I gave it stars so it looks official. Was I early enough this time?

<Hopes to comment on the game while not coming across as aloof>

Comment away...

this should be good (HOLDEN's comments)!!

I think Reyna's injury will be a blessing for the USMNT.

Seriously though, you guys are up WAAAAAAY past your bedtime.

With injuries to O'Brien and Reyna and many tired bodies from the Venezuela game just two days ago, it's going to be hard to guess the starting 11 but I'll give it a try.

GK Hahneman
D Lewis
D Pope
D Berhalter
D Cherundolo
M Beasley
M Donovan
M Mastroeni
M Dempsey
F McBride
F Ching

I feel least confident about Berhalter (might not be fit yet as he was riding around the monorail at DisneyWorld a few days ago), Dempsey (played 90 minutes Friday) and Ching (also played 90) but given injuries and the number of minutes EJ, Onyewu and Wolff have logged, that seems to make the most sense to me.

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Berhalter doesn't start. Everybody knows he's not fit yet and he's only going to see the pitch in the tournament if there is an emergency. I see him as a second-half sub.

Johnson has only played maybe 10 minutes more than Ching in the last few games.

But really, I have no idea who Bruce will start.

quote:

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Johnson has only played maybe 10 minutes more than Ching in the last few games.

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23 minutes more but I see your point. For some reason, I thought EJ played more than 30 minutes against Morocco.

quote:

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23 minutes more but I see your point.

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Ok, since we're splitting hairs I looked it up:

Johnson played 30 minutes against Morocco and 83 against Venezuela, total 113.

Ching played 17 minutes against Morocco and 90 against Venezuela, total 107.

Johnson by a whopping six minutes.


That said, I agree that Bruce might start BMB and Ching up top, just to get a look at that combo. Of course, he might get crazy and move Donovan back up there and try someone else out in the attacking mid spot. That would be interesting.

OK, according to ESPN:

EJ played 30 against Morocco and the full 90 against Venezuela: 120 minutes.

Ching came in for McBride in the 83rd against Morocco and played the full 90 against Venezuela: 97 minutes.

Thus 23 minutes.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=196002&cc=5901

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=196001&cc=5901

Anyway, not a big deal as the difference is negligible. Whether it was 23, 10, or 6 it's not like the difference is enough to justify Ching being a lot more rested than EJ.

I thought of the possibility of Landon up top but then I wondered who would play in the midfield as Lewis will be at LB, and O'Brien and Reyna are hurt and not expected to play.

We'll find out in about 4 hours.

Hmm, I screwed up the math anyway (gave Ching 17 instead of 7 for Morocco), but US Soccer says Johnson came out of the Venezuela game at 83'.

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_280995.html

Anyway, unimportant.



I think O'Brien would be ideal for the attacking mid position, but since he's not expected to play, Wolff could get another look there. That's a better place for the player Wolff has become, anyway, IMO.

A few minutes from kickoff now. Here's the lineup:


......EJ......BMB
........Donovan
....JOB.........Beasley
........Mastroeni
Lewis..Conrad..Pope..Dolo
........Keller

I really hope EJ has a good showing this time.

Boca should have gotten a chance to start in the middle tonight.

On the plus side, it looks like Donovan came to play today. That's always a good sign for the nats.

That's a nasty knot on McBride's head. If there's one player we can't afford to lose, it's him. Looks like he's going back in, though.

EJ is playing fantastic. He's shown more speed, passion, and skill in 20 minutes than his previous 5 matches. So far, this is kind of performance that puts Ching and Wolff on the bench to stay.

1-0

McBride scores off of the knot on his forehead

Brilliant pass from Dolo, great header from McBride. That goose-egg on his forehead is nasty. Gotta put him on the bench at halftime.

This is exactly what I've been waiting for from Johnson. I've been a huge fan of the kid from the beginning, but I was just starting to accept that maybe he wasn't going to be his old self in time for this tournament. Maybe he's back.

So far everybody has played well except maybe Conrad. He is really a liability back there, maybe not against Latvia, but certainly against World Cup caliber competition. I am not happy to see him get yet another start.

quote:

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Ok, since we're splitting hairs I looked it up:

Johnson played 30 minutes against Morocco and 83 against Venezuela, total 113.

Ching played 17 minutes against Morocco and 90 against Venezuela, total 107.

Johnson by a whopping six minutes.

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quote:

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OK, according to ESPN:

EJ played 30 against Morocco and the full 90 against Venezuela: 120 minutes.

Ching came in for McBride in the 83rd against Morocco and played the full 90 against Venezuela: 97 minutes.

Thus 23 minutes.

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I prescribe 1 Xanax for each of you.

When will Demarcus learn some one on one skills? Jesus! He dribbled straight at guys..just one move and he could be past them with his friggin speed.

Yeah, Holden, we're all a little tense. We've been waiting for the World Cup for a long time now.

TAKE-MCBRIDE-OUT-PLEASE

that was a beauty

I am also surprised that McBride is still in. Everybody knows he's our #1 forward. I don't see the upside of giving him this many minutes when he's already taken a hard knock to the head.

Substitutions!!!

Finally. I'm getting that sick feeling we're going to suffer an injury soon

I honestly, want convey or dempsey to start over beasley, and whichever one doesnt to come in before him =\


something aint right with him

Agree Beasley's just not right. Convey should start on the left.

I've been campaigning for Convey for 3 years now. I didn't see anything today to change my mind.

I like having Dempsey/Beasley to come off the bench. Arena could sub depending on need with either of them. Bringing in Beasley against team with tired legs sounds good. I think Marcelo compared him to Cobie Jones in that aspect.

Lewis looked solid to me.

EJ was brilliant all game. Didn't put one in goal, but it wasn't a case of poor finishing.

Great save by Keller in extra time.

Cherundolo looked good too. Conrad was decent. He just wanders around looking for a collision.

USA had tons more energy tonight. Team played hard for 90 minutes. They also had good teamwork. Really liked the play from all three levels. As coach said at halftime, team also had good variety of attacks.

I really like Convey's game right now and have made the case that he should start at the World Cup at a few different sites, but I think he's more of the spark-plug off the bench right now. Beasley is definitely in a slump offensively, but his defense is still miles ahead of Convey's, which will be needed against the teams we'll be facing. That said, I think Convey will start one game and come off the bench in the two other openning round games, after that it's anyone's guess.