Photo by Frozenfesen

Most of our argument fodder comes from the dismal performances of the US Men's National Team, mainly because Biggy is under the illusion that at some point in the near future they will be a force to be reckoned with. I, on the other hand, having spent significant amounts of time in Europe, know that until the US scouting system significantly improves there is no chance the US will make it to a World Cup final while I am alive. Many think that is pessimism, but it's simply realism, the US scouting system is awful and it doesn't help that their coach is about as bland as the lack of hair on his head. In the mean time here are my idea's on the US formation, where they could improve and how they should function.

Note: all of this is without including Castillo and Jones who would benefit the team tremendously.

Here are my selections:

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

---------------Davies-----------------------------

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

------Torres-------Bradley-------Donovan------

--Bocanegra---Onyewu---Demerit---Spector--

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

Strikers:

Altidore - Davies

There's not too much surprise here. Both are young, both should be getting playing time at their respective new clubs (Davies has already hit the ground running) and both are significantly better than any alternatives. Their biggest flaw is lack of experience, which the US must hope they gain during their club seasons, or they could find it difficult to score both throughout the end of qualification and in South Africa. Jozy has the strength, he just needs to learn how to use it against backs like Terry, Vidic, and Gallas. He picked up some technical skill in Spain, along with some diving, but if he spends his time flopping around the pitch for Hull even Phil Brown will yank him. If Jozy learns how to be the target, Davies already has down the rest. His finishing can use some work, but his speed is a threat to any team and a deadly partnership can be formed if Jozy pulls his weight. Ching has disappointed and despite his dominance in the MLS, he only produces moments of brilliance on occasion on the international level and gets demoralized really quickly when things start going poorly. I'd rather see Cooper do well in Germany, at least well enough to knock Ching out of the squad all together.

Midfield:

Torres - Donovan - Bradley - Dempsey

Here is where I'll manage to confuse many US fans, and send them into a rage about how my ideas won't work. Let me explain first. Throwing Dempsey on the wing for the US takes him out of the game. Yes, he does play there for Fulham, but Fulham have at least seven players on the pitch that can regularly feed him great passes. The US has maybe two, Torres and sometimes Donovan. Distribution has been a shortfall of the US team for years, hence why they've developed a kick-and-run strategy so often. To step it up to the next level, the US needs to utilize their players. With Dempsey in an attacking role he will regularly see the ball and won't have limited space to work with. It will also relieve his defensive responsibilities, which is not his strong point. The rest of the midfield will play centrally. The US has only one winger that has any World Cup experience, and that's Beasley, and the fact his name even made it into this report is incredible, because he's not even an option at this point. Donovan is not a winger. He certainly isn't a left winger. Sorry Bob, it was a valiant effort, but with Beasley being useless, trying to utilize a winger-based attack will prove fruitless. Have Bradley anchor the center with Donovan and Torres a little wider than him. This gives the US the two best play makers a chance to work on either side of the pitch, and Torres' control will set a wonderful pace for any game. One irk I have is how many US fans claim Bradley is an attacking mid. If you watch him at Borussia Monchengladbach he plays defensively, and he plays it pretty well. Sure he scores some goals, but let him anchor the mid, you don't need him going forward, you already have that area covered between Dempsey and Donovan. No matter what, changing the formation of the mid's to get the best out of their strongest area is the only way I see the US making progress against the better teams in the World.

Defense:

Bocanegra - Onyewu - DeMerit - Spector

Not too many surprises here either, though Biggy will be scratching his head as I didn't include Danny Califf in my starting lineup. Despite my affinity for Danny, I can't see him fitting into the lineup now that Demerit is such a force, however I will say that if Onyewu gets parked on the bench all season that opinion will change. Bocanegra on the left scares me, but there isn't another option at this point (they need Castillo bad). In truth, my opinion is Boca's US career is over. He will be 31 by the time the World Cup rolls around, and since he's been playing left back for Rennes, moving him back to center could be detrimental to the US back line. His one and only chance to my the starting squad in my book is if Castillo doesn't transfer to the US team. Onyewu and Demerit have formed a wall, but I still question Onyewu's distribution and knack for picking up yellow cards WAY too early in matches. Demerit is incredible, and the fact it took this long for him to break into the squad is mind-boggling. Spector is the most attacking back the US has, and should start seeing more time from Zola on the West Ham squad. Should he stay healthy he will be a welcome presence in the US squad, as he is the only one on the back line who has any idea how to distribute the ball.

Goalkeeper:

Howard

No questions here. Howard is not only the US best choice, but until Guzan sees regular time, he is their only choice. Can't complain too much though, he's a stud back there.

Subs:

Califf: He has more experience than Marshall, plays in Europe, and is a much better leader than anyone else on the back line. Granted, he had a few poor performances, but Bradley was garbage against Mexico and I doubt you'll see him exiled from the squad. Califf is your first choice backup for the center backs, hands down.

Cooper: Oh how I hope he beats out Ching for the spot as third striker on the roster. I also realize how unlikely that is with Bradley in charge, however I can dream. Cooper has size, decent speed, and is pretty skillful for a big man. If he develops his game in Germany he will be a force for the US.

Guzan: No doubt in my mind the number two for goalie. His lack of play time is unnerving, however at the rate Friedel is going I wouldn't be surprised if Villa started testing Guzan out some more. I love Friedel, but for the sake of US soccer fans must be hoping Martin O'Neill makes a keeper change.

Clark: Has his good days and his bad days, but playing for a struggling team in a decent league in Europe should see Rico develop into the player everyone knows he can be. The bad challenges need to stop, and he needs to get over those first 10 minute jitters that seem to affect him so often, but other than that he's a solid replacement for my three center mid formation.

Cherundolo: Dolo has more speed than Spector, and is a solid defender, but doesn't have nearly the same distribution. Still, if he can learn to play on the left I wouldn't hesitate a second to hand the starting spot to him over Boca.

Holden: A favorite of mine, I'm glad he performed so well in the Gold Cup. I had my "the US don't have a true winger" rant earlier, and Holden is a person who can prove me wrong, he just needs to get the international experience and he's set. Still a solid replacement for Demps at around 75 minutes, that way you can push Donovan forward more and move Holden out further right.

Feilhaber: It took me a really long time to actually add his name to this squad. Unfortunately there really isn't another option. It's not that I don't like Benny, or think he is a poor player. I absolutely DETEST the way Bradley, without fail, brings him on for a striker around 65 minutes absolutely destroying any attack the US has.

Coach:

Anyone other than Bob Bradley (Jurgen Klinsmann preferably)

I despise Bob Bradley. He's an awful coach who refuses to alter tactics when they blatantly aren't working. He subs too late, he offers super conservative starting line-ups in big games and he has certain players he seems to not just favor, but worships the very ground they walk on despite their inability to play anything remotely close to good soccer. Making it to the Confederations Cup final was the worst thing that could have ever happened for US soccer in the coaching department, because it gave the fans and critics hope, and faith that Bradley actually had some idea about what he was doing. Of course this is completely not true and the success of the team comes solely down to the amazing performances of the players. It has nothing to do with his coaching at all. In fact, it can be said that his coaching is what lost the US the Confed Cup final, with his poor substitutions and park the bus tactics he employs so often

The US need a foreign coach. Someone who teaches them touch and go soccer, not boot and run. Klinsmann has claimed he wouldn't mind giving the US team a go and that would be the best thing to happen to the USMNT since their quarter-finals run in 2002. Bradley needs to go, but it's obviously too late now, so fans should be looking at 2014.

See Biggy's lineup and explanation here.

Think Chamo is crazy? Don't agree with a word he said? Let him know below.