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If Grenada was the appetizer then the U.S. Men's national team's next Gold Cup opponent has to be considered the main course, but while Honduras should provide a tougher test than the 'Spice Boys', this isn't the same Honduras team that pushed the U.S. first team to the limit just a month ago.
Yes, the United States is fielding a second team in this Gold Cup, but Honduras is also missing many of its key stars, particularly in midfield. Without Amado Guevara and Wilson Palacios, the Honduran midfield won't be nearly as strong as the one the United States faced at Soldier Field on June 6.
With that in mind, don't be surprised if Bob Bradley decides to open things up a bit with regard to his lineup and approach to the match.
So who will get the start for the USA on Wednesday vs. Honduras? Here is one possible grouping:
PROJECTED USA LINEUP vs. HONDURAS
——————-Ching——–Davies———————
—————————Adu——————————-
Rogers——————————————-Quaranta
————————Feilhaber—————————
Pearce——Marshall——Parkhurst——–Cherundolo
————————Perkins—————————–
Seems like an unconventional lineup/formation for Bob Bradley right? Well, he showed in the game at Costa Rica that he's open to trying new things in the right circumstance, and while it didn't work in Costa Rica (moreso because his fullbacks were awful than anything else) that doesn't mean Bradley won't be open to really testing a below-par Honduras midfield that had its share of trouble with Haiti.
So why just four changes from the team that beat Grenada? Bob Bradley knows that beating Honduras means a place in the quarterfinals and a chance to use a brand new lineup vs. Haiti in the third group match. Is fatigue a concern? Did you watch the Grenada match? There wasn't exactly high pressure on the Americans.
Can a Feilhaber-Adu central midfield get the job done? It they were facing Guevara and Palacio I would say absolutely not, but with Honduras fielding a second unit midfield nowhere near as potent as the first-team choices, this is a good chance to see how an Adu-Feilhaber tandem would work. This lineup would also let us see Ching and Davies work together. Davies works much better with a target striker and Ching is someone who makes strike partners better with his passing and hold-up play. Now, if Ching can't go due to injury, it will be very interesting to see whether Bradley starts Kenny Cooper up top, or keeps Kyle Beckerman in central midfield, starts Quaranta up top and play Adu as a withdrawn forward behind Davies like he did vs. Grenada. That lineup would look like this:
————————Davies—————————-
————————Adu——————————-
Rogers——————————————-Quaranta
—————Feilhaber—-Beckerman—————–
Pearce——Marshall——Parkhurst——–Cherundolo
————————Perkins—————————–
Santino Quaranta gets the nod in this lineup because he's on good form and he's playing at home (though I'm not sure how sentimental Bob Bradley really is). Stuart Holden played very well on Saturday, and it wouldn't at all shock me if he got a start vs. Honduras, but Quaranta has been very good this season and brings a bit more dynamic attacking threat from the flank than Holden.
Now, what if Bradley decided he saw enough of Adu vs. Grenada and thinks he's too rusty? Look for this lineup:
——————-Ching——–Davies——————-
————————————————————–
Rogers——————————————-Quaranta
—————Feilhaber—-Beckerman——————
Pearce——Marshall——Parkhurst——–Cherundolo
————————Perkins—————————–
The central defense is a bit of a toss-up for the match, but I think we'll see Marshall-Parkhurst. Honduras' best player is striker Carlos Costly, a deadly finisher who combines strength, speed and great aerial ability. Marshall should get the call to deal with him. Pearce and Cherundolo should stand pat as starters.
What do you think of this lineup? What lineup would you like to see vs. Honduras? Hoping for the Adu-Feilhaber tandem? Want to see Kenny Cooper? Think the Americans can post another rout?
Share your thoughts below.
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