COPA AMERICA: US lineup vs. Argentina?

So there is a US national team starting XI for tonight's game against Argentina floating around the web. I haven't gotten confirmation of it (ESPN.com's match tracker and the Copa America site have it but USSoccer.com's matchtracker isn't up yet) so I'm not buying this one. I figured I could still toss it out to see what you folks thought of it:

--------------Johnson----------------

Mapp--------Kljestan---------Gomez

--------Feilhaber---Clark-----------

Moor---Califf------Conrad----Wynne

----------------Keller-----------------

This group doesn't make much sense since it doesn't include either of the team's natural left backs, Bornstein and Pearce. That's the biggest problem I have with it. Well that and the absence of DeMerit.

What do I see the lineup being? After some more consideration I think this is what we'll see:

------------------Johnson-------------------

Mapp------------Feilhaber---------Nguyen

--------------Olsen------Clark-----------

Bornstein--DeMerit----Conrad----Wynne

---------------------Keller-----------------

Why this lineup? Johnson has the speed to at least bother the Argentina central defense (though actually finishing is another story). I like Nguyen and Mapp on the flanks and I think a Feilhaber-Clark-Olsen central midfield could work well (although I have to say that I like the Kljestan-Feilhaber-Clark triangle in the lineup circulating the web).

I'm not down in Venezuela so I don't know what kind of form certain guys are in at the moment but I think this group could do well. Pearce has to get some consideration to start but I see Bradley going with his guy. If neither Bornstein or Pearce start then I'm really at a loss (though Bornstein has to be somewhat fatigued after playing in both the Gold Cup semis and final). I would also wonder about not choosing DeMerit, who looked solid in the Gold Cup.

I'm not sure about Nguyen's fitness either. He's out of season and is just coming back from shoulder surgery. I know he saw time in the China friendly but that's about it. Gomez might be worth a look there considering he's in-season. Actually, the Starting XI being floated around isn't that crazy except for back-line.

As soon as a lineup is officially announced (or I get good word on the lineup) I'll post it. If the above lineup really is the starting lineup then I'll stamp it as official when I get the word.

Also, I will be doing a running diary on the game tonight so check in later for that.

What do you think about that first lineup? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[chicago millonario]

I'm taking back some of my previous thoughts and saying that the US won't get killed, and maybe this won't be as bad as we think. I'm not saying they'll win, but it won't be 9-0.

[Steve]

Not to beat a dead horse, but I really don't have a huge problem with the lineup except the huge fear of our outside backs. Well, that and the fact that Eddie Johnson as a lone striker excites me about as much as Edson Buddle

[eastlachiva]

I think that line up needs DeMerit. He's been underestimated by the MLS and many other experts. He had limited action in Cold Cup. Personally, I think he's a raging bull waiting for his moment.

[Joamiq]

I'm with you Ives, I don't mind the first lineup except for the backline, which would get reamed. Painfully.

Here's what I would like:

Davies/Gomez
Mapp-Kljestan-Nguyen
Feilhaber-Clark
Pearce-DeMerit-Conrad-Wynne
Keller

[Jim]

You need strength and bite in the middle against Argentina, DeMerit should be in the center of defence with Conrad. Ives, I like your lineup and hope that whoever is up top creates some shots.

[Murphy]

Are you kidding me? Moor and Califf!!!! DeMerit plays a year in one of the best leagues in the world and he hardly gets to play in the Gold Cup and then doesn't start here? That's ridiculous, and I hope this lineup is wrong. Also, Bornstein has to start for Bradley, right?

[Joamiq]

Let me just say that I really want Nguyen and Wynne to play together so that the names of our right side players are spelled very differently but pronounced the same. Could be very funny for the Telefutura commentators, who had a field day with Vagner Love yesterday.

[Paul Lorinczi]

I've fallen and I can't get up!

[JY]

http://www.copaamerica.com/default.asp?pag=noticias&id=531

Maracaibo - Si bien el entrenador estadounidense Bob Bradley sólo difundirá la formación de su equipo dos horas antes del encuentro, se especula con que el 11 inicial será el siguiente:

Kasey Keller; Jimmy Conrad, Marvel Wynne, Ben Olsen y Jonathan Bornstein; Eddie Gaven, Benny Feilhaber, Ricardo Clark y Justin Mapp; Eddie Johnson y Taylor Twellman

[PS]

I was thinking about DeMerit. After a season of starting for Watford in the Premiership he is probably the player most experienced with the type of match we are about to face.

[Eric]

i had to look up the roster again to see what the choices are...

toss me into the camp howling if califf over demerit is true. and what did pearce do to get behind drew freakin' moor in the depth chart - steal michael bradley's lunch money?

[Jesse Barstow]

ESPN Soccernet had the Mexico lineup wrong last night until game time as well. They had Blanco, Bravo, Sanchez all starting.

[Braden]

That better by wrong JY!