http://www.starsandstripesfc.com/usmnt-news/2017/4/4/15115768/usmnt-lineup-bruce-arena

Six writers submitted their ideal XI for this summer. Spoilers: Everyone started Bradley, and no one started Jones.

Bryan98 said:

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http://www.starsandstripesfc.com/usmnt-news/2017/4/4/15115768/usmnt-lineup-bruce-arena

Six writers submitted their ideal XI for this summer. Spoilers: Everyone started Bradley, and no one started Jones.

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Was just going to post this.

Strikers:
* Wood unanimous
* 4 start Dempsey
* 1 start Altidore

MF
* Pulisic, Bradley unanimous
* Johnson (5 @ MF, 1 @ LB)
* 5 start Nagbe
* 2 start Acosta
* 1 start Lleget

D
* Brooks, Yedlin unanimous
* 5 start Cameron
* 4 start Villafana
* 1 start Gonzales
* 1 start Garza

G
* Howard unanimous

Not much I disagree with there.

One guy picked Hamid over Howard.

On a related note... what's up with William Yarbrough?

I can't envision a lineup that doesn't have a Brooks/Cameron pairing at CB. I know Omar is better than he used to be, but if you want to knock Cameron out wide then where do you put Yedlin? You can't even move Cameron to the midfield because he'd play the some position as Bradley, no?

Howard
Gonzalez-Cameron-Brooks
Yedlin-Bradley-Nagbe-Johnson
Pulisic-Altidore-Wood

deadbq03 said:

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One guy picked Hamid over Howard.

On a related note... what's up with William Yarbrough?

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Wow I guess I just saw the H and assumed it was Howard. That writer is on crack! No way you'd pick Hamid over Howard right now in a must win game.

Pahdz said:

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I can't envision a lineup that doesn't have a Brooks/Cameron pairing at CB. I know Omar is better than he used to be, but if you want to knock Cameron out wide then where do you put Yedlin? You can't even move Cameron to the midfield because he'd play the some position as Bradley, no?

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Agreed. Omar has never lived up to his billing IMO, promising but just didn't quite get there. Cameron, on the other hand, plays at the highest level week in and week out and also has the pace to make a run upfield if the opportunity presents itself.

I would think that other options for Cameron would be right back or holding mid as you mentioned, both of which are already manned by players I want to keep on the field.

To be fair, he usually only does that in USA colors. In the MLS, he buries that 95% of the time.

JJxvi said:

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Howard
Gonzalez-Cameron-Brooks
Yedlin-Bradley-Nagbe-Johnson
Pulisic-Altidore-Wood

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I like this idea though I think I would slide Pulisic to mid and play 2 up top...

------------ Altidore - Wood -------------
Johnson - Nagbe - Pulisic - Yedlin
------------------ Bradley ------------------
---- Brooks - Cameron - Gonzo ----
------------------- Howard -----------------

Or for more D

------------ Altidore - Wood -------------
------------------ Pulisic ------------------
Johnson - Nagbe - Bradley - Yedlin
---- Brooks - Cameron - Gonzo ----
------------------- Howard -----------------

chjoak said:

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JJxvi said:

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Howard
Gonzalez-Cameron-Brooks
Yedlin-Bradley-Nagbe-Johnson
Pulisic-Altidore-Wood

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I like this idea though I think I would slide Pulisic to mid and play 2 up top...

------------ Altidore - Wood -------------
Johnson - Nagbe - Pulisic - Yedlin
------------------ Bradley ------------------
---- Brooks - Cameron - Gonzo ----
------------------- Howard -----------------

Or for more D

------------ Altidore - Wood -------------
------------------ Pulisic ------------------
Johnson - Nagbe - Bradley - Yedlin
---- Brooks - Cameron - Gonzo ----
------------------- Howard -----------------

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I like all of these ideas, meaning I'll probably never get to see it happen

I think it's time to bring Wondo back into consideration...

https://twitter.com/BenBaer89/status/854848112283848704/video/1

LOL... but boogieman beat you to it a few posts above you....

I know I'm gonna get blasted for this but I think Nagbe is a bit overrated on these lists. On the NT level he doesnt add anything that others cant already provide. Yes he's great in possession but his impact relies too much on others. I'm also concerned about his defensive responsibilities given we'll likely see FJ or Yedlin at LB/RB -- If Nagbe plays too deep he loses all of his effectiveness (bad when you want your outside backs running the flanks) but if he plays to high he's doubling the space of a Dempsey/Pulisic. Maybe I'm reading it wrong and his game is more suited for Euro/SA-style opponents versus the grinders of CONCACAF

Also, with Nagbe out there you wind up having to take off a DM (Jones/Acosta/Cameron) or a FW (Clint/Wood/Jozy). Having only one DM tends to leave a hole in front of MB (because he will likely be tasked with sitting back and absorbing pressure) or it pulls Wood/Jozy/Clint back toward the midfield, thus shrinking the field and negating the speed on the wings.


edited to add: I think Nagbe would definitely work in the middle with someone like Cameron as dual 6s (maybe in a 3-2-3-2!) but I doubt MB is going anywhere.

Dang it! didn't scroll up far enough...

SSFC's reader poll results:

Excellent line-up.