Quote Originally Posted by Lyle View Post
Well what kinds of lineups do you guys forsee the US using vs Honduras and Netherlands. I know Honduras is the last chance to get some quality play for backups and guys who are on the fringe, I see Robbie Findley getting a start vs them just to see how he does and vs the Netherlands it's the last chance to really perfect your World Cup side and if we don't see Jermain Jones vs Honduras we may see him then.

If we could run out a side like this:

ST: Findley, Altidore
CAM: Donovan
LM:Bradley RM: Dempsey
CDM: Jones
LB: Cherundolo CB: Bocanegra, DeMerit RB: Spector
GK: Howard

Maybe Adu at Striker (he has history with Altidore), and maybe Edu at CDM if Jones is a no go. Also we could put Dempsey at striker to start off and replace him with Fielhaber, but we should only do that if our defense is sound. Also I was wondering if maybe Holden or Rodgers could play striker...I know everyone hates Rodgers because he's careless with the ball or tries to do too much (a la Clint Dempsey) but as a striker his improvisation would be welcomed.

Then I would like our chances to be effective in the World Cup. I think the main thing for us vs teams like England, Slovenia, and Algeria is that we need to attack the goal and never let up 100% nonstop attack. Sure we can draw with anyone if we focus on defense but we can't win if we don't score and once you score your first goal momentum builds. In France we didn't score until the last game, every second that ticked off the clock there was more pressure to score and more people wondering why we hadn't scored yet.
I like Findley a lot, but I think they will play Dempsey as a second striker behind Jozy, if Jozy gets his act together. If not, it may end up be Dempsey and Findley up top. I don't think you can rest our world cup hopes on a 19 yo Jozy who can barely break the lineup at Hull and an MLS player without significant international experience. The need one mature and experienced player up top. If CD was healthy, it would have been a different thing, because those to had enough experience together and a certain confidence.

Strange as it seems, Beasley is playing himself back into the picture. He's on a nice run with Rangers, about 5 good games straight. Two goals and an assist in the last two games. We'll see how he looks in a few weeks and how he looks against Celtic and Hibs - the better competition.

I think it will look something like this:

----------------Findley/Jozy----------------
-----------------------------Dempsey------
----Landon--------------------SH/DMB----
---------------JJ/RC---------MB------------
--Bornstein---Boca/Gooch/Demerit--Dolo-- If Both Gooch and DeMerit are
healthy, Boca may move wide.

Spector comes off the bench to sub either fullback position. Benny comes on if Findley/Jozy are useless and Landon needs to move to second striker with Dempsey moving to CF.

If Beasley keeps up his recent performance an stays fit, it's possible that both all the expected strikers sit, Holden moves to left mid, Beasley plays right wing (where he is playing well with Rangers), and Landon plays a more central AM/Hole Forward position and Dempsey is the CF. You could even do the same thing and play Benny at wide MF and use LD and Deuce up top.