Stuart Holden passed his second test.
Holden started and played 65 minutes in Bolton's 1-1 draw with Rochdale (Bolton won 6-5 in penalties) in a reserve match on Wednesday in rainy conditions. Playing in front of U.S. national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, Holden emerged unscathed and is set for the next challenge on his comeback road.
Wednesday's match was the second reserve game in which Holden played, following up his 78-minute performance against Fulham on Aug. 30. The next step for Holden is a return to the first team, something that could happen as soon as this Saturday, when Bolton takes on Manchester United.
What do you think of this development? Think Holden should be included on the roster for Saturday's game?
Share your thoughts below.
If HOlden’s coaches think he’s ready, he should play. Bolton sure could use him.
I’d like to see this lineup:
— Pluto — Buzz Lightyear —
Donald Duck — Mickey Mouse — Bugs Bunny — Wiley E Coyote —
Daffy Duck — Elmer Fudd — Dumbo — Winnie the Pooh
and, of course, in goal:
Tim Howard
Ok, I dnt know what Im talking about. What has Altidore done the last two games to convince you that he is an automatic starter? I know hes scoring in Holland but I would rather see Dempsey by himself up top with Adu who played really good against Mexico. Nobody has the skills on our pool like Freddy Adu. By the way this is the lineup I would like to see in our future, thats why John is their cuz he has a ton of potential. Who would u pair with Bocanegra?
I like Adu over Altidore bcuz of that skill, dribbling, vision, and that 1 v 1 ability. Hes also good at set pieces. He will be playing the same position he played at the U20 World Cup but now he will be spraying the ball to Dempsey. And about F. Johnson, ive seen him play and I remember that final against England, this guy is a baller. He would be a waste if he was on the bench. Granted, he still needs to earn a spot on the team
Because Fred doesn’t know what he’s talking about? If there was any doubt about that, even giving starting Adu over Altidore and Agudelo and plugging in John, who hasn’t played a minute of international play, then having Castillo pencilled in at left back confirms it.
No. You’re a troll for entirely different reasons.
I’m not ignoring jack.
Just thinking to myself… he succeeded where similarly talented people have failed.
How did he do so well when players like Adu, Kljestan, and Szetela failed?
Of course, he improved under the added competition and training regimen at his team. But he obviously had something going in that the others did not. Just ruminating. If you find the question obtuse, just ignore. No need for insults.
Because he’s not good enough. Francois, I’ve seen every Pachuca game the last 2 years and his qualities serve him in the FMF. He’s a deep-lying link-up who was playing forward from his natural position the last USMNT games. Holden will create chances, Torres won’t. He’s not better than the others we have for that linking position — slow and small is fine if you don’t get pushed off the ball. He does.
why Adu over Altidore? and why has johnson become a sensation before he plays one minute??
I’m with you on Donavan but a little less so with Dempsey. I also think Torres needs time before he’s “There” and these friendlies are a perfect time for that.
Typical thinking that we need to have the beat athletes to be competitive. Some of the best midfielders on the planet are ‘slow and small’, although, Torres isn’t that slow. Hopefully Holden can come back to pr-injury form, all signs point to that. Fabian Johnson played on the Euro U-21 German champion side from a few years ago, he maybe hasn’t played a full international game yet, but neither had Miertens until february, and look at him now. (Not saying that he will be that great, and they play completely different positions, but the point is that there are plenty great players that haven’t played NT games yet). I’m not saying crown these 3 our starters, i’m just saying that they could be a good combination. Now thinking more about it, there needs to be a creator in there, Torres is more of a poor mans Pirlo.
I would love to see this lineup:
——-Dempsey——
—————-Adu—–
F. Johnson————Donovan
———-Holden-Jones——-
Castillo-Bocanegra-G. John-T. Chandler
And then we will have Shea, Agudelo, Altidore and Torres as our sparkplugs off our bench. And our cover for defense will be Cherundolo, Goodson, and Lichaj. Dempsey would be our poacher/striker so he wnt hold the ball as much like the game against Belgium
For me Torres is behind Holden on the depth chart; I feel like they will play the same position and role.
How is it odd if you don’t think torres and fabian johnson holden would be a serious threat. Are you serious!!?? or are you joking.
Holden coming off a lengthy injury- lets see how he does
Torres Great vision and skill- slow and small
Fabian Johnson- who is he? how many international games have you seen him play? Don’t crown him “god” status until he proves himself.
You need a creator with that combination. Neither are capable of playing that role.
You obviously don’t follow Torres very closely, or see useful qualities when they are right if front of you. Why couldn’t you play Torres with Holden? I don’t get it. Those two with a holding/defensive midfielder in behind them could work really well, but that’s just my opinion
I understand that, but I was referring to a 4-3-3 formation and putting Adu in his spot because they’ll never play in the midfield together I don’t think. Although, that would be fun to see. I think a 4-2-3-1 with Holden and Torres as the holding 2 would be great.
Sorry, Torres in midfield doesn’t threaten anyone, that lineup is short-sighted hype. I like JFT, but he is holding Holden’s place at present (Torres and Holden in the same MF is wishful thinking) If you play Holden, then Torres needs to displace MB90, and that’s not going to happen for all “too small” reasons stated above.
I’d say either attacking or defensive midfield, because he truly is too good on the ball to be put at LB unless Chandler and Lichaj can’t continue to improve their.
Yes, I have seen him play many times, including every game this year. He’s an absolute stud, and will add a lot to our team.
What is his best position in your opinion?
no one will forget him, but until he gets back to his pre-accident self he won’t see usmnt cam[
Yeah, I’ve seen him play several times. Even got to watch him play in the Euro U21 for Germany when they won. He’s a stud.
I think that is because nobody is sure or convinced that he will get back to pre-injury form. PK goals aside, he hasn’t exactly looked great this season.
And people are already forgetting CD9.
Have you actually seen Fabian Johnson play? Everyone is pumped up about him, but who knows how he’ll actually fit in…
Holden, on the other hand, will be great if he is fit.
You’re ignoring possibly the most important aspect of his development, and that would be the 2/3 of the last EPL season where he put in an MVP-worthy performance for Bolton.
It wouldn’t hurt Torres to spend some time in the gym, not necessarily bulking up, but building a bit of muscle to shake off some of the tough challenges he will inevitably face.
Partnering him with a healthy Holden, if that day ever comes, might add the attacking spark that the midfield has lacked in the last few friendlies. I think Shea on the left and LD or Bedoya on the right might work pretty well.
Adu is a completely different player than Torres. I think there is a certain value to the skill set Torres possesses…deep lying link up play. He is not the creative force some people desperately want him to be, but I wouldn’t mind seeing more of him with the first team. I’m not sure he has a role in the 4-4-2…but in a 4-5-1, I think he would be useful paired with Holden and some creative player that I have yet to identify.
okay to be fair, by beefing up, he needs to learn how to deal with guys who are 5’10+ and weigh 180lbs challenging him for balls. Also europe is a faster pace game. That would help his desicion making improve.
Yeah we need some one to help out Jozy or whomever.
Bradley Jr in my opinion plays at a higher pace and will challenge for balls. I would love to see Bradley Jr. play more of what Torres was doing and not play as defensive. Hopefully Klins will give him a shot
Think how deadly Holden, Demps and Donovan would be, they all can play each spot. They would be constantly switching positions among themselves giving defenses fits.
Not sure if Chandler and Lichaj should be penciled in just yet. They are the future but anything can happen. Plus I think there are more guys out there that could easily replace Torres. But than again the WC is in 3 years anything can happen. No one knew CD9 until right up to the confeds. cup
Yea, there’s no denying Donovan/Dempsey are the class of our pool (along with Howard & company) but I agree with you in seeing some new faces.
As for Torres, not sure I agree with him beefing up. The best club in the world’s trio of players that make it click are all 5’7 and below weighing 145lbs or less.
Regarding his passing choices/direction: I think we need two forwards up top. Often, I think that’s the only direction to pass when we have one forward surrounded by 4-5 defenders. This has been a criticism of Bradley Jr, at times, too. Likely for the same reasons.
I don’t think either of them are going any where any time soon. They are the best two we have now. But I would like to see new faces in playing. They won’t be with the US forever. As for Torres, I think he is a good sub. Not a starter. I love him to death, he has great vision and skill. He is just too small and slow to react. He passes back and to the side too often. I’m not writing him off forever but he needs to go to europe and beef up.
Oh, def. not a troll comment, but great conversational piece.
Still trying to wrap my head around Holden’s incredible progress.
I remember him sticking out at the Olympics way back when. But I only saw him as marginally better than Rogers. (Remember way back when when people thought they were about equally talented?)
But his tournament performance was tainted by an ill advised shot from distance that went over the bar (when he just as easily could have walked it into the box to take a far less risky shot.)
Anyhow, he moves on to Houston Dynamo and (for me personally) did not exactly take the world by storm. In fact, for me, he was very much in the shadows of DeRo.
But he had good speed, good possession game, very good decision making.
Then he goes to the Gold Cup and has a great performance capped by the goal of the tournament.
The thing is, with an Olympics team featuring Bradley, Kljestan, Rogers, Szetela, Adu, he did not really stick out. For me, he seemed the most talented, but not by a huge margin.
Now I like to think that he had the most complete game of all of those players. And perhaps the reason he did not stick out so much in MLS is because many of the players are fast–Rogers, Wynne, Corey Ashe.
But perhaps it is the completeness of his game, coupled with his speed that has made him such a success in the Premiere League.
This is my theory. Are there any others?
In any case, I’m glad he chose to play for the US, ‘cuz I’m sure Scotland would love to have him.
Best of luck in the recovery, Stu Holden!
———–Altidore——–
———–Holden———-
Dempsey————–Donovan
——-Torres-Bradley——
Lichaj-Boca-Goodson-Chandler
I think you have an odd opinion if you don’t think a midfield of Torres-Fabian Johnson-Holden is a serious threat. Torres is a key piece, but I think Benny or Freddy could play in his spot. We just have to see the different combinations.
Donovan hasn’t played with passion since the World Cup & I’m beginning to wonder if he’s going to be an asset going forward.
Dempsey, while others thought he looked creative, looked plain selfish to me and ball movement literally stopped when he gained possession against Belgium. Not exactly conducive to the fluidity/pass and move system Klinsmann apparently wants to play in.
I’m not denying their individual talent and I’m intentionally being a bit hyperbolic concerning Dempsey for the sake of conversation but no one else sees the concerns I’ve brought up? Especially with Donovan?
Yeah, I truly hope to see him not rushed back just because Bolton aren’t getting results…
But it’ll be interesting to see if Holden can play WITH Torres under Klinsmann…it could help create the much need offense and end product we’ve been lacking as of late.
you don’t think he is?
For this new style, we nee him.
Yes you are if you think Torres is first team starting lineup material
Not a troll, just an odd opinion.
am I a troll for saying I’m actually growing tired of Dempsey & Donovan with the Nats, for separate reasons?
Holden, on the other hand, I am looking forward to seeing paired with Torres centrally.
Great to see that Holden is recovering so well from his injury. I don’t know if he will be ready to play on Saturday but I do feel that there would be some poetic justice if Holden were to have his first game back from injury against the team that he was injured playing against.
I’m hoping that he is not rushing back to soon BUT If he’s ready then up and at ’em! Come on Holden!
very excited to see Holden, Dempsey, Donovan all on the field at the same time for the Nats under Klinsmann
Interesting if he returns against the team that injured him so many months ago.
Do we have a clue on how he looked? I think Bolton needs him back and they know they need him. I think he comes in at the end to get some minutes, so probably like 10-15.
If he plays this weekend, I hope it’s nothing more than a 5-10 minute cameo at the end of the game. I have a feeling he won’t see the field though.
I certainly would like to see his name on the game day roster for the first team, but I’m sure the trainers, medical staff, and coaching staff are all trying to make sure he is not rushed in. So, I won’t be disappointed if he isn’t on the roster this weekend because I’m sure they want to take every precaution before throwing him into the lion’s den, especially with his first game back possibly being against a rampant Manchester United side. Either way, I hope he’s is back to starting form in the next couple of weeks.
Keeping my fingers crossed that he can return to pre-injury form.