Positives:
- With all deference to the McBride's years of yeoman's work, Charlie Davies is going to be our first true star striker. Scores goals, makes goals, speed, turn, vision, awareness, a poachers opportunistic streak and just enough selfishness. He's improved a lot even since the Confederations Cup, getting better with his back to goal, involving other players into play, and gaining the confidence to take players on and beat them with a change of speed. Can make a chance out of nothing. Davies will set a new record transfer for an American in the next season or two, mark my words.
- Altidore. We shouldn't forget how young Jozy is. He has all the potential in the world but is very much the unfinished product but a couple seasons in England and could be right there with Davies. Needs to show the same work-ethic that his strike-partner clearly has.
- Feilhaber didn't do anything obviously spectacular but was our only midfield player able to effectively set the tempo. His impact will not be fully appreciated. Though it wasn't likely to be any specific tactical instruction from Bradley, he ended up coming deep and playing in the type of deep-lying playmaker role that Ancelotti/Pirlo invented. He does small things to create space, relieve pressure and make other players better. If Donovan and Dempsey had solid matches, he deserves some of the credit. His skills are more subtle than Reyna's were but a good run in the side could yield just as substantial an impact. Things fell apart with his substitution.
- Dempsey. It is easy to get frustrated with him at times, but he's still one of our best players with a scoring record that speaks for itself. He drifted inside frequently to find the game and had a larger overall impact than in recent matches. His first two chances were tougher than they looked with his shot off Davies cutback under good defensive pressure and his header over the bar took the slightest deflection off Bradley's head. Third time was the charm with a strong, decisive header into the corner. Should've done better 1 v 1 with the keeper to ice the game and should've added an assist on the goal inexplicably called back. Dempsey was recognized as one of the best players at his club which qualified for Europe last season - would his detractors show me another American player of that stature? For critics of his defending, Big Clint can track back more when asked. I assume Bradley has told him not to so he can get into the box with more frequency.
- Donovan. I've been his most strident critic since he clearly has so much more to offer. Finally, he's starting to play up to his potential - tracking back to defend, running tirelessly, and putting in dangerous crosses. Still needs to make the opportunities he creates tell with more frequency. The Beckham experiment has been worth it if only for its effect on Donovan. I think it finally got his tail up - seems like he really wants to be top dog and is now willing to work for it - the old Landy-cakes would've floated those balls instead of driving them into the box. With his new found drive to succeed, he could be world class if he finds finally finds success on a badly-needed European move. France/Spain would be a perfect for him.
- Bornstein was APPALLINGLY BAD. It honestly looked like we'd accidentally switched our left back for some age-group player from among the ball boys. His defensive awareness is virtually non-existent. He looked terrified every time he had the ball. If he had any ability on the ball whatsoever, his botched attempt at a blind clearance could have easily been a tap back to Boca for him to clear. Offers nothing going forward but nonetheless manages to get caught up-field frequently. Should go the way of Beasley after this performance.
- Spector looked a bit out of sorts at right back. If Zola and Clark have the confidence to play him at left back while selling a couple defenders, that's a vote of confidence. It's no coincidence that Steve Clarke's departure coincided with Chelsea leaking goals - West Ham is going to keep it tight and Specs is going to be part of that. He should play where he's playing for his club: at left back. Could've done better on the goal when his mark got across him but...
- Marshall was hopelessly adrift on the El Salvadore goal. Why are 3 of our back 4 within 5 yard of the ball out on the wing? It was pure comedy defending. Marshall is a decent tackler, passable in the air and has some confidence on the ball but clearly has acquired the MLS centre-back's tendency to over-commit to the ball. He's made this mistake repeatedly and in MLS it has repeatedly gone unpunished. When will we learn that keeping a clean-sheet comes from a team effort, not individual heroics?
- It's an age-old yarn, Michael Bradley seems to be desperately misunderstood by his own father. Bradley Jr. is a shuttling midfielder of the "box-to-box destroyer" type. In these terms he's a good, solid player. The problem is Bob Bradley's system desperately needs him to be something he is not. He is not a holding player, he is not a creator, he is not an organizer able to set tempo. He's just not disciplined enough to anchor a fulcrum midfield. We will always be fragile until we change our midfield personnel or our system.
- Wear a suit on the touchline. Look the part of an international manager and you might start doing a passable imitation of one.
- Judging by your demeanor and the flatness we perpetually start every game, you must give the most underwhelming team talks ever. Enroll on a public speaking course. Also, get your head examined by a professional and your entire attitude adjusted.
- When we're bossing a game and have the lead, there is nothing wrong with the obvious like-for-like subs instead of changing the shape.
- Percentage possession is a crucial indicator to which you should pay far more attention. If you don't understand percentages, hire someone to multiply it by 90 minutes and think of it as "time spent defending".
- Find a system to best use your players, rather than shoehorning them into something entirely unsuitable like some old cougar. Spend some time getting to know your own son. Worth noting, 4-6 is not a system, it's an unmitigated disaster.
- You must learn that team defending is just as important as the qualities of individual players. Substituting a more defensive player for a more offensive one doesn't necessarily shore up the defense. This mistake has cost much more capable managers their job.
- Your substitutions had a terrible effect on our shape and allowed El Salvadore to commit ever more players going forward instead of staying honest. Your first substitution, Holden for Davies, was forced by injury, but made perfect sense. After that it all went wrong.
- How about Ching for Jozy? As much as I think Ching's ability to win balls and hold up play is vastly exagerrated, he has the strongest defensive qualities of our forwards. So, 60-70 minutes and a 1 goal lead is Ching time.
- How about Torres for Feilhaber? Torres is vastly more deserving of a shot to play in his own position than Beckerman who undistinguished himself in the Mexico 5 - USA 0 Gold Cup Massacre of 2009. There better be a very good reason if any of those losers wear the jersey ever again.
- Brazilian-born Feilhaber and German defector J. Jones might be able to function as the Spanish-style fulcrum midfield that seems to be the only system you understand. That pairing would have to come at the expense of your son. Also worth noting is that with a few exceptions, teams that use that system aren't renowned for being tight at the back.
- A potential tactical masterstroke: midfield 3 of J.Jones (or Clark for now), Bradley, with Feilhaber playmaking from deep, supporting possession and defending positionally at which, judging from the number of interceptions he made, he's actually fairly good. One of Davies/Altidore/Donovan/Dempsey would have to be sacrificed. You can claim it was your idea.
- In my book, untenable conflicts of interest are grounds for resignation. Think on it.
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