Compelling Soccer

As you've no doubt heard by now, Clint Dempsey sustained a shoulder injury in last week's Fulham 2-2 draw with West Ham. Yesterday it was announced Deuce is out for the Honduras v. US qualifier Saturday night in Honduras, meaning the US will have to do without one if it's midfield mainstays of the past few years.

Despite his poor form nationally as of late, this is a crippling blow to the US team. I've been critical of him lately, but talent wise, it's arguable that Dempsey is the best player in the US midfield and the most irreplaceable. Conventional wisdom says Landon Donovan is both, but something has to be said for Deuce being the only player in the US midfield/forward position to hold down a starting job at in a top level league in some time.


Donovan has done neither. In addition Donovan plays a position that the US actually has decent depth at; Dempsey's position on the wing is one of paucity for the US.

However, regardless of whether or not Deuce is the most difficult player on the US team to replace, the bottom line is it has to be done. It stinks to have occurred at this critical juncture and not in say, two weeks after qualifying is done, but them's the breaks. Who goes into that spot? Well let's review the options. Note, the US has said they will NOT call anyone up, so the idea that Freddy Adu or DaMarcus Beasley getting put in there is not happening.

Update: Of course after I read that yesterday, the US team adds Frankie Hedjuk to the roster today. Another all effort, weak in skill guy. Wonderful. Whatever, he should be just roster filler.

1.Stuart Holden

He wouldn't be my first choice; but he's probably Bob Bradley's. Holden's been one of the first subs off the bench since a solid Gold Cup and likely is going to get first crack at it. Holden's not a great wing player; from what I've seen he plays in the center in Houston and his crossing and passing are both overrated. They're solid for MLS but mediocre from an international standpoint. I've been most impressed by his shot. However on the wing, that comes into play less. If it freed Donovan up not to take free kicks, that might also help, but I doubt that happens either. In the Houston game against Pachuca he tracked back well on defense, which is one area he could do better than Dempsey in. Every other aspect he's lacking though. I feel he's average for everything you'd want a midfielder for. In other words he's the safe, boring choice; exactly the player Bob Bradley loves. (Note: Safe and Boring is not always right)

By the way, it seems like people are overconfident in Holden to me. He was good in the Gold Cup, but let's not pretend he was even the best player in a competition of B and C squads. And Mexico exposed that US team badly; Holden was included in that bunch.

2. Jose Francisco Torres

Torres would probably be my selection. He plays center mid for Pachuca, but that doesn't really mean much since most of the candidates here are center mids. He has a few advantages over Holden. First, he plays in a better league against better competition and holds his spot. Second, from what I've seen, he's a far better passer on the ground. He's at least as good a defender and probably better. What Holden may have on him is shot and crossing ability. Plus Holden played some wing in the Gold Cup. However, if both are playing out of position, I'd trust the better player to make the necessary adjustments. That's Torres.


3. Benny Feilhaber

I put him low because he seems like he's locked into the center midfield on this team. On the other hand, the wing positions aren't open with Donovan and Dempsey out there, so maybe Bradley would be willing to use him. I've liked what I've seen; good possession guy who knows how to to filter through good passes. His upside is up there with Torres and ahead of Holden. However, I would much rather him play in the center with Bradley. (leaving Clark on the bench)

4. Robbie Rogers

He got called up and he's the truest wing midfielder the US has. But I can't see even Bradley starting him, no matter how well Rogers may play in MLS. He was just far too useless in the Gold Cup to warrant a start, on the road, against one of the best teams in CONCACAF, in such a big game. Rogers can run, but I wouldn't expect him to defend well at all. He hasn't shown the ability to challenge defenders one on one, let alone win a match up against them. I'll admit, he can whip in nice crosses, but a fat lot of good that will do him if he can't get into position to do that. He's really not even the true fourth choice; I just put him here because he's more likely than the fifth option.


5.Steve Cherundolo

He's normally a defender, but Cherundolo actually possesses some midfield qualities, including probably the best crossing/pass combination of any of the other options. Granted, he's mainly played defense on the US national team, but if the man has the skill set for a job opening better than the other candidates, you at least need to give him a serious look. He's not perfect though, he was outclassed in Azteca, which is why he was benched for the next two qualifiers. The other severe downside is that it pretty much guarantees Jonathan Bornstein starting since the Cherundolo/Jonathan Spector combo at the RB/LB was the only way to avoid that. I may actually be underselling this option because Bradley seems to love playing Bornstein anyway.