Create the US lineup vs. Italy here

The AP story I just read referenced the Azzuri first, before calling the team Italy a couple of paragraphs later.

Does the casual reader have a clue who the Azzuri are? I know I wouldn't have known had I not heard the phrase a couple of times before.

 

Chinaglia
Beckenbauer
Eskandarian

 

See, I am not opposed to starting McBride. However, I don't think Reyna can play the D-Mid position. He's not fast enough, doesn't have the size nor is he a good enough tackler. They need Mastroeni out there for that.

Besides, should Reyna be bogged down with defensive responsibilities, he would become even less of a force in the attack.

I'm almost thinking that Reyna is not meant for this game. Maybe against Ghana, to control the flow; he just can't go against a very technical Italian team.

Play to the strengths of speed with Convey and Beasley on the wings. Put Mastroeni as D-Mid and Donovan as the A-mid. Then have McBride and Wolff up front.

 

In goal, Hatch.

 

Speaking of Alecko, was he even in the World Cup pool? Remember reading tons on this kid years ago, he was the next something or other.

And Arena is probably kicking himself for not bringing Adu to get some token burn against Ghana. Actually, Arena isn't kicking himself, because he thinks so highly of himself.

 

Agreed. Azzurri should not be first reference.

 

Would a more diamond look work better for the Yanks Saturday? Doug brought this up earlier. Reyna in the d-mid, Donovan the attacking mid (I think he had Dempsey, but I think he'll be out wide).

All I know is if they don't act like they want to be there it doesn't matter what formation God chooses to use it won't matter.

 

U.S.:
Patton
Bradley
Eisenhower

Italy:
Mussolini
Ferrari
Cicciolina

 

And there all battling in Germany!

 

You have to play Beasley. The US doesn't have enough skill to leave him on the bench. They just have to hope that was really Jamar playing against the Czechs, and that DaMarcus will return for this game. Also, it would be helpful to remove Jeff Agoos' brain from Onyewu's body.

GK: Friedel Keller
DEF: Gooch, Pope, Bocanegra
DM: O'Brien, Mastroeni
CM: Reyna
RW: DMB
LW: Convey
FW: Johnson, Donovan

You tell the five defenders to get the ball to Reyna, and you tell Reyna to pretend he's Steve Nash. From the time he gets the ball, someone should be shooting within 24 seconds, and everyone else should be crashing the goal mouth for a loose ball.

Eddie Johnson better be dead from exhaustion by the hour mark, at which point you bring in McBride and let him outjump the tired defenders.

 

Go with Dempsey on the right flank. DMB should only be used on the left.

 

Agreed. Beasley is an utter liability on the right. His first touch isn't any better on the left, but at least that's his better foot.