Game Day Notes

Ok folks, we are only a handfull of hours away from kickoff and it is time to go over my notes for the game.

Ives made a post on his brilliant blog today predicting the US lineup from a picture from training and the result looks pretty accurate as I agree on all acounts. The lineup is as follows…

Twellman - Johnson

Mapp - Clark - Feilhaber - Olsen

Bornstien - Conrad - Demerit - Wynne

Keller

This lineup differs a bit from the one I would like to see out there. I’d like to see Charlie Davies given a chance instead of another for Eddie Johnson. I’d also like to see Heath Pearce get a run out there at the left back spot instead of the exhausted Jonathan Bornstien.

With all of this said, I can see why Bob would go with a lineup like this in a game against such a tough opponent. This is the most experienced lineup we can put out there and in a huge tournament such as the Copa America experience is very much needed.

The lineup has a defensive field to it in the midfield with the trio of Olsen, Clark, and Feilhaber, but all three of these guys can turn a won ball in the midfield into a quick counter attack. With that, the defensive responsibility is going to need to be there for the US squad throughout the night as they will be dealing with some of the best attackers on the globe.

The speed of Wynne at right back will be critical all night in tracking down the Argentine flank men and the national team virgin will have to check his nerves at the touchline.

Prediction: 2-0 Argentina. I think the Yanks will be very tentative to attack knowing that the Argentine counter will be absolutley lethal. Heavy defending is on tap for the Americans, but I think they are more up to this call then that of scoring. This tentative attack from the US will lead to heavy possesion by Riquelme and the boys and very few chances for the all MLS frontline of Tightshirt Taylor and EJ. Don’t be surprised to see some early substitutions for quicker more technical attackers in Nguyen and Davies.

What are your thoughts on the matchups and who do you think Bob should put in the first XI? Be sure to drop your prediction as well.