfielders and forwards that Mexico possesses.
I expect JK to experiment, unfortunately most here want a result. I think this is secondary to JK. He will be looking to how effective his choices are in executing his offense. If it is unorthodox, lets hope execution is adequate with the newbies.
And finally; this is NOT the Mexico “A” team, yes it has the familiar, BUT, there are more than a few newbies here too.
And I see now that Ives updated his projected lineup, so you can disregard mine (which is exactly the same…).
I’m thinking I might be thankful I have a game tomorrow night…
Most reports out of training have an Edu-Cam CB pairing, so I’d like to see this:
———— Howard ———–
Beit — Edu — Cam — Johnson
———– Beckerman ———
——Jones ——– Torres —
Donovan —– Boyd —— Gomez
———————-McInerney————-
Eddie Johnson—Pontius—–Agudelo
Brad Davis——–Adu
——————Larentowitz————-
Dunnivant—Gonzalez—John—Lichaj
——————–Hamid—————–
I think we will see a 4-3-2-1. If the formation is the Christmas Tree, than I suspect Boyd as the angel on top of the tree. Donovan and Gomez in the high position of the ornaments made by the children, followed by the string of popcorn in Torres-Beckerman-Jones with Beckerman sagging down towards the bottom of the tree. At the base of the tree is grandma’s hand-me-down ornaments, Johnson-Cameron-Edu-Williams. And of course the trunk of the tree is Howard.
I doubt I’ll even watch it.
Edu played CB at the olympics
Castillo and Orozco blow
All of these proposed lineups need a true #6. It will be Beckerman!
good point.. i still think Edu could be a good CB, especially paired with someone like Bocanegra who has very different strengths but maybe this is Williams’ game to show his CB ability that the US needs
how i see it going down..
………Boyd…..Gomez……….
..Beasley……………Donovan..
………Jones..Beckerman……..
.Johnson………….Beitashour..
……..Fiscal..Cameron……….
………….Howard…………..
subs:
Castillo – will play to give Johnson some time at LM
Torres – we will see
Edu – will play for a shot at CB in for Fiscal
Shea – we will see
Zuzi/Corona – we will see
Wondo – scores the lone US goal in the final seconds of the game…
I don’t like Edu at Cb. Why not play Williams there, he has experience in the Bundesliga at that position? Edu doesn’t have any experience at CB and he isn’t that good at passing out of the back.
You man 2-0 we gotta keep the tradition!
This is what I’m hoping/expecting to see, with Beas being the only variable and Orozco seemingly started at right back. Still afraid JK may go with three DMs though to cover for defense (Beckerman, Jones, Torres).
If Yanks Abroad is right and Boyd has an ankle issue, you can push Herc up top and re-jigger mid a bit. Maybe bring in D Will.
Mexico will be suffering from a Olympic size hangover, US with a 2-1 shocker.
I like that we are developing a pool of talent with high level professional experience at a number of positions.
I’d like to see – Swap Williams for Orozco (he has RB experience with Hoffenheim) and replace Williams with Fabian Johnson (our LB in the past few games).
OR… swap Williams for Beckerman, and drop Johnson in a LB.
If the central defenders can hold together, both German-Americans give us an attacking threat on each side.
That logic makes sense. You should be an assistant coach for JK.
I’d probably still go with Johnson over Castillo because most of us as well as the coaching staff feel that Johnson is our legitimate LB for the future. Therefore, to get him reps in that environment would be huge.
I’m not as down on Castillo as everyone else is, I think he’s a solid backup and did fine when he came in at the last second for Johnson during that Canada friendly.
But outside of LB, I’m in agreement with you – Azteca is a unique and difficult environment to play in, and feeding guys to the wolves like Besler.
My lineup based on my preference is:
==Beasley=========Gomez=============Donovan=
===Torres========Jones===========Williams==
Johnson===Orozco Fiscal==Cameron==Beitashour
=================Howard=====================
@ Thomas
I think you are right, we are going to see a crop of MX players in the first half, I think is going with same line up a 4-5-1 or a look alike 4-3-3
———-Boyd———–
-Beasley–Donovan–Gomez
——-Torres—Jones——–
Castillo-Orozco–Cameron–Williams
———-Howard———–
Sub. Castillo/Johnson, Beasley/Shea, Gomez/wondo
Torres/Beck, Donovan/Zusi, Williams/Beit. Jones/Edu