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With Clint Dempsey sidelined for Saturday's World Cup qualifier at Honduras due to a shoulder injury, U.S. head coach Bob Bradley will have to select a replacement for Dempsey from a handful of good candidates. It won't be an easy decision to make.
Does Bradley go with Stuart Holden, who has impressed in recent World Cup qualifiers as a substitute? Does Bradley go with Feilhaber, who has also shown good glimpses in recent matches but has never looked quite comfortable in his stints on the right wing?
Does Bradley move Landon Donovan to the right wing and turn to Jose Francisco Torres, who hasn't seen significant playing time since earning a start in a road World Cup qualifier vs. Costa Rica in June?
Let's consider the options more closely.
With Holden, you have a player with the energy, quickness and work rate to deal with a player like Julio Leon. Holden has shown that he brings energy and good attacking qualities to the position. This is why he is considered the front-runner to replace Dempsey.
With Feilhaber, you give the Americans a chance for more possession, and with Leon the likely choice to command the left side of the Honduran midfielder, it is a match-up that could work well for Feilhaber. What works against Feilhaber? He is in yellow card peril, as are several others including Ricardo Clark. Would Bradley risk losing both Clark and Feilhaber for a potential do-or-die qualifier vs. Costa Rica?
Torres is another possibility, but on the left side with Donovan moving over to the right flank. With speedy winger Edgard Alvarez likely to be deployed on the Honduran right win, Torres might not be the best option to use there.
Now, Bradley could choose to deploy Feilhaber or Torres as a third central midfielder (assuming Michael Bradley and Ricardo Clark start), with Honduras capable of doing the same with a trio of Wilson Palacios, Hendry Thomas and Leon.
What would I do? I would go with Holden, but I would seriously consider Feilhaber or Torres.
What would you do? Cast your vote here:
Who did you vote for? Who do you think will get the call?
Share your thoughts below.
