Positional Breakdown: Honduras vs. USA

Goal.com's Allen Ramsey takes a closer look at the big match in CONCACAF on Saturday.

Oct 9, 2009 2:15:23 PM

More On : Honduras, USA

By Allen Ramsey

Missing stars will certainly play a part in the outcome of Saturday nights match-up of CONCACAF rivals in San Pedro Sula. Amado Guevara will be absent for the home side while the visitors will be missing Clint Dempsey, leaving both sides lacking some punch in the attack.

The squads still come in with plenty of play makers however. The U.S. will likely replace Dempsey with either Stuart Holden or Benny Feilhaber while Honduras will likely look to Hendry Thomas to step in for their captain.

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Here's a closer look at what both teams have to offer at each position.

Forwards:

Honduras: Carlos Pavon and David Suazo were paired up front when Honduras stepped on the pitch against Mexico, but second half substitute Carlo Costly is a lethal third option.

All three Honduran strikers offer size, pace, and clinical finishing. Suazo is the most talented player of the three when he is on form, but injuries and lack of playing time with Inter may have his fitness to go the full 90 in question. Pavon is a rugged player who lacks some of the technique that Suazo brings to the table, but has pace and strength on the ball. Costly is a traditional target style forward who has the ability to be dangerous with the ball at his feet or in the air.

Honduras could run all three players out against the U.S. but it's doubtful that any one of them could fit into the midfield and the Hondurans are not know for playing with three out and out strikers.

USA: Charlie Davies and Jozy Altidore are the likely starters with Brian Ching and Conor Casey as the other options.

Of the four, Davies is the most likely to trouble Honduras' back line with his pace and tenacity. Altidore relies on good service from the midfield for most of his chance but has shown flashes of the strength and pace that had Villarreal intrigued enough to shell out big money for him.

Ching and Casey could both factor into the match. Bob Bradley likes his forwards to run constantly and the two youngsters tend to tire out. With the managers favorite option (moving Dempsey to the front) unavailable one or both of the Major League Soccer stars could see action.

Landon Donovan could also be used to run up front but that leave two of the regulars missing from the midfield.

Advantage: Experience, size, and technique all go to the Hondurans. The pace of Davies and Altidore could swing things in favor of the U.S. Still, I have to give the edge to Suazo and company.

Midfield:

Honduras: With Wilson Palacios and Hendry Thomas likely to be patrolling the middle of the park the Hondurans have to feel confident that they can deal with the loss of Guevara.

Thomas has been very good for Wigan Athletic in the early stages of the season and Palacios is one of the most accomplished holding midfielders in the region.

Former MLSer Ramon Nunez is likely to see another start on one flank with Julio Cesar de Leon looking likely to man the other. Nunez has progressed greatly since leaving MLS and is no longer the youngster who struggled so mightily in Dallas and de Leon is a very talented player with experience playing in one of the top leagues in the world.

USA: Michael Bradley and Ricardo Clark will probably be the central pairing charged with stopping Palacios and Thomas. Their job defensively is certainly made easier by Guevara's absence, but it's hard to imagine either player finding much room to get into the attack.

Donovan will probably be deployed on the left, though a switch to the right is not out of the question. The big issues will be on the other wing. My gut says Bradley will go with Feilhaber, but Holden may be the better option as far as creating chances. Either way they'll be charged as much with defending as with attacking.

Advantage: Donovan is always a threat but the Honduran central pairing can be dominant. The U.S. is probably better on the wings while the Hondurans should control the center of the park. We'll call it a push.

Defense:

Honduras: Maynor Figueroa headlines the Honduran back four and should be the centerpiece of their defensive efforts but will certainly not be on his own.

Mauricio Sabillon, Emilio Izaguirre, and Osman Chavez should all return to keep the back four that held Mexico to one goal at Azteca in tact.

USA: Oguchi Onyewu and Carlos Bocanegra are the only two starters who seem to have a sure spot on the field for Saturday night. Jonathan Spector, Steve Cherundolo, and Jonathan Bornstein seem the most likely choices to fill the spots, but with Frankie Hejduk and Jimmy Conrad both in camp along with Clarence Goodson, the options are numerous.

Advantage: The U.S. back four is better defensively, but they have the tougher task and less cover from the midfield than the Honduran back line. Still, I give a slight advantage to the U.S. with Onyewu's steady play against big strikers being the determining factor.

Goalkeeper:

Honduras: Noel Valladares is a very competent player who understands how the play the game and is better with the ball at his feet than most 'keepers.

USA: When he's on top form Tim Howard is one of the best 'keepers in the world. When he's not things don't go well for the U.S.

Simply put, Howard will have to bring his best game if the U.S. is to qualify on Saturday.

Advantage: Almost any time Howard is in goal his team has the advantage at that position.

Allen Ramsey is an associate editor of Goal.com USA.

For more on the U.S. National Team visit Goal.com's dedicated page.