Pre-match: Hex Match 1: Feb 6 USA @ Honduras

That would be great if true. I havent seen nor heard anything since his injury in Qatar earlier this month.

 

I was about to make a joke that went a little something like that.....

 

---------------------Howard--------------------
Chandler---Cameron---Gonzales---Parkhurst
---------------------Williams--------------------
--------Zusi------------------------Bradley------
--------------------Dempsey---------------------
----------Gomez----------------Jozy------------

 

heh.

 

If the US gets only one point, I won't be "happy" unless I'm convinced the USMNT went balls out for the win and fell just short.

 

Yea, I just found out that he has been training. Ive been trying to find that information out for a week. Thats good news though.

-----------------------Howard------------------------
---Chandler--Cameron--Gonzalez--Castillo---
-------------------------Edu--------------------------
-------------------Jones------Bradley----------------
-----------------------Dempsey---------------------
------------------Gomez----Altidore----------------

 

When is the official roster announcement?

 

Seems I heard it was a secret until they get off of the plane on Monday.

 

Game is only 7 days away! I hope the roster is released soon

 

Apologies if I missed this posted earlier ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2013/01/29/honduras-roster-for-u-s-qualifier/

Honduras' Training Camp Roster

Goalkeepers: Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Donis Escober (Olimpia), Jose Mendoza (Marathon).

Defenders: Arnold Peralta (Vida), Brayan Beckeles (Olimpia),Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes, MLS), Osman Chavez (Wisla Krakow, Poland), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan, England), Juan Pablo Montes (Platense), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic, Scotland), Juan Carlos Garcia (Olimpia).

Midfielders: Luis Garrido (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Jorge Claros (Hibernian, Scotland), Roger Espinoza (Wigan, England), Alex Lopez (Olimpia), Andy Najar (D.C. United, MLS), Boniek García (Houston Dynamo, MLS), Mario Martinez (Seattle Sounders, MLS), Aldo Oviedo (Real Espana).

Forwards: Jerry Bengtson (New England Revolution, MLS), Roger Rojas (Olimpia), Carlo Costly (Veria, Greece), Georgie Welcome (Motagua).

++++++++++++++++++++

Goff has updated Najar's club status - just transferred to Anderlecht.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs.../01/30/its-official-najar-sold-to-anderlecht/

 

-------Gomez
Dempsey------Zusi
----Bradley--Jones
-----------Edu
Castillo-Bocanegra-Cameron-Chandler
--------------Howard


Guzan
Parkhurst
Gonzalez
Beckerman
Gatt
Altidore
Kljestan

 

Someone has posted it, Tim, but thanks for the information.

Roger Espinoza went 90 yesterday for Wigan and got a yellow in their 2-2 draw with Stoke. Ugh, expert rated him the highest of all Wigan players.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/footb...12-2013/stoke-city-wigan-athletic-515719.html

 

Roster wont be posted until after Monday to make sure all European players are healthy after the weekend.

 

ofcourse he did bruv.. He found the assist with a splitting ball through the Stoke defense for the first goal and also was the man who engineered the second goal when he crossed it to an open McArthur who then laid it off for a simple tap in for Di Santo. Mans a beast m8

 

Just an idea, but I might try something like this. Out of form and injured players play into it. I don't feel confident with it either, but I personally don't feel any more confident playing out of form players in Zusi/Beckerman/Williams and Boca is a question mark for me. I don't like Jozy by himself, but I'd hope Kljestan/Bradley/Chandler could provide better service than what he's seen, which they should.

 

i have my idea here:

jozy gomez
dempsey zusi
bradley jones
chandler boca omar cameron
howard

i have cameron at rb his club position

boca and omar should be solid enough in the middle

 

The 4-2-2-2 will never work with that personnel...

 

I'm changing my avatar if Jozy doesn't start.

 

Right now my starting 11 is(4-1-2-3):

GK: Tim Howard
RB: Timmy Chandler
CB: Geoff Cameron
CB: Omar Gonzalez
LB: Fabian Johnson
DM: Jermaine Jones
LCM: Michael Bradley
RCM: Graham Zusi
LW: Clint Dempsey
CF: Jozy Altidore
RW: Herculez Gomez

 

If both Chandler and Johnson are available, then I wouldn't start Zusi. Width can come from the FBs and Zusi didn't look sharp.

And with those FBs providing width, I am not sure Jones is a good choice for DM. He's liable to get caught up or caught calling for a foul at the wrong time.

Not sure I would start Gonzalez over Boca until I saw them together in camp.

Does Cameron play about as much DM as RB at stoke? Is he a DM option if Gonzalez is ready to start?

 

Your country is cool when it takes the day off for qualifying.

 

I didn't think Zusi was particularly sharp either. However, there aren't that many options with Donovan out. Maybe Kljestan, but we just don't have many options to play that creative midfield type of role. Holden is still just coming back, Mix went back to Norway, therefore I doubt he makes this roster, and Torres has pretty much fallen off the radar.

Right now, I think we need one DM and one only. Williams is not in form, and has been pretty much replaced at Hoffenheim, so I don't think he is much of an option right now. Maybe Beckerman, but if we are choosing between Beckerman and Jones right now, my choice is Jones.

I think the biggest problem with Boca right now is that he is playing on the worst team in the the Second Division of Spain. His team is almost surely going to get relegated to the third division in spain. I just don't think the level that he is playing at is good enough to start a crucial WCQ right now. Omar is fit and in form, so I would start him over Boca right now. I would probably even start Besler over Boca right now if Cameron plays RB.

As for your last question, I would much rather see Geoff Cameron at RB or CB. I don't think he has even played DM this year. We have much bigger problems in the back right now, we need all the quality back there that we can get. Between the injuries, Chandler's indecisiveness and the level that Boca is playing at, I think Cameron needs to start on the back line.

 

If I were JK, I think my main questions in Miami then would be:

1) Omar or Boca (or even Besler). Omar is close, Besler showed nice distribution, but Boca has the experience which is very importnat on the road in the Hex.

2) If I need a dedicated DM (which I think we do to close down Espinoza), then can I trust Jones (or Bradley) to do it so I can get my best players on the field? If not, then is Danny W sharp or does Beckerman seem most likely to do the job?

3) If I need a DM that is not Jones (or Bradley), then do I go with no "creative" midfielder and just ask Dempsey to find the ball, or do I drop Gomez (or EJ) and bring on Zusi or Sacha?

 

Some odds from http://www.bmbets.com/football/world/world-cup-qualifiers---concacaf/honduras-v-usa-381107/
Honduras 3.15 to 1 to win
USA 2.1 to 1 to win
Draw 3.25 to 1

Over (1.9 to 1)/Under (1.8 to 1): 2.5 total goals

Were I a betting man, I would take the over. Both teams are quite capable of scoring 3 goals in this match all by themselves. I think 4 total goals is more likely than 2.

 

some good news for USA.. Emilio Izaguirre has been ruled out with an injury that he picked up yesterday.. he won't be making the trip..

#samesh1tdifferentqualifier