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

Now that the Russia friendly is done with, time to start talking about the next game, the first game of the final round of WCQ @ Honduras, Feb 6.

Lineups, tactics, formations, let's get to it!

Liked much of what I saw last night v. Russia. I can see the team coming together under Klinsmann. If everyone is healthy, selection is going to be fun. Now, we just need some of them pesky CB's...

1st page, but this.

Too long until February - especially since JK doesn't like to put out the roster until the weekend before.

Give me a Camp Cupcake. Roster late in December. Three week camp to get us through January and then the Hex. Fills the time much better.

Finally feeling like we're getting deeper offensively, and the addition of Chandler is a plus.

Here's my early pick for the starting XI v. Honduras, and the bench.


-------------------------Jozy----------------------------
E.Johnson-------------------------------------Donovan
-------------------------Dempsey-----------------------
-----------------------------------Bradley---------------
------------------Jones----------------------------------
FabJo-------------Boca---------Cameron---------Dolo
-------------------------Howard------------------------

Bench: Timothy Chandler, Herc Gomez, Terrence Boyd, Danny Williams, Sacha Kljestan, Omar Gonzalez, Brad Guzan

Roster 24: Maurice Edu, Juan Agudelo, Nick Rimando, Mix Diskerud, Josh Gatt, Michael Parkhurst

My thoughts are that, in terms of the lineup, we were successful v. Jamaica & Guatemala with Eddie Johnson as a wing forward. The top four can play a tight diamond that circulates in front of Honduras' back line. This is pretty much how Russia plays. Then, just 2 DM's, with Bradley also being the linkup to the top 4.

If healthy, I would expect veterans Bocanegra and Dolo to get the nod, with Chandler off the bench, possibly at RW.

I like Herc, and Klinsmann seems to prefer him, and he could start instead of EJ.

The rest of the bench has the #2 goalie, Chandler as a RB or RW option, Danny Williams as backup to Jones, who Klinsmann also prefers starting, and Kljestan who's earning his way in.

Boyd has played well and will earn himself the chance to sub for Jozy.

We still need a CB pairing, and Goodson may have played himself out of the picture. So, with just Bocanegra and Cameron, I've penciled in Gonzalez, have Parkhurst on hand, and one more is going to have to emerge from the MLS pool in January.

I've left the youngsters (Gatt, Diskerud, and Agudelo) off the XVIII. Doubt any of them will get blooded in the first away game in a high stakes game v. a hostile crowd in Honduras. They may get mixed into the XVIII during the first home stand in March.

Actually, since there's no home leg in February, it might be a limited roster of 18-20, with maybe Edu, Parkhurst, Rimando, and any emergent MLS centerback called in in case of injury.

It all depends on what Klinsmann does with his January camp

Let's rock their world and make a statement to the other teams in the Hex, right out of the chute in our first qualifier.

That might very well be what Klinsmann does. He seems to prefer Herc on the field, and he might feel most comfortable with the Jones-Bradley-Williams triangle for the first game, an away game at that.

Dempsey's a withdrawn striker & floater in my formation, but the top 4 should rotate frequently.

Exactly the XI I would expect from Klinsmann as well for a difficult away match. Jones hits the bench for Zusi if it's a home match.

However, three months could change everything. For example, Klinsmann will have to consider the fact that Donovan and Zusi are out of season.

I doubt there'd be a new CB pairing for a critical match like this, especially with 0 caps between them. (Omar has 2 friendly appearances, but is not yet capped).

I think he means in MLS. As much of a fan of Donovan I am, when it comes to a permanent move I'll believe it when I see it.

--------------------Altidore--------------------
Dempsey----------------------------Donovan
---------------Bradley---Jones----------------
--------------------Williams-------------------
Johnson-Bocanegra-Cameron-Cherundolo
--------------------Howard---------------------

Combination of what I think and what I hope it will be. Probably will see Gomez ahead of Altidore though.

What do you think is the issue with these two on the field at the same time? They started together at the 2010 WC and no doubt will be on the field together frequently during qualifying.

Is it that over 90 minutes you feel Jozy & Demps are capable of drifting out of the games, and we'll have two players MIA for long stretches?

Because we've never played Donovan and Dempsey as our outside players before... Donovan is perfectly capable of providing width. Dempsey will tend to drift inside a bit more, which will open up space for FJ to overlap.

I'm not even going to be able to watch this one, but I'll give it a whack anyway:

GKs: Howard, Guzan, Rimando (3)
CBs: Cameron, Bocanegra, Onyewu, Gonzalez (7)
RB/LB: Chandler, F. Johnson, Castillo, Cherundolo (11)
MF: Bradley, Zusi, Jones, Diskerud, Kljestan, Gatt, Williams, Edu (19)
FW: Dempsey, Altidore, Boyd, Gomez (23)

-------------------------Altidore------------------------
Dempsey-------------------------------------------Zusi
---------------Bradley-----------Kljestan--------------
--------------------------Jones-------------------------
Johnson---------------------------------------Chandler
---------------Onyewu---------Cameron--------------
------------------------Howard-------------------------

One benefit of so many Honduras nats being in MLS is that their first 11 may be more affected by the MLS offseason than ours!

Wow, what have you seen from Zusi that you hate to keep him out of a roster of 24?

In their last game in a must win against Canada, they started 4 MLS players

Bernardez, Martinez, Garcia; Bengston

and had a 5th on the bench (Chavez)

The definition of a cap is any appearance in a national team game including friendlies.

Do not confuse getting caps (which Gonzo has 2) with being cap tied (which Gonzo is not).

One thing to consider is that Herc is the only forward we have who has extensive experience as being a second half sub and being affective in that role. He has scored many goals in Mexico in the super sub role.

I think it takes a special skill, both mentally and physically to know you only have 20 minutes but can still be affective at it.

What network will be broadcasting? Please don't tell me BeIn...