[dsp87260]

Originally Posted by USAManUtd13

Ouch, my pride.

The US was as poor today as England was good. This was a comprehensive win for England who completely dominated the game. The US is not this bad, I know this is true, but it's increasingly difficult to convince my compatriots who don't watch the game that this, is in fact, the case.

Some of the decisions by Bob Bradley were completely baffling. Starting Clark was at the forefront of those mistakes. Clark is shit and he makes the rest of the midfield around him shit. Bradley, who is a great prospect for us (expect to see him at Boro or Everton next season) was awful and Beasley was a ghost along with Dempsey. And I attribute a lot of that to the awful play from Clark (can you tell I don't like the guy? ) There was no link up play from the defense to the midfield and the midfield to the attack; we just couldn't string any passes together. Then, at the half, down a goal, Bradley decides to take off our number 1 keeper for a nearly uncapped MLS player? Also takes off arguably our best defender for someone who has no future with the national team...? I know it's a friendly, but there should be some sort pride and desire to win the game. This shouldn't have been a tryout; particularly not a tryout for players who will not be a factor in 2010 (or even 2008, for that matter).

Clark isn't as bad a player as you're making out, but he doesn't seem to work well with Michael Bradley...for me the ideal pairing would have been a fit/in-form Benny Feilhaber.

And let's not forget that Beasley is coming off an almost season ending injury...

It's sad, but without Donovan we don't really have much of an offense. (I would have liked to have seen Adu start...or at least sub in earlier...just to see what affect he could have had on the game with more time.)

[USAManUtd13]

You may be right. I've calmed down a bit since the game and can be a little more objective about Clark. He's not bad and he's had some decent outings for the NT, but I still don't think he's a good complement to Bradley in the midfield. Feilhaber/Bradley is certainly our best midfield combination, despite him not being able to get minutes with woeful Derby. What it really comes down to, in my opinion, is the mentality of the the midfield. Bradley plays an attacking role for Heerenveen and is a box-to-box midfielder, but when he plays with the national team he's forced to play a defensive/holding role. Pair him in that role with another clone and we've got no forward movement.

Beasley is class and had a fantastic first season with Rangers. However, he was poor against England.

I don't think Adu is the answer right now, but we should definitely be giving him some longer looks in these friendlies. I expect him to get 45 against Spain.

Speaking of Spain: If we play like we did against England, things could get ugly, very fast. I'm hoping we step it up and at least keep things respectable.