Well, it has been since October 2010 since anything resembling the "A" team has been amassed for a friendly. Those two friendlies, against Poland and Colombia, yielded decent results (both draws) for the U.S. and while the players were familiar, the formations used were a mix of quasi-successful (4-2-3-1 vs. Poland) and downright dreadful (4-3-3 vs. Colombia).
This time around, there must be less experimentation, and more evaluation. With an eye to the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June, and with two for sure matches (maybe a third) to prepare, these are critical to finding a working solution to reclaim the Gold Cup crown. This goes back to losing that Egypt friendly last month, crucial lost time there for Bob Bradley and his staff to make assessments ahead of naming the 23 man roster.
Ticket sales for the Argentina game are climbing close to 70,000, and a national audience will be watching on TV. Bob Bradley will need to get this one right.
Just for the sake of comparison, and a bit of fun, let's examine the US squad the last time these two teams met, in New Jersey, in 2008. Here was the US starting 11:
-------------------------Howard
Cherundolo-----Onyewu-----Bocanegra-----Pearce
-------------------Bradley-----Mastroeni
Dempsey--------------Donovan--------------Beasley
-------------------------Johnson
In 2008, that was our strongest lineup. Really.
My oh my how things have changed for 2011. The U.S. is deeper, more talented, and more experienced than that rainy night some three years ago.
Alright, first lets run down NP's "Philosophy of Formation". This is a new term here at NP, and basically, it is what it sounds like; what will the US formation be that is best suited to both attack and defend Argentina.
Philosophy of Formation
The withdrawal of Stuart Holden because of a vicious challenge from his match this past weekend ruled out a well earned place in the starting 11 of the US Men's national team. Bob Bradley must now figure out how to remedy this problem. Remember back to the World Cup this past summer, where did all of the goals come from?? Through the center of the pitch. Patching up that hole would've (I'd like to have thought) been a central triumvirate of Stuart Holden, Jermaine Jones, and Maurice Edu. Holden is more attacking oriented than that of the latter two, and would aid the US in quick transition from defense to counter-attack.
Well, just crumple up that page and toss it, thank you Jonny Evans, you dick. Now, for the U.S. to make the most of the situation, Holden's injury opens up a spot for an additional forward perhaps?? I've been mulling this for the last few days and over time it has made more sense. A 4-4-2 hybrid, or the "Bob Bradley Special" as it had become known during the days of the Davies-Altidore combination up top.
Jermaine Jones and Maurice Edu are still the starters for me. Michael Bradley hasn't kept the right to remain as a penciled in starter for the US, since his move to the EPL, Junior has found playing time hard to come by, and as such, can afford to sit for a couple matches. No harm, no foul right?
Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan pinch in from the touchline, acting more as central attacking midfielders than true wide midfielders. The interchangeability among themselves and the strikers is crucial to achieving any success against Argentina.
Speaking of the strikers, Edson Buddle and Jozy Altidore partnership up top, as it should have been during the World Cup (facepalm), but I digress. Jozy is playing as a wide-ish winger/withdrawn striker with Bursaspor in Turkey, where he has enjoyed a fair bit of success, behind a true grinding striker. Edson Buddle is exactly that kind of player. A rich man's Brian Ching/Conor Casey (with a better right foot).
Looking at the backline......where to start. There are a myriad of options that Bob Bradley could go with here. He could go for straight experience in Spector-Onyewu-Bocanegra-Bornstein. Or he could go big in the back with Spector-DeMerit-Onyewu-Bocanegra, or a bit crazy here, Chandler-Onyewu-Bocanegra-Bornstein, etc....the lists go on and on. For the best results, use daily Onyewu and DeMerit. This partnership in the 2009 Confederations Cup was one of the best in the tournament. For outside backs, and here is a bit of a dice-roll, new-to-the-block Timothy Chandler, and Captain America Carlos Bocanegra. Why Chandler? Why not? Bob had no issue starting Omar Gonzalez against Brazil or Tim Ream against South Africa and Chile. Doubtful that an Eric Lichaj sneaks in here, since he wasn't apart of the original camp roster to begin with.
Tim Howard in goal, the man was christ between the pipes last time vs. Argentina, we will look for more of the same.
Starting 11
----------------------Howard
Chandler-----DeMerit-----Onyewu-----Bocanegra
----------------Jones----------Edu
-----Dempsey-----------------------Donovan
-----------------Altidore
-----------------------------Buddle
Opponent Breakdown
It's Argentina, defend in numbers, gang-tackle, counter-attack, repeat. That is the name of the game. See the Argentina-Germany match from the World Cup if you don't believe me.
Possible starting 11 for Argentina
----------------------Romero
Zanetti-----Otamendi-----Burdisso-------Rojo
-----------Cambiasso------Mascherano
---------------------Pastore
Messi------------------------------------Di Maria
---------------------Lavezzi
There you all have it. Now lets get psyched to cheer on the Red, White, and Blue!!
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