Who Should Start vs. Poland?

February 28th, 2006 | by: Daryl |

Arena has a more or less full squad to choose from for the game aganist Poland. Assuming he’ll start with his strongest eleven, who should that be?

If I had Bruce’s job (and I’ll be available in August, should the USSF be interested) then I’d go:

GK: Keller
RB: Cherundolo
LB: Lewis
CB: Bocanegra
CB: Onyewu
RM: Klein
LM: Beasley
CM: Mastroeni
CM: Donovan
CF: McBride
CF: Johnson

It would be good to see Lewis tested against some strong opposition, so that we know whether he’s up to playing left back against Italy and Czech Republic. Klein is obviously conroversial, but I like to see a natural right midfielder, playing there, rather than someone playing out of position.

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Bob

I’d like to see Twellman given a shot simply because he hasn’t had a chance to play against a team of this level. Johnson is in the same boat but Twellman has been so hot lately I think he deserves the nod.
Rick

I think I’d replace Mastroeni with Dempsey, but then what the hell do I know?
Alex Fowler

McBride won’t be available for the Germany game, so that’ll be Twellman’s shot against top opposition. EJ has never really played against top opposition either aside from Mexico and Japan, and has never played alongside McBride aside from 20 minutes or whatever it was in the Panama WCQ. I’d like to see the following lineup:

GK – Keller
RB – Cherundolo
CB – Gooch, Bocanegra
LB – Lewis
DM – Mastroeni
RM – Dempsey
LM – Beasley
AM – Donovan
F – McBride, Johnson
daryl

I’d like to see Twellman given a shot too, but I’m not keen on a McBride/Twellman partnership. I’m guessing McBride will sub out for TT at some point.

In midfield I think we need a holding player like Mastroeni to give Donovan some freedom.
http://clusterchuck.blogspot.com Chuck

FWIW, I agree that a McBride/Twellman partnership would be unappealing. It just seems redundant to me.
http://www.football-world-cup.org.uk kudoskid

I’m reading around these blogs to get a feel for who the critical players will be this summer. For me, I was fascinated by how Kasey Keller matured at Spurs – I think he’ll be a linchpin in the US side. More news and info at http://www.football-world-cup.org.uk
http://slowdayinthefastlane.blogspot.com Seamus

Why can’t Convey and Beasley alternate between the left and right wings? C. Ronaldo often spends lots of time on both sides throughout a match, and Joe Cole shows that you don’t necessarily need to play on the same side as your natural foot. I say start Beasley on the right, Convey on the left, and keep Mastroeni and Donovan in the middle with more of a diamond shape. Let the wings switch often during the course of the match I think Cherundolo and Lewis can cover ably behind the two speedy wingers.