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With the roster now selected, it is time to consider the options U.S. head coach Bob Bradley has when selecting his starting lineup in next weekend's World Cup qualifier vs. Honduras.
There weren't many major surprises in the group called in by Bradley, and there's little reason to believe Bradley will experiment with his lineup too much in a road qualifier against a team as strong as Honduras.
So what should we expect? More of the same group we've seen in most of the recent qualifiers. Here is the lineup we expect to see take the field in San Pedro Sula on Oct. 10:
USA Projected lineup vs. Honduras
—————–Davies———Altidore—————–
Donovan—————————————–Dempsey
——————–Bradley—-Clark———————-
Bornstein——Bocanegra–Onyewu——–Cherundolo
————————–Howard————————–
Three question marks here:
Does the central midfield stay the same, or does Bradley turn to Benny Feilhaber or Jose Francisco Torres to provide more possession? Honduras' central midfield, with Wilson Palacios and Hendry Thomas, is one of the toughest in CONCACAF, and that's without Amado Guevara (suspended). Neither Bradley or Clark enjoyed a standout game vs. T&T, but Clark looked to be the more likely of the two to be benched before his game-winning goal. Bradley once showed enough confidence in Torres to start him in Saprissa vs. Costa Rica. Does he turn to the youngster again in the equally intimidating confines of San Pedro Sula?
Does Bornstein get the nod again? We say yes. Honduras boasts speedy right winger Edgar Alvarez, currently starting for Serie A side Bari. Carlos Bocanegra struggles at left back against really fast wingers so Bornstein is the better match-up. Starting Onyewu and Bocanegra together looks like a given here. Jonathan Spector could theoretically get a look at left back as well, but Bornstein's improved performance against Trinidad & Tobago gives him the edge.
Who will Bradley start at right back? We will go with Cherundolo, who has been in very good form for Hannover 96. Spector has been playing for West Ham, but has not been nearly as consistent as Cherundolo in recent weeks.
So why should we expect a different performance than the one we saw in Trinidad last month from the same group? It will be up to the midfield to step up its game across the board if the Americans will have any hope of escaping Honduras with a point. Anything short of a strong showing from the midfielders will mean a Honduras blowout because the Honduran midfield is stacked and dangerous, and their best players are all in top form (save for injured striker David Suazo).
————
Now it's your turn. What lineup would you like to see the USA use vs. Honduras? What changes would you make? Think the above lineup can get a result in San Pedro Sula?
Share your thoughts below.
I’m glad this game isn’t on TV. Keeps me from getting my hopes up for nothing.
And I don’t think ‘sending a message’ that we can’t win in Hondurus is an issue. Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador and even T&T have already hit send on that one.
2-0 no matter who Badley throws out there. Save your worry for Wednesday.
Several things…
Those calling for Dempsey’s removal should watch the Fulham v. Arsenal highlights. Dempsey played amazingly well and with lots of energy.
USA still needs a good holding central midfielder to direct things (think S. Gerrard). Can Holden or Torres be that guy? I haven’t seen them play enough to know.
Those calling for Wynne should stop. He doesn’t have the foot skills for the national team level. I’ve seem him play in Houston and he had no touch and doesn’t look like he uses his head.
In defense a coach really has to gage the cohesion of his players and the attackers the other team is sending. Nobody wants Honduras doing end runs around our outside defenders. Still I like Spector for the spot given the pace of the Premiership.
Oh yeah, Howard in goal. I think that is pretty much assumed till we have officially qualified.
——Davies—-Altidore———
-Donovan—————-Dempsey–
——Bradley—-Torres———-
-Spector—Bocanegra–Gooch-Cherundelo
First subs if all goes well: Conrad in for Bocanegra, and Clark in for Bradley if we have the lead. Third sub would be Holden or Rogers in for Dempsey.
A few other notes: Conor Casey has no business being on our roster any longer. He dogs it every game, and never comes back on D. Bradley is not doing well, but can anyone remember the last time he didn’t start when available. I don’t think his skill set fits our needs currently
i’d like to see HOLDEN get the start at right mid and put Dempsey forward. Dempsey is better closer to goal, and the more i see of Holden the more i think he’s gonna be the best player on the field for the U.S. soon,..
I’m a Paco Torres supporter and want to see him play more. I’d love to see what having him just to the left of Bradley would do.
People need to watch more FMF games to see the amazing passing skills and ball control that Paco has. He’s really heads above many people in Mexico already at age 21 … and so yes, I believe Bob should be playing him more for the U.S. squad.
There is going to come a time in the next few months when Bob has to make some real tough decisions. Torres deserves a shot at three or four full-90 starts between now and then to show what he can do.
I just want to know why no Frankie Hejuk? Heart and Courage are things you just can’t teach. He needs to be on the roster if not in the starting XI, imho.
Instead of Bornstein, why not Wynne? Do you guys think he has not performed well enough with TFC to get a call up? Dudes got the assets to be a quality outside back for 2014.
@ the Torres conspiracy theorists…
I think you guys are fabricating something that isn’t there. He has more appearances in qualifying than Feilhaber, more than Davies, and one less than Clark, all of whom are considered “regulars” in this cycle.
He’s 21 years old. He plays a position that is VERY crowded. While he’s talented, he isn’t Landon Donovan, where he’s MILES ahead of everyone else at his position like Donovan was at that age.
What do you guys want, him to be starting and playing the full 90, like Donovan or Gooch or Howard? I just don’t think he’s in that class, yet.
He’s getting his opportunities. What more can you ask for?
Altidore
Mandon Dempsy
Torres
Bradley Clark
Spector Gooch Los Dolo
This is the ol’ 4-5-1 on D and 4-4-3 on O.
Will work like a charm and bring home points.
I think we should start Ching, Casey and FrankenCooper up top in a three man front that would recall the walking zombies of the original Night of the Living Dead.
Now that’s footspeed!
Does not make since to bench starters for this game since a win secure qualification. Ge the 3 points and then experiment in DC. Also I pose the question since Obama faile din his Olympic bid does that show everyone he has absolutly no pull for WC 2018 or 2022?
i think feilhaber’s creativity is needed,along with Ching’s experience.
I just can believe this stupid ESPN is not going to show us the USA U20 vs Korea cause the are showing Freaking Crap of Baseball.. WHAT THE F. IVES can you find out whats going on since you are with ESPNsoccernet.
Ives:
Can you state whether or not you think Bob Bradley has given J.F. Torres a fair shake?
After a cakewalk initial runout as a sub against Haiti,
Coach Bradley threw Torres into his first starting role in formation this team has never run before in a very hostile road qualifier.
After a mixed 45 from Torres in that game, he was yanked and not seen again for months on end, despite the aforementioned mitigating circumstances.
Obviously I don’t have the luxury of seeing players in practice and behind the scenes – so there clearly should be more behind the story.
As it is, without that insider perspective, it is highly frustrating to see a talented player like Torres get no minutes; whereas the coach’s son, while clearly a talented player with great potential, gets seemingly automatic minutes and enjoys the benefit of a US formation that complements his style of play.
To top it off: to me: Torres represents the great future of the USMNT (ie the further inclusion of the Mexican-American player; and the move towards a more latin, possession based game); whereas Mike Bradley represents the prototypical product of the previous USSF youth development system that stood in the way of the US becoming a genuine soccer power (ie: upper middle class white kids who excel through the ODP system that stacked the deck against poorer often minority players – ie the ones who typically become worldwide phenoms)
Nothing against Mike Bradley, temper and passing/positioning issues aside, he seems a great kid and is clearly an excellent contributor to our team and has a very bright future …
The question is: Ives: do you think Torres has gotten a fair chance to shine for the USMNT?
yeah really Spector has played at left back for West Ham. Put our two best fullbacks in the group Bradley called on the pitch with Dolo and Spector. Boca and Gooch in the middle. We need to win this one.
Subs
Holden
Cooper
Torres
Also, I agree with Ives about possibly giving Torres the chance to start. I’m so perplexed why Bradley refuses him more playing time. Torres is great at the possession game with his quick passes and ability to play the ball well at his feet. The national team needs more players like him which would make a good mix with the other players so this team can just simply GET SOME POSSESSION!
Also, I agree with others on giving Holden more time. The kid has a good future as the right winger (Wow, a natural winger FINALLY). His and Donovan’s pace on the left could really give some problems if utilized correctly with the fowards.
Spector will start.
I must agree with Southern. It won’t happen but here is what I want to see.
– Davies Altidore –
Donovan Dempsey Bradley Holden –
Spector Bocanegra Gooch Cherundolo –
– Howard –
Based on the 3 assists that Holden should have had in the last 3 games I would like to see him playing. He is in the best form of any US player right now, as the Pachuca game showed. Dempsey would play behing Davies and Altidore again to get on the end of Holden or Cherundolo crosses.
If BB does not want Deuce in the middle of the field then I would put him up top with Davies. I would be fine with Altidore because a tall forward would work better with Holden’s crossing ability. But Davies has been in better form lately, so I think you give him the nod.
Of course that will not happen and we will get the 2 D Mids and they will drift very far back and we will get the dreck that we always get…
Someday BB will get it or get out and we will stop the insanity of 2 DMids….
I’d like Spector to be given a try at left back for the national team. That could add some good quality to the backline by placing him and Dolo on the field at the same time. I wonder why Bradley hasn’t given him and Dolo a chance to be the 2 defensive backs. Both can get foward and send in crosses. I know Bornstein is fast and okay at the position but right now that is all he is. He gets knocked off the ball with his slight frame and I think Bradley is once again displaying his preference for “his” guys. Spector has been playing leftback for West Ham, a PREMIER LEAGUE team where the pace is out of this world and the wingers are constantly coming at you and testing you. I’m not saying West Ham is the best team in the world, but the quality of competition is higher then what Chivas USA faces.
ditto usadcu
bornstein is not intl caliber .. he is big liablility — would rather see spector out there
and with holden in over dempsey i think we’d see alot better collective team play, more possession, consistency, heart etc
although on the road at honduras may not be the best time to intro holden to the starting line-up
As a long standing Dempsey fan (except when the Revs were playing DCU, of course), I hate to say it, but I would leave him out for Holden and, like many others, I would go with Spector at LB.
if weather had anything to do with USA’s poor showing in T&T, then it doesn’t look good in Honduras. Same weather conditions: 85 degrees with 70% humidity.
come to think of it, do *any* of our players play regularly in tropical climate?
Id like to Castillo in at LB as soon as possible? what’s holding Bradley back?
*Spector* at RB.
i’d luv to see a 3-5-3
I know it won’t happen, but I would love to see Dempsey pushed up top with Altidore (bring Davies in and let his speed really be a factor later in the game) because Dempsey’s possesion and defensive contribution have been horrible.
My thought of the day
Jonathon = Jonathon
Spector not= Bornstein
LB = LB
West Ham > Chivas USA
All other teams in EPL > All Other MLS Teams
EPL > MLS
Therfore
Spector > Bornstein
thus concluding……Spector should get the start
If it’s the same as it was in 2001, the stadium in San Pedro Sula can’t be called “equally intimidating” as Saprissa. Back then, there was a track and the stands were a long way from the field.
I think Ives has it right; Cherundolo’s in better form than Spector at the moment, and Bornstein’s speed make him a better option than the combination of Bocanegra & Goodson. I can’t say I’m over the moon about this lineup, but I think it’s the best we have.
I’d like to see Feilhaber, Holden, or Torres (or some combination of the three) come off the bench early-ish (maybe 55th minute) if we don’t have the lead. A tie does us almost no good – we need to go for the win.
I think Ives has the line up right. Stale, predictable, and beatable. I suppose its okay that the game won’t be on TV, just rewatch the Mexico game and pretend the green shirts are blue.
Ives – could you give us a summary on the history of guys being inserted into lineups, let alone squads, at late dates? I am very frustrated about Castillo’s situation. Is it a offense/defense thing in that strikers/wingers go straight in, whereas defenders don’t? But, the principle of your best player for the spot and/or the system seems pretty straight-forward. If you’re good & ready, you play. Simple yes?
I am scratching my head looking for historical comparisons. Was Pablo Mastroeni the immediate backup for Chris Armas for 02? Or was the formation changed (I doubt that since it surprised Portugal, yes?)
The first non-US one that popped in my head was for Spain 82, Rossi, though an established star, had just finihsed his suspension but started for gli Azzurri, and won the Golden Boot.
Is it a question of nerves? Confidence? in the coaching philosophy? IMHO, it is deeply frustrating and appears to be one more apsects of Bob’s conservative , bunker-in nature….We get Charlie only b/c Ching was injured. We do not see an attempt to ALWAYS start a “time-keeper”/ possession player like Feilhaber or JF Torres in the lineup. Some research please…help us see this in global perspective, not just a Bob perspective.
Afrim: please he has more choices and better players than Conrad, Try Orozco, Omar Gonzalez who is playing good for LA. on the left try Castillo better control and good attacking Left defender. So tell me why you think Conrad or Bornstein are better please do me a favor.
(SBI-Angel- Orozco and Gonzalez are not better than Conrad. Not yet anyway. As for Castillo, you just can’t throw in a player into a major road qualifier and put him on a team with players he’s never played with. His chance will come, as they will for Orozco and Gonzalez.)
I’m sure this won’t happen, but I’d like to see the 4-4-2 with Torres instead of Clark and Spector instead of Bornstein.
Otherwise, maybe a 4-5-1 or 4-1-4-1 might not be so bad in this game. Something like this:
———————-Davies————————
Donovan—–Bradley—–Torres—–Dempsey
———————-Clark————————–
Spector—–Bocanegra—Onyewu—–Cherundolo
———————–Howard————————
If the US needs more offense, with this lineup, they could push Dempsey forward and play a straight 4-4-2.
The line up Ives has will be the starting line up,with only Spector at RB being differnet. I think this will be the starting line up (minus DeMerit, replacing Bornstein) going into the the World Cup deffending on what happens with Jones. So if we want to see what we can look foward to at the World Cup, these next two games will tell us.
Jozy, Davis
Donovan, Bradley, Clark, Demps
Spector, Boca, Gooch, Dolo
Howard
Angel aka “jaja binks”, with Marshall and Demerit hurt who else should be bring in?
I love when ppl are critics but never offer a solution
jozy, dempsey
donovan, bradley, clark, benny
bornstein, boca, gooch, spector
howard
Boca locks down the leftback position and Goodson steps into the middle with Gooch.
So here it is:
Davis Altidore
LD Bradley Clark Dempsey
Boca Goodson Gooch Spector
Howard
Why get yourself annoyed? Ives’s projected lineup will most likely be it. The only one in question is Clark.
PS – This lineup will most likely not be able to bring back any points either
normally im not a 4-5-1 guy, but i think this is a perfect situation to deploy it. clog the midfield (dempsey, donovan, clark, bradley, torres) and keep the dangerous guys for honduras in check. torres is in my lineup for possession but obviously will not be in bradleys lineup because for some reason he hasnt noticed that lack of possession in come from behind losses (mexico, brazil) cost us games.
I hope chicago does not get the olympics. Mayor Daley has done nothing for soccer in chicago. So to Hell with him and the city.
I agree with the line up. But if Dempsey, continues to struggle, he should be pull off at halftime for Holden.
JAJAJAJA!!!! This Guy as a Coach is a Joke, I’m telling you Honduras will be a hard team to beat and Costa Rica is hurting to get a win and come and bit us in the butt. Bob Bradley is an Idiot keep calling Bornsteain & Conrad why why!!!
As it goes right now I don’t plan on “seeing” anyone take the field. Hopefully that changes and something a little closer then going into the city (ny) comes around.
I like the line-up no surprises there, but I definitely wouldn’t mind giving Holden and Torres 30 minutes in the 2nd half. I see this game being tight, maybe we are down a goal at the half and I think those 2 could come on and provide us the energy to get that tying goal. Or maybe Davies and Altidore have us up 2 at halftime. Who knows…I do hope Dempsey shows up for this game and gives us the energy he did in S. Africa.
I still don’t understand why Bornstein is considered better than Spector just because he’s fast. Beasley is faster than a lot of left midfielders but he’s not starting. Spector is a solid back in the Premier League and he has played on the left side. I wouldn’t hesitate to play him over Bornstein in that position, but my name’s not Bob Bradley.
I absolutely think your proposed lineup ‘can’ get a result in Honduras; however, ‘will’ they is another question. I believe they will. I must believe.
Really, my only concern is in defense and more specifically the wings. Like you said, this is where the only real questions remain. I don’t mind your choice of Dolo on the right. I’ve been a long time fan of his, but I hope Coach Bradley is ready to go to Spector at a moments notice. He’s the future at right back and I’m afraid that future may be coming sooner rather than later. At left, I like Bornstein but only because I think Boca is needed in the middle this time. Even with his reduced pace, I think Boca is a better option on the left, but without Demerit, I feel Boca is more needed centrally. The Boca – Gooch pairing is a proven one.
Personally, I think the debate between center midfielders is just a matter of choice. I am just as confident in Feilhaber, Bradley or Clark. They all bring something a little different that can be just as effective in helping the team on any given day.
benching important players b/c of yellow cards vs. Hondo sends the wrong message to the team. It tells the team “you’re probably not good enough to win here so we’ll save you for the home match instead”
Might go 4-5-1 to try to offset the midfield advantage.
I was really impressed by Torres in the Pachua Houston Game. The guy has such a quick touch on the ball that I think he would pair very well with a non-destroyer midfield partner such as Bradley or Feilhaber. With that said there is zero chance he sees the field before the 65th minute if at all. The lineup above will be the one we see, with two games left there is no need to try something new.
^^^^please excuse the grammar. still waking up here in the left coast….
Ives,
What are your thoughts about the benching strategy of proposed by others of benching some key starters due to yellow card accumulation to save them for the Costa Rica game?
(SBI-I hadn’t really heard that but it doesn’t really make sense to me. I’m not a believer in playing scared, which is what that would basically be. It would essentially be telling your own team that you’re not confident you can win in Honduras. That kind of defeatist attitude could have repercussions beyond the one match in Honduras.)
The real question is: If we don’t see it on television, did it really happen?