Photo by ISIphotos.com
If the U.S. national team is planning on getting a result against Honduras on Saturday night, they will have to do so without Clint Dempsey. The Fulham midfielder left Sunday's 2-2 draw against West Ham in the 83rd minute with a shoulder injury.
Today U.S. Soccer announced that Dempsey is out for Saturday's crucial match in San Pedro Sula with a sprained shoulder. While his performance in a U.S. jersey has been questioned after the last round of qualifiers, there is no question that his creativity will be missed. It is too early to know if he will also miss the team's final qualifier, against Costa Rica on October 14 at RFK Stadium.
With Dempsey out, U.S. coach Bob Bradley could turn to Stuart Holden, who has performed well in appearances earlier in the year. Benny Feilhaber has also been used on the right flank, while Jose Francisco Torres could also be an option in the lineup, with Landon Donovan capable of shifting to the right flank.
Who do you think should start in Dempsey's place? Think the U.S. team can win in Honduras without Dempsey? Looking forward to seeing someone new on the right wing?
Share your thoughts below.
RM07, I agree Torres shouldn’t be starting but not for that reason. It’s not really his job to be scoring.
Holden could slip into that flank pretty well in my opinion. It would definitely create a fair bit of service from that flank. However, I think the 4-3-3 I posted earlier is probably BB’s best chance.
move Donovan to right wing and put Torres on the left.
Or
Put in HOlden to replace Dempsey
Are you people Morons?
It seems Torres is more of a cult figure then an actual player,He’s scored a total of 2 goals his entire career at Pachuca.
I mean the guy averages a goal every 35 games for Petes sake!!!! a shameful stat.
He’s mediocre,Thats why Bradley doesn’t play him.
It just makes me sick when people say that Dempsey isn’t playing hard. I don’t think there’s a person alive who wants the US to succeed as much as Clint Dempsey. Did you see him at the Confederations Cup accepting his bronze ball with tears in his eyes? I can’t abide any Dempsey smack-talk after seeing that.
He’s not the best ball handler or play-maker, but he’s a great poacher, a good finisher, and probably the best attacking player in the air that the US has. And he’s actually a decent crosser of the ball when he can get into position.
Maybe he would be better as a striker, but that would mean leaving out Altidore or Davies instead of leaving out Holden.
Someone really needs to figure a way to get this on the internet or at upload it as a torrent or something.
As a Houston native and Dynamo fan, I am hoping this means he gets his first start. I like Torres and Benny looks so much better this year but Holden is a better wing player than either of those guys. Plus, he brings a legit free kick option.
Holden isn’t the close to goal finisher Dempsey is..but his long range shots are hard and accurate.. and he will run up and down the right side making a lot of very nice crosses and passes…
Fair point, but I think the players we have can do more than enough defending w/o our wingers bunching down as tightly.
and rocco…who’s going to score goals against spain and brazil. you are obviously an idiot
I agree that this is not the best time for us to be tweeking the lineup, but Dempsey needs a break. Maybe a minor injury that gives him a little rest for even just a couple weeks will help him. He’s been playing a LOT and needs the break. Also, I think he will play better for the Nats if he has Holden or someone pushing him. IMO he stepped it up later in the Confeds cuz he was being so heavily criticized and felt he needed to prove himself. But only he knows what’s going on.
With Deuce out, who is going to be the one to make all the no-look, back-heels to the opponents (who then streak down the field to an open net)? Or who’s going to jog on runs up the right hand side and lose the ball to the defender and then fail to track back on defense? Or who is going to fill in for him and fill a starting roster spot that barely provides any positive influence in the game?
Wow – I think we’re REALLY going to miss Dempsey…
Poor Clint Dempsey. All he does for the nats is score bags of goals and win the bronze ball at major international competitions and internet genuises are excitedly benching him for some random Mexican dude who doesn’t even play on the wing.
Anyway, I think Holden will do just fine.
Posted by: golfstrom | October 05, 2009 at 04:07 PM
Torres is American. Not some random Mexican.
Torres on the left and put Donovan on the right.
Gabe – I agree w/ with your understanding of the role Clint has at Fulham.
But….that is not how we play under Bob. C’mon…admit it. Bob wants 2-way outside Mids. So, for the last several games, there has been a noticeable drop-off in Clint’s fit to that tactical system. Aside from periods of less-than-crisp passing (jukes, heels, etc.), Clint has been poor defensively IMHO.
So, the big Q is what will change? Bob or Clint? There are great players who do not fit Nat teams all over the world (over time)…especially wide men who play in systems where they are required to do more D work than at club. If we went 3 forwards, Clint would thrive. If he was one of 2 playing in the hole/arc (the space to deep touch) behind a hold-up Center Forward (McBride so we dont argue), he would thrive.
The issue is does he fit in the 4-4-2 that Bob plays.
The issue MUST be resolved if we’re to even be respectable next summer in SA.
Holdens time to shine
JUSTIN MAPP!
lol, i just thought of the most random winger in MLS and said it
Gabe..Great Post
Better this way..Great Post
I am a huge Holden fan…but during the last 2 qualifying games for the World Cup is not when I want his chance to prove himself
thank god that lazy ass punk is out of the line-up. Maybe now Torres can play with S. Holden as 2nd half sub.
Honestly, my initial reaction when I saw the headline was an empatic “YES!”.
The way he’s been playing recently, I couldn’t care less if he never suits up for the Nats again. I’d rather start Holden, Feilhaber, or Torres (for the last two, we’d have to go with a 4-3-1-2, but I actually think that would play to our advantage and give us more possession).
Posted by: kfly | October 05, 2009 at 06:14 PM
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Yours is the dumbest post ever. EVER. So you don’t want the guy who has scored important goals for the USMNT on the field, preferring to have guys who have never done anything of note for the USMNT. Thank god you aren’t making the decisions. Idiot.
Holden is hungry. He wants it badly. He can make things very interesting with a great performance.
Posted by: John1 | October 05, 2009 at 03:47 PM
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Did he tell you this himself? Otherwise, how can you know such a thing? What a stupid statement to make …
Honestly, my initial reaction when I saw the headline was an empatic “YES!”.
The way he’s been playing recently, I couldn’t care less if he never suits up for the Nats again. I’d rather start Holden, Feilhaber, or Torres (for the last two, we’d have to go with a 4-3-1-2, but I actually think that would play to our advantage and give us more possession).
I’m not rejoicing….we might miss some of Clint’s sweet tricks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2HfAUTDGBQ
Honestly, though he’ll be fine; back up and running soon enough. It’s just enticing for the potential to see some young take a stab at things. We might see how Holden or Torres — with a more important role — will shake things up.
I don’t understand how everyone is almost rejoicing at this news.
That old saw about lemons and lemonade applies I think
I hope Dempsey’s injury isn’t very serious, as he is clearly one of our best and most entertaining players. Get well soon Deuce.
Isaac, I like that line up.
Damn. I like Clint and he definitely makes us a better team. I wouldn’t have minded him being handed a temporary spot on the bench when he’s healthy–he seems to play better after he seems underestimated, marginalized, or has to fight for his spot. But I don’t think this will do the same thing for him mentally. Either way, looking forward to getting him back and also seeing how another guy does in his spot
“What creativity? What has he added to the team besides a few fluke goals? Taking up space for someone else who can actually, you know, deliver the ball through the midfield to someone open? On his team?”
This is ridiculous. Seriously, you guys can be idiots at times (you being the ridiculous “dempsey is crap” crowd). Let me say this once more…for all you lot that think that a good winger needs to mark around their own half like a RB or LB…that is NOT good football. Wingers and Forwards, while sharing SOME defensive responsibilities, are primarily attacking players who lurk further up top of their own half, sagging back modestly to defend, while the holding mids (if there are two, as is the case with the USA) combine with the defenders to disrupt possession. It is RIDICULOUS to continue on about this crap that dempsey doesn’t care just because he’s not in the middle of the box during a great run by a honduran forward, or whatever the hell you guys say.
watch the fulham tape…dempsey and duff (or whoever is opposite) do a modest bit of defensive work, mainly on attacking defenders, then stay closer to the center line so when the CM and defenders do their jobs (to disrupt possession), THEY can do THEIRS, which is to organize and execute the counter attack. Dempsey plays better because he is not expected to track back everytime a opposing CM takes the ball to the box.
This is basic football, and I realise there are many here who understand this, but this contingency that think running like a chicken with their head cut off on the pitch, abandoning all sense of positioning and tactics for the game, just for the sake of this so-called “effort” really need to get a football for dummies book. If you want to play like Greece or Andorra, who pack the box with everyone just to desperately defend, while not controlling possession themselves AT ALL (which has happened for the USA whenever they pack it in like that), then fine maybe Holden would be better. But if you are trying to play sound attacking and beautiful football, then please shut it about his so called 80% effort.
this is the reason why we put out a team of untested players in the Gold Cup….Holden was the best field player in that cup for the US…a natural RM that can move centrally if needed…im excited.
Best crosser on the team to boot
May be a blessing in disguise.
While I would never wish injury upon any of our players, Dempsey’s form has been horrible lately and it might be good to get a fresher face in there.
An eager, less lazy face.
1. Holden
2. Torres
3. Rodgers
Simply because I feel that Holden is more of a threat from the wing. I’d like to see Torres get time in the center of the pitch so he can control and create from the middle. We need someone with his composure on the ball. Robbie Rodgers definately deserves some time, but I dont feel as if he is consistant enough. The games hes played, he gets kind of lost..but no doubt gives it 100%. He just needs more time to get used to the international level of play against “A” teams after being exposed to MLS for so long.
———Altidore—-Davies———-
—————Donovan—————
—–Torres—————Holden—–
—————Bradley—————
Bornstein—Boca—–Onyewu—Cherundolo
—————Howard————-
The clueless ones are back out today… If people honestly dont think Clint Dempsey brings something special to us then they were asleep this summer… Dempsey plays in a tactical system that is 5 times more advanced for Fulham than what he plays for the Nats…. Clint sometimes looks lost because the newbies like Bradley, Clark etc… are never where they should be… I am so sick and tired of you morons calling for Holden when quite frankly.. he can’t hold Clints jock in the offensive department and is prone to the same mistakes Clint makes… if you have to take the bad with the good… at least take the better part of the good…
I like the idea of moving Donovan to the right and bringing in Torres to start. Then Donovan can play the same role as Dempsey when they sub out a forward and bring Holden in. There are so many changes we would all like to see but I think this makes the fewest changes to allow bradley to stay with in his comfort zone.
BEST NEWS I HEARD ALL WEEK!!!! Down with Dempsey…the ronaldinho wannabe.
this is a blessing in disguise. not that dempsey is complete rubbish, but perhaps we need some new blood and some new life, and i think holden is our man
This game is for Holden, no doubt about it.
I second the what Clint needs is competition, if he knows his spot is up for grabs we will see better player, this definetly changes the subs but for the better, sometimes it takes injuries for players to get there chance, thats just the way it is, its up to torres and benny and stuart to show who deserves it, should be good, to bad I won’t be able to watch it.
Ideal scenario: Holden, or Torres (via Donovan moving to the right), or Feilhaber pushes Dempsey to the bench and wakes him up to start playing for USMNT with the same focus and dedication as in 2005-2007…
those who want to shield Dempsey from any criticism because he has scored goals are ignorant about the game and the role of the wide midfielder on the field- I’m yet to hear these Dempsey defenders clamor for him to be moved to forward, a more logical defense and the right answer perhaps….
given that he currently plays out wide and 1) turns the ball over a lot and 2) does not track back on D, he leaves the right flank very vulnerable to counterattacks and fails to advance the offense more often than not….Rossi and Costly goals are two prime examples from this summer
let’s just move him up top so he won’t have to run as much and he still gets to be in the right place at teh right time….
I dont know why, but I feel like if Holden gets the start, this will be a huge couple of games for him… I expect big things from this guy, and I have the confidence that he can deliver them… He’s only going to get better from here…
The last two qualifiers, Dempsey left Spector on an island, by being lazy tracking back, and compounding that by giving the ball away repeatedly.
He wants to play striker for this team, and it’s showing when he plays in the midfield. He’s night and day, effort wise, when Bob moves him up top.
I’ll reiterate what I said. I believe THE TEAM will be better with a midfielder that will cover the ground, and allow Spector to get forward and serve balls in. They’ll interchange like Donovan and Bornstein do on the left. Teams have been attacking down our right side and defending down our left.
They should have to defend down both, with Holden/Spector’s passing and crossing on one side and Donovan/Bornstein’s speed on the other.
The great thing to look forward to is when/if Castillo makes LB his spot. The left side will get FASTER.
I’m not a Dempsey fan by any stretch of the imagination. But I do think we’re going to miss him. I was kind of hoping he’d lose a starting spot for this game, but I was still wanting to have him available to sub in. His absence weakens the team, pure and simple.
I’d put Holden in that spot. Better work rate should lead to more help in the defensive 3rd. If we’re really going in defensive minded, Cherundolo wouldn’t be a bad option. He can cross well and clearly can play defense.
TimN, you gotta switch Dolo and Spector if anything. Don’t think Dolo’s ever played left back whereas Spector plays there for the Hammers.
Poor Clint Dempsey. All he does for the nats is score bags of goals and win the bronze ball at major international competitions and internet genuises are excitedly benching him for some random Mexican dude who doesn’t even play on the wing.
Anyway, I think Holden will do just fine.
Posted by: golfstrom | October 05, 2009 at 04:07 PM
It really isn’t that many people, just John Harkes commenting under multiple names.
Seriously Clint is probably the best outfield player the Nats have not named Landon Donovan and to think the team is better off without him is silly. Holden is equal to the task of taking his place though and I hope he does well. Competition is good but if people think, especially given Bradley’s record with Beasley, that Clint will become a bench player based on one or two games missed with injury, you are seriously mistaken.
The thing about Holden is this, he can rise to the occasion and play well but.. he can also have a bad game. I’ve never seen him have a bad international game but I think its more likely he has a bad game starting than subbing.
He’s amazing as a sub and hopefully he plays just as well as a starter. All i want is hustle and good first touches.
Tim, I’m on board with that but I don’t know that Cherundolo has ever played any left back. Switch up him and Spector and you’re money.
I think, however, that we’ll see one of them on the right and Bornstein at left back. I don’t love it, but in Bornstein’s defense he played one of his better USMNT matches last time out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJeTDvQsMsk
boom roasted
Holden on the right. It’s a no brianer.
Poor Clint Dempsey. All he does for the nats is score bags of goals and win the bronze ball at major international competitions and internet genuises are excitedly benching him for some random Mexican dude who doesn’t even play on the wing.
Anyway, I think Holden will do just fine.
Holden, paco, or Feilhaber will cover and they will do just fine
whoever bradley picks though he has to make sure they have the most confidence, experience, and composure b/c of hostile honduran environment
Well, you could see a straight up replacement with Holden, but Bradley may simply do some shifting to bring in Feilhaber. I’d like to see:
———Davies—-Altidore———
–Donovan–Clark–Bradley–Holden–
Cherundolo–Bocanegra–Oneywu–Spector
—————Howard—————
I’m sure somebody here will rip this, but it would seem as good a scenario as any to me.
Problem is we’re also hurting on the back line with DeMerit being injured. Fielding an effective line-up with Dempsey and DeMerit hurt could get tricky. Torres could also be an option in the midfield, and I’m sure Feilhaber will play a significant role in the mix.