Sqeaky Bum Time

SAF may have coined the phrase, but it's Bob Bradley's mantra right now.

Eight days from now we’ll know pretty much everyone going to the World Cup. The U.S. should have one of those spots, leaving Costa Rica or Honduras the dirty deed of facing the fifth placed team from South America in a two-legged playoff.

Mexico, despite all their early struggles, are going to finish atop the group. They host El Salvador on Saturday, and then go away to Trinidad & Tobago next week. That gives them at least 19 points, but more likely 21. I’m sure Sven feels a bit screwed over in Notts County, and not just because he’s in Notts friggin County. But it’s not like he was a good match from the get go.

The Yanks will lose on Saturday in Honduras. It’s kind of why I don’t want to bother finding a place to watch on Saturday, unless there’s a streaming feed somewhere. Honduras, despite their problems with their government, are too strong on the field for an American side that has been extremely tentative on the road this qualifying phase. That will leave a do or die game against Costa Rica next week at RFK. Not something anyone in USSF wants, especially with a Mexican referee working the whistle.

For the record, here are the referee assignments for the last two rounds:

Matchday 9
Costa Rica : Trinidad & Tobago - MARRUFO (USA)
Honduras : USA - QUESADA (CRC)
Mexico : El Salvador - BATRES (GUA)

Matchday 10
Trinidad & Tobago : Mexico - MORENO (PAN)
USA : Costa Rica - ARCHUNDIA (MEX)
El Salvador : Honduras – SALAZAR (USA)

Two things of note: Yes that is Jair Marrufo, who can’t referee an MLS game at this point, on the Costa Rica T&T game -- no word on if he’ll ask Kenwyne Jones for his jersey afterwards. Also, I’m not as upset with Archundia, but would have preferred Moreno from Panama (the guy that sent Aguirre to the showers in the Gold Cup). Interesting that Courtney Campbell, who seemingly did every Gold Cup game and had both USA-Honduras matches in that tournament, isn’t included in either round.

UPDATE: According to SBI, Moreno is reffing the USA-Honduras match. Those pairings were a few weeks old from my source, and considering Marrufo is on there I wouldn't be surprised that they changed.

Back to the task at hand, the Yanks should beat Costa Rica at home. However, assuming the Ticos beat T&T and we lose in Honduras, Bob Bradley’s bunch will be tied on 16 points with Honduras (though behind on goal differential) and a single point ahead of Costa Rica. That would mean a tie at home clinches things, but it never works to play for a tie in that situation. Quite a bit different from the last round when we qualified with two matches to go.

Clint Dempsey being sidelined is almost addition by subtraction. Sure, as Steve Davis pointed out, he’s capable of the game changing play. But, especially in Honduras, we don’t need that as much as solid defensive play on that wing. I’m expecting Benny Feilhaber to take that spot on the right for just that reason, though I’d be more excited about Stuart Holden from an offensive standpoint. For my money, either are an upgrade over Dempsey.

As a result, Frankie Hejduk was called in as his replacement. I like the move. Hejduk will certainly add a veteran quality to the locker room even if he winds up not suiting up for either match. I’d rather see him out on the right over Cherundolo at this point, but Spector is my preferred choice. That is, unless Spector gets the nod on the left instead of Jonny Bornstein with Bocanegra and Onyewu manning the center. If they had more time together, I wouldn’t be opposed to Boca on the left, Spector on the right, and Onyewu in the center with Jimmy Conrad. But I’m obviously biased towards that call.

One last note: Landon Donovan CANNOT pick up a yellow in Hondruas. That would make the title even more appropriate.

- Baltimore has tossed their hat into the ring to potentially build a stadium for D.C. United near Camden Yards (btw, not sure where TOW got that image because it looks nothing like the Baltimore waterfront). Personally I’m all for that as I could then walk to the games. However, the move would be a bad thing overall for a team that has connected with a large portion of the D.C. community. Also, getting 70k people for a one-match affair is one thing, consistently selling out a 20k stadium is another. It can be done, but it won’t be a walk in the park to do so.

- Taylor Twellman was named the Cosmo Bachelor for Massachusetts. I wonder what his ex-wife thinks of that.

- Though the U.S. U-20s crashed out of the U-20 World Cup, apparently Brek Shea is being looked at by a couple of teams in England. He was actually my favorite part of the tournament, narrowly edging Dilly Duka’s name, as his hair was referred to as a “cockatoo” by one of the announcers.

Back next week with reaction to the Honduras loss (come on reverse jinx!) and a look at Costa Rica. And who knows, maybe Bushman will grace us with his presence once he’s back from California.

- Pat Walsh