Yes, you're wrong, ab. Who would you rather see start at right back?

The goose. Agoos.

we may be better off just playing three backs and playing pablo behind reyna in the middle, we are thin at D and forward and loaded in the midfield talent wise we should just exploit that and run a heavy midfield set

I don't think we're thin in defense when everyone is healthy. We're actually loaded at center back. I am very confident in Gooch, Gibbs, and Bocanegra against anyone. And although Pope had a "down" period, he has looked in good form the past few times out and he has a ton of experience. So at least four very solid CBs.

Cherundolo is excellent on the right and I'm reasonably comfortable with Albright (or even Gibbs or midfielder, in a pinch) as a backup there.

Left back is really the only real problem. Lewis is the starter on the left if we have four backs, and he's not even really a defender. Boca can back him up at left back, but that's just not Boca's position and I don't think he does particularly well against faster attackers on the edge or in the extra running role of an outside back.

Having said all that, and as I have said here before, I would love to see a healthy dose of the 3-5-2 in the World Cup.

I like the idea of the 3-5-2.

McBride - Donovan

Beasley - Reyna - Pablo - O'Brien - Dempsey (or Convey)

Lewis - Gooch or Pope - Dolo

Don't think you'll see too much of the 3-5-2 except for maybe against Ghana. 3 at the back can leave too many holes (especially for a team that almost always uses a 4-4-2 and while I don't want to see us bunker in, a strong defense is what gets you far in the WC (unless you are Brazil in which case I could be a center back and they would still win it all).

CB is strong. RB is strong with Cherundolo but if he gets hurt or tired, I think we are in trouble. Don't think Albright is ready for the pressure of the WC. It's no mystery that we don't have a natural LB and that is worrysome but Lewis, Bocanegra, and Gibbs have experience there (I actually would like to see Gibbs get more PT there if it didn't mean taking Lewis off the field completely).

I would rather donovan play center mid, then forward. As long as we have him, dempsey, reyna, and beasley on the field at one time we are fine. If you can add o'brien to that list we are money

I'd prefer a 4-4-2 instead of 3-5-2. We get enough push from the back with 4 guys. I'd rather have that balance. Just seems like things can get too congested in the middle with 5 mids, especially with our speed.

No matter what formation we're in, Donovan needs to be a mid. Playing him forward negates his strengths and exposes his weaknesses. He's so good at cutting through a defense on nice run, creating open space, thru balls to teammates, etc. He's just not that effective with back to goal or finishing.

quote:

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I would rather donovan play center mid, then forward. As long as we have him, dempsey, reyna, and beasley on the field at one time we are fine

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So who plays d-mid in that midfield?

I agree that Donovan is much better as an attacking mid then as a forward but I just don't see how he can fit in the midfield when you consider that someone has to play d-mid and our 2nd best striker isn't as good as Donovan up top. Not unless the old EJ comes back.

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"The rest of the world will be rooting for the U.S. to fall flat on its face. Tell your soccer-hating friends that if they couldn't care less about how the U.S. does in these games, they are right in line with the French."

Page 2 writer Michael Davies

reyna can play d-mid...I also wouldnt mind donovan being up top if it was a fluid kind of thing. I've noticed he's letting our talented midfield players float around, so they appear all over the match. A lot of england's top players have done that and been succesful.

Eddie Lewis had a nasty free kick to give Leeds an away goal against preston in the league championship tournament (winner of the tourney goes to the EPL)...Leeds won the next game and will play watford or crystal palace in the finals (most likely watford)...He is in great form right now...