US vs Panama Preview

The US will have a depleted roster from which to pick a team that can beat Panama tonight. Five crucial players (Adu, Parkhurst, Davies, Feilhaber, and Cherundolo) have left the squad to join their respective teams in preseason training. Bob Bradley's coaching genius will be tested to try and and find the right players with the right chemistry. Panama tied Mexico in their now famous encounter in Houston last week, so we know they can compete. Look for a physical battle and if the US can grab an early goal, it should take the fight out of the Panamanians really quick. As far as a starting 11 go, here is who I would go with:

-----------------Perkins

Evans-----Conrad-----Marshall-----Pearce

----------Beckerman---Cronin

Holden------------------------------Rogers

-------------Ching----Cooper

Robles
Goodson
Pause
Clark
Heaps
Quaranta
Arnaud

I pick this poster because of the physical nature that I think this game will take. Cooper and Ching give the front line a lot of size, plus the addition of Coopers deceptive speed could take Panama off balance. Beckerman has been the best central midfielder for the US in this tournament so he gets the start, and I was really impressed with young Sam Cronin in the Haiti match, he was composed and very good defensively and isn't afraid to mix it up physically. Rogers and Holden give the US speed on the flanks and both are very good strikers from distance when they cut inside. Pearce has played well enough to continue at left back, and Brad Evans should start at right back in Cherundolo's absence, I don't like it because Evans is a defensive midfielder and I think Panama will attack at Evans from the get go. Perkins gets the easy nod in goal as Robles seemed in over his head against Haiti.