[sazabirules]

I'd like to see them take fewer strikers, but oh well (Shea is an midfielder isn't he?). I guess I don't understand why you'd take 5-6 strikers when only 2-4 of them might play (they won't change line-ups completely every game I'm guessing). Seems like you'd want to pad your midfield with more players in case of injury since it's probably the most important position to dictate control of the game.

I only counted 4 strikers. We'll be playing a 4-3-3 and I think we're fine.

[Pkm]

I was just playing Draw Something with Sheanon Williams, I drew him a "good luck in Tenn." since he just got called up.

Hope that wasnt creepy lol.

[s7evn]

I only counted 4 strikers. We'll be playing a 4-3-3 and I think we're fine.

The one page listed 6 forwards, so I don't know if guys who can play both spots are being put up top or if they'll stay in the midfield. With a 4-3-3 5 or 6 strikers also makes more sense (I was think of only 2 strikers at a time).

[Buzzati]

Geeze. GAF really has it in for the Italian soccer team.

[xbhaskarx]

I'd like to see them take fewer strikers, but oh well (Shea is an midfielder isn't he?).

F- Terrence Boyd, Brek Shea, Juan Agudelo, Joe Gyau, Teal Bunbury, Tony Taylor

In a 4-3-3 wingers are listed as forwards (because they're part of the front 3) along with the (real) forward, that's why Shea and Gyau are listed there. Ideally we would have more wingers, but Gatt was recalled by Molde. The schedule is brutal, 3 games over 6 days, no way Shea and Gyau play the entire time so maybe Corona, Agudelo, or Bunbury will be used there? (also I know almost nothing about Tony Taylor and how he may be used)

Seems like you'd want to pad your midfield with more players in case of injury since it's probably the most important position to dictate control of the game.

M- Freddy Adu, Joe Corona, Mix Diskerud, Michael Stephens, Amobi Okugo, Jared Jeffrey

The midfield is stacked as it is (aside from Michael Stephens imo), and that's with Alfredo Morales not released and Dilly Duka getting injured (plus Danny Williams who was never expected to be released). If those two were both available maybe you include both and bring 7 midfielders instead of 6 (adding Morales and Duka, removing Stephens) for three starting spots, but after that I'm not sure what the point of additional midfield depth would be. Who else in the pool is good enough that they would ever be used over these other guys?

In any case I'm not worried about the forwards of the midfield, the defense is by far the biggest weakness on this team. Hopefully their opponents are so inferior that it doesn't matter....

[xbhaskarx]

^ I forgot Adu, he could be used out there as well...

1-Bill Hamid 2-Ike Opara 3-Kofi Sarkodie 4-Perry Kitchen 5-Zarek Valentin 6-Jared Jeffrey 7-Freddy Adu 8-Mix Diskerud 9-Juan Agudelo 10-Joe Corona 11-Brek Shea 12-Teal Bunbury 13-Jorge Villafaña 14-Joe Gyau 15-Terrence Boyd 16-Amobi Okugo 17-Tony Taylor 18-Sean Johnson 19-Sheanon Williams 20-Michael Stephens

Based on the jersey numbers it looks like 1-11 are the first team and will be the starting lineup for the first game barring injuries. Maybe something like this:

-------Agudelo--------
Shea----------Corona
---------Adu------------
---Diskerud--Jeffrey---
Valentin-Kitchen-Opara-Sarkodie
--------Hamid----------

Boyd and Gyau coming off the bench, that is not going to be fun for the Cuban defenders...

[Gamecocks625]

This is the only reason I'm pumped about the summer olympics.

[xbhaskarx]

TopDrawerSoccer preview
this is their depth chart...

ESPN

[xbhaskarx]

Maybe something like this: -------Agudelo-------- Shea----------Corona ---------Adu------------ ---Diskerud--Jeffrey--- Valentin-Kitchen-Opara-Sarkodie --------Hamid----------

Actual lineup:

-------Agudelo--------
Shea--------------Adu
-------Corona----------
---Diskerud--Jeffrey---
Valentin-Kitchen-Opara-Sarkodie
--------Hamid----------

[xbhaskarx]

Here is the TV info again, for the new page:



The US group stage games will be on Universal Sports, Mun2, concacaf.com, and universalsports.com. The only game on NBC Sports Network is the semifinal.

Universal Sports viewers guide

USA vs. Cuba LP Field; Nashville, Tenn. March 22, 2012 @ 9 p.m. ET Universal Sports Network, Mun2

[xbhaskarx]

Joe Corona makes it 1-0 US

[xbhaskarx]

Shea to Agudelo, 2-0

[xbhaskarx]

Diskerud to Corona 3-0

[xbhaskarx]

Shea to Agudelo 4-0
edit: own goal actually

[Akim]

this game is sloppy

e: I thought there was suppose to be 3 players over 23 allowed?

[xbhaskarx]

Xolos already have Corona up on their website

e: I thought there was suppose to be 3 players over 23 allowed?

qualifying: 20 man roster, all u-23s
Olympics: 18 man roster, 3 players over 23 allowed

[Esiquio]

Thanks xbhaskarx for the link. What 3 players will be our over-23's?

[xbhaskarx]

First we have to qualify, then Porter will pick three overage guys whenever the final Olympic roster has to be submitted.

[Esiquio]

First we have to qualify, then Porter will pick three overage guys whenever the final Olympic roster has to be submitted.

How likely is it to be someone like Donovan or Dempsey, like a big name from the USMNT?

[xbhaskarx]

Adu 5-0

^ Who knows, it all depends on Porter. It's in London so I think most of the big names will be interested, I know Donovan has already expressed interest...

[talisayNon]

killen em, how hard is it for us to qualify?

[xbhaskarx]

killen em, how hard is it for us to qualify?

The minnows want to make it as hard on US and Mexico as possible so it all comes down to one game, the semifinal, so the game right after these three group stage games. The two countries that advance to the finals qualify for the Olympics, the final itself doesn't matter. That's what screwed our U-20s last year, they did well but then lost in the semifinal to Guatemala.

[xbhaskarx]

Corona hat trick, 6-0

[platypotamus]

Damn, wish I could have watched that game. When's the next one?

[sefskillz]

Damn, wish I could have watched that game. When's the next one?

saturday at 7est against canada. and monday at 9est against el salvador

[Clydefrog]

saturday at 7est against canada. and monday at 9est against el salvador

are they all on that nbc sports universal channel? :(

[sefskillz]

are they all on that nbc sports universal channel? :(

i think CONCACAF.com is streaming the matches too

[xbhaskarx]

are they all on that nbc sports universal channel? :(

The US group stage games will be on Universal Sports, Mun2, concacaf.com, and universalsports.com. The only game on NBC Sports Network is the semifinal.

Universal Sports viewers guide

[platypotamus]

Thanks. I fear I won't be able to watch either of those though. Might catch a bit of the Saturday one...

[sazabirules]

Josh Gatt scored in the season opener for Molde.

[xbhaskarx]

Mexico beat Trinidad 7-1 yesterday
El Salvador just beat Cuba 4-0

U23 #USMNT: Hamid; Valentin, Opara, Kitchen, Villafana, Jeffrey, Adu (c), Diskerud, Corona, Shea, Bunbury

Rumor is Agudelo injured his knee. Not sure why Bunbury over Boyd and Gyau...

US vs Canada starts in 15 minutes...

[sazabirules]

The concacaf.com quality isn't too bad.

[xbhaskarx]

Opara goal, but Bunbury is offside....

[sazabirules]

This announcer is a complete douche. Ouch a 2nd goal. We have played horrible tonight.

[xbhaskarx]

What a clusterfuck, US has to beat El Salvador on Monday to advance, and if they finish second in the group behind Canada they will most likely face Mexico in the crucial semifinal game...

[Regulus Tera]

What a clusterfuck, US has to beat El Salvador on Monday to advance, and if they finish second in the group behind Canada they will most likely face Mexico in the crucial semifinal game...

We don't wanna face you soon either. >:( Goddammit people.

[BigJonsson]

Bahahahaha


CANADA!!!

MY HOME AND NATIVE LAND

[xbhaskarx]

Bahahahaha CANADA!!! MY HOME AND NATIVE LAND

Couldn't beat Cuba today.

Big break for the (US and Mexico), if the US beats El Salvador tonight they win their group and Canada has to deal with Mexico...


Starting US U-23 lineup tonight vs. El Salvador: Hamid; Sarkodie, Opara, Kitchen, Villafana; Diskerud, Okugo, Corona; Adu (c), Boyd, Shea

[alterno69]

Good thing Canada didn't beat cuba, as a mexican i'd rather face the US team on the final, more relaxed and with nothing at stake but pride it should be a fun game.

[NH Apache]

Well, that isn't a bad start! From the sub!

[xbhaskarx]

That's why Boyd should play over Bunbury...

[NH Apache]

Shitballs. Good header.

WHAT THE SHIT

[Lonely1]

Omg, 1-2.

[Gamecocks625]

...wow

[elsk]

Wow. El Salvador really improved since the first game.
Btw, the player #10 of El Salvador played in the reserves of River Plate :p

[alterno69]

Shit just got real for the US team lol

[Lonely1]

Saw the reply of the second goal for El Salvador... WTF? "Ya ni en el llano!"

Shit just got real for the US team lol

I wouldn't worry so much, El Salvador always chokes and always will.

[methodman]

woot. adu to boyd

[methodman]

adu to corona! 3-2!!!

[NH Apache]

Wow, great game so far. What a good comeback effort. Now to hold on.