2018 International Duty

For FIFA window at the end of March, which coincides with our game at New England on March 24.

Wallace and Matarrita have been called up by Costa Rica.

No word yet on:
- Tinnerholm (Sweden)
- Medina (Paraguay)
- Ring (Finland)
- Herrera (Venezuela)
- Chanot (Luxembourg)
- Villa (Spain)

medina was not called


ring looks to be called


https://www.palloliitto.fi/jalkapallouutiset/huuhkajat-nimetty-makedoniaa-ja-maltaa-vastaan


Chanot not called


http://www.football.lu/Equipes-nati...-A/Match-amical-int-Malte-A-Lux-A-220318.aspx

http://www.football.lu/Equipes-nati...mical-int-Luxembourg-A-Autriche-27-03-18.aspx

Tinnerholm not called


http://svenskfotboll.se/landslag/herrar/arkiv/landslag/2018/03/herr-truppen-mot-chile-och-rumanien/
 
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So if Herrera gets called up (I would expect that to happen), what does our midfield look like?

I think its pretty straight forward to slide Ofori into the midfield at one of the two spots, but who else comes in? Do we bring Medina or Tajouri into the midfield and keep the other on the wing with Jlew or Berget?

Do we bring Sands in at the 6 and keep Ofori at the 8? (I think I'd prefer this - mostly to see Sands get some good minutes against a team we should beat up on)

What is PV likely to do? Let's be honest, its probably going to involve TMac in some form or fashion. :(

And just as I was about to hit "Post", this may be the good opportunity to trot out a 3ATB with Sweat and Tinny as the wingbacks.
 
We are going to need to hit the depth chart and give some guys their first start against New England. As a result, I am interested to see the 18 for the Orlando game tomorrow. Coach V might want to give these potential starters a run out off the bench rather than throwing them in cold next weekend. I am thinking of guys like Sands, McNamara, Lewis and Berget. None of them have played yet, and some portion of that group seems likely to get a start against the Revs.
 
We are going to need to hit the depth chart and give some guys their first start against New England. As a result, I am interested to see the 18 for the Orlando game tomorrow. Coach V might want to give these potential starters a run out off the bench rather than throwing them in cold next weekend. I am thinking of guys like Sands, McNamara, Lewis and Berget. None of them have played yet, and some portion of that group seems likely to get a start against the Revs.

Id probably play the A team guys while you still got em. No reason to lose them for more games than you have to. Maybe rotate them in later into the game as subs.
 
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So if Herrera gets called up (I would expect that to happen), what does our midfield look like?

I think its pretty straight forward to slide Ofori into the midfield at one of the two spots, but who else comes in? Do we bring Medina or Tajouri into the midfield and keep the other on the wing with Jlew or Berget?

Do we bring Sands in at the 6 and keep Ofori at the 8? (I think I'd prefer this - mostly to see Sands get some good minutes against a team we should beat up on)

What is PV likely to do? Let's be honest, its probably going to involve TMac in some form or fashion. :(

And just as I was about to hit "Post", this may be the good opportunity to trot out a 3ATB with Sweat and Tinny as the wingbacks.
I would definitely go with the 3ATB with Sweat/Tinny as part of the outside midfield flanking Maxi & Ofori.... so really a 343 that can morph into a 523 or 541 on defense depending how the two wingers are instructed.

The 3ATB could be Callens and Chanot on either side of Ibeagha since C&C have the technical skills to move with the ball and Ibeagha appears to be less technically mobile but incredibly adept at clearing dangerous balls and winning aerial duels.
 
Ring must have a thing against the Revs. He missed 2 of the 3 games against them last year, and is going to miss another one this year
 
I would definitely go with the 3ATB with Sweat/Tinny as part of the outside midfield flanking Maxi & Ofori.... so really a 343 that can morph into a 523 or 541 on defense depending how the two wingers are instructed.

The 3ATB could be Callens and Chanot on either side of Ibeagha since C&C have the technical skills to move with the ball and Ibeagha appears to be less technically mobile but incredibly adept at clearing dangerous balls and winning aerial duels.
That seems drastic.

Why not just drop in Ofori for Ring and play Lewis or Tajouri or Berget in Wallace's place and call it good? Not giving ourselves numbers in wide areas seems like a bad choice against a team like New England, who like to swing it in from wide areas.

We are still working out the kinks in our 4-3-3, so changing the system so drastically doesn't seem like the right move at this point.
 
Id probably play the A team guys while you still got em. No reason to lose them for more games than you have to. Maybe rotate them in later into the game as subs.

Sorry, I know I was a little unclear. That's what I was advocating. Using as subs this week the guys you might have to start next week. We may know a bit more about who is in the Starting XI next week once we see who gets off the bench this week.
 
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That seems drastic.

Why not just drop in Ofori for Ring and play Lewis or Tajouri or Berget in Wallace's place and call it good? Not giving ourselves numbers in wide areas seems like a bad choice against a team like New England, who like to swing it in from wide areas.

We are still working out the kinks in our 4-3-3, so changing the system so drastically doesn't seem like the right move at this point.
Because I was assuming we lost Ring, Hererra, and Wallace. Ofori only replaces one of the Ring/Hererra Combo. I really don’t want anybody else slotting into the other open spot. And Tinny/Sweat still bring the width but they’re pushed higher with the back 3.
 
That seems drastic.

Why not just drop in Ofori for Ring and play Lewis or Tajouri or Berget in Wallace's place and call it good? Not giving ourselves numbers in wide areas seems like a bad choice against a team like New England, who like to swing it in from wide areas.

We are still working out the kinks in our 4-3-3, so changing the system so drastically doesn't seem like the right move at this point.
Because I was assuming we lost Ring, Hererra, and Wallace. Ofori only replaces one of the Ring/Hererra Combo. I really don’t want anybody else slotting into the other open spot. And Tinny/Sweat still bring the width but they’re pushed higher with the back 3.
Yeah, this.

Christopher Jee Christopher Jee I get your point, and if Herrera isn't called up then I agree with just slotting Ofori there.

But if Herrera is called up, it may be a decent opportunity to trot out 3ATB, whether its a 3-4-3 or a 3-5-2 with Berget and Villa up top.

If we lost both Ring and Herrera and tried to maintain a 4-3-3, then I'm not sure who else slots in the midfield with Ofori and Maxi. It appears like that would likely be Awuah or Sands to keep Maxi at the #10 and I would be curious about that to see how one of those youngsters performed.

Another interesting scenario is to have Tajouri or Medina at the #10 and Maxi at the #8. What I would want the absolute least is having TMac slot into the midfield.
 
Also, some of these guys we may also lose for the game on 3/31 at San Jose.

The Ticos are in Scotland on 3/23 and then France on 3/27. I don't see how Mata and Wallace play on the West Coast on 3/31.

Ring has friendlies in Europe on 3/23 and 3/26. I would guess he is unlikely to play in San Jose as well, at least less likely to start.
 
I'm annoyed Ring is playing in these meaningless friendlies. Have no issue if it was friendly to warm up for the WC qualifying or Euros, but Finland's next real competitive match is over a year away. Bleed their young kids and let him stay back and help his club.

BTW, feel the same with US players. Doesn't help the player or the NT overall.
 
Yeah, this.

Christopher Jee Christopher Jee I get your point, and if Herrera isn't called up then I agree with just slotting Ofori there.

But if Herrera is called up, it may be a decent opportunity to trot out 3ATB, whether its a 3-4-3 or a 3-5-2 with Berget and Villa up top.

If we lost both Ring and Herrera and tried to maintain a 4-3-3, then I'm not sure who else slots in the midfield with Ofori and Maxi. It appears like that would likely be Awuah or Sands to keep Maxi at the #10 and I would be curious about that to see how one of those youngsters performed.

Another interesting scenario is to have Tajouri or Medina at the #10 and Maxi at the #8. What I would want the absolute least is having TMac slot into the midfield.
Yeah. Even if Herrera is out I would rather move Medina in there and play Tajouri or Berget on the wing, where we have no shortage of quality. Or play Awuah. He seems to have climbed the pecking order.

My thing is, why change two things (personnel and system) when you can just change one (personnel, forced)? You're not learning much about the change in system because of the change in personnel, and you're not learning about the change in personnel because of the change in system.
 
Yeah. Even if Herrera is out I would rather move Medina in there and play Tajouri or Berget on the wing, where we have no shortage of quality. Or play Awuah. He seems to have climbed the pecking order.
I'm not sure I would move Medina inside at the moment. He's been figuring out the winger position having 2 games under his belt so far, I think I'd keep him there. And I'm not sure Maxi has the physical bite to play the #8 in our midfield.

If we wanted to stay 4-3-3, I'd rather plug in Awuah or Sands in there than slide Medina in and push Maxi back. But I'd take sliding Medina in and pushing Maxi back if it meant no TMac.
 
My thing is, why change two things (personnel and system) when you can just change one (personnel, forced)? You're not learning much about the change in system because of the change in personnel, and you're not learning about the change in personnel because of the change in system.
I hear you on this, but gave some of my reasons above in terms of changing the personnel.

And at some point we do need to figure out an alternate formation to be able to go to when we need to. Yes, we would be missing Ring/Herrera/Wallace, but there are still 8/11 starters there that could help figure it out. As well as other pieces that could be considered a "starter" in a different formation (think Berget up top with Villa in a 2 striker system).
 
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