[Patient]

Setting emotions aside and taking into account the way this USMNT has been playing as of late, adding to the fact that I believe we only had 2 road wins thus far (Cuba and T&T), how many of us right now would settle for a tie against Honduras? I believe most of us would. Hence, if “Princeton-Bob Bradley” is smart he should pray for win but more realistically pick a team formation that will give him a far better chance to get a tie.

If my hypothesis is correct, then the obvious question is what should this formation look like? I for one do not profess to know all the strengths and weaknesses of every member of this team. Therefore, generally speaking and at least for the first half, I would go with a lone forward with Donovan close at hand ,clog-up the midfield and make sure to have reinforcement to our backs. It is absolutely necessary to have a fomation that would frustrate them.

One example might look like the formation below (at least for the first half).

===========================Davies =======================
========================================Donovan
=========== Holden==============Feilhaber===



===========================2 Defensive idfielders=============

========================== 4 Backs =======================

=========================Howard Who Else?=================

Notes:

1) I prefer Davies to Altidore in the first half due to his better ball handling skills and his ability to take players on can also deliver a mean cross.

2) For the most part Holden, Feilhaber, Donovan are probably some of our best players that can “keep the ball” and deliver some decent crosses and also take players on. As for Clint and Altidore, they can always be substituted depending how the game goes.

3) As for the backs and defensive midfielders I leave it to the board to select.

4) ALL PLAYERS MUST CONTRIBUTE TO DEFENDING!!!

5) As for the second half, well it will depend how the first half goes.

6) If my math serves me right and we get a tie in Honuras all we would need is a tie against Costa Rica (home game) and we will secure a spot ( even a loss against Costa Rica is conceivable depending how Costa Rica and Honduras does in their other games.)

7) I am not saying that we should not play to win but our line-up should have more of a defensive formation making it more difficult for them to score.

Bottom line we all know that we cannot afford a loss in Honduras for all the obvious reasons!!!!( besides who want to have the prospect of meeting Argentina)

YOUR FORMATION PLEASE!!!

[TFC USA]

How about aim for the win so there isn't a possibility we could be facing Costa Rica in a game in which the loser (if there is one) would be in a playoff?

[IncredibleStan1]

Aiming for a tie is not really logical since we aren't in a position that we MUST get a tie in order to advance. Taking into account the position we are in, i'd say go for the win. If you are going to aim for a tie, it only makes sense to aim for the win

[DCFAN96]

-----------Howard
Dolo--Gooch--Demerit--Spector
--------Jones--Clark
-Holden--Feilhaber--Donovan
-----------Davies

Should get us a tie (which won't do us too much good) but we might be able to sneak win. I'd tell LD not to slide tackel anyone the entire game .

[IASocFan]

Why should Bradley aim for a tie in Honduras?

The objective is to get South Africa! Trinidad and El Salvador can't catch us. Let's assume Mexico can win at least one of their remaining games (home against TnT and at El Salvador) - they're in. The only teams, we need worry about are Honduras and CRC. A win in Honduras puts us in.

All we need is a point at home against Costa Rica.

So assuming we get one point in Honduras and none at home, what will prevent us from qualifying:
A win by CR over TnT
A win by Hon at El Salvador

Assuming we get no more points, what will prevent us from qualifying:
A win by CR over TnT
A win by Hon at El Salvador

On the other hand, a win for Honduras and they're in! Or a tie and a win in El Salvador. I do see some good counter attack chances if they go for the win.

[ECUNCHATER]

Originally Posted by IncredibleStan1

Aiming for a tie is not really logical since we aren't in a position that we MUST get a tie in order to advance. Taking into account the position we are in, i'd say go for the win. If you are going to aim for a tie, it only makes sense to aim for the win

Exactly because a win puts us in the World Cup and a loss and most likely a tie makes us have to tie, or win to stay in the top three on the last day.

[Flipstar508]

We don't aim for ties round here

I'd go with:

--------------------Guzan--------------------

Spector------Marshall----Gooch-------Bornstein

Holden---------Jones------Torres-------Castillo

------------------Adu-------------------------

------------------------Cooper----------------

[IncredibleStan1]

Originally Posted by Flipstar508

We don't aim for ties round here

I'd go with:

--------------------Guzan--------------------

Spector------Marshall----Gooch-------Bornstein

Holden---------Jones------Torres-------Castillo

------------------Adu-------------------------

------------------------Cooper----------------

...this isn't the gold cup

[flem16]

Originally Posted by IASocFan

Why should Bradley aim for a tie in Honduras?

The objective is to get South Africa! Trinidad and El Salvador can't catch us. Let's assume Mexico can win at least one of their remaining games (home against TnT and at El Salvador) - they're in. The only teams, we need worry about are Honduras and CRC. A win in Honduras puts us in.

All we need is a point at home against Costa Rica.

So assuming we get one point in Honduras and none at home, what will prevent us from qualifying:
A win by CR over TnT
A win by Hon at El Salvador

Assuming we get no more points, what will prevent us from qualifying:
A win by CR over TnT
A win by Hon at El Salvador

On the other hand, a win for Honduras and they're in! Or a tie and a win in El Salvador. I do see some good counter attack chances if they go for the win.

Exactly! A tie or loss in Honduras doesn't do us any good. We still would need a tie versus Costa Rica to advance. A win over Honduras obviously puts us through.

[IncredibleStan1]

i'll say it once and i'll say it again. never go for the tie..always the win...only go for a tie if it is an IN GAME situation where you are down a goal and its like 3 minutes of stoppage time..