NP's USA vs. Chile Pregame Examination

I'll admit it, this one snuck up on me.  While I've been following the events in camp closely, I didn't realize that January 22 was so close.  So here we will have our customary game preview.  Here we go.

First we gotta figure out who the 5 players who won't be making the game day roster.  My best guesses are:

GK: Sean Johnson, GK Matt Pickens, DF A.J. DeLaGarza,  DF Zach Loyd, MF Sam Cronin (Quad strain)

I don't mean any disrespect to these guys, and I could be completely wrong here.  But there would be no point in having more than two game day goalkeepers and more than 6 game day defenders.  Sam Cronin picked up a slight quad knock during training and will be left out (reportedly).

So here are your game day 18:

GK: Nick Rimando, Dominic Cervi
DF: Sean Franklin, Ryan Miller, Marvell Wynne, Omar Gonzalez, Tim Ream, Anthony Wallace
MD: Eric Alexander, Alejandro Bedoya, Mikkel Diskerud, Jeff Larentowicz, Dax McCarty, Brek Shea
FW: Juan Agudelo, Teal Bunbury, Eugene Starikov, Chris Wondolowski

Based on Bob "Mad Scientist" Bradley's latest experimentation's, I would like to see the United States coming out in a 4-2-3-1, much like what we saw against Poland back in October.  Chile are sure to offer some flair moving forward, and controlling midfield through the essentially five midfielders will be key to keeping possession and pressure off the U.S. back four.

I'm just going to drop you a line-up that I would favor here:

---------------------Rimando

Wynne-----Gonzalez-----Ream-----Wallace

---------Larentowicz------McCarty

Bedoya------------Diskerud----------Shea

---------------------Bunbury

Avg. caps: 1.81
Avg. age: 23.09

Elder net-minder Nick Rimando likely takes the start, and perhaps youngster Dominic Cervi gets to show off a bit in the second half.  Simple enough for that spot.

For the back four, I've had my mind made up since the roster was announced that Tim Ream and Omar Gonzalez would be your starting centerback pairing against Chile, barring injuries.  They are the future for the U.S. in defense, and there is no better time to link them up than now.  Marvell Wynne returns to the U.S. fold, for I think the first time since the 2008 Costa Rica debacle.  He has all the speed in the world, but can he turn that into a dominant defensive performance?  Especially after playing most of his club season in central defense.  Left back options for the United States are few and very far between.  So Anthony Wallace, a veteran of the 2007 U-20 World Cup run to the quarterfinals for the U.S., steps in.  Can he impress enough to get future looks there?  He's sure to be tested.

Out of this formation, the triumvirate of Jeff Larentowicz, Dax McCarty, and Mikkel Diskerud will need to boss the central of midfield.  Larentowicz will need to play the enforcer role and shut down Chile's playmaker, whomever that may be.  McCarty will be your midfield quarterback and king of distribution and possession.  Diskerud, who assisted in his last game for the US, will once again be stuck in as the U.S. resident #10.  They'll likely be doing it alone, as I'm not sure if I expect the U.S. fullbacks Wynne and Wallace to be getting forward much, partly due to Chile's dangerous counterattacking play.  Deep offensive support from Larentowicz will be key as well, and the 27 year old does have a knack for ferocious long distance shots.

Wide support comes in the form of camp elder Alejandro Bedoya, and relative newcomer Brek Shea.  While Bedoya's skill set is pretty much now known, since he does have six caps to his name, Shea is a whole other animal.  He'll need to step up his game from his poor last outing with the United States, this past October against Columbia, where he got a surprise start, and was sympathetically axed at halftime.

Teal Bunbury is really the only forward in camp (now) who can play the lone striker role.  Agudelo and Starikov thrive in space when they're able to run at players, and Wondolowski plays much better as a withdrawn striker.  So Bunbury gets his first start with the U.S. after impressing mightily in his 45 minute cameo against South Africa two months ago.

So there you have it.  Am I the only one upset that this will not be on english-speaking television?? Blame Fox Soccer Channel apparently.  But it will be shown on TeleFutura and ESPN3.com at 7 p.m. pacific time.  See you on the flip side!!

US Soccer Finalizes March Dates with Argentina and Paraguay

How about this to start the year?  US Soccer is scheduling tougher and tough opponents, inevitably to prepare for this summers CONCACAF Gold Cup.  On January 22, the US will take on 15th ranked Chile for the conclusion of the Camp Cupcake festivities.  The current squad has been training since January 4, and includes many of the future prospects in the US system. 

Then two and a half weeks later on February 9, the US will take on 10th ranked Egypt in Cairo.  In what should be a reunification of all the US big guns, the US will renew acquaintances with the northern African country that the US beat 3-0 in the 2009 Confederations Cup to advance to the semi-finals.

For the two March international dates, the US has scheduled 5th ranked Argentina, who will bring their full side and talents to the New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey on March 26.  Timmy "Stonewall" Howard shut down Argentina's attack and the US held on to a famous 0-0 draw in the Jersey rain in 2008.  Three days later, the US travels south to Nashville, TN for a date with 24th ranked Paraguay.  Ninety Plus will be in attendance for that one.

Rumors continue to circulate about a late May or early June re-match with the top ranked team from Spain. 

Well done to US Soccer. 

Jermaine Jones Set for Loan to Blackburn Rovers, and more...

Sky Sports is reporting that want-away Schalke and USA midfielder Jermaine Jones is set for a move across the English channel to EPL side Blackburn Rovers.  Ninety Plus understands that this is a loan with an option to buy for Blackburn, who currently sit 10th in the EPL table. 

After being tossed in the Felix Magath doghouse a couple months ago, this is a welcome relief for Jones, who is looking to secure first team minutes in the hopes of making the February US squad that will travel to Cairo for an international friendly against Egypt.

In other news, Robbie Findley's move to Nottingham Forest was finalized today as he was granted his work permit.  Prove us all wrong Robbie.

The US scheduling for this world cup cycle has been top notch...more coming on that later today.

Silly Season, Updated

Confirmed moves so far this season:

Oguchi Onyewu finalizes move to FC Twente for the remainder of the season, he is expected to compete for a starting job immediately.

Edson Buddle has signed a deal with 2 Bundesliga cellar dwellers FC Ingolstadt 04.  The same club has reportedly offered trialist Freddy Adu a contract, no word on if he will sign, but word to the wise.  DO IT!!!!!

Silly Season, Abridged Edition

Tomorrow officially opens the January transfer window and a lot of focus is going on some current Yanks in need of new homes.  I'll give a run down on all the rumored moves.

Oguchi Onyewu
Back in 2009, following the Confederations Cup in South Africa, Gooch was hot commodity.  His defensive performance for the US throughout that tournament lifted him from the heights he'd attained at Standard Liege in Belgium, to make a transfer to Italian super-club AC Milan, who currently sit first in Serie A.  While being a back-up defender on a league leading club is respectable in its own right, playing time is the single most important thing in keeping fit and in form.  Reportedly, there are all loan options on the table for Onyewu's services, within Italy at clubs like Palermo, Chievo, and AC Bari.  His former coach Michel Preud’homme, now in charge of FC Twente who currently sit second in the Dutch Eredivisie, have expressed the most interest, and some sources are saying that this move could be made this week.

Benny Feilhaber
Feilhaber is currently the best player on his AFG Aarhus side in the Denmark second division.  He was close to a move at the end of summer but not enough dominoes fell the right way for it to happen.  There is reported interest from the SAS Ligaen, the Eredivisie, and the Spanish Primera in Europe.  But the most interest comes from this side of the pond, where Mexican power Cruz Azul is reported close to gaining Feilhaber's services.  A late charge from Brazilian club Botafogo set things back, but Feilhaber is 100% set to leave this winter.

Edson Buddle
Buddle who was on trial with Birmingham City last week, is reportedly garnering interest from both the Blues and Champsionship side Sheffield United.  If Robbie Findley can get a work permit, then surely Buddle can.

Jermaine Jones
Jones' situation at Schalke has gone from consistent starter to dog house.  He's looking for a new club and Wolfsburg have expressed interest.  

Adrian Ruelas
Rumored to be set to sign with Scottish power Celtic.  Just a rumor though.

Jonathan Spector
Despite his renaissance in the West Ham midfield, I'd look for Spector to still make a move to the mainland.  Cologne in Germany was reportedly interested.  Maybe West Ham keep him around until they are relegated come the end of the season.

Relegation Battlers  
Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley, two consistent starters for the United States could be house hunting come the end of their respective teams campaigns.  Dempsey and Fulham's win against Stoke City pushed them just above the the relegation zone, and past history tells us that Fulham will stay up with a furious finish to end the season, but if they are relegated, Dempsey will definitely be on the move.  Bradley is currently the best player on the worst team in the Bundesliga, they are set for relegation, there is no hope.  Bradley will be sold, and Premiership and higher up Bundesliga clubs are sure to be waiting in the wings.