Another option Benny provides is his ability to shoot from outside the box. He's been hitting a lot of them recently for AGF. Great knuckling balls on target (I would say 66% on target) many from 20 yards or so and some from further back (but much less accurate).
Benny actually played out wide against Italy in the Confed. Cup. He didn't do well, and was largely invisible during his time there, but he did play there. He also was playing outside (LM) for the U.S. against Spain. That's when he ran towards the middle and made the nice play to Donovan on Dempsey's goal.
I think Holden or Benny replaces him in the starting lineup, and that Torres gets more PT off of the bench.
Simple replacement - Holden for Dempsey. Holden gets his big chance. He deserves it, really. Time to step up and show us what ya got Stu!
Feilhaber cannot play out wide on the international stage. He is to slow he is a good CM and passer but the international game is so much faster the club football especially in Denmark.
think whatever bob chooses feilhaber, torres and holden will get time on saturday. if the mnt are down/tied/winning he will make those 3 to get the fresh legs in. he can start ld on either wing, and then push him up to make room for someone. just like he may sub bf for clark at some point, not only for exhaustion, but due to the card situation. we also have to keep in mind how things go in practice this week. whatever bob is experimenting with during sessions might determine quite a lot.
I strongly agree with this against Honduras, because they only have one true wing attacker who gets "chalk on his heels"--their right back, Mauricio Sabillon. Putting Donovan on the left helps keep Sabillon in check. The only way I could see switching Donovan to RM is if the Hondurans start Boniek at left back instead of Izaguirre. Boniek is also very good at getting forward--better than he is at defending--and thus Donovan would help pin back one of their two attacking backs. Either way, finding space behind the Honduran fullbacks when they attack will be key. Honduras is very narrow in midfield and relies on one or both for width. If I were Honduras, I would keep my back four at home and go midfield vs. midfield with the U.S., a battle they can win. If they let the U.S. get wide, the crosses will come in (our strength). Whereas, Honduras won't need width because Pavon is unlikely to trouble our center backs in the air the way he does the rest of the region. I would be interested to see a player like Holden take Dempsey's place because he's fast and a decent crosser of the ball. Or even Cherundolo pushed to RM for his vertical attacking and Spector behind him. That's where we can beat them. We're good in the air, and Valladares is terrible at coming for crosses. I'm a big fan of Torres, but I don't think Honduras is a game for him, unless we need goals in the second half and Honduras is sitting back. We won't have the sort of possession that brings out his best skills. Against CR, though, I'd love to have Torres out there to help break down their D. He's a locksmith (note the comeback at El Sal when they were bunkered), not a run-and-gun counterattacker.
I Would like to see a formation change that put's Jozy or Ching up top! Landon and Charlie playing in the 3/4 spot! Torres, Bradley, and Clark sitting in the middle! I think there could be some great combinations in the passing game. AND it would allow Landon and CD9 to run at the back line at SPEED! Christmas tree has so many possibilities. If not Clark on the right of center replace him w/ Benny and save Stu as a sub around 60 - 70!
No, Its a stinker. Completely rearranging the midfield and changing our left side is ridiculous in a game of this magnitude. If Big Bob can call on Holden in big games as a sub such as the start against Mexico. If he is the teams "12th man". Then this really should be a no brainer and he should get the nod. Lets not kid anyone, next to the performance at the Azteca, this squad has worked and worked fairly well. I'd love to see Torres get some time, but you cannot throw him into the starting role when he has seen relatively low minutes as a sub.
Seems to be a clear opportunity for Holden. It's hard to argue he hasn't earned his shot to start. If he screws up, Torres and Feilhaber are more than ready to step in. I'd rather see Holden running at defenders and ripping crosses than distributing centrally as he does for the Dynamo. Seems a waste to put him there when Bradley is doing the job admirably. The last thing I'd do is move Donovan off of left mid when he's playing the best soccer of his career.
Count me among those who think LD should stay left, but for defensive reasons. And that Holden should start, for chemistry and strategic ones. LD can be effective attacking on either side. But, lets face it, LB is the weak spot. LD has the best engine on our team (Hejduk is the only one who is close, and he's not there), he helps solidify that side with his tireless play. I agree that BB will go defensive in CM = Clark/Bradley. It fits his profile, and by the book road strategy. And a draw does help us, potentially. Plus, as noted, its smart strategically to keep Benny off the pitch because he's in yellow card danger. For the record, only 7 of the XI in danger are available for this game: Donovan, Bocanegra (CB could be interesting for CR), Altidore, Clark, Feilhaber, Cherundolo, and Casey. Dempsey still could play vs. CR (buy maybe not), DeMerit (injured), Hejduk (not called in), Kljestan (not called in). Starting Holden at RM allows BB to play Clark/Bradley in CM. Benny will be an offensive sub if he needs it. If Clark gets a yellow, we'll see Benny/Bradley for CR (at home, more attacking posture). If Benny gets a yellow in a sub role, then we'll likely see Bradley/Torres in the middle, or Clark again if he's yellow free. Holden has been effective in his limited time at RM, and a like for like switch means the less disruptions for the rest of the team.
Posts like this are what keep me coming back to N&A. Would rep you if I weren't already out for your translations on the civil unrest a couple weeks back.
Gotcha covered. eta: I, too, would keep LD on the left and put Holden on the right. The suggestion to put 'Dolo there is intriguing, though.
Good question. Also, why couldn't Dempsey play with his injured wing strapped to his side? Maybe as a late-game sub - he could still head the ball in.
Excellent post, excellent Instead of a one sided, USA context you actually discuss the strengths and weaknesses of their opponent, well done!
I'm thinking -------------Davies--------------- Torres------Donovan---------Holden -------Bradley------Clark----------- Bornstein--Bocanegra--Onyewu-Cherundolo ------------Howard---------------- Donovan has played some amazing games in that withdrawn forward role before, and I trust Torres more for this game than Altidore, who just isn't a 90 minute player for Hull or the U.S. right now.
i'd prefer to ahve altidore fresher for costa rica... i do think we see a 4-5-1 at san pedro sula, and davies running himself to death is fine with me.... tim thinks dempsey has some beckenbauer in him though..
Agreed. Part of the reason Donovan works better on the left is the cohesiveness he brings to the team in that position. Neither Bocanegra nor Bornstein nor Pearce attack much, and when they do, they aren't much of a threat. Having Donovan's pace (and, importantly, stamina) on the left keeps the right mid and right fullback honest. Donovan also prefers the ball in space, whereas Dempsey prefers it at his feet - this aligns perfectly with the more attacking-nature of Spector or Cherundolo, and results in better combo play on our right flank. In terms of combo play, Feilhaber seems to fit the bill on the right, but I think defensively, he doesn't know how to close the space out there (I much prefer him in the middle.) Totally agree that Holden on the right gives us a talented player with little disruption to the side.
From what I have seen lately the only Beckenbauer I see is the Kaiser of the present time, (retired) certainly not the the kaiser in his prime. Not even close in vision and execution. Nor committment.
Adam introduced Beckenbauer to the conversation, not I, but of course I was thinking of this ... Show some grit, Clint, we may need you at RFK next week.