This is what I see, June 12th

Howard

Bocanegra--Cherundolo--Onyewu--Conrad

Beasley--Donovan--Feilhaber--Dempsey

Altidore--Johnson

Subs: Cooper, Hejduk, Davies

:(

Against

James

Johnson--Ferdinand--Terry--Cole

Lennon--Lampard--Gerrard--Barry

Rooney--Bent

Subs Walcott, Defoe, Milner

In my opinion...

Edited April 13, 201016 yr by ThunderDan

With 5 games to go plus an FA Cup final you think what team usa is doing is important. Man think about it for a minute?

Barn, I've thought about it for 2 weeks, and decided that we can probably multi-task. This is the most exciting World Cup group matches I've ever anticipated. And only about a month away!

I see that England is ranked third, and USA about 14th, by bookmakers. FIFA has them 7th and 16th, respectively. FIFA's sounds right, but I always respect the bookies.

Edited April 26, 201016 yr by ThunderDan

This is what I see, June 12th

Howard

Bocanegra--Cherundolo--Onyewu--Conrad

Beasley--Donovan--Feilhaber--Dempsey

Altidore--Johnson

Subs: Cooper, Hejduk, Davies

:unsure:

A few thoughts about your projected US lineup. Bear in mind I have a few more weeks of observation under my belt.

I think the starting center backs will be Onyewu and Demerit. No idea who starts at full back - figure Cherlundlo, Spector, Bocanegra or Borenstien.

Michael Bradley will definitely start if he is healthy. Not only is he the coaches son but he played more minutes than anyone in qualifying. Donovan and Dempsey are locks to start as well. I'd bet the other starting midfield spot will go to Edu, although that may depend on what formation Bradley prefers.

Up front, I doubt Eddie Johnson will start. Altidore probably will start as one striker and the other starter will be Davies (if he can prove his fitness and show a decent form), Ching or Casey. Won't be surprised to see either Hercules Gomez (leading scorer in the Mexican league) or Edson Buddle (playing very well with Donavan in MLS) make a very late run into the squad, although I'd be surprised if either started then first match.

Personally I'd only play one striker (Altidore) but I'm sure we will see two. Pencil my projected lineup as

Howard

Cherlundlo Onyewo Demerit Bocanegra

Dempsey Edu Bradley Donovan

Altidore Ching

Personally the lineup i hope to see against the USA looks more like this

--------------------Hart

--Johnson--King------------Terry----Cole

-lennon----barry/carrick---lamps----gerrard

-------------defoe------rooney

Not sure what Barry's injury status will be like but should he be sweet then would like to see him start. Would prefer defoe to start but should he be on the bench then he would be a good impact player with bent or crouch starting. Please please no heskey.

Only way gerrard and lamps seems to work is what capello has done during qualifying and stick the lesser talented of the two out wide.

what tyoe of terrorist attack will be attempted is probably what security is wondering thsi moment!

Easy 1.6 :).

I dont understand what "easy 1.6" means, but I think Tommy Lee is the avatar.

--------------------Hart

--Johnson--King------------Terry----Cole

-lennon----barry/carrick---lamps----gerrard

-------------defoe------rooney

David James or Joe Hart, hmmm. Hard to forget that misplay James had in our last match with Pompey, maybe he should have replaced that divot. Also, Defoe makes alot of sense starting up front.

Howard

Cherlundlo Onyewo Demerit Bocanegra

Dempsey Edu Bradley Donovan

Altidore Ching

I forgot about DeMerit, you might be correct on that one BigIzz. Eddie Johnson up front is purely sentimental (he's from my old neighborhood), and it's probably just wishful thinking. He'll be a nice substitute, though. Cooper and Davies didn't make the squad, so there goes 2/3 of my subs.

I see both our squads advancing into the :D phase, England vs Germany and USA vs Serbia. Sorry Bison and all you Aussies, you're in a tough group!

Hope to see some more predictions from the Shed End stalwarts, especially member #3.

Edited May 13, 201016 yr by ThunderDan

Now I find that the French side Sochaux wrote the US Federation saying Charlie Davies wasn't fit, and thus he wasn't called up for the national team. And they did so without his knowledge. That's just not right - he was rehabbing and training for the World Cup, and believed himself to be ready.

Now I find that the French side Sochaux wrote the US Federation saying Charlie Davies wasn't fit, and thus he wasn't called up for the national team. And they did so without his knowledge. That's just not right - he was rehabbing and training for the World Cup, and believed himself to be ready.

It isn't but the US trainer checked him out as well. They could have challenged Sochaux if they wanted to. I have to imagine that Bradley didn't think he had a shot at contributing if he didn't even make the pre World Cup camp. It's a shame but he is rehabbing five serious injuries and hasn't seen a club match. I can understand why Bradley wouldn't want to throw him onto the pitch in the World Cup.

As far as my projected US lineup, I bet if they were to play tomorrow there is a pretty good chance of Dempsey moving up top and Stu Holden moving into the right mid spot. Unless one of the other strikers steps up before the Cup - Gomez, Buddle or Ching because I don't think Findley or Johnson have a shot - we will probably see Dempsey playing forward.

Yea, I can really understand Bradley's decision not to include Davies. I mean, he hasn't seen a match in how long...you just can't send him into WC matches like that. Plus, chances are good, no matter what he says he is not totally fit.

As for the letter, as mentioned above it certainly could have been challenged and I want to give Sochaux the benefit of the doubt as they have a vested interest in him as well...it would have served them well to have Davies showcased on the world stage.

Personally the lineup i hope to see against the USA looks more like this

--------------------Hart

--Johnson--King------------Terry----Cole

-lennon----barry/carrick---lamps----gerrard

-------------defoe------rooney

Not sure what Barry's injury status will be like but should he be sweet then would like to see him start. Would prefer defoe to start but should he be on the bench then he would be a good impact player with bent or crouch starting. Please please no heskey.

Only way gerrard and lamps seems to work is what capello has done during qualifying and stick the lesser talented of the two out wide.

The only change i would have from that side would be Hesky/Crouch for Defoe. I think with the amount of goals Lamps has scored this season when doing his usual ghosting in and playing off of a hold up front man, would be crucial to Englands chances in this WC.

What do England supporters think of Capello possibly switching to a three man back, as explained here:

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/05/14/eng...-defence-3-5-2/

Edited May 21, 201016 yr by BigIzz

I would love to see this:

-----------Hart/James

Johnson---King---Terry---A Cole

--------------Parker

-------Milner------Lampard

Lennon----------------------J Cole

--------------Rooney

I would love to see this:

-----------Hart/James

Johnson---King---Terry---A Cole

--------------Parker

-------Milner------Lampard

Lennon----------------------J Cole

--------------Rooney

That would be Englands best line up IMO. Though, I can't help but say that the chances are, Milner would be where Joe is and Gerrard (sigh) will be where Milner is...

I can't help but say that the chances are, Milner would be where Joe is and Gerrard (sigh) will be where Milner is...

I really can't see Gerrard being dropped from the starting eleven. Joey's had a very patchy season and hasn't played much, so to me it would be a surprise if he's in the starting eleven. Especially when you consider that it wasn't sure whether he'd make it into the final squad.

Apparently the way we lineup could look something like this

---------------hart

--johnson--terry--king--cole

----------lamps--milner

--lennon------------------walcott

----------gerrard

-----------------rooney

Not necessarily those players but with the success that rooney has had as a lone striker this year then it could also make sense to use him like that for England. Also Gerrard's favoured role playing just behind the striker and as much as i dislike to say it he could be a real asset in south africa if he is hitting his straps.

Here's the USA roster, after final cutdowns:

GOALKEEPERS Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Marcus Hahnemann.

DEFENDERS Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Jay DeMerit, Jonathan Spector, Jonathan Bornstein, Cherundolo, Clarence Goodson.

MIDFIELDERS Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Stuart Holden, Michael Bradley, Ricardo Clark, Maurice Edu, Benny Feilhaber, Beasley and Jose Francisco Torres.

FORWARDS Jozy Altidore, Buddle, Gomez and Findley.

I lost Johnson and Conrad (and all 3 subs) from my projected team. Big Izz lost Brian Ching.

USA didn't look so good last night against the Czech Republic, who won 3-2, but it was fun to see Cech who played great as usual. And we had so many reserves that it's hard to complain about anything I saw. Except Onyewu, my favorite player on the squad, who looks like he needs more rehab on his knee.

No word on England's final 23 yet, should come about anytime...

Edited May 26, 201016 yr by ThunderDan

What do England supporters think of Capello possibly switching to a three man back, as explained here:

I believe Capello will stick with his favourite formation, 4-2-3-1

--------------------------------------------James------------------------------------------

Johnson------------------------King-----------------------Terry-------------------A.Cole

------------------------------------------Barry--------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------Lampard----------------------------

Walcott-------------------------------------Gerrard--------------------------------Lennon

---------------------------------------------Rooney--------------------------------------

Let me know if I am incorrect, Thunderdan, but it seems like we have no strikers who are any good in the air. I used to love seeing Brian McBride out there for us, since he was like a poor man's Tim Cahill, and was a great header of the ball for goals. We have no one like that, and I was a bit surprised that we did not keep Brian Ching on the roster, since he is fairly good in the air.

Yeah, Randy36! Our projected England lineups are only different in 2 places. I've been wondering if I was the only person here who thinks Capello will go for James in goal.

Let me know if I am incorrect, Thunderdan, but it seems like we have no strikers who are any good in the air. I used to love seeing Brian McBride out there for us, since he was like a poor man's Tim Cahill, and was a great header of the ball for goals. We have no one like that, and I was a bit surprised that we did not keep Brian Ching on the roster, since he is fairly good in the air.

I will miss McBride as well. You could fracture his face, and he'd still go up strong. The consolation for me is that Buddle and Altidore are both taller than McBride, and the same height as Ching (6'1"). Findlay and Gomez are both about 5'10", Rooney-sized.

My biggest concerns are Howard in goal, who seems to place himself well, only to allow shots to go through his hands; and Onyewu at CB, who doesn't look fit or healthy (knee injury). The stout back five at Chelsea have completely spoiled me.

Just 2 more weeks! :D

Thanks for making me feel a bit better, ThunderDan, but none of them seems to impress me in the air. I really have not seen much of Gomez, so perhaps he is good in the air, but they are the forwards who were selected, so I will root for them as much as I would have for Ching and McBride.

Bradley favours a flexible 4-4-2 formation with a preference for two holding midfielders, his son and Clark, flanked by two wide players, Donovan and Dempsey.

---------------------------------------------------------Howard-------------------------------------------------

Cherundolo----------------------Bocanegra---------------------------Onyewu----------------------Bornstein

Dempsey------------------------Bradley-----------------------------Clark---------------------------Donovan

-------------------------------------Gomez-----------------------Altidore--------------------------------------

Edited May 29, 201016 yr by Randy36

Gomez is pretty good in the air isn't he?

I liked the team we had out in the second half of the Turkey match, I was impressed by Findley and Torres especially.