USA vs. South Africa: Who will Bob Bradley start?

Good afternoon folks. I'm freezing to death in the RFK Stadium press box and finalized plans for watching the USA-South Africa friendly on Saturday. I will be watching it at Summer's in Arlington VA. Bruce from the Dunord blog is hosting a viewing party and he has given me permission to crash it. That means all SBI Mafia members are encouraged to attend. I will be there (let me add the disclaimer that 9am is pretty early in the morning for me so there is a remote possibility that I will be late. I will try to limit the amount of boozing I do tonight.)

Now, on to the game. Bradley will be without Landon Donovan for the match and will have 17 players available for a friendly against the 2010 World Cup hosts. You know the question I always ask. What starting lineup should he use? Here is the lineup I think he will use:

------------Dempsey--------------

Beasley--------------------Bradley

---------------Adu-----------------

--------Edu----------Feilhaber------

Bornstein--------------Cherundolo

-----Bocanegra---Onyewu---------

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

I know most people want to see Jozy Altidore start but the small bench and lack of forwards makes that a difficult option for Bradley. Michael Bradley has played on the right flank for Heerenveen in the past and may be a better option there than Feilhaber. The position I'm least sure about is left back, where Heath Pearce could also get the call.

What lineup would you like to see? More importantly, will you be making it out to Summer's? Share your thoughts on the match and your plans to watch the match below.

Comments

[pete]

any lineup with no Bornstein.

[Kevin]

I like your lineup but I think we see Feilhaber on the right again. Our lack of depth there is becoming apparent. I would love to see Jose, but the chances of him starting are remote. I will settle for seeing Adu play a full 90.

[randall]

why were no more forwards called in?

dont get me wrong- it means we should get at least a peek at jozy- but this roster has one true forward getting his first cap (altidore), and two midfield/forward-able players (adu and dempsey).

id like to see

howard

cherundolo onyewu bocanegra pearce

feilhaber bradley beasley

dempsey adu

alridore

i know it wont happen, but theres just no need for two d/holding mids in front of a back four for south africa. when are the complaints about how defensive bradley plays catch up with the flak arena got? we ended the swiss game with a midfield of edu, bradley, szetela, and feilhaber. its great having a lot of cm's, but you cant play them all at once...

[Graig]

Same line-up as Ives but if your going on current form and playing time you take out Feilhaber, move Bradley into his spot and insert Kljestan at right mid. The line-up I would love to see would be:

----------Altidore---------

beas--adu--dempsey--kljesta

Bradley

pearce--boca---onyewu--dolo

Howard

It would be nice to see Bob throw an attacking line-up out there, but I dont think this is the game we see it.

[Graig]

woops....

----------Altidore---------

beas--adu--dempsey--kljesta

----------Bradley----------

pearce--boca---onyewu--dolo

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

[jrnail]

My first thoughts are right there with Kevin... I think Bob's played Feilhaber on the right before, but Michael Bradley has only played central midfield roles for the MNT. I think we're more likely to see Feilhaber on the right, and we'll have Kljestan sub in at some point, either for Feilhaber or one of the D-mids.

Another option late in the game might be to move Dempsey to the right, and insert Jozy up top.

We know Bob's gonna go with his boy Bornstein at LB, and there's no reason not to go with the other usual suspects on the back line.

The bad thing about the roster we ended up with here is the lack of options if anything doesn't go according to plan. Landon's injury hurts a lot from that standpoint, and we don't have a whole lot of versatility available on the bench in this one.

I'm actually kinda pissed that Bob didn't call up a red hot Chris Rolfe to help out up top and on the right flank.

[Dave]

Ives,

Put Bradley where Feilhaber is, Dempsey as Beasley's opposite, stick Altidore up top and there you have it!

[davi]

pearce has to start. borenstein is a great MLS defender and did a fantastic job against argentina, but pearce is a better all around player and physically built for the international game. i would also prefer to see bradley in the center mid him and edu combined eat up so much space and can relive the defense while feilhaber can put in quality crosses and through balls from hte flank.

[jko]

Although he likely will not start, I'd still like to see Jozy get some good time (maybe the entire 2nd half) on the field tomorrow.

Regardless, I'll see you at Summer's tomorrow morning.

[Tim Archer]

Wow...I just found out that I have Fox Soccer Channel...it is amazing what new technology can do for you...so I actually get to watch the game this time!! (No thanks to you ESPN)

As for a lineup, I can definitely see BB using this line up against SA:

Howard

Dolo -- Boca -- Gooch (:-\) -- Born

Edu -- Bradley

Feilhaber

Adu -- Beasley

Dempsey

I guess it is the same as yours Ives, I just switched Adu and BF because I love the option of DMB and Adu running around behind Dempsey.

Bring Altidore in for Feilhaber at the half, drop Deuce to RW, Adu to CM, and go from there.

As for a prediction, if this lineup happens, I can definitely see us going away with a 3-1 victory.

[Erik Abarca]

-------------Altidore-------------

-------------Dempsey----------------

Beasley--------Edu-------------Adu

-------------Bradley----------------

Spector--------------------Cherundolo

------Bocanegra----Onyewu--------

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

Spector over Pearce just because of Pearce lack of playing time. I think Altidore is ready, as a matter of fact, not much of a big deal, but yesterday in pratice they played a 9v9, and he was the only one to score. No Benny, for lack of playing time, plus i dont like him playing the wing. Adu cuz he's hot right now and starting to get some time, Edu because of his last showing w the team and he deserves another shot at the starting lineup. The others are locks.

[Mike]

Yeah, I'll be out there tomorrow, Ives. Definitely been to Summers before. I'm a D.C. area native and United and US soccer fan. Summers doesn't have great food but it's the best bar in the area to watch soccer. Lucky Bar in DC is another good one too. Hopefully this weekend's festivities with the USMT and MLS Cup will be merry and well-attended. :)

By the way, do you know how tickets sales for the final are going? I got tickets for the Cup back when United looked failsafe. Still excited about what should be a very interesting match, though. I know New England's fan club Midnight Riders is chartering a bus down there. For other fans in Boston who might be wondering about how long it takes to get here it's about an 8 hour straight shot down 95, the Jersey Turnpike and down 95 some more. It would also be great if some of that passion Houston's fans showed in the post-season translates into some people making the flight out here. DC is nice this time of year with the tourists cleared out of the National Mall and before the winter weather sets in. It might make it to a balmy 50 degrees on Sunday folks! ;)

Of course if you're a fan of the growth of US soccer be sure to turn on your TV if you can't make it down here Sunday! ABC will notice if ratings are up this year and maybe they'll allow for a Saturday final and/or one in the middle of the afternoon next year if it does well. Perhaps they'll even feature a couple more nationally televised games on their schedule, too. Anyway, both matches should definitely be fun and entertaining.

What a great weekend to celebrate US soccer. Though there's still a ways to go on many fronts it seems as healthy now as ever! :)

Done with rant. Thanks! ;)

[Jon G]

-----Deuce---Jozy
---Beasley---------Adu----
------Bradley-Feilhaber---
Spector-Boca--Gooch---Dolo
----------JerseyBoi

I don't expect that, but I'd love to see it.

[Bill]

Dempsey---Altidore
------Adu---------
Beas--------Feilhaber
---Bradley--Edu----
Boca--Gooch---Dolo

[Joamiq]

I'll be at Summer's. Looking forward to meeting y'all (and the Godfather himself). I live up on the Red Line, so I've always gone to Lucky Bar over Summer's, but I can't pass this up.

As for the game, I want to see your lineup with Pearce instead of Bocanegra. Either way, we're probably going to see Adu, Edu, Jozy, Feilhaber, Dempsey, Beasley, and Bradley all in the same game. Boy, this is exciting.

[Adam]

Summer's is also going to show the Scotland v Italia game, hell yeah!

[brentmcd]

Bocanegra plays some LB for Fulham, so why not for the MNT? Would love to see Jozy start, but I don't think it will happen. Adu for Feilhaber at half. Altidore for Dempsey at 60-70.

[MattMathai]

Ives,

I know you're committed to Summers for this one, but check out Babylon Futbol Cafe next time. It blows away any other place in town. Great food and service, and they can show every single game being televised.

[AT]

SI has word that Freddy's going to be starting: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/soccer/11/16/adu.start/

[Eugene]

I'm curious to know if Jozy Altidore and Tim Howard had a conversation regarding Howard's "flavor of the month" commments. Especially given the fact that Jozy was the one guy to score on Tim in that 9v9 game...

[Ryan]

------------Howard------------
-----Gooch---Boca---Spector----
Dolo--------------------Beasley
------Bradley-----Edu----------
-------------Adu--------------
-----Altidore----Dempsey------

With our current list of international-ready players, I think a 5-3-2 (or 5-2-1-2) fits our personnel. I think Dolo and Beasley would make excellent wingbacks, with Dolo getting defensive preference and Beasley getting offensive preference. Edu and Bradley could potentially form an excellent young defensive midfield, giving Adu a ton of space to work with in behind the forwards, where he'd be best.

It's a fairly defensive formation, but I think it allows for some freedom for our best players - Adu, Dempsey, Beasley, and Altidore.

I love Spector and his abilities, but I think DeMerit or Califf would be more fitting in that specific role. Personally, I'd take Spector in the right flank and use Dolo as a sub. I'm not a big fan of players that small, as they can be a big liability on a team as small as ours. Just my personal preference.

At this point, I hope Altidore and Adu start to show their quality, as I seriously hope Donovan is quietly pushed out of this team. Say what you want, but I believe his best days are past. We need creativity, which he entirely lacks.

Anyways - that's what I'd love to see, but I don't think Bradley has much vision when it comes to adjusting to the personnel you have.

[Zach Tatum]

Judging by his last line up against Switzerland, also without Donovan, I think this is what we will see. Note that in that game he did not replace Donovan with another attacking midfielder but went with a 4-4-2. Atleast, that is what I think I remember, haha. Well, here it is.
------Dempsey---Adu--------

Beasley-----------Feilhaber

------Bradley---Edu--------

-----------BOCO------------

Bornstein--------------Dolo

----------Onyewu-----------

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

I think Califf will sub in for sure for a d-back, and Guzan will see some time also. Altidore may or may not get his first cap as a sub. I can't even specultate because that seems to be the question no one can answer. I think he will probably sub in a bunch of the new guys near the end to give some caps and much needed experience to prepare for qualifiers and see who is ready. I'd like to see Spector.

As far as where I will be watching the game: I sure wish I could come to some of these cool places to watch, but alas that would mean a ridiculous amount of driving starting now. I will be crawling from my bed in Mississippi at 7:50 to flip on the tv. Obviously I am excited as I am up on a Friday not on this blog.

[Dominghosa]

Wouldn't mind that lineup.
As for viewing, playing Assassin's Creed until 7 a.m., watch the match, then off to bar for some college foosbill.
Pray I'm still alive by Sunday.

[Elias Ulvi]

Up at 5am for me. Well worth it though. We don't have any soccer specific bars or joints up here in Anchorage, soon enough I'm sure.
I sure hope Bradley doesn't start playing Dempsey as a lone forward just because Fulham have done some of this. His best position is either in the hole behind a strong #9 or on the right. Unfortunately that is Adu's best position as well, so here is what I want to see:

------------Altidore

---------------Adu
Beasley------------------Dempsey
---------Bradley----Edu

Pearce----Boca----Onyewu----Dolo

I wish Demerit was healthy, I'd prefer him over Onyewu, not sold on his technical ability or decision making. Pearce over Bornstein, though I don't think it will happen. Like Spector on the right if Dolo isn't playing.
I like Feilhaber, but what the hell is going on at Derby??? Glad that Derby wouldn't let Lewis go, what the heck is Bradley thinking putting him at left back at the age he is at. Against the Swiss, he couldn't track any loose ball down. Like to see Zizzo get another crack at some point on the right.

[YankatOxford]

Altidore is unlikely to start.

Donovan is still the best proven player for the U.S.

Ameria will not ever play 5-3-2, and we shouldn't.
I could see Nowak using 3-5-2 in the Olympics however, as he used it at the Fire for several years.

Size of players has nothing to due with their ability.

Only two questions remain for this game,
1. Pearce or Bornstein at LB?
2.A Feilhaber fit?
B Feilhaber on the right?

Answers: should be Pearce,
and if Feilhaber is not fit then Kljestan on the right, and Edu in the center with Bradley.

OR no Edu, and Adu starts on the wing, which I would not prefer.

According to Goal.com MB,BF,Edu are all going to start in midfield, and Adu also, so that means Kljestan won't be seen until the 2nd half. But I don't know how reliable that is.

Good news is that Adu is starting according to SI.
I'd expect
----Dempsey-----
-----Adu---------
Beasley--Feilhaber
----Edu-Bradley---
Pearce-Boca-OO-Cherundolo
-----Howard-------

Chelsea style boxed midfield for the win.

4-2-3-1, when Donovan is available.