There you go!!! Nice finish GoGo!! Did more in 9 minutes than Findley in 90.

Good for Gomez. Hopefully Clark just pulled his hamstring?

Mexicans!

Anyone know any news on Robben?

Just caught the end of the Holland match as he limped off after falling on the holding his hamstring...

Just breathtaking stupidity from Bob Bradley today. Leaving Dempsey Landy and MB on the field for as long as he did was just absurd.

That being said, I'm happy with the result. Hopefully Buddle and Gomez have some confidence, which is nice. I'm glad Findley won't figure much as I don't think he's quite ready for this level.

Our outside backs looked quite good, which as been a big worry. MB was good and thankfully, most importantly, we faded the injuries (except hopefully to Clark).

The bad part of today's match was we didn't see any of Torres or Edu (which is fine if Bob is saving them, terrible if bob thinks Clark is better). Demerit and Goodson were both poor and Gooch didn't impress, that's definitely a big worry.

Also, it might seem like I hate Clark but I really don't, I actually like him. It's just, if Bob is so ****ing stupid that he doesn't realize Edu or Torres should start, I'd rather Clark picked up a little knock so Bob had to accidentally make a good decision.

Hamstring...
Won't travel with rest of squad to S-A tonight. They are taking a scan tomorrow and we'll see how bad it is. Anything between 1 and 6 weeks now. 2/3 most likely

Other than a decent run in the Confederations Cup there really is nothing Clark has done on the pitch to warrant a spot over Edu or Torres over the last year.

Also, if I was an Australian fan I would be pissed at Kennedy. All the guy did was flop on the ground when put under pressure and miss several chances, was painful to watch.

Yeah absolutely his only redeeming quality is his aerial ability and he was non-existent there so extra terrible.

Really like your chances against England. Donovan has the edge against an isolated Glen Johnson.

For me, after seeing all the friendlies and the build up, my master plan if I got to coach the team would be this:

Against England

--------Jozy--------Dempsey*---------
Landy------------------------Holden---
------------MB-----Edu--------------
Boca----Demerit----Gooch----Dolo-----
-------------Timmy------------------

* = I listed it with Dempsey up top in the empty bucket 4-4-2. In practice, Dempsey would be given more of a free role. At times he'd play as an out-and-out striker, at times he'd drop deep into midfield to get the ball and it would look like a 4-2-3-1, and I could even imagine him drifting out wide if Holden pulls into the middle (as he is prone to do from time to time) or if he deems that's where the space is.

I would bring Beasley on for Jozy between the 60th and 70th minute some time, and most likely play him on the left, moving Landy up top. If we are ahead at that point, I could foresee moving Beasley to the left (to help out with Lennon), Landy to the right, Holden inside in a midfield three, and letting Deuce play up top on his own.

Beasley is one of the three subs for me, but his role should obv change depending on how the game is going.

If we are chasing the game, bringing Torres on is a must for me, most likely for Edu.

Our last substitution should probably be for Dempsey late on, and I could see that being any of Gomez, Buddle, or Findley coming on (I lean toward Buddle for his finishing ability and hold up play), and will obv change depending on time/score/situation.

If we have a lead or are tied, I would be perfectly fine with only bringing on Beasley and Buddle and taking the strikers off (saving that last substitution for an injury or something). Perhaps Clark for Edu or MB if one of them is tiring and Clark is fit.

If we're chasing the game, I still think Beasley should be a sub. Plus Torres and either Benny or a striker.

Against Slovenia is hard to say because obv the England game will change a lot, but I would lean toward the same lineup except with Torres in the middle for Edu.

That's a pretty big lol of an 'other than' imo, but yeah, clark was completely non-existent the entire game.

Dolo looked great, Findley looked good despite not finishing, Buddle showed he can play altidore's role OK, and gooch ran some.

The horns really, really piss me off.

These two comments are pretty silly. First off, Bornstein isn't part of the US back line atm, and Boca and Dolo had good days.

Findley really isn't that bad, and I'd put him above Gomez atm, despite Gomez's ability to push in sitters.

i'd rather go with the forward that is putting the biscuit in the basket. Findley showed no poise whatsoever on those two sitters he should've slammed home.

I much rather have the guy who consistently creates chances instead of the vulture who has run hot, those will start to go in for findley.

As much as it makes me cringe, Findley has showed some good stuff. I have to agree despite the fact that it makes me want to kill myself after watching him miss 2 freebies.

lol the first one was awful. The second one wasn't nearly as bad. I've been impressed with Findley's ability to work off and with the ball because he sucked really hard in his earlier cameos. I was pleasantly surprised with his and Buddle's performance today.


Also, Mr. H., wtf dude? He looked very rusty, but I don't think it's an indicator of how he'd play if given the chance.

As maddening as he's been, this.

That said, I thought Buddle was very good all around today.

Yeah, Buddle played really well. It might get annoying because ESPN is the type of network to go ZOMG BUDDLEZZ SCORED TWO POINTS IS HE THE GREAT BLACK AMERICAN HOPE?

Buddle was, however, very effective even outside of his goals in a Jose Altidore-lite kind of way. Unfortunately for him, I think the fact he's Jozy-lite means that Findley is first off the bench in Bradley's eyes... and I have to agree, which is a completely mind **** for me considering my prior positions on Findley.

Also, just wanted to +100 the GTFO Clark sentiments. Either Edu or Torres.

Dolo should 100% start at RB.

If the pitches are all like that, this tourney will suck.

Anyone thinking that Goodson might be better than Demerit?

It's great that Demerit crushes skulls and all, but the near constant and unnecessary fouling is going to get him in trouble.

I wish we had a LB who wasn't disastrous and could play Boca at CB.

Don't we? Spector could definitely fit that role.

There may be some that think that, but not me.

Demerit certainly isn't great, he gives away too many fouls and his passing is awful. That still doesn't mean I'd rather have Goodson though. About the only thing that Goodson is much better at is in the air.

I think Demerit brings some bite when we're defending desperately, which will be rather often.

I think Spector's in really poor form right now, so I'd prefer what we had today (with Gooch if he can go obv) to Spector on the left. That being said, if Demerit is awful again against England it's certainly something to keep in mind (as well as, as I've said before, Beasley at LB).

I really hope Bradley sticks to the plan of moving Dempsey up top. You can bring Buddle/findley whoever on later imo.

The main reason I want Dempsey up top is that Holden/Beasley>>>>Findley/Buddle/Gomez ldo.