Stock Up, Stock Down: USA vs. Netherlands

Just 100 days before they open up their 2010 World Cup versus England, the United States entered Amsterdam ArenA expecting to learn some more about their team. However, that never really materialized as the Yanks played pretty much to script with the players who thrived being the ones most expected to do well and the ones who struggled being the ones most expected to have issues. Luckily for the Americans, most of the United States’ issues the Netherlands exploited are ones that should be fixed by June so long as the players expected to return from injury by then do so and find their pre-injury form.

Just because we learned very little new things about the team doesn’t mean that you can’t draw some conclusions from the match in Amsterdam. Either by reinforcing their roles, showing a form not seen since before that player was injured or proving yet again that they have a ways to go if they are to be an international quality player, there are conclusions to be drawn. With that, here is another edition of the United States National Team’s stock up, stock down.

Stock Up

Michael Bradley showed once again why he is the USA's best central midfielder (Photo Credit: ZumaPress)

Michael Bradley- Playing each week in the hyper-competitive German Bundesliga is clearly paying off for the 22-year-old. Bradley was tenacious in defense, closing down Dutch midfielders quickly and reinforcing his reputation for being strong in the tackle. He was able to be strong tackling without putting in any rash challenges or putting himself in danger of getting a card, something that has not always been the case and is a product of his continued development.

Bradley was also able to push forward as well, getting north of a dozen touches within 25 yards of goal. Wesley Sneijder did terrorize the Americans for stretches, as is expected for a player of his quality, but little of it could be attributed to failings on Bradley’s part. Most of it was a result of outstanding movement on the part of Holland and unfamiliar pairings in the center of the pitch, but even so, Bradley closed down after the breakdowns well. Once again proved why he is undoubtedly the Americans’ best option in the center of the midfield.

DaMarcus Beasley- The last time we saw Beasley for the United States, a square corner kick went under his foot and the ball was quickly played to the other end of the pitch on a Brazil counterattack for a goal in the Confederations Cup. Some completely wrote Beasley off at that point and considering his dip in form over the years that preceded the Confederations Cup and his injury history, they weren’t irrational in doing so. Beasley has found at least a short spell of health, though, and played well on Wednesday after coming on for an injured Stuart Holden.

Beasley flashed the speed and quickness that once made him a household name in the Netherlands while playing for PSV. On top of that, he showed good awareness for a player who hasn’t gotten a ton of playing time, finding open teammates pretty regularly. Beasley played in several quality balls, either crosses in the run of play or on set pieces, including the one that found Carlos Bocanegra’s head for the sole US goal. Always a hard worker defensively, Beasley was able to make things tougher on the Dutch when trying to attack him to round out a solid match that has him right back in the fold for a World Cup spot.

Maurice Edu- Despite playing just 45 minutes (he came on as a halftime substitute), Edu had more tackles than nearly every other American. Sporting a new mini-afro and sideburns and flush with confidence after scoring the 93rd minute game-winner for Rangers in their Old Firm win over Celtic, Edu played very strong defensively. His rangy play and strong tackling shored up the center of the pitch for the US and the confidence that Bradley had in Edu’s defense allowed Bradley to get into the attack more, which helped the team out.

Edu played some good balls out from deep in the US’ own third and didn’t panic when he got the ball with little space, which is impressive for a guy who has not played internationally in so long. There were signs of rust from Edu, specifically when he had to play the ball into space instead of square, but overall it was a strong performance. The biggest issue Edu had was his struggles playing off of Bradley, but that is to be expected considering how little they have played together. The confidence Bradley has in Edu’s defense and the expected improvement from Edu as he plays more for Rangers in his comeback from a knee injury should put 23-year-old in prime position to make the World Cup roster.

Starting Centerbacks- Both Carlos Bocanegra and Jay DeMerit were very strong for the US and did plenty to improve their standing in the national team. The first Netherlands goal was a result of poor defending from the pair’s left back and the second goal came with DeMerit on the bench and Bocanegra handling his responsibilities. DeMerit read the game well, as he usually does, and was quick to help when his teammates were beaten. It could be argued that DeMerit is not one of the team’s best two centerbacks, but his smaller stature, quicker feet and the different style that accompanies it is probably a batter fit for whoever he is paired with in the US system.

Bocanegra’s match highlight came in the 87th minute when he got on the end of a set piece to score for the Americans, proving once again that he is a major threat in the air. The captain was strong defending in the air as well and kept the defense well organized. The most encouraging aspect of his match was the few times he got left in space with a Dutch attacker running at him, only for Bocanegra to snuff it out. Considering the issues the US has at left back, it has to comfort fans to see him excelling in the type of play that he would face if he plays outside in South Africa.

Stock Down

Jonathan Bornstein found himself at the center of all things gone wrong (Photo Credit: ZumaPress)

Jonathan Bornstein- Bornstein brought down Sneijder in the box for a penalty to gift Holland their first goal. Bornstein did poorly to close down space, then had the ball unluckily deflect off of him for the second goal and he committed a hand ball in the box that went unnoticed by the referee. It was a rough, rough night for the Chivas USA man and just those plays that resulted in goals or should have doesn’t tell the whole story.

Bornstein was routinely exposed at his left back spot, beaten time and time again. He was so occupied defensively, even when doing a poor job, that he never got forward either, meaning that he did not make a positive contribution either offensively or defensively. As a favorite of Bradley, Bornstein has been handed opportunity after opportunity to put a lock on the left back job, but he has yet to grab a hold of it. Bocanegra has to be at least even with Bornstein for the spot (assuming Oguchi Onyewu gets healthy) and Heath Pearce’s recent revival and introduction late in the match shows that Bradley is still looking for an answer at left back.

Robbie Findley- Maybe not too much of a surprise in getting the start, Findley did little to show he deserved to get the nod. After being rendered nearly invisible in the previous two matches with a domestic team, Findley was given a chance with the first team to see if an improved midfield and the service that comes with it would give him a chance to shine. Findley never made an impact, though. The speedy striker showed his pace in tracking down several long balls, but he could do little with them.

Findley’s touch has certainly improved in recent years and he settled the ball well a few times, but he gave the ball away when attempting to find teammates or hold the ball. He was too easily dispossessed and killed multiple United States possessions because he could not link up with anyone else on the field wearing blue. At just 24-years-old, Findley still have the opportunity to make an international impact with some hard work and improvement, but it won’t be by June. Findley may as well kiss his chance at making the team flight to South Africa goodbye.

Jose Francisco Torres- The diminutive central midfielder was given a spot in the starting XI and had the United States’ best chance in the first half, but that was it for the man from Longview, Texas. His strike from 30 yards that beat the keeper, but couldn’t dip under the bar was a good effort and welcome for a team that often struggles to strike from distance. That wasn’t enough to turn in an otherwise forgettable showing, though.

For a player in the team to show off exquisite passing and vision, Torres misfired on far too many passes. He didn’t open much up for the US offensively with his passing, rendering his best asset useless. The biggest concern was the concern most, including head coach Bob Bradley, have had about Torres for quite a while. Torres struggled defensively, never showing an urgency to close down and never proving effective tackling. Torres has said before that the biggest difference between the Mexican Primera Division and international matches is how much faster the pace is in international matches. That was all too evident today as he took more time than he had on the ball and never looked to play at the pace of the match defensively. Any calls for Torres to be paired with Bradley in the starting XI permanently have likely been put to rest for now.

Robbie Rogers- Rogers was not called in for the Netherlands match, but his competition for a wing spot on the World Cup roster has intensified just a week after putting in a sub-par performance versus El Salvador. Beasley played well for the US, giving the team another option who can play on either wing, like Rogers. Holden was arguably the best player for the Yanks before going off with an injury and his recent form for Bolton has helped his stock with the national team. Even Alejandro Bedoya, who got just his second cap versus Holland, played very well and proved to be at least as dynamic as Rogers, if not more.

Where does that leave Rogers? The Columbus Crew midfielder is still in the mix for a World Cup spot, but with increased competition, he will need to play well when the MLS season starts to keep pace with the other options at Bradley’s disposal. That brings up another issue for Rogers as MLS labor talks appear to have stalled, threatening the beginning of the MLS season. A player with something to prove needs to opportunity to prove himself and Rogers may be shortchanged out of those opportunities.