There aren’t any wide players on the roster and I’ve never been a fan of pushing central players out to the wing. With that in mind, I think the best strategy is to try and play through the middle where our best guys are going to get the most touches. In the past, the problem with this strategy has been the lack of width, but with Fabian Johnson and (finally) Timmy Chandler at the fullback spots, that shouldn’t be an issue. Both are great at getting forward to support the attack and it’s important to make sure Chandler is cap-tied ASAP. Dempsey and Bradley are obvious starters in the midfield. Jermaine Jones will have his one or two risky tackles, but against a Honduras team that wants the US to leave the game “scared” his physicality is important. Kljestan will take some of the creative pressure off Dempsey and provide a deeper outlet for Bradley and the defense. At this point I think Jozy needs a second forward to be at his best. Herc Gomez will run all day off the ball allowing Jozy to hold it up without having to deal with two or three defenders.
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Anders Aarhus
almost 12 years
There aren’t any wide players on the roster and I’ve never been a fan of pushing central players out to the wing. With that in mind, I think the best strategy is to try and play through the middle where our best guys are going to get the most touches. In the past, the problem with this strategy has been the lack of width, but with Fabian Johnson and (finally) Timmy Chandler at the fullback spots, that shouldn’t be an issue. Both are great at getting forward to support the attack and it’s important to make sure Chandler is cap-tied ASAP. Dempsey and Bradley are obvious starters in the midfield. Jermaine Jones will have his one or two risky tackles, but against a Honduras team that wants the US to leave the game “scared” his physicality is important. Kljestan will take some of the creative pressure off Dempsey and provide a deeper outlet for Bradley and the defense. At this point I think Jozy needs a second forward to be at his best. Herc Gomez will run all day off the ball allowing Jozy to hold it up without having to deal with two or three defenders.