It’s time for another rousing edition of What Would Nick Sindt Do? This time we’ll tackle the issue of who I’d start against Honduras if I were in charge of the national team. There are many out there who have been pontificating (see Shin Guardian, Matchfit USA, and Ives) about who should start the crucial road qualie in San Pedro Sula. Here’s the lone thing that any US fan needs to know a loss or a draw does us no good at all.

Howard (obviously)

Cherundolo—Gooch—Bocanegra—Spector

Holden—Feilhaber—Bradley—Donovan

Davies—Dempsey

My pregame instructions to the men would be go all out and take it to the Hondurans; they looked like a jayvee side against Mexico when El Tri adopted the same game plan. Why this particular lineup? Firstly Jozy hasn’t played much lately and has looked a tad lost in the minutes that he has gotten. Moving Deuce up top puts him in the position that he’s actually shown some life in for the national team, as well as giving Davies someone to run off of. Jozy and Davies have combined well in the past but Deucy brings better passing and movement. Dempsey going up top also leaves room for Stuart Holden to prove that his cameo appearances can translate into a full 90 minute performance. Throughout the last 3 matches, the Dynamo dynamo has proven to be one of the best players when actually on the pitch; by my count he should’ve had two assists but for poor finishing. Though he’s lacking in experience, he’s young enough to play with nothing to lose, ala Landon Donovan circa 2002 World Cup.

The Feilhaber-Bradley pairing in the central midfield may not be what is statistically our best option, see Matchfit USA post for more information, these two provide the best possession and movement out of any of the pairings that we’ve seen so far, they just need to work on who is covering defensively when. What about Torres you ask? Admittedly I like what he’s brought to the table so far, but I haven’t seen enough of him to say that he could step in and take Bradley or Feilhaber’s place for the entire 90. Either way, there will not be a repeat of the Clark-Bradley pairing until late in the game if absolutely necessary.

As for the back line, I think Cherundolo and Spector are the two best backs we currently have when you consider both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. I’m not sold on Bornstein’s defensive qualities just yet, though he didn’t make himself look any worse against T&T.

Since this is a game where a draw or loss does nothing for us, I would be looking to make changes fairly soon into the second half if we’re in need of goals. If Deuce is having another sleepy-time performance in the first half, I’d let him know that he’s got ten minutes to turn it around or he’ll get to watch Altidore and Davies do their stanky leg dance from the bench. Torres would get in around the 60^th minute for whomever looks the most gassed out of Holden, Feilhaber, or Bradley. If we find ourselves ahead by 1 or 2 and need to ice the game, it’ll still be Torres coming on in the 60^th minute and Kenny Cooper coming on for Davies in the 75^th. While most professional managers would put on players who hold possession (arguably I would be doing that as well) and change to a 5 man midfield, I would rather go for the jugular, albeit in a more controlled (less balls to the wall) and intelligent manner. There’s no need to sit back and allow Honduras to continue attack in waves in search of the equalizer.