FanPost

USA vs Germany lineup speculation

Tough choices here. But let's start with that lineup vs Portugal since it did so well: why not do that again?

0-------------------------Howard

Johnson---Cameron---------Besler------------Beasley

------------------Beckerman-------------Jones

Bedoya-----------------------Bradley--------------------Zusi

/--------------------------------Dempsey

Why not use it again? Well there are a couple of concerns:

1) Fatigue, part 1. Italy and England looked flat in their second games and it probably it was not a coincidence that their first games were in Manaus.

2) Fatigue, part 2. Germany will have an extra days rest, or jn percentage terms, 34% more rest than the US.

3) Fatigue, part 3- all this travel. Again we have to fly far, to Recife.

4) What to do with Michael Bradley? Clearly the #10 role vs top competition in midfield is hard for him.

Okay. So there are various modifications that could be made. Let's take a couple like for like switches out for a spin:

0-------------------------Howard

Johnson---Cameron---------Besler------------Beasley

------------------Bradley-------------Jones

Yedlin-----------------------Diskerud--------------------Chandler

/--------------------------------Dempsey

Bedoya was quiet the whole game vs Portugal. When Johnson would bomb forward, Bedoya stayed back. I think he's running on fumes and given Yedlin's sparkilng cameo vs Portugal, a fresher pair of legs out there might be just perfect. Let Bedoya be a (likely) sub.

Candler for Zusi. Yes, Chandler has also played midfield for his club. But having both Chandler and Yedlin start would add a couple of fresh 20 year old legs to the match and that alone could be a huge tactical speed advantage.

Mix for Mikey? I don't see this happening, at least at the start. Too much depends on Bradley and depending on Mix for defense is asking for it. I would expect Mix to be more likely to sub in though. But how about put Bradley in the back next to Jones, just ask him to stay back and let Beckerman get a rest and sub in? Plausible to me as Beckerman is 32 and he also looked gassed at the end vs Portugal. Still, you are opening up the defense again and we can't be sure what we'll get from Mix.

But all three: Yedlin for Bedoya, Chandler for Zusi and Mix for Beckerman? I can't see all three happening. Too much reliance on kids who haven't faced this amount of pressure. Problem is I have no idea which sub is the more likely.

Note I do not have any back line changes. Cameron's howler aside I can't see Brooks or Yedlin or Chandler or Gonzo starting.

How about a formation change? How about that 442 again?

0-------------------------Howard

Johnson---Cameron---------Besler------------Beasley

-----------------------------Beckerman

Zusi/Chandler/Yedlin--------------------------------------Jones

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

/----------------Dempsey------------Wondo/Johannsson

In reality this would be much like Bob Bradley's empty bucket as Bradley would get pushed back like vs Ghana. But unlike the Ghana game Dempsey would not be dealing with blood clogging up his air passages so the offense would be more dynamic.Also haveing two forwards relieves some pressure on Bradley to be the main creator.

I prefer Wondo over Aron but either way. Aron works better with a strike partner and his speed will cause problems for the German back line. I have Zusi over Bedoya here cause he seems fresher and had a good game vs Portugal but maybe Yedlin or Chandler could get the nod there just to add more speed.

The other thing with the forwards is to put Mix in instead of Wondo/Aron:

0-------------------------Howard

Johnson---Cameron---------Besler------------Beasley

-----------------------------Beckerman

Zusi/Chandler/Yedlin--------------------------------------Jones

/-------------------------------Bradley

/------------------------------Diskerud

/-------------------------Dempsey------------

Which takes us fulll circle back to what we deployed vs Portugal but with Jones moving over to replace Bedoya on the left and letting a fresh Diskerud loose behind Dempsey and in front of Bradley who can drift back to help Beckerman. Besides being fresh, Mix will also more likely track back to help on defense than Aron/Wondo.

What do you guys think?

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