El Salvador V US: Post-Game

El Salvador v USA: Post-Game

Result: US 2 - El Salvador 1

I missed on a couple of starters (see previous article) but these are my grades for the US:

GK - Howard: 8.5 - Played great, was his typical self in goal, but unfortunately put in some tough spots due to bad US give-a-ways.

LB - Boreinstein: 2 - Not much to say here other than being disappointed that he is still even getting consideration to start.  After this performance, he should only be called back in emergency cases.

CB: Marshall: 6  - Played solid and looked confident; He didn't hurt his chances for third or forth central defender consideration.

CB: Bocanegra: 6 - I am still a strong believer that his best position is at LB with the US. Even though he does struggle against quicker attacking players (see Brazil & Mexico) being naturally left-footed, able to get forward, not being Boreinstein, and depth at CB has to now make him Bradley's starting LB.

RB: Spector: 7 - He should now have the RB on lockdown. While he could play LB if needed (and there is a very strong chance this will indeed happen seeing as he plays LB for his club team) keeping him at RB, I believe, makes the situation at LB a little less problematic. Yes, there is more depth at RB but right now none of them are playing as strong as Spector.

M: Bradley: 6.5 - Connected well with Feilhaber, got forward & involved in the attack, but left way to much space between himself and the US defense when he did go forward. Would like to see him take on the role that Reyna used to have with the US. Bradley has the talent to do so but he needs to be a little more mentally aware of the flow & timing of the game, where he is at, and being able to make good decisions as crucial times. 

M: Feilhaber: 6.5 - Both he & Bradley should get continued playing time together, definitely against Trinidad & Tobago, and perhaps through the rest of qualifying. I don't want to rush judgment too quickly but they did a good job of finding each other, connecting on some quick passes, and having the attacking spirit that has been missing.

With that said, turning the ball over in our third of the pitch is inexcusable. Every time Bradley & Feilhaber touched the ball I held my breath.  Not knowing whether they would give the ball right to one of the El Salvador players or to one of the US players.  These terrible give-a-ways have been and will continue to be the aspect of the US game that result in goals against.

We have THE best goal keeper in the world right now that will pretty much stop anything thrown at him but if the players in front of him keep coughing the ball up 30 - 40 yards out (i.e. Bradley, Feilhaber, Donovan, et al.) goals will be scored against Howard.  This all starts with Bradley.  Right now he is the point through which everything flows. If his game is off, the US is in for a long ride.

Dempsey: 7 - My love-hate relationship continues. The biggest fear with Dempsey is you never know which one is going to show up.  He showed up on Saturday and impressed with a good goal and attacking persistence.  If he can add consistency in his game he has the potential to be the most creative US player.  To be determined.

Donovan: 6.5 - The US needs more from him.  Maybe I'm being a little too hard but if people are going to call him the best overall player for the US then he needs to be the best overall player for the US. Sometimes he disappears from the flow of the game & when Bradley/Feilhaber are playing hot potato with the ball he needs to exert his will & grab control.  Don't get me wrong, he played well and is very reliable but against CONCACAF opponents he should always be better (H1N1 virus or not).

Davies: 7 - Hands down the best US attacking threat.  We haven't had someone with his pace & scoring confidence since.........have we had someone?  Regardless, he puts the fear into opposing defenses and I love watching it.  If he continues to develop for his club team and play at this level for the US, then we just might have a world-class striker in the making. Crossing the fingers.

Altidore: 7 - His goal withstanding, he needs to use his physical stature more often to dominate his opponents. Altidore has all the potential and tons of room for growth (getting first team action with his EPL team will definitely help) but I will continue to say it: his first touch has to get better. 

I truly believe that this is why he hasn't been able to get playing time for any of his previous clubs up until now.  Once he has his first touch consistently under control, he will be a major threat up front for the US.  He showed signs of this when connecting with Donovan & Feilhaber but at other times the ball just bounced off of his feet. 

He and Davies pair up very well with their respective games complimenting each other.  More playing time together will only make each of them better and the US attack that much more dangerous.

Subs:

Holden: 7 - Bradley has to find a way to get him on the field more often.  He is nipping at Dempsey's heels and will probably see more minutes against Trinidad & Tobago. His energy, confidence, and overall ability brings some excitement off the bench for the US. 

Torres: 6.5 - Had a fabulous header that should have been a goal if not for an even better save.  Looks as if he is back on Bradley's radar and should continue to push for a starting position.

Beckerman: 6 - Played well in limited minutes. He is stuck behind at least 3-4 other midfielders but he is definitely in the mix for other qualifiers & national team matches.

Overall team performance: 6

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It should not take the US forty minutes to "wake up" for a World Cup home qualifying match.  The US needed, repeat - needed, to win this game.  Coming into this match the group was already tight and all the US players knew that they had to win.  If this is the case, why did it take El Salvador scoring first before the US realized they had to start playing?

As a Fan, this is the most frustrating part.  The US should have come out and put their imprint on this match very early on.  Instead they turned the ball over (repeating a way too common theme here) way too often and with too much ease. The US needs that killer instinct from the first whistle and unfortunately this is one of the major missing pieces to the US squad.

The turnovers inside of the US defensive third have to stop.  If they don't, we will be picking the ball up out from behind Howard much more often.  More so, they should not continue to happen with the regularity that they are happening.  I'd rather have a ball kicked out of bounds to give up a throw-in than to just give the ball away during the run of play.

With the way the CONCACAF group standings are know, the room for error on the US' part is very small.  Two remaining road games and then the final qualifying game at home put the US in a tricky spot.  Heading into Wednesday's CONCACAF qualifiers one point separates the top four teams. 

Mexico is at home against Honduras and we should all be watching this game on the scoreboard if nothing else.  From the US standpoint, basically we have to win against Trinidad & Tobago. The thinking here is because on 10/10/2009 the US travels to Honduras & I would rather be sitting at 16 points heading into that game than at 13 or 14 points.  Getting the full three points at Honduras is going to be difficult enough but a must-win situation is even more difficult spot to be in on the road.