Compelling Soccer

I've got my place to watch the game and I'm excited for what could be the US team's ticket punching to South Africa in 2010. Of course, I'm not necessarily optimistic; the team has struggled on the road thus far and Honduras has been dominant at home, unbeaten in Hexagonal play. However, it will be a nice test to see how far this squad has come. I'm not necessarily willing to say that one game against Spain proves anything; I want continued results. Scoring a victory against Honduras on the road would show the US team is doing what it's supposed to do, beating on the weaker sisters of the world (everyone in CONCACAF not named Mexico). You don't get to World Class level over night, but to show you're in the next tier down, you need to dispatch squads like this. (Think Mexico embarrassing Costa Rica at the Saprissa)

So what can we expect, at least formation wise? This is my guess at the starting lineup. It's the base 4-4-2 with two holding mids, AKA, the Empty Bucket:

------------------Howard--------------------

Spector---Bocanegra---Oneywu---Bornstein

-------------Clark---Bradley----------------

---Holden---------------------Donovan-----

-----------Davies------Altidore------------

Subs: Guzan (GK), Cherundolo (D), Conrad (D), Feilhaber (M), Torres (M), Hedjuk (M), Ching (ST)

God I hate this formation. It's passive. It's tentative and it's a good way to find yourself in a hole you can't get out of. The idea is to get an opponent up the field in attack and punish them on counters. Supporters will claim it's how the US succeeded against Spain and for a half against Brazil. Critics will tell you that formation is the same one that got smoked by Italy, Brazil in the first game, was lucky not to get smoked by Spain and then was embarrassed by Brazil in the second half of the Confederation's Cup final. It's biggest flaw is that it does not allow a team to create much of a sustained attack because its central mids are committed to the defensive role. If you fall behind, you will have problems scoring. You'll also have trouble getting the ball. And when you do get it... well you won't keep possession so you'll have trouble scoring... and the cycle continues.

The formation was bred of a time where the US was transitioning from the midfield of the 2002 World Cup success/2006 World Cup failure to what we have now. In other words, lots of options but short on talent. That's changed. Between Donovan, Dempsey, Torres, Feilhaber, Bradley, Maurice Edu (when healthy) and potentially even Stuart Holden, the US have talent in the midfield. Combined with Davies and Altidore, the US actually can scare a team with attacking prowess. I'm not expecting greatness with it, but they should be able to take on the likes of CONCACAF with a more attacking formation.

People will (and have) applaud Bradley for using a defensive first formation in a hostile environment on the road. I say nuts to that. This game an all or nothing. With the US playing Costa Rica Wednesday, what happens in Honduras only matters positively if the US wins. A draw is as good as a loss, unless the unlikely event of Trinidad beating or drawing Costa Rica occurs. Maybe if the game were in Port of Spain, but not at the Saprissa. The US playing bunker ball is pointless; a point does nothing. Take the initiative. They should want three points or nothing here.

Anyway, I suspect Holden starts in place of Dempsey. There's a chance Feilhaber is the guy who gets in there because Bradley likes what Holden brings as a spark plug, but I have my doubts. And sadly, I suspect Jonathan Bornstein starts at LB. Why? Because if Bradley wasn't going to make the switch after his awful, awful performance against El Salvador, he isn't going to yank him after a mediocre performance against Trinidad and Tobago.

I also expect Hedjuk to be added to subs list because he's been a Bradley type of player. Plus he brings "veteran leadership (TM)" to the table in a difficult road environment. I also don't see Bradley taking two strikers as subs nor do I imagine him taking three defenders. And as much as I question Hedjuk, he's more useful than Robbie Rogers.

Now, here's my choice for the lineup:

------------------Howard--------------------

Cherundolo---Bocanegra---Oneywu---Spector

-----------------Bradley---------------------

--------Donovan---------Torres----------

---------------Feilhaber-----------------

-----------Davies------Altidore-------------

Subs: Guzan (GK), Conrad(D), Goodson (D), Clark (M), Holden (M), Cooper (ST), Casey (ST)

This formation ditches the empty bucket.

At the back, I feel this is the best defensive back the US can put out there right now. Jay DeMerit's loss means Carlos Bocanegra is once again needed in the center of the defense as Oguchi Onewyu's partner. Bornstein is nowhere near the field on this squad. Spector has played LB at West Ham. Granted he's not starting there anymore, but that's because Herita Ilunga is back from injury. I'd much rather a player capable of starting at the position at the highest level in the world rather than someone whose merely very good at a vastly inferior league. That frees Steve Cherundolo to return to the right back position. There should be no question that Hannover man is far better than what Bornstein has to offer.

In the midfield, I maybe influenced by watching a lot of Liverpool lately. But Bradley is the holding midfielder, which shouldn't be nothing too new for him. He plays defensive mid in his dad's empty bucket, albeit with a partner. At central attacking midfield (the Steven Gerrard role)I entrust Benny Feilhaber, not Landon Donovan. That might surprise some, but my rationale is that I see Donovan better in a role akin to Yossi Benayoun. Someone who is on the wing but free to track towards the center in order to create. Feilhaber works in the central position, feeding the forwards and hopefully aiding in controlling possession. Torres is my replacement for Clint Dempsey; giving the US another possession player.

Davies and Altidore are up front. Davies is more of a support role to Altidore, trying to create with his speed.

For the record, I don't anticipate having to use Casey, but I don't think the US needs much more midfield depth. Only two of the mids are going to get subbed out anyway; Feilhaber and Torres, we know Donovan and Bradley are going the full 90. Holden goes in for Feilhaber if Benny needs to come off at the CAM. Otherwise, he goes for Torres. If both need to come off, then Clark goes in at the holding spot and Bradley moves up to attacking mid. If one of the outside backs has to be replaced, Boca goes to LB and Spector moves to right if necessary or Cherundolo remains.

Those are my thoughts. Anyone else got an opinion?