Cuba and Honduras squads

[matthew]

Cuba is in Brazil right now and will play club teams in Sao Paulo including Corinthians. They start Wednesday and play four matches.

They called up:

Keepers: Odisnel Cooper, Odelín Molina.

Defenders: Yenier Márquez, Reysander Fernández, Hanier Dranguet, Yoel Colomé, Aliannis Urgellés, Jorge Luis Corrales.

Midfielders: Carlos Domingo Francisco, Jorge Luis Clavelo, Alaín Cervantes, Marcel Hernández, Osay Martínez, Alberto Gómez.

Forwards: Roberto Linares, Dalaín Aira, Evier Cordovés, Sander Fernández, Dennis Ramos, Ariel Martínez.

That is largely their Gold Cup team. They’re missing captain Jaime Colomé though his brother Yoel is there. They’re also missing Yaudel Lahera, a young forward, but by and large it looks like they’re taking their best players to Brazil. Not sure if this is their 20 for the first two qualifiers or not or if they might make some changes once they get back.

Some of their Olympic team that gave a pretty good account of themselves against the senior teams of Bolivia (1-0 road loss) and Jamaica (1-0 loss at the Office, 3-0 loss a few days later) were called in. Odisnel Cooper, the keeper, along with Osay Martinez and Jorge Luis Corrales in the back and forwards Dalain Aria Fernandez and Evier Cordoves up front were all part of that group, plus Domingo who is a regular starter for both the Olympic team and the senior team at the Gold Cup.

Honduras is playing New Zealand in Dallas on Saturday and then El Salvador at RFK in Washington on June 2.

They named this group of 27 and will obviously need to make some cuts.

Keepers

Noel Valladares (Olimpia)

Donis Escober (Olimpia)

José Mendoza (Platense)

Defenders

Mauricio Sabillón (Marathón)

Brayan Beckeles (Olimpia)

Wilmer Crisanto (Victoria)

Víctor Bernárdez (San José, MLS)

Johny Leverón (Motagua)

Maynor Figueroa (Wigan, Inglaterra)

Rommel Murillo (Marathón)

Daniel Tejeda (Real España)

Juan Carlos García (Olimpia)

Midfielders

Boniek García (Olimpia)

Arnold Peralta (Vida)

Wilson Palacios (Stoke City, Inglaterra)

Roger Espinoza (Kansas City, MLS)

Mario Berríos (Marathón)

Edder Delgado (Real España)

Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic, Escocia)

Alfredo Mejía (Motagua)

Carlos Discua (Motagua)

Forwards

David Suazo (Catania, Italia)

Carlos Will Mejía (Olimpia)

Kervin Johnson (Real España)

Anthony Lozano (Alcoyano, España)

Allan Lalín (Real España)

Carlo Costly (Sin equipo)

I’m pretty surprised that Jerry Bengston wasn’t called. He seemed to be the one constant up front. He was in bad form, but I figured he would have to be injured not to figure at all. Suazo isn’t playing much at all in with Catania and Costly isn’t playing at all period.

Crisanto was named to the all-tournament 11 at right back during Olympic qualifying and he may beat out the veteran Sabillon. Against Ecuador they played Figueroa at left back and played Izaguirre as a left midfielder and I wasn’t really sure how well it came off. They’re both natural left backs, but I would think they want to try to get both of them on the pitch.

No room for Hendry Thomas either. Though I’m not sure he’s played all season. He might have played less than Costly and Suazo which is saying something.

cheers,

matthew

[ditty]

Glad to see this thread started. To me, it seems that we are going to be facing Honduras at a good time, all things considered. Their goal scorers don't look to be in form.

[jpg75]

My first reaction was that Hendry Thomas was injured, then i went and checked his stats for this season:

EPL: 0 Games

FA Cup: 1 Game (in Jan.)

Carling Cup: 1 Game (back in Sept.)

This Honduras roster is awesome news for us - that group of forwards wouldn't scare a 4th grader!

My rough approx. of how they'll lineup:

------------------Valladeres/Escobar------------------

?Sabillion?----Figueroa-------Bernard/Leveron-----????

--------------?OB Garcia?---Palacios-------------------

Delgado---------------------------------------Izaguirre

--------------?Suazo?-------?Costly?-----------------

Honestly, normally i could see Suazo coming on as a sub, as that's the role he had with Catania (6 sub appearance all season). But who is going to start instead? Mejia? maybe. Lallin? (Looks like he's back in Honduras after a stint in Kazakhstan). Lozano has gotten some PT down the stretch - mostly as a sub - for a pitiful Alcoyano side destined to go back down to the Segunda B (3rd division).

[CanadianSoccerFan]

Palacios fell off the map. He was a beast a few years ago. Fergie wanted to sign him. Then Spurs dropped him and dumped him. Now he can't get off the bench for Stoke.

[Sam]

Costly is one of those forwards who despite never really gaining any traction with a club has always shown up, played well and scored for Honduras. Plus an out of form Suazo is still a decent forward.

Palacios used to be far and away Honduras' best player, clearly not the case anymore.

In the end I think that although this Honduran team is all around probably weaker than 2008 they are still the best team in our group ahead of Panama.

[killgod]

This Honduran group peaked with the 2010 WC, the time to capitalize for our group is now. I wouldn't be shocked if we, along with Panama, see the hex. This group is very wide open between the 3 of us, don't think Cuba has any real shot at this. That squad was humped pretty bad at the GC and got blanked in all 3 friendlies since. Something like 1GF and 21GA in their last 6 matches?

[madmonte]

Yeah we can take em! Honestly it's Panama how is in serious form, with players making names for themselves. Cuba I'm not so worried about, but not saying we should underrate them either. But it's really a three way race I don't think Cuba will be a huge factor.

[Shway]

I am a more stronger believer with these squad releases, that Canada will/should not only qualify for the hex, but win this group with the crop of canucks we have right now! The scary thing is, I've felt this way before....

The do or die factor, is going to be the home support

[strobe_z]

The do or die factor, is going to be the home support

Chicken... meets Egg.

squizz's latest piece, "TFC is not Canada" really gives me the sinking feeling we're going to be seeing a lot of Honduran blue at BMO. Luckily the nice people at BMO will be able to outfit them all with White/Blue thunder sticks...

[jpg75]

Was doing some digging around on the Honduran team and realized just how many other guys are missing. I was thinking Jorge Claros is also missing and a bunch of U23's i thought would be there like Mario Martinez, Lopez, Rojas etc. aren't there either. Here's a list of guys we're lucky are not on the roster:

Georgie Welcome

Jerry Bengston

Ramon Nunez

Hendry Thomas

Jorge Claros

Marvin Chavez

Edgar Alvarez

Osman Chavez

Carlos Costly turned down an offer from Vaslui to stay home with his newborn daughter apparently. In this article he states " I'm not coming back because the city is dangerous, (and) the president treats players like we were slaves." Ouch, hopefully Borjan has a better experience

http://diez.hn/Secciones/Legionarios/Jugadores/Carlo-Costly/Noticias/Carlo-Costly-Hasta-junio-voy-a-volver-a-jugar

[Grizzly]

^Romania is not the safest country in Europe but a guy from Honduras who played in Guadalajara, Mexico last year is calling Vaslui dangerous? I wonder if Vaslui is really even more dangerous than Houston where he also played last year let alone Guadalajara or Honduras.

[Scottie]

Carlos Costly turned down an offer from Vaslui to stay home with his newborn daughter apparently. In this article he states " I'm not coming back because the city is dangerous, (and) the president treats players like we were slaves." Ouch, hopefully Borjan has a better experience

http://diez.hn/Secciones/Legionarios/Jugadores/Carlo-Costly/Noticias/Carlo-Costly-Hasta-junio-voy-a-volver-a-jugar

Maybe he's just bitter about his lack of playing time.

[jpg75]

Maybe he's just bitter about his lack of playing time.

I don't want to call him a liar (ok, i will), but he wasn't even starting during Houston's playoff run last year. I just can't imagine they'd want him back - unless he took a serious haircut on his salary. That guy was not DP material.

edit: it states in the article that Houston were among a group of teams that wanted him.

"El atacante habló sobre todas las ofertas que tuvo con clubes como el Houston Dynamo de la MLS , el Olimpia y Real España de Honduras, el Vaslui de Rumanía , Alajuela de Costa Rica y sobre la posibilidad de ir a China."

[villus]

I still have nightmares about Suazo slicing through our defense, hopefully hes lost a few steps!

[CanadianSoccerFan]

So if Figueroa and Izaguirre are operating down the left we'll need Hainault or whoever plays RB at the top of their game.

[Havoc88]

Chicken... meets Egg.

squizz's latest piece, "TFC is not Canada" really gives me the sinking feeling we're going to be seeing a lot of Honduran blue at BMO. Luckily the nice people at BMO will be able to outfit them all with White/Blue thunder sticks...

I would almost guarantee it. The CSA still are completely clueless how they should just be sticking them in the north end and restricting the rest of the stadium for Canada supporters. For whatever reason I think they think this is hockey or baseball where everyone sits together and gets along.

[closetboostie]

I would almost guarantee it. The CSA still are completely clueless how they should just be sticking them in the north end and restricting the rest of the stadium for Canada supporters. For whatever reason I think they think this is hockey or baseball where everyone sits together and gets along.

There won't be much to complain about if we can't sell out the stadium with Canadian supporters. And that's a problem WHEREVER we play it seems. There has been lots of time to sell tickets and being a Tuesday we had the advantage against Honduran-Americans traveling.

[Keegan]

Yeah we can take em! Honestly it's Panama how is in serious form, with players making names for themselves. Cuba I'm not so worried about, but not saying we should underrate them either. But it's really a three way race I don't think Cuba will be a huge factor.

Just like Olympic qualifying right? I'll be really surprised if we get all 6 points off Cuba though obviously that's my (and our) expectation.

I'll tell you one thing we have going for us, our mentality. I remember hearing Hume say confidently that Canada should have won in Honduras last time around (and no not Montreal). I think it shows that they believe they are better than Honduras and I'm sure they feel that they're better than Panama after last summer. So on paper we stack up, in confidence we stack up and in the stands we'll stack up. That means that ultimately much of this campaign will come down to Hart... I'm not holding my breathe. I did think the U23s were well managed tactically fwiw (Fonsesca, Hart or chance?).

[Lowndes94]

Suazo could be tormenting if he is on his game.

[BearcatSA]

So if Figueroa and Izaguirre are operating down the left we'll need Hainault or whoever plays RB at the top of their game.

^This. That's why I think we'll see Johnson on the right flank like he was vs the USA at last year's GC.

[maccaliam]

^This. That's why I think we'll see Johnson on the right flank like he was vs the USA at last year's GC.

I'd like to see us pushing someone with decent pace and guile up high on that wing to push them back rather than try to soak up their pressure. I recall Suarez pulling off of Distin into the left-back spot in Liverpool's FA cup semi-final win vs Everton bc Baines and Pienaar were pushing up high up the wing - and Liverpool had a lot of joy from that tactic.

a) It pulls the centre back way out of position and gets a 1-v-1 with our forward vs their centreback way out on the wing, plus it creates a gap in the middle of the pitch creating a big gap between centrebacks,

or

It forces their left side deeper to help defensively, thus eliminating at least some of their attacking threat

[El Hombre]

I would almost guarantee it. The CSA still are completely clueless how they should just be sticking them in the north end and restricting the rest of the stadium for Canada supporters. For whatever reason I think they think this is hockey or baseball where everyone sits together and gets along.

How exactly would the CSA restrict Honduran supporters to one section? Genuine question.

[Guest Brethers]

How exactly would the CSA restrict Honduran supporters to one section? Genuine question.

Designate an away fan area. Give them a % of all tickets that they can have, and make sure they're all in that section. Then they are segregated. Refuse to sellhome tickets to Honduran supporters on the gate

[CanadianSoccerFan]

Designate an away fan area. Give them a % of all tickets that they can have, and make sure they're all in that section. Then they are segregated. Refuse to sellhome tickets to Honduran supporters on the gate

Canada is so politically correct you can't do that or else there would be a racism tribunal.

[JamboAl]

Designate an away fan area. Give them a % of all tickets that they can have, and make sure they're all in that section. Then they are segregated. Refuse to sellhome tickets to Honduran supporters on the gate

Unfortunately (or fortunately) this isn't everywhere else in the world. You don't know who is a Honduran supporter until they show up and Canadian authorities, including the CSA, are too polite to remove people in the "wrong" areas. Things will only change if whatever happened in Montreal 4 years ago repeats itself magnified 50 fold.