Will Carlos prove (wa, wa, wa...) Costly? Maybe, but this is Carlos Pavon. (Thanks, Don.)
We’re getting a quick preview up a day early here for all of those like us who find it too long between national team
games.
Here’s what we are looking for at TSG from the U.S. Team:
- Will Parkhurst (who we figure to start) and Marshall clamp down on Carlos Costly? We say yes
- Davy Arnaud – we want you to test the Honduran final curtain with your speed and quickness
- Robbie Rogers to come out fired up and really challenge down the left flank and track back on D
“11″ at the Whistle:
Much more likely that the actual Carlos Costly will prove...err...costly.
G: Troy Perkins
D: Heath Pearce, Michael Parkhurst, Chad Marshall, Jay Heaps
M: Robbie Rogers, Sam Cronin, Kyle Beckerman, Stu Holden
S: Brian Ching, Davy Arnaud
Disclaimers?
- Logan Pause to supplant Sam Cronin in the midfield.
Pause is more veteran player, but is also coming off a long arduous game against Panama
Likelihood: 75% Pause starts
- Santino Quaranta to play vet over Robbie Rogers
We don’t see this one either, but it wouldn’t surprise us given Quaranta’s goal in the earlier game against Honduras
Likelihood: A coin flip
- Kenny Cooper to pair Brian Ching up top
If Bob Bradley wants a look-see, here’s the time to do it. However, we don’t see it.
Likelihood: 25%
What do you think? Let’s hear it. (We’ve been wrong before).
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Posted by Mark T on 2009/07/21 at 4:26 PM
A couple things I hope the US will pick-up from last game:
1. Better marking by the central defense on the long diagonal balls from the Honduran outside midfielders to their streaking strikers. (The US was lucky to escape a couple 1 v. Keeper situations in the last contest.)
2. Focus on the right side or remove Rogers (early if need be) should the US struggle getting service from the left. (The US owned the left side and Rogers squandered a myriad of opportunities in the game during group play).
Posted by matthewsf on 2009/07/21 at 5:03 PM
Disagree — the Panamanians continually attacked from the opposite flank to Rogers because they were fearful of his runs. They dropped their midfielder so far into cover that they couldn’t counterattack from that side.
Yes, Rogers needs to make those situations work — but his work on that side opened up the game. It was a Rogers cross that yielded the first goal and Rogers whose play opened up Pearce for a near miss later in the 2nd half.
Posted by Mark T on 2009/07/21 at 5:09 PM
I’ll watch Rogers a little more closely to see his impact on the rest of the game, but it is brutal watching him get the ball, carry it ten yards and then lose it to the defender over-and-over again.
Posted by matthewsf on 2009/07/21 at 5:41 PM
You’d have a really tough time watching Ronaldo then…haha :>
Posted by Don on 2009/07/22 at 7:03 AM
Dude..you have Carlos PAVON on that picture… not Carlo COSTLY.
Posted by Don on 2009/07/22 at 9:29 AM
he he that’s more like it.. I see a 2-1 US win deja vu from last months game.. US will just need to play their type of game.. Honduras strikers with the exception of Costly have been pretty sloppy and I dont see them making that much of a difference in this game..
Posted by Wilson on 2009/07/23 at 9:45 AM
When is the superstar Suazo be back for Honduras? He was apart of Inter de Milan
Posted by matthewsf on 2009/07/23 at 12:53 PM
Suazo, you’re right, is touring with Inter. However, he’s a hot commodity on the transfer market right now being mentioned as part of packages to Fiorentina and Sampdoria and some EPL teams (though not by name).
My guess is you’ll see him again August 12th for Honduras in their WC qualifier against Costa Rica.