Road to Russia 2018 and everything in between!! - Post Carlo Costly edition :(

As much as I agree that Espinoza and Najar should be on the field....neither one of them has the identity of a true creative playmaker. Najar wants to run and Roger wants to clean up. I find it hard to believe that we don't have anyone (big or small) that can assist in playing through the lines. Because of our lack of attacking mids our identity becomes kick and run... What happened to la pausa? Had someone slowed the ball down consistently when going forward in middle 1/3 , La H would have dominated 2nd half but kick and run appeals to US and momentum changes. Throw in a few set pieces and you have a recipe for giving up a late goal. Sad because it was so predictable. Good news: our younger national teams have a different type of identity....more capable of adapting and actually "playing". Hope they end up in the right hands....

 

We need to win these last two games either way, if we do we have will have 15 points we have to pray that Panama and USA tie in their match that's they only way we go through directly.

Najar and Chirinos need to the other options on the wings, Costly needs to be dropped and Espinoza needs to return Pinto needs to squash that beef and put it aside for now. The biggest worry is Henry being suspended Pinto will most likely start Palacios at CB

 

Believe me I already want to move on from the Pinto era, but part of me doesn't want to give up even if we are the laughing stocks of the soccer world.

 

Yeah but our players are not as talented as Chile's, not to mention that our team is garbage at defending set pieces and also converting on them, Acosta is better than Claros I agree and I rate Sanchez over Ever but the USA team that we faced has a bunch of tall players that are dangerous in the air.

 

I felt this way last wcq cycle and when all was said and done I was still happy we were in it. You'll feel the same.

 

Coaching failed y'all... @SamKnight called it when Pinto decided to go defensive....this is the reality of CONCACAF teams in general with the exception of Costa Rica..and even they fell into that trap against the Netherlands by not being offensive...CONCACAF is terrible and we're perpetual dark horses...we're only in the WC to serve as spoilers...to add drama and tension, nothing more.

 

It's 6 points lost because changing a game from a win to a draw is 2 points each. There have been 6 Hexagonal games where a team led and didn't win. Honduras blew three leads, with the others being 1-1 draws after USA blew a lead at Panama, USA blew a lead at Mexico, and Mexico blew a lead at Costa Rica.

You don't need that much help. If you win both games, USA beats Panama, and USA doesn't beat Trinidad and Tobago, you'll be third. You'll also be third if you win both, Panama beats USA, and Panama doesn't beat Costa Rica. Your game at Costa Rica starts after USA vs. Panama ends, so by the time you play you'll know what place you'll be in with a win, draw, or loss. If USA vs. Panama is a draw, Costa Rica qualifies in between when they announce their lineup and when the game starts.

 

Bit late in posting but still equally as pissed off now as I was on Monday. I stayed up till the early hours despite having work just to be disappointed in typical honduran fashion. I can't be the only one who thinks supporting la seleccion is genuinely tiring.

I don't understand how we always concede from freekicks. Against the USA in SPS in 2009, Panama at the start of the hex, and then the most reason one. It's like we never learn and never progress.

With regard to Mondays freekick, I found it extra frustrating as I thought Mejia was having a good game and was doing a great job at breaking up US momentum in the middle. Someone said above about its better playing tall players in the CDM role and I don't necessarily think that's the case as the smaller more agile players are often better tacklers. So to me it seemed bonkers bringing on Palacios when it was the midfielders who were shuting down the US. But typical Pinto tactics prevail.

You know part of me agrees with Azul here but then I also think, hang on this team got to the bronze medal play-off at the Olympics. Admittedly it was the u-23's in a smaller, more novice tournament but why aren't we capable of qualifying and doing well. Using a basis of that team and tactics then why not but then I go back to reality and realise we play a very basic level of football, concede basic goals other teams wouldn't and are frankly unprofessional compared to most teams at a world cup finals.

 

Lost the faith? Come on man...we need ya.

 

This ^ is old school mentality. Guard the set pieces? Why not, instead, prevent them in the first place. Agreed. Chile is great, Honduras not. Still, the principle remains the same: often -- but admittedly not always -- the best defense is offense. Yesterday was one of those days.

Live and die by the sword.

 

Honduras vs Costa Rica postponed to Saturday due to heavy rainfall in CR.

 

Might as well post some news even if this thread is dead,

Jonathan Rubio has played all games for Gil Vincente this season thus far, 8 games 581 mins.

Rigoberto Rivas has played 4 games for Brescia as a sub for 121 mins.

Bryan Rochez finally debuts for Nacional appearing as a sub and scoring a goal.

Andy Najar got injured in the Champions League game vs Bayern Munich, it's the same injury that has been bothering him these past 2 years.He is being sent to be treated in the USA by a specialist and is out for an unknown time.

Anthony Lozano has 5 app and 2 goals scored for Barca B for 316 mins.

Bryan Acosta has 4 app with Tenerife for 200 mins.

 

Srry was only doin one for the young guys

Jona Mejia has 7 app and 1 goal for Cordoba played 537 mins
Alfredo has 4 app and 1 goal for Xanthi played 134 mins, mostly as a sub.

 

USA destroys Panama 4-0, I predict that Panama's level will drop off next gen their best players are all over 30 and can't seem to replace them yet.

 

You probably won't pass USA. If you win at least 1 game and Panama doesn't beat Costa Rica, you'll pass Panama.

 

http://www.concacaf.com/article/copa-centroamericana-hero-castillo-looking-to-lift-honduras-in-wcq is titled "Copa Centroamericana hero Castillo looking to lift Honduras in WCQ."

 

Honduras starting XI

Gk: Escober
Df:Beckeles,Palacios,Figueroa,Emilio
Mf:Acosta,Mejia,Elis,Quioto,Lopez
FW:Hernández

 

Good luck y'all!

 

How was that a foul on Elis? the guy literally fell down by himself