Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Four Thoughts on Slovakia
Obviously, the lineup Bradley has chosen for Slovakia is subject to many limitations - no Torres or Castillo because of an important Mexican league match, no Donovan, Holden, Ching, or Clark because of the MLS playoffs, and since Tim Howard is not coming, we know Bradley was worried at least somewhat about rest.
That said, there are four things the lineup can tell us:
1. Since Clint Dempsey is a runaway choice for our most exhausted player, I thought it was interesting he was included. Fulham are going strong in England, still competing in the group stages of the Europa League, and Dempsey played all summer. If anyone was going to get a rest, I would have thought it would be him. The only reason I can think to bring him is to test him out with Jozy at forward. I expect that the two of them will start up there.
2. The inclusion of both Eddie Johnson and Jeff Cunningham seems to strongly indicate that Bradley wants a burner up top to complement Altidore in Davies's absence. This doesn't necessarily mean, to me, that Dempsey won't start. We'll see, I guess, but I bet either Cunningham or Johnson plays minutes 55-70 with Altidore, and that will give us a glimpse at what Bradley considers an alternate pairing.
3. Bradley cannot tinker any more with the back line. All of a sudden, we're in a situation where we have very few games to get a lot of guys used to different positions. It seems to me that we should play the same four guys in the both games with the understanding that we may be stuck with these guys for the World Cup. DeMerit is a continuing injury risk; who knows if Onyewu will have a competitive game before the World Cup warm-ups? I think Bornstein, Bocanegra, Marshall, and Spector will be the team.
4. Whither Adu and Beasley? These guys are so out in the cold that they're Yeti fodder. Beasley has seen time in two recent Rangers games but he's expected to be sold in January. Anyway, I would gladly sacrifice Robbie Rogers for whomever among the two is playing better come World Cup time. But, it's obvious that Bradley (and correctly so) isn't going to touch either one until he has some more club time under his belt. I would have thought the same about Eddie Johnson, but he's seen the field a few times for Fulham this year and our striker situation is much more desperate.
(Bonus 5th Thought - I cannot name one player on Slovakia's team; I'm sure I should be able to, but I will honestly have to look them up before the game).
That said, there are four things the lineup can tell us:
1. Since Clint Dempsey is a runaway choice for our most exhausted player, I thought it was interesting he was included. Fulham are going strong in England, still competing in the group stages of the Europa League, and Dempsey played all summer. If anyone was going to get a rest, I would have thought it would be him. The only reason I can think to bring him is to test him out with Jozy at forward. I expect that the two of them will start up there.
2. The inclusion of both Eddie Johnson and Jeff Cunningham seems to strongly indicate that Bradley wants a burner up top to complement Altidore in Davies's absence. This doesn't necessarily mean, to me, that Dempsey won't start. We'll see, I guess, but I bet either Cunningham or Johnson plays minutes 55-70 with Altidore, and that will give us a glimpse at what Bradley considers an alternate pairing.
3. Bradley cannot tinker any more with the back line. All of a sudden, we're in a situation where we have very few games to get a lot of guys used to different positions. It seems to me that we should play the same four guys in the both games with the understanding that we may be stuck with these guys for the World Cup. DeMerit is a continuing injury risk; who knows if Onyewu will have a competitive game before the World Cup warm-ups? I think Bornstein, Bocanegra, Marshall, and Spector will be the team.
4. Whither Adu and Beasley? These guys are so out in the cold that they're Yeti fodder. Beasley has seen time in two recent Rangers games but he's expected to be sold in January. Anyway, I would gladly sacrifice Robbie Rogers for whomever among the two is playing better come World Cup time. But, it's obvious that Bradley (and correctly so) isn't going to touch either one until he has some more club time under his belt. I would have thought the same about Eddie Johnson, but he's seen the field a few times for Fulham this year and our striker situation is much more desperate.
(Bonus 5th Thought - I cannot name one player on Slovakia's team; I'm sure I should be able to, but I will honestly have to look them up before the game).
Lineup Update - November 11, 2009
Here's what I thought the World Cup lineup was going to be after the match to Costa Rica:
Assuming Onyewu recovers and plays for a few months before the tournament, here is the team:
F: Altidore, Dempsey
MF: Donovan, Bradley, Clark, Holden
DEF: Bornstein, Bocanegra, Onyewu, Cherundolo
GK: Howard
Subs:
F: Cooper, Casey, Ching
MF: Torres, Feilhaber, Edu,
{Adu/Beasley/Rogers - if Adu or Beasley have at all decent years, one will go; if not, then Rogers}
DEF: Spector, DeMerit, Marshall
GK: Guzan, Reis
Will post again post-Slovakia.
Assuming Onyewu recovers and plays for a few months before the tournament, here is the team:
F: Altidore, Dempsey
MF: Donovan, Bradley, Clark, Holden
DEF: Bornstein, Bocanegra, Onyewu, Cherundolo
GK: Howard
Subs:
F: Cooper, Casey, Ching
MF: Torres, Feilhaber, Edu,
{Adu/Beasley/Rogers - if Adu or Beasley have at all decent years, one will go; if not, then Rogers}
DEF: Spector, DeMerit, Marshall
GK: Guzan, Reis
Will post again post-Slovakia.
