USA-Netherlands friendly

[HattonTheHammer]

player ratings from goal.com


USA

Tim Howard – 6
Looks smaller in the net than a year ago when his form reached its peach, but still makes the saves required of him. Conceded to a penalty kick and a wickedly deflected shot, so no blame falls to the Everton man. Steady.

Jonathan Spector – 5
Never made it into the offensive third to display his crossing ability. Pinned-back.

Jay DeMerit – 6.5
Tough tackling and powerful, Watford's captain doesn't let anyone by without a few scars for his trouble. A minor injury eventually forced him off. Gnarly.

Carlos Bocanegra – 6.5
Headed home the consolation goal late in the match. His shift up until that point had been solid enough without ever showcasing his talents too brightly. Organized.

Jonathan Bornstein – 3
Oopsy Daisy. Five minutes after giving up a penalty for foolishly tugging on Sneijder's arm, Bornstein played the ball with his hand inside the area. Luckily for him the referee didn't see it. It was the chest of the Chivas USA man that deflected the game-winning goal in for Holland to cap off a miserable night. Silly.

Stuart Holden – N/A
Came off early with an injury before Bolton's latest addition could strut his stuff. Unfortunate.

Jose Francisco Torres – 5
Gave away the ball far too often for what is supposed to be Bob Bradley's technical option in the middle. Provided America's best chance in the first half when he sniped a shot from distance just over the net, but tempered that with picking up a needless yellow card. Sloppy.

Michael Bradley – 5
Playing in the position known as the engine, Bradley's new clean-shaven hairdo was apt; his balding tires couldn't find any traction in this match. Outplayed.

Landon Donovan – 5
Perhaps the flu that has plagued Donovan the past few weeks sapped his energy, but for some reason Donovan couldn't click in this one. Lacking.

Jozy Altidore – 6
Allowed himself to be forced wide by a wily Dutch defense far too easily. To say that he was the USA's most consistent offensive threat is to hardly offer any praise at all. In the 90th minute he found the confidence to split two defenders and cannon a shot on goal, but it was too little too late. Robust.

Robbie Findley – 5
Given chance after chance to show that he's Charlie Davies in disguise, even Bob Bradley will have to admit after this final test that Findley is, in fact, not Charlie Davies in disguise. Purposeless.

Substitutes

DaMarcus Beasley – 6.5
Promising.

Maurice Edu – 6
Tidy.

Alejandro Bedoya – 6.5
Determined.

Heath Pearce – N/A

Eddie Johnson – N/A

Clarence Goodson – N/A



i see jonathon spector is just as lame when playing for team US as he is at west ham

and how the hell does beasley get himself bumped to the bench??

[OumaFan]

Actually Spector's been pretty good for us lately. He was very good at the Confederations Cup. I don't pay attention to him much at West Ham.

Beasley up until a month ago was probably gone from the team. Wasn't playing at Rangers, was capital letters horrible for us when he did. So he's working his way back in, he's still got some work to do to start for us at the WC. Actually the only way he will is if Dempsey moves up top and even then he might not.

[HattonTheHammer]

Actually Spector's been pretty good for us lately. He was very good at the Confederations Cup. I don't pay attention to him much at West Ham.

Beasley up until a month ago was probably gone from the team. Wasn't playing at Rangers, was capital letters horrible for us when he did. So he's working his way back in, he's still got some work to do to start for us at the WC. Actually the only way he will is if Dempsey moves up top and even then he might not.

He mainly starts on the bench at west ham, one of those players who doesnt neccesarily do anything wrong but just fails to impose himself on a game.

Everytime ive seen demarcus play he has been the best player on the pitch. Superb little creative midfielder but you can understand bradley not starting him because of the little game time he is getting and if you cant make a starting lineup for a side in scotland then you really cant be all that.

You`ll tear algeria and slovenia to peices, chances are it`ll be germany in the second round for you and thats gonna be a massive ask. If you were to get past them and make it to the quarters who the hell knows how far you could go.

[OumaFan]

Beasley is a regular starter for Rangers when he's healthy but he's almost never healthy.

[OumaFan]

Holden out six weeks at least with a fracture in his leg. De Jong apparently showed himself a yellow piece of paper as a sympathetic gesture.

He should just be glad Holden doesn't play for Arsenal.

[El Kabong]

hattonthehammer, did you see Beasley play vs Brazil?

When Beasley is settled he's a very good player and if we had to move Dempsey up to striker(which may not be a horrible idea) then it's not out of the question for Beasley to start for us.

Donovan showed us in this game that he still needs someone to get the ball to him. I think Cherundolo and Spector are the best assets for us at left back because they are guys that will look for a pass down the pitch to clear the ball (something we rarley do) and they are good at placing some dangerous crosses. Pearce had a couple good crosses go in in the match as well so he shouldn't be left out.

The US has better skill and more importantly we're begining to play like we belong on the field no matter who it's against. Don't get me wrong we can obviously still get shell shocked but the possibility is out there now that wasn't before that we could damn near beat anyone on any given day. Now if our team could play consistently with poise and composure and make cleaner passes/first touches then we're going to be a top 10 team very soon if not by the end of this World Cup. We also have to continue to grow our talent if we can get Zizzo and Sztela and McCarty to produce to replace the older players then we'll be able to build on our successes and limit our failures.