USMNT Talk

[SoupInNYC]

I know it's a friendly and a chance to tinker with lineups and experiment a bit, so I'm ok with trying new things out. But why the hell play Kitchen AND Bradley?

Bradley isn't going to just start playing further up the field, and Kitchen is a CDM, so I really don't get playing them both at the same time. I just don't think it gave the appropriate venue to truly judge Kitchen.

I dont mind trying Yedlin out on the RW in theory. I think he has a lot of great skills that translate to wing play. And his combo play with altidore in the box (followed by a poor finish from Yedlin) showed this.

However, he's spent a lot of time shoring up his defensive skills in England so he's really improved in that regard for the RB position. And who the hell would play RB if Yedlin was to play RW in a meaningful match? Orozco? No thank you.

I'd much rather Gooch had started up there instead of Yedlin and maybe even Arriola. I just don't think playing Yedlin up there provided additional useful knowledge.

 

[NYCFCfan]

Got tickets to USA vs Mexico. Thankfully too as I had already purchased my flights

 

[Gotham Gator]

So, what is your Starting XI against Mexico?

 

[SoupInNYC]

So, what is your Starting XI against Mexico?

Pulisic-Altidore-Wood
Kljestan-Nagbe
Bradley
FabJohnson-Brooks-Cameron-Yedlin
Howard

I think that would be my starting XI. I'm not completely certain on it. The bolded players above are the ones that I would have on the field for sure. The others could be a combo including Julian Green, Gooch, and even potentially Jordan Morris (though I'm not sure we would put three strikers on the field to start a match.

 

[Gotham Gator]

https://twitter.com/x/status/786177777640808448

 

[SoupInNYC]

https://twitter.com/x/status/786177777640808448

Oh wow.

 

[ktdNYCFC]

Maybe:

Pulisic--Wood--Green
--------Kljestan--------
--Cameron--Bradley--
FJ--Brooks-Besler-Yedlin
--------Howard--------

I think Pulisic and Green are the two most important guys to have on the field right now. They are completely fearless, which will be needed against Mexico.

Last night Jozy was back to his old listless self again, not contributing a single thing on defense and disappearing in the final 3rd. At this point we can't afford to keep gambling on him. We're never sure which Jozy is going to show up. Go with the Bundesliga trifecta up top.

I loathe Twellman, but his comment about Cameron playing defensive mid at Stoke might actually make sense. Kitchen was lost last night. Beckerman/Jones are options I guess. I hate to break up the Cameron/Brooks pairing but that spot next to Bradley is a gaping hole right now.

With Pulisic and Green, Fabian is just going to have to suck it up at LB. He's the best we have atm. Yedlin is our best option at RB. Horvath is sure to be the future for us, but not quite yet.

 

[SoupInNYC]

Maybe:

Pulisic--Wood--Green
--------Kljestan--------
--Cameron--Bradley--
FJ--Brooks-Besler-Yedlin
--------Howard--------

I think Pulisic and Green are the two most important guys to have on the field right now. They are completely fearless, which will be needed against Mexico.

Last night Jozy was back to his old listless self again, not contributing a single thing on defense and disappearing in the final 3rd. At this point we can't afford to keep gambling on him. We're never sure which Jozy is going to show up. Go with the Bundesliga trifecta up top.

I loathe Twellman, but his comment about Cameron playing defensive mid at Stoke might actually make sense. Kitchen was lost last night. Beckerman/Jones are options I guess. I hate to break up the Cameron/Brooks pairing but that spot next to Bradley is a gaping hole right now.

With Pulisic and Green, Fabian is just going to have to suck it up at LB. He's the best we have atm. Yedlin is our best option at RB. Horvath is sure to be the future for us, but not quite yet.

I just don't think we need to play 2 CDMs. Kitchen was lost last night, probably because he's been learning Michael Bradley's role as the holding mid in the formation that we've been playing for a while now. But when you play a CDM AND Bradley at the same time, you in effect, have two holding mids on the field at the same time. Which is fine, if that is instilled in training and the team knows how to work with it.

I do like the idea of Cameron as a CDM, but really only as tactical change during the match. IMO, we play much better with Bradley as the lone holding mid, and then two attacking mids. If Nagbe is out of favor, I think I would prefer this:

Green-Altidore-Wood
---Kljestan---Pulisic--
---------Bradley---------
FJ--Brooks--Cameron--Yedlin
---------Howard---------

I'm not quite as down on Jozy as some are. I also think having Green, FJ, and Pulisic all on the same side could leave a ton of space open for the counter, and that is why I would have Pulisic playing on Bobby's side. We've seen Fabian, Pulisic, and Julian all like to get down to the end line.

 

[ktdNYCFC]

I just don't think we need to play 2 CDMs. Kitchen was lost last night, probably because he's been learning Michael Bradley's role as the holding mid in the formation that we've been playing for a while now. But when you play a CDM AND Bradley at the same time, you in effect, have two holding mids on the field at the same time. Which is fine, if that is instilled in training and the team knows how to work with it.

I do like the idea of Cameron as a CDM, but really only as tactical change during the match. IMO, we play much better with Bradley as the lone holding mid, and then two attacking mids. If Nagbe is out of favor, I think I would prefer this:

Green-Altidore-Wood
---Kljestan---Pulisic--
---------Bradley---------
FJ--Brooks--Cameron--Yedlin
---------Howard---------

I'm not quite as down on Jozy as some are. I also think having Green, FJ, and Pulisic all on the same side could leave a ton of space open for the counter, and that is why I would have Pulisic playing on Bobby's side. We've seen Fabian, Pulisic, and Julian all like to get down to the end line.

I'd be down with this. I'd prefer this over what I posted really but was trying to go slightly more conservative with the 2 holding mids, but screw it. Let Bradley step up and get all our best on the field at once. I think Altidore would do much better with 2 attacking mids as well. Kljestan likes to play it outside which leaves Jozy on an island, but having another option up there could give him someone to play off of, plus Kljestan and Pulisic looked fantastic together recently.

 

[SoupInNYC]

I'd be down with this. I'd prefer this over what I posted really but was trying to go slightly more conservative with the 2 holding mids, but screw it. Let Bradley step up and get all our best on the field at once. I think Altidore would do much better with 2 attacking mids as well. Kljestan likes to play it outside which leaves Jozy on an island, but having another option up there could give him someone to play off of, plus Kljestan and Pulisic looked fantastic together in Cuba.

It'll be interesting to see who else will contribute off of the bench. Both Arriola and Gooch have looked nice in some brief appearances as potential attacking options.

 

[Gotham Gator]

It'll be interesting to see who else will contribute off of the bench. Both Arriola and Gooch have looked nice in some brief appearances as potential attacking options.

Yep, it's going to be an interesting set of 23 that's for sure, and that's due to a lot of different options and people playing well.

Green-Altidore-Wood
---Kljestan---Pulisic--
---------Bradley---------
FJ--Brooks--Cameron--Yedlin
---------Howard---------

I like this a lot. One question is whether we might go with Pulisic at one of the wings and bring in someone like Bedoya or Jones in midfield (or maybe leave Pulisic where he is and have one of those guys in for Kljestan).

 

[Taurus]

For Mexico I think Klinsmann will play a 4-4-2. Here's a combination of what I think he'll do along with what I'd like to see.

 

[LionNYC]

https://twitter.com/x/status/786177777640808448

I enjoyed that Darke put "surely" in his tweet. That's one of his iconic words.

 

[Dnigly13]

Not posting the call ups but this might be the first time I am happy with JK decision. The only change I would make would be Hamid over yarabrough

 

[Hobo]

Will Little Finger be fit to play?

 

[LionNYC]

Jozy better not be shit in these next two games. Otherwise, he's just a pussycat.

 

[Taurus]

Huge match on Friday. Here's a combo of the formation I think Klinsmann plays along with what I'd like to see. Some picks are difficult particularly at center back and the right side of midfield.

 

[LionNYC]

Kljestan and Morris are both questions because of their injuries on Sunday.

 

[Ulrich]

Kljestan and Morris are both questions because of their injuries on Sunday.

(Slightly) off topic: I bet Kljestan had a fun time getting all the dried blood out of his 'stache.... how the hell could he play with giant rolled gauze in each nostril?

 

[LionNYC]

(Slightly) off topic: I bet Kljestan had a fun time getting all the dried blood out of his 'stache.... how the hell could he play with giant rolled gauze in each nostril?

Wonder if there was any conversation between him and the medical team with a razor nearby asking if he wanted to shave it off to save time getting the blood out.