_________________________Eddie Johnson____________________________
___Clint Dempsey_________Landon Donovan__________Alejandro Bedoya___
_____________Jermaine Jones______________Kyle Beckerman____________
Fabian Johnson___Clarence Goodson___Omar Gonzalez___Michael Parkhurst
__________________________Tim Howard______________________________
But I'm just not certain on any of this. I feel Bedoya and Zusi are pretty inner changeable so lets go ahead and pencil him in just because...lets call it a wild card. Bedoya played well in the Gold Cup against CONCACAF foes (tough of considerably lower quality), Zusi seemed a step slow against Costa Rica, he may still not be 100%, I can see the opposite happening too, Zusi starting and Bedoya coming off the bench, but I'm going with my gut here.
Parkhurst should get the start over Michael Orozco, but Klinsmann's comments in the press conference are a little worrying, don't be surprised if Orozco gets a run out against the nation where he plies his trade.
We need a true striker in this game, Eddie gets the start up top. Donovan and Dempsey should both play the full 90 today too, most importantly I believe one will play just behind EJ and the other will play on the overlap side (for the US under Klinsmann, its the left). Looking back at the US over the past few years, we have always favored overlapping on one side primarily. During Klinsmann with Beasley and Fabian it has been the left, during Bradley with Cherundolo it was the right (as it was with Arena and Frankie Hejduk before Dolo). The reason that Donovan played so well on the right in front of Dolo is because Steve's runs allowed Landon to tuck inside as that third attacker. This is exactly what the US should be looking to do here. Fabian and Eddie Johnson have both done this over the past 3 years, but Dempsey and Donovan are ideal for it.
This does leave a void of position for Fabian Johnson who will move to LB. Beasley's games at LB have been:
Costa Rica - Snow Games, doesn't count, no one played well, junk game
Mexico - Clearly the weak link in the defense, had few good moments
Belgium - Lost 4-2...not a player for these type of games
Germany - Ignored in the first half as they went after newly deputized RB Evans
Jamaica - Weakest team in the Hex, didn't play that well
Panama - 2nd weakest team in the Hex
Guatemala - Don't make me laugh
Gold Cup - Playing against B-teams, wasn't anywhere close to dominant
Costa Rica - MUGGED ALL GAME LONG
Against real competition, Beasley cannot match up. Fabian should move into defense to help without Michael Bradley in the picture. Run DMB is the back up (fans should expect the same type of national team future from Edgar Castillo, who is a virtually identical player).
Goodson steps in obviously for Beslar.
Taking over for Bradley, reports are that Kyle Beckerman will likely get the run-out. He has experience, he's played against Mexico before and US fans should feel comfortable with him sitting right in front of the back 4 and destroying. Jones will be given a little bit more freedom...which suits him.
Aron Johannsson should come off the bench late. Brad Davis or Jose Torres, Corona or Zusi/Bedoya. Mix probably doesn't play in this one.
1-0 US win. Goal coming late in the second half. Mexico is in too much disarray to pull this one out
P4TP