The Center Midfield for Saturday

[Maximum Optimal]

The yellow cards to Bradley and Kljestan mean they sit this Saturday. This opens up the possibility that the Bob will try some combinations that some of us have been advocating for some time in central midfield. It is a shame Edu is out because I suspect he would have been a big help.

Still, I'm looking forward to a combination of Ricardo Clark plus some more offensive minded player. My assumption is that Mastroeni's poor performance in CR means he wont be starting.

So who will be Clark's partner on Saturday? Torres is one possibility. But I suspect the Bob was not pleased with his play, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Feilhaber is another, but Benny is probably not far enough along the comeback trail to be thrown into this kind of situation.

This leaves a real possibility that Donovan will be the other central mid, something I've advocated for some time. The formation might look like a Y, with Clark playing deep, Donovan in the pivot and two wide mids. I've always felt you want to put your best player in positions to get the most touches and have the biggest influence on the match and this is a good way to get Donovan involved.

As for the wide players, the choices are Dempsey, Beasley and Adu. I'd be ok with moving Beaze back to a starting midfield spot, even with his disastrous game in CR. He has always done better at left mid than other positions. But if the Bob sits him, I think we have an interesting alternative in Adu.

Finally, I would note that Honduras won't be bringing an especially physical midfield to this match. Nunez is a little guy, and Guevara plays soft. Playing Landon in central midfield will not always be the best strategy, but this is one situation where I think it makes a lot of sense.

[RolexEmbezzled]

The Kljestan suspension probably hurts more than the Bradley one when you consider how well Clark and Kljestan played together during that friendly against Sweden. Major question marks going into the Honduras game now.

[moytoy12]

I'd still take Mastroeni over Clark. Pablo was bad, but Clark is infinitely worse.

Pablo and Torres in the CM. LD and CD out wide, Alti and ching (or Davies for injured ching) up top.

Or, if BB isn't happy with Torres, then either LD or Adu with Pablo. If it's LD, put Adu out wide right and Dempsey out on the left.

[Pull One Back]

According to the US game notes, Sacha was not carrying a yellow into the CR game ... so he will be eligible for Saturday's match. Not that I think he should start, but he is indeed an option.

[Mr Martin]

BB will have major issues to resolve the next few days in central midfield and outside back. The US has serious holes at outside back, as everyone is painfully aware, and now with two suspensions (Bradley and Kljestan) and one injury (Edu), the central midfield has become a serious immeadiate problem.

Your consistant wish to try Donovan as a real CM is a very logical option under these circumstances. Donovan is capable of handling it in a pinch and against the right opponent.

I'd be inclined to try a box midfield, with both Torres and Clark holding down the defensive side, and Donovan and Dempsey the offensive side.

I'm not happy with Beasley's form and I think he should sit. Mastro and even Feilhaber become emergency CM subs.

Start Altidore and Ching (or Davies) at striker. Bring in Adu as the first offensive sub.

---------Altidore---Davies--------
------Donovan-------Dempsey-----
-----------Torres--Clark----------

We have played the box before, so the team will have a comfort level with that, unlike the 4-3-3 mess last night.

[I<3jorgecampos]

Torres and Clark.

[Matrim55]

I'd still take Mastroeni over Clark. Pablo was bad, but Clark is infinitely worse.
I don't know about infinitely worse, but Rico's tendency to dawdle on the ball scares the hell out of me against a team that attacks as quickly as Honduras.

Pablo and Torres in the CM. LD and CD out wide, Alti and ching (or Davies for injured ching) up top.

Or, if BB isn't happy with Torres, then either LD or Adu with Pablo. If it's LD, put Adu out wide right and Dempsey out on the left.
I like your thinking here, but Adu to the right and Dempsey to the left leaves our fullbacks with the same problems that we had last night.

I like your approach to the problem overall, though, and your willingness to look at multiple options.

[Matrim55]

---------Altidore---Davies--------
------Donovan-------Dempsey-----
-----------Torres--Clark----------

We have played the box before, so the team will have a comfort level with that, unlike the 4-3-3 mess last night.
I think it would play more like a "Y" with Torres staying central in front of Clark, who will almost always be deep.

Personally I like playing Dempsey on the left and Donovan on the right since Landon almost never cuts inside and attacks the goal effectively, whereas that's Clint's whole bag with Fulham.

[moytoy12]

I like your thinking here, but Adu to the right and Dempsey to the left leaves our fullbacks with the same problems that we had last night.



Very good point. If spector is behind Adu and spector is the defensive player that people thinks he is, then he should provide adequate cover for Adu, but Adu must come back and help. Same story on the left side. Bornstein (assuming BB goes that route) should be ok with Demps if Demps plays any D.

I feel the prob last night was the formation almost dictated that there would be zero outside help for the wing backs. A 4-4-2 would put the outside mids on the outside (lol...seems so simple) and require them to help defensively.

If frankie is healthy, then Frankie plays on the right and Spector on the left, both of which should be a good defender in support of the guy in front of them.

Finally, I have no prob with Demps sitting, LD on the left, Adu on the right and Torres in the middle with Pablo.

[ty webb]

I think Bob chooses...........


--------------------Alti---------------Ching
------------------------------
-----Landy---------------------------------------------Demps
--------------------Mastro-----------Clark

[I<3jorgecampos]

If Donovan drops back into the middle who will take his spot out wide? Beasley is unfit to play anywhere on the pitch now IMO. Call in Robbie Rodgers?

[moytoy12]

If Donovan drops back into the middle who will take his spot out wide? Beasley is unfit to play anywhere on the pitch now IMO. Call in Robbie Rodgers?


Adu, Dempsey and possibly Torres although I like Torres in the middle.

[Maximum Optimal]

I'd be inclined to try a box midfield, with both Torres and Clark holding down the defensive side, and Donovan and Dempsey the offensive side.



I think this is the most logical alternative to what I proposed. It comes down to whether you want Beasley or Torres as your fourth midfielder.

After the CR match, providing defensive support to the outside backs will be a priority, a concern that ironically enough can be partly addressed by playing Beasley at left mid. The same concern works against Adu getting a start at one of the wide mid spots.

It would make more sense to start Adu at second striker, but that is another topic.

[TrueCrew]

Well, I think there are lots of interesting choices for BB, some of them injury related.

1. Is Frankie healhty? If yes, he'll start on the backline. At RB or LB. A RB start leaves the derby at LB open: Bornstein/Pearce/Baesley/Spector/Boca. A LB start would point to Spector at RB. Who starts at the other outside back is a big issue.

2. Is Ching healthy? If so, he starts with Jozy. If not, doe LD move up top? Which could ripple down through the midfield and back. Or Dempsey? Or Adu? Or does Davies get a start?

3. Who plays in the CM? Defensive oriented options are Clark and Palbo. More offensive options are Kljestan, Torres, and Feilhaber. Depending on formation, we could also see Dempsey, Donovan, or even Adu.

I think the formation will dictate. I think a box is a real possibility. Depending on Ching's status, we could see:

---------Clark------Pablo-----------
---------Dempsey---Torres---------
---------Altidore----Donovan--------

A healthy Ching Pushes Donovan back beside Dempsey, and Torres goes to the bench, or puts Clark there. An interesting option.

I don't think Bob will play a five man midfield at home, so a triangle midfield with LD or Torres as the CAM is probably out.

Another problem is that because of Bradley's suspension, and Edu's injury, if we play with two d-mids, there is not comparable backup on the bench. So I would think that could point to a diamond, or at least, playing a more offensive minded CM with one of the defensive ones. With one of each in reserve.