US-Honduras, the coaching, tactics, and subs (R)

[superdave]

OK, it's gonna be a 4-4-2. Fine.

But the central mids are Mastroenni and Rico Clark. I hope we have enough offense in this formation, but I have grave, grave doubts.

[code1390]

Heres a pre-emptive "wtf was Bradley thinking with that substitution".

[Matrim55]

OK, it's gonna be a 4-4-2. Fine.

But the central mids are Mastroenni and Rico Clark. I hope we have enough offense in this formation, but I have grave, grave doubts.
As do I, but let's save the pitchforks and torches for 2.5 hours from now, eh?

Maybe we should lock this til the result is final.

[Golazo]

No Torres? Our best player in a bad game on Wed. WTF?

[ty webb]

This line-up sucks.

Torres and Adu not even on the bench but out of form lost looking players like Beasley and Sacha are?
A defensive line-up at home in what is close to a must win game?
Two defensive CM's playing at home, but we play an attacking formation at CR on Wednesday?

[Fusion Logix]

Now were are all the people that were defending's bradley desicison to sub out torres in halftime? "hes gonna rest him for saturday"....

why altidore?...dude is gassed, i wanted to see davies and then altidore as a sub if anything.

[TrueCrew]

The good:

1) Spector and Bornstein wide. Check.

The Bad
1) Clark and Mastroeni in the midfield
2) Torres and Adu absent from the 18: Kljestan (worst laziness ever on 3rd goal) and Beasley (clearly not in form by a country mile), and Wynne (clearly outclassed).

I can kind of understand Beasley, as we need some kind of cover at LB.

[flash1316]

So now, since it apparently wasn't tired legs, why did Torres get subbed of at halftime of the last game?

[Nutmeg]

Likes:
- Casey up top
- Altidore return to the finishing role
- Bornstein left back
- Donovan left mid

Dislikes:
- Clark and Mastro as Central Midfield
- No Torres, Adu on the gameday 18
- Bocanegra LCB as captain
- Chicago as a venue (nice call, Sunil, you dumb shit)

We'll see:
- Can Spector hack it?
- Will Dempsey step up?
- Lots of new faces in a short turnaround. Can they blend?

Here's to hoping Bob got this one right. Go US!

[superdave]

Credit where credit is due. The Feilhaber sub completely changed the match. Honduras edged the first half in terms of play, IMO. But the US dominated the second half.

But the central mids are Mastroenni and Rico Clark. I hope we have enough offense in this formation, but I have grave, grave doubts.
Blame where blame is due. The central midfield pairing was a mistake. It almost cost us.

[Klinsmannfan]

USMNT needs to play better in the 1st and last 15 minutes.

[JohnR]

- Can Spector hack it?
- Will Dempsey step up?

Yes. No.

[russ]

Casey was subbed way too early.

Feilhaber was a great sub.We were empty bucket for 45.
If Honduras had anyone other than Pavon up front ,they could've had three at halftime.

[Grumpy in LA]

Yes. No.
I thought Dempsey played really well for most of the match. Yes, the mistake for Honduras' first goal was awful (!), and, yes, he could have done better with that potential assist from Feilhaber. But he played great defense, kept the game moving with passing, and played some smart, dangerous balls.

[Nutmeg]

Yes. No.

Agreed, but I thought Dempsey was better today. Not Fulham good, but better.

[Nutmeg]

Credit where credit is due. The Feilhaber sub completely changed the match. Honduras edged the first half in terms of play, IMO. But the US dominated the second half.

Blame where blame is due. The central midfield pairing was a mistake. It almost cost us.
Agreed on all counts.

[aarond23]

Dempsey spent most of the match trying to redeem himself from his horrible mistake. That finally woke him up and he played quite well. He needs to bring that fire EVERY game.

I don't know about Casey. He had some decent moments and brought some physicallity to the game. He's still scoreless in 10 caps, but he seems to be Chings replacement.

[diablodelsol]

How anybody can watch marvel wynne play soccer and think he's a better option at right back than spector really amazes me.

[TrueCrew]

How anybody can watch marvel wynne play soccer and think he's a better option at right back than spector really amazes me.

He isn't. And hopefully even Bradley knows it now.

Here's my Bradley report card:

Pre-Match
1. Dumb CM pairing. How do we possess the ball with those two?
2. Got the backs right with Spector and Bornstein.
3. I was OK with Casey at the top, completely understood.
4. I like LD at LM, and was OK with Deuce at RM
5. Horrid not having Torres/Adu (or at least one of them) on the 18. I'd have sat Kljestan. How can a sub be that lazy on a goal?

In-Match
1. Good sub: Benny for Pablo. Still, it was so dumb to not do it from the get-go.
2. Forced: DeMerit for Boca. Though I like Jay more than Califf.
3. Poor: if Bornstein is in distress, he should have been subbed.

[onefineesq]

Credit where credit is due. The Feilhaber sub completely changed the match. Honduras edged the first half in terms of play, IMO. But the US dominated the second half.

Blame where blame is due. The central midfield pairing was a mistake. It almost cost us. But can we continue to give him credit for making the same dumb original call to start games. It should have been apparent 2 years ago that a Clark/Mastroeni/Edu type of pairing is FAIL. I refuse to give him credit for realizing this a half late every time his son isn't able to play. He's a joke.