Tactically I think the issue lies in other areas. We are absolutely married to an anchor man in our formation at this point. And I think we all agree that's not Bradley's strength. More of a deep lying CM that can make runs. Trouble is, if you're going to play both of those guys at the same time your CDM needs to be world class (erm, we don't have one of those) or your full backs have to be awesome defensively (also not to the strength of our talent pool)

So the options? Get rid of the Beckerman role and go back to essentially 2 CM which would get a lot of "ZOMG BOB BRADLY BALL" nonsense or not have one of your best 7 field players (Johnson, Yedlin) atm used effectively and rotate FB help a LOT. The other option is to play triangle MF in the middle but again, you've got clogged center and need huge support from your WMFs. This is what we did a lot against Ghana last year at WC. Bedoya really showed well in that role. Zusi didn't. In fact, Zusi gets a pass because of that corner, but he was poor overall in the WC.

Teams who play the narrow diamond are going the way of the dodo. We saw Portugal get absolutely roasted last summer playing essentially that with Nani creating width and then Robbening his way inside and Ronaldo just freelancing. They had some good offensive moments. But not a lot. And we roasted them on the other end. And our team isn't filled with top flight talent.

I think the answer is like mmb says and get another creator in front of Bradley. Trouble is, you're now taking Bedoya off the field to do that and who can argue that he's not a top 5 field player for us right now? Maybe something on paper like:

Guzan

Cameron ------- Gonzo ---------- Brooks ---------- Fabian

---------- Bradley ---------- Beckerman ----------

--- Yedlin ------------- Nguyen ----------- Bedoya

----------------------- Jozy -------------------------

You've got some anchor/experience back on the right side with Cameron and Gonzo. Yedlin is free to bound either way and doesn't have that much defensive responsibility. Bradley has space in there to make runs and facilitate. Fabian and Ale swap pretty well and cover one another with Beckerman covering for either side if they get too far forward. That Nguyen spot looks weak (and makes me pine for Stu Holden) but this summer that might be the best shot we have to get our best 11 on the field.

And this is essentially the formation we played after Jozy got hurt last summer fwiw. So it's not like we're not capable of it tactically.

Loose... I'm confused, is that your ideal lineup for Gold Cup?

Why not Deuce> Nguyen? Even Mix > Nguyen for me... I'm no Nguyen hater but can't imagine putting him over those two.

Also, shouldn't JJ be healthy? I agree with you about Beckerman in the anchor role being good, but especially in group play against some of the minnows, the old JJ/MB double pivot seems best for me. Maybe against the other really top teams in CONCACAF, like Costa Rica, we could go back to Beckerman and either put MB90 forward or bench JJ (who, let's face it, will be on YC suspension by then anyway).

Also excited for the U20's at 3:30 tonight against Colombia.

Bradley will be starting at CM in Russia in '18. Probably a bridge too far for Deuce/JJ and certainly for Beckerman. Mix is certainly in the...well...mix for one of those jobs, but two of the most exciting CM prospects in the pool, Hyndman and Zelalem are playing tonight.

They'll both be 22 in Russia I think? Maybe Zelalem 21? I know projecting from youth world cups about the full national side is an inexact science, but that doesn't mean we can't try...

good times, bros. just gonna have to pull an all-nighter

For me, Mix still > Nguyen or Benny in a US kit. Hasn't had a bad performance in a while now and I can't put a ton of stock into his play with NYC given that the club is just a total **** show thus far.

Potential opponent Hungary goes up 1-0 on Serbia in 57th on a counter after what should have been a Serbia goal but the dude just choked massively on his shot and it ended up essentially being a pass that started the counter for Hungar

tied lol

serbia equalizes in the 91st only to have a player already on a yellow tug a guys jersey 30 seconds later and now they will play extra time with 10

oh man hungary manages to score an own goal in the 118th minute and loses 2-1 despite being up a man

we get those pesky serbs if we advance?

they played their asses off.. from what I saw, they weren't on the back-foot even though down a man

rubioooo

Maryland Terrapin Pride!!

pretty great save on the PK

gonna be tough to keep this run going with all these injuries and now acosta out for a game as well

Serbia game 12:30 am est on sunday (saturday night)

Great win. Rubio was so good... not only the goal but did so much work without the ball and looked dangerous with it. Great, great performance.

Hyndman was good again, and of course Steffen. CCV excellent as well. Good times.

So happy to wake up to this. STEFFEN

Wazz doing work on the night shift.

LK, good write up on the possible line up for the Gold Cup. In addition to Stakman's Deuce vs Nguyen question, I'm curious on your thoughts re: Brooks vs Besler.

tbf i haven't seen more than like a half of Besler this season and Brooks by all accounts has gotten better (though he certainly found himself overextended a few times against the Dutch.) JK made a statement earlier about having a lot of confidence in the depth of his CB pool but I don't buy it. I think he was trying to pump up Alvarado and Brooks. If Besler was in the form he was in last summer it's an absolute no brainer imo. He was so nails against Ghana while Beasley was having a nightmare against Atsu. I was seated in Natal right in front of that unfortunate matchup and Beasley falling on his ass remains etched.

Fabian played right in Brazil and has played there mostly with us. So I honestly doubt he even starts left. Unfortunately, Cameron doesn't seem to have a spot. Yedlin probably isn't ready for fulltime bomber role. Chandler has been less than impressive for the national team and so Fabian goes left (which he's perfectly capable of) and Cameron plays right back where he, you know, plays it regularly for a competitive mid table PL squad that relies on him. It's not like we lack for options though. Just that most of them aren't particularly good. Roll the dice and hope you find some form.

I will say that I'll be shocked if, barring injury, Brooks isn't a nominal starter at GC. JK really rates him atm.

And yeah, Mixx being **** at NYC might be more a reflection of that team, but still. If we're trying to put a guy up there to create who is it? Or do we go kind of a second striker and rely on Bradley runs coupled with weird Zardes diags supported by whatever side's wide players are there? That's not a bad idea as it plays to Jozy's strengths really well. The guy I think doesn't work there is Clint Dempsey and I know I'm going to get ****ing bombed for that. The lineup set relies on speed and having him there creates a bit of a stop in the ball imo. He probably plays though, right? Can you leave him on the bench?

I'm glad I'm not the coach.

Steffen is a hero. Refs hate freedom

U.S. Soccer ‏@ussoccer 38m38 minutes ago
#USMNT XI: Guzan; Chandler, Alvarado, Brooks, Johnson; Williams, Zardes, Diskerud, Bradley; Johannsson, Agudelo.

Also, from Yves, looking forward:

Ives Galarcep ‏@SoccerByIves 8m8 minutes ago
Jordan Morris on the preliminary #USMNT 35-man Gold Cup roster, as is Alan Gordon. No Geoff Cameron, no Zelalem.

Ives Galarcep ‏@SoccerByIves 7m7 minutes ago
DaMarcus Beasley on the preliminary Gold Cup roster after having retired from international play. No Edgar Castillo or Jonathan Bornstein

Ives Galarcep ‏@SoccerByIves 7m7 minutes ago
No Danny Williams on preliminary Gold Cup roster. A bit surprised by that one. Alfredo Morales and Perry Kitchen among the DM options on it

This would be a nice one to win

Wow.how did he miss that.