USA v. Honduras, WCQ 6/6/09

[TrueCrew]

Well, I didn't see a Pre-Match thread in this forum, so here we go again. Of course, I mysteriously missed the last one, too.

But undaunted by the shame, I resolve to carry on.

Big match on Saturday, over 50,000 tickets sold, a loss will likely mean we are in 4th, a draw will likely mean a tie for third (when the two matchdays are over).

Ching is out. Casey in. http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_14745601.html

Edu is out injured. Bradley is suspended.

That leaves us with:

GK (2). Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa)

D (8). Frankie Hejduk (Columbus), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege), Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Jonathan Spector (West Ham), Jay Demerit (Watford), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock).

D/M (1). DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers).

M (6). Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado), Ricardo Clark (Houston), Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus).

M/F (2). Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Freddy Adu (Benfica).

F (3). Josmer Altidore (Villarreal), Charlie Davies (Hammarby), Conor Casey (Colorado).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, that's what we have to work with.

Big questions are:

1. What formation & tactics will BB employ?

Anything is possible after that 4-3-3 with Landon as a CF and Jozy as a LW. I hoping we see a good ole 4-4-2 with one dedicated d-mid.

2. Is Frankie Hejduk healthy?

If yes, he has to start. But where? RB seems the safer bet, but with the trouble on the other side, that is a possibility as well.

3. Who starts at LB?

Is the Beasley experiment over? When converting a player (especially an out of form one), one has to expect some bumps in the road. Pearce is also out of form. It would seem to me, if BB decides on form, it is down to Bornstein, Bocanegra, Hejduk, or Spector.

4. What the hell does BB have against Spector?

Not even on the 18? No knock? Was he resting him for Chicago? We'll see.

5. What does the CM look like?

Both in terms of formation and tactics. Flat? Triangle? 2 man? 3 man? Box? Diamond? After last game, I'm not willing to take anything off the table. But I think BB will go with one defensive oriented CM (Clark or Pablo) and one or the more skilled ones (Torres, Kljestan, Feilhaber). And a 5 man mid could also be a possibility.

6. Where does Donovan play?

And there will be a ripple effect elsewhere. LM? As a striker? Withdrawn striker? CAM?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's my guess (What I think BB will do).

------------Howard------------
Hejduk--Gooch---Boca---Bornstein
------------Clark----------------
Dempsey---Torres------Donovan
-------Davies----Altidore---------

Bench: Guzan, Spector, DeMerit, Mastroeni, Kljestan, Adu, Casey.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Honduras are missing superstar striker David Suazo, but are still very dangerous, especially on the counter. Feel free to post Honduras news as well.

Also, if anyone has news on the ticket situation for this "home" match. I'd expect the majority of the crowd to be pro-Honduran.

[Nutmeg]

Out for the US: Ching, Edu, Cherundolo, Hejduk (injuries), Bradley (cards)

Out for Honduras: Suazo, Palacios, De Leon, Alvarez

I think Casey, Adu, Dempsey, Donovan, Kljestan, Clark, Bornstein, Boca, Gooch, Wynne and Howard get the starting nod in a 4-4-2.

The optimist in me thinks we are going to POUND Honduras. But I'm as worried as I've been since 2006 about where this team is going.

[appoo]

The optimist in me thinks we are going to POUND Honduras. But I'm as worried as I've been since 2006 about where this team is going.

Me to.

this is what I want to see.

-----------------Timmy-------------------
---------Gooch----------Spector----------
---Spector--------------------Bornstein---
----------------Rico-----------------------
---------Freddy---LD---Torres-------------
-------------------------------------------
---------Casey---------Jozy----------------

[I<3jorgecampos]

Y'all think Jozy can go 90' again? I am not so sure.

[hanoah]

Me to.

this is what I want to see.

-----------------Timmy-------------------
---------Gooch----------Spector----------
---Spector--------------------Bornstein---
----------------Rico-----------------------
---------Freddy---LD---Torres-------------
-------------------------------------------
---------Casey---------Jozy----------------

That's asking a whole lot of Spector!

[TrueCrew]

Out for the US: Ching, Edu, Cherundolo, Hejduk (injuries), Bradley (cards)

Out for Honduras: Suazo, Palacios, De Leon, Alvarez

I think Casey, Adu, Dempsey, Donovan, Kljestan, Clark, Bornstein, Boca, Gooch, Wynne and Howard get the starting nod in a 4-4-2.

The optimist in me thinks we are going to POUND Honduras. But I'm as worried as I've been since 2006 about where this team is going.

I haven't seen anything where Hejduk has been ruled out yet. Did I miss it?

[tab5g]

a shut-out would do the US a world of good.

they need a big performance from everyone, but Tim Howard especially.

to me, this match has the potential to be very similar to the 2007 Gold Cup final. http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_950286.html

Same venue.
US needing a result.
M.Bradley unavailable due to card suspension.
Big crowd (with much/most of it supporting the visitors).

I'm thinking the game could be very similar as well. Who will step up and be the offensive hero? Feilhaber again, or someone else like Altidore, Torres, Adu, Davies, Kljestan or Casey? This match will certainly say and awful lot about this US team as Honduras will certainly be a quality opponent.

[Flipstar508]

I want to see

-------------------Howard----------------------

Spector-----Onyewu-----Bocanegra-----Bornstein

Donovan-------Clark--------Torres-------Dempsey

--------------Davies-------Altidore---------------

[Matrim55]

Me to.

this is what I want to see.

-----------------Timmy-------------------
---------Gooch----------Spector----------
---Spector--------------------Bornstein---
----------------Rico-----------------------
---------Freddy---LD---Torres-------------
-------------------------------------------
---------Casey---------Jozy----------------
If you do this, you'll put our fullbacks in exactly the same position they were Wednesday. No thanks.

[Matrim55]

I want to see

-------------------Howard----------------------

Spector-----Onyewu-----Bocanegra-----Bornstein

Donovan-------Clark--------Torres-------Dempsey

--------------Davies-------Altidore---------------
We have a winner - though I'd consider Casey for one of the forwards, depending on Jozy's fitness and Davies' state of mind.

[Nutmeg]

I haven't seen anything where Hejduk has been ruled out yet. Did I miss it?

I assumed he was. I'd love to be wrong. I'd love Frankie to be starting tomorrow.

[Ronaldinho11]

Out for the US: Ching, Edu, Cherundolo, Hejduk (injuries), Bradley (cards)

Out for Honduras: Suazo, Palacios, De Leon, Alvarez

I think Casey, Adu, Dempsey, Donovan, Kljestan, Clark, Bornstein, Boca, Gooch, Wynne and Howard get the starting nod in a 4-4-2.

The optimist in me thinks we are going to POUND Honduras. But I'm as worried as I've been since 2006 about where this team is going.


Palacios isn't out for honduras, hell, he'll prolly be on the starting line-up I'm sure.

Suazo has been out for about 2 months with an injury. Leon is out on yellows, and Alvarez didn't even get a call-up (very suprising to many Honduras supporters)

I think Honduras will play like this.


----------------Costly-----------------
------------Lobo Guevara--------------
Nunez--------------------------Turcios
---------Palacios-----Thomas----------
Figueroa---Chavez---Bernardez--Sabillon
--------------Valladares---------------

That in my opinion is the best line-up Honduras can field right now with the current absences they have.

They arrived in Chicago last night and were received at the airport by a huge Honduran crowd.

http://www.diez.hn/Hexagonal/Ediciones/2009/06/04/Noticias/Locura-catracha-en-Chicago

Spanish article but check out the pictures on the right.

[Nutmeg]

Palacios isn't out for honduras, hell, he'll prolly be on the starting line-up I'm sure.

Last I'd heard he and Honduras had agreed he would stay home to be with his family in mourning. Has that changed?

[United1]

I assumed he was. I'd love to be wrong. I'd love Frankie to be starting tomorrow.

First time this has ever been said on Big Soccer. :D

And I agree.

[TrueCrew]

Last I'd heard he and Honduras had agreed he would stay home to be with his family in mourning. Has that changed?

I thought he had stayed behind a day or two while they waited for the test results to ID the remains, and then was coming to join the team. Though I could be wrong too.

Still, a very sad and tragic situation for Palacios. Our condolences and prayers to him and his family.

[tab5g]

Today's Studio90 news update mentioned that Hejduk's status for Saturday is questionable (or a question mark, or however it was phrased).

"Remains a question" was the exact phrasing on Hejduk's status for Saturday.

[braun]

Out for the US: Ching, Edu, Cherundolo, Hejduk (injuries), Bradley (cards)

Out for Honduras: Suazo, Palacios, De Leon, Alvarez

I think Casey, Adu, Dempsey, Donovan, Kljestan, Clark, Bornstein, Boca, Gooch, Wynne and Howard get the starting nod in a 4-4-2.

The optimist in me thinks we are going to POUND Honduras. But I'm as worried as I've been since 2006 about where this team is going.

Why not Altidore for Kljestan, who may be out for cards as well.

If Spector is truly out and Wynne can't handle it, then Demerit is our RB.

I can't see us pounding Honduras with even these changes. Truly believe BB's job is on the line, not our players'. Who ya gonna call?

[Angelo1405]

is this gonna be our World Cup team ? or is he saving other players for later...and please play spector and that davees guy in the second half if you have to, he was brilliant in the 10 minutes he played on wednesday

[judodono]

Out for Honduras: Suazo, Palacios, De Leon, Alvarez


if this is true, wow.. that's a blessing

I want to see

-------------------Howard----------------------

Spector-----Onyewu-----Bocanegra-----Bornstein

Donovan-------Clark--------Torres-------Dempsey

--------------Davies-------Altidore---------------

yup. I'd rather Dempsey on the right and Donovan on the left. Adu for Davies or come in for him later.

[papermache16]

I want to see

-------------------Howard----------------------

Spector-----Onyewu-----Bocanegra-----Bornstein

Donovan-------Clark--------Torres-------Dempsey

--------------Davies-------Altidore---------------

It's going to be this, but probably with Adu or Casey in for Davies since Davies has been a decent super sub. Feilhaber with the 75' game winner :D

And can someone please clear up the Kljestan card situation?