Any ideas for a lineup tonight?
Jurgen says they are going in with a best possible lineup to get the W. Earlier he said that he wanted to play the kids in this game if the Hex was locked up, but since it technically isn't then I guess he has to go for it.
Michael Bradley and Orozco are back from their suspensions. Deandre Yedlin is out for suspension. Matt Besler went back to KC to be with his newborn.
I still don't see Jurgen starting either Christian Pulisic or Darlington Nagbe. I think he actually wants something potent coming off the bench. So if you sub in Graham Zusi for Pulisic then that only makes sense if you are defending a lead, although I'm not certain that CP is a worse defender.
So this is my predicted lineup:
Howard
Orozco Cameron Gonzales Acosta
Johnson Bradley Beckerman Zusi
Wood Altidore
And here would be Zoocougar's lineup:
Guzan
Zusi Cameron Gonzales Acosta
Johnson Sascha Bradley Pulisic
Wood Altidore
I wouldn't change goalkeepers. I understand why he is doing this, but I think the shifting has a negative effect on the back four and in set piece defending. Howard took a sabbatical and wanted to commentate on NBC. I'd stick with Guzan.
Zusi has played right back a bunch this season and hasn't looked bad. He's more likely to contribute offensively than Orozco. And I will sacrifice the position to keep Fabian Johnson in the midfield.
Kyle Beckerman can only make a forward pass if we're playing a minnow team like the Vincy Heat. I'd change it up entirely, with Michael Bradley behind him and Sascha in front. Sascha is just so damn smooth, he's not super physical but he has an uncommon touch and creativity.
I would have our best two attacking wingers on the field at the start, with Jozy, Wood, Johnson and Pulisic as the four attackers, and hopefully with Bradley and Sascha feeding them balls we'll get some early goals and close up shop.
That leaves us with Bedoya, Nagbe and Morris to contribute of the bench in the attack, and Beckerman, Orozco and Birnbaum if needed to solidify in defense.