USA and Portugal, Who should play?

[KendrickPanther]

We will be playing the Portugese deep in the Amazon jungle. Altidore is out. Dempsey has been struggling with his broken nose. Who do you play?

 

GK: Howard

RB: Johnson

CB: Cameron

CB: Besler

LB: Beasley

DM: Jones

DM: Beckerman

RM: Dempsey

CM:Bradley

LM: Julian Green

CF: Wondolowski

 

The shock inclusion here is obviously Julian Green. Manause will be hot and exhausting. I put the 19 year old out there and let him run ragged. Maybe he strikes fear into the Portugese, maybe they tire following him around.

 

Dempsey is RM in name only. Fabian provides the overlapping width. Dempsey plays this game with his feet, collecting and distributing. Making runs at the back post. I don't think Dempsey can be asked to knock heads in the center of the Portugese defense.

 

Wondo gives you a veteran player. Hopefully he can stay cool with the ball at his feet and nick a goal given the chance. The key to all of this is transitioning from defense to offense. It's not good enough to win the ball and kick it aimlessly up field. We need Bradley to link with the attack.

 

We are in a precarious position if Jermaine Jones or Beckerman miss time on cards or injury. I don't think either of them can defend without help. There is no true DM in the reserves.

 

Other guys I would consider playing are Zusi, Diskerud, and Davis. All have passing qualities but no elite athleticism.

 

So do you mix up the squad and get fresh legs on the field or go with a similar setup to Ghana?

 

Personally I don't like Jermain Jones on the left wing. He cannot make a cross and you saw him shift towards the middle of the field.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

GK: Howard

RB: Johnson

CB: Cameron

CB: Besler

LB: Beasley

DM: Jones

DM: Beckerman

RM: Dempsey

CM: Bradley

LM: Zusi

CF: Wondolowski

- It's obvious that we aren't adjusting to our personnel as we continued to play possession ball with Johannsson. With that being the case I'd go with Wondo up top because I believe his game is closer to Altidore's than Johannsson's is.

- I'm a big fan of Zusi's because he is great at set pieces and his overall feel for the game is solid. I think set pieces will be crucial to our success against Portugal so I went with Graham.

Subs

- If we're up with ten minutes to go I'm subbing in Brooks for Beckerman and switching to a 5-4-1 with three big center backs and a midfield of Bedoya - Jones - Bradley and Dempsey.

- As you can see I mentioned Bedoya. I love Bedoya's energy and hustle. If the entire roster had his hustle we'd have a shot at winning the whole thing based on work ethic. I'd bring Bedoya on in the 75th minute for Zusi.

- Finally, I'd bring on Johannsson in the 65th minute. I believe his speed would be a great advantage over a tired Portugal back line that doesn't have many bodies left.

I think Green will eventually be good but he hasn't impressed me in any of his matches that he's played for the States. I'm not sure a game against Portugal is the best time to introduce him to the world.

[PandaPancake]

I'm going to have to go with the coaches decisions. I know one Portuguese person and I would like to throw that in their face.

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[DirtyMagic97]

I'd have to see what set Klinsmann intends to run. I'm assuming he'll roll with another double pivot, but hopefully he has Bradley press a bit more. He looked timid.

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[KendrickPanther]

I like Bedoya but he was gassed early in the game. Came off looking hurt. Id give him the match off and see where he is for Germany. Of course this is all nervous speculation.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I like Bedoya but he was gassed early in the game. Came off looking hurt. Id give him the match off and see where he is for Germany. Of course this is all nervous speculation.

Looked like he and Besler both tweaked hamstrings.

[MCC]

I would be totally okay with just playing Dempsey at the CF position.  I want a player who is in form and really wants to score up top. Not very confident in our Forward depth. 

 

Put Zusi and Diskerud in the mix behind him and get some possession going in the midfield and crosses into the box.

 

4-2-3-1

 

GK: Howard
RB: Johnson
CB: Cameron
CB: Besler
LB: Beasley
DM: Jones
DM: Beckerman
RM: Zusi
CM: Bradley
LM: Diskerud
CF: Dempsey

[toldozer]

I would be totally okay with just playing Dempsey at the CF position. I want a player who is in form and really wants to score up top. Not very confident in our Forward depth.

Put Zusi and Diskerud in the mix behind him and get some possession going in the midfield and crosses into the box.

4-2-3-1

GK: Howard

RB: Johnson

CB: Cameron

CB: Besler

LB: Beasley

DM: Jones

DM: Beckerman

RM: Zusi

CM: Bradley

LM: Diskerud

CF: Dempsey

This really wouldn't surprise me. If we go one up top I would not be shocked at all

[KendrickPanther]

I really like Mix Diskeruds game but I'm not sure he's athletic enough on the wing. I do like the idea of Bradley, Zusi, and Diskerud linking up with Dempsey. I feel like Brad Davis provides the more traditional left footed crosser of the ball. I watch the game back and Bedoya was so useful. He just wore down from running so hard.

 

Johansen did better than I gave him credit for as well. He was solid in the first half but struggled getting the ball in the 2nd. Everyone talks about him being fast, I don't see it. He's crafty with the ball but didn't beat anyone with his foot speed.

[Ivan The Awesome]

I would wish you gents good luck, but... Portugal is trash. You shouldn't have any trouble at least making it a tie with them. Team USA should not have any trouble with Portugal. They are a dying animal that needs to be shot in the head and put out of it's misery. So... do your job. Should be easy as pie. 

[Achilles]

I think we are going to see Dempsey up top in the lone striker role. Zusi and Bedoya on the wings. This gives us the most consistency with our most dangerous goal scoring threat in position in front of goal. Dempsey is better than anyone on this team one-on-one off the dribble. He is savvy enough to hold the ball up and also has a decent strike from distance.

That being said, I wouldn't be at all surprised if JK brings on Wondo near the 70 min mark. Dempsey is not as young as Altidore and will fade faster. We need him against Germany, so he probably can't go the full 90. Johansson or even Green are possible options.

Beasler will start. Brooks is not ready for the starting role. We could see a Brad Davis subbed in for one of the wingers in the 2nd half.

One of my biggest concerns is Beasley. I have no doubt that he is fit and his recovery speed is good, but he often makes mistakes in one-on-one situations. Could wear down quickly from being targeted by Portugal and isn't the biggest guy. I don't like Chandler's form and there really aren't any other options. I don't want to see him on the field any more than I want to see Gonzales.

It would be nice to have Donovan off the bench in a game like this...

If Bradley can get back in form, I feel our chances are good against a reeling Portuguese side.

[KendrickPanther]

The Portugese may have low morale but they are still better at almost every position on the field. This is not a sure thing by any means. Ronaldo can score at any moment.