SoccerAmerica - U.S. Player Ratings 08/11/2010

[USA-BRAZIL REPORT CARD] Soccer America's Mike Woitalla grades the U.S. players after the USA's 2-0 loss to Brazil in East Rutherford, N.J., on Tuesday.

Veteran Carlos Bocanegra performed competently while paired in the central defense with Omar Gonzalez, who for a 21-year-old making his national team debut against Brazil, could be satisfied with his performance. The outside backs -- Jonathan Spector on the right and Jonathan Bornstein on the left -- were outplayed by the Brazilian wingers and neither helped the U.S. attack.

Maurice Edu and Michael Bradley manned the central midfield with Edu looking the sharper. Wide in midfield, Benny Feilhaber failed to make an impact while Alejandro Bedoya made a couple of forays early on but saw little of the ball as the game progressed.

Up front, Edson Buddle was contained rather easily by the Brazilian backline while Landon Donovan provided the most spark in the American attack despite little support from his teammates.

Neymar's header into the corner was out of the reach of first-half goalkeeper Tim Howard, who was rounded easily by Alexandre Pato on the second goal. Howard's replacement Brad Guzan had the more difficult saves to make and came through.

Of the five field players subbed in only Herculez Gomez, with a close-range header blocked by keeper Victor, made his presence felt.

USA
STARTERS
Rating/Player (Club/Country) GP/G
4 Tim Howard (Everton/ENG) 55/0
4 Jonathan Spector (West Ham United/ENG) 25/0
5 Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy) 0/0
6 Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Etienne/FRA) 83/12
3 Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA) 34/2
5 Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro/SWE) 3/0
5 Michael Bradley (Borussia M'Gladbach/GER) 47/8
6 Maurice Edu (Rangers/SCO) 16/1
4 Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus/DEN) 35/2
6 Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy) 127/45
4 Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy) 5/2
SUBS
Rating/Player (Club/Country) GP/G
6 Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/ENG) 16/0
4 Jozy Altidore (Villarreal/SPAIN) 29/9
4 Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht/BEL) 25/4
4 Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake) 9/0
5 Herculez Gomez (Pachuca/MEX) 7/2
5 Clarence Goodson (IK Start/NOR) 14/2

(Ratings: 1=terrible; 5=average; 10=brilliant.)
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How do you feel the U.S. players did against Brazil? Agree with our ratings? Disagree? Let us know in the comments below.

0 comments

Bill Anderson

commented on: August 11, 2010 at 9:24 a.m.

The only three players who should be rated are: Bedoya Goodson Gonzales The remainder will not matter in WC 2014, and should NOT have been on the roster.

Anthony Pignataro

commented on: August 11, 2010 at 10:01 a.m.

I was at the match. I would give Gonzalez and Bedoya and Spector and Guzan 5's and everyone else less then that. I would also give Bornstein a 4 as opposed to a 3. The guy gave 110% out there. Not effective, but he put out a lot more effort then a lot of guys on the field for US last night. I don't see Bocanegra and Donovan getting anything above a 4. I definitely don't see a 6 for either one of them. Landon did not participate unless the ball was at his feet.

Philippe Fontanelli

commented on: August 11, 2010 at 10:34 a.m.

What can you say again? Bradley has to go!!!!!! I said it before the game that we are going to get spanked by Brazil. It could have been a much larger defeat if not some the goal posts. We were completely played of the field with a yet tested Brazilian team. Bradley doesn't understands the game. Yes the forwards need some one to supply the ball to them, in that team yesterday only Donovan, Feilhaber and maybe Edu is capable. Should have played with two forwards Buddle Gomez (or Altidore) with Donovan in the triangle. W/o all these players were lost and useless with the exception of Gomez (there is a potential there). On the players: Guzan is better than Howard. Bradley had the best seat in the house on the field, he was often in slow motion, passes given away, most of the passes backwards back to the same players that gave him the ball. He should be another player with another coach where he has to fight for his position and he could also be substituted, let alone not being a starter granted regardless. He should have been subbed not Feilhaber. Findley forget about him and be even Altidore until the system changes. Bornstein? Well where is Castillo? We could very well used Jermaine Jones and Torres! We want Bradley's head!!!!!!!

Heather Scott-molleda

commented on: August 11, 2010 at 10:36 a.m.

How in the world can you give Bradley a 5? He was absolutely horrible! He was caught like a deer in the headlights on the 2nd goal and gave away more passes than he completed. The goalies are both underrated - Howard should get at least a 6 and Guzan a 7. Gonzalez and Bornstein were at fault for the first goal and deserve much lower grades. It was Spector who actually contained Neymar until he switched sides.

Rodney Thurow

commented on: August 11, 2010 at 10:56 a.m.

Mike please continue to do these. At lest you have a little more objectivity than Ridge does. However just a little bit more would be wonderful. Getting man-handled and the team gets a 4.75 is a little high. When they deserve a 1 give them a 1. Findley is where I would start with that 1. Can't recall a single good touch and at least 4-5 times where the ball just got stuck in his feet. M. Bradley also had a horrid game. I like Michael. Believe he is one of the top 5 players we have right now however he only had a 3 game at best. Bornstein was himself. Run all over looking like he is working his tail off however always ends up out of possition and has plenty of bad touches, 2.

Brian Herbert

commented on: August 11, 2010 at 11:07 a.m.

This match raised my impression of Guzan, he had a fantastic match, too bad that he spends his time backing up Freidel, needs to be number 1 somewhere. The match also further lowered my impression of Altidore. Take him off the squad for a couple years, see if he can get a starting spot and stay there for a pro club in Europe, and then bring him back to compete for striker.

Paul Bryant

commented on: August 11, 2010 at 12:07 p.m.

I can only hope and pray that Charlie Davies will return to form and that Jemaine Jones is as good as the hype. The USMNT does not have any threats up top. Benny F. is an okay player coming off the bench, but we need a higher caliber playmaking/attacking mid fielder that will give defenses fits. We also need a new philosophy, i.e., a new manager. Bob Bradley has served us well. Thank you Bob. Good luck in your next coaching job.

Gregory Weiss

commented on: August 11, 2010 at 2:40 p.m.

I have to agree with Brian above that the only player who deserved a 6 was Guzan. He really kept this game from being an embaressment. It is hard to rate individual players when the Brazillians dismantled us as a team, keeping us from really handling the ball at all. I liked the energy of the first 20 minutes, but after that they had us on our heels for the rest of the night. Our forwards just couldn't keep any kind of possession and were easily stripped, and we NEVER got anything away from them because US played 5 yards off. Bedoya was aggressive early on to a fault, getting called for penalties too often. When he backed off, however, he was ineffective. Our defense just wasn't up to snuff and I can't blame any player as they just outworked and outperformed us. The gap in talent was too great and I fear there is nothing to do about this.

Philippe Fontanelli

commented on: August 11, 2010 at 2:50 p.m.

I read all the above comments and I am thankful that we have lot of soccer astute fans. Ridge Mahoney should be rating tennis as he doesn't know the game, doesn't understand and doubt if he watches it at all. He is politically correct = polotically idiot. Thank you all for your comments,I was afraid that I was maybe to critical. BUT NOT!

Maddie & Elena Clarfield

commented on: August 11, 2010 at 4:52 p.m.

You didn't rate Kljestan. Was that because you thought he was playing for Brazil (he only passed the ball to them) or was it that you choose to omit players whose ratings would be lower than 1? Honestly - our guys looked extremely fatigued (with good reason based on the MLS schedule of the last few weeks), but seriously, our passing was awful and could be much better. Also, those USA players who came from Europe and Mexico - what was your excuse?

Michael Dekarske

commented on: August 11, 2010 at 10:27 p.m.

How can you not grade the stoppage time of the first half as one big F?!?!?! 45 minutes + stoppage time! The back line was already off the field! That was pathetic. Quit kissing their butt and tell the truth.

Ric Fonseca

commented on: August 11, 2010 at 10:30 p.m.

Fortunately I wasn't able to see the first half, but most of the second. All I can say is that it was a pathetic performance by the US MNT. Banal BB must be shown his walking papers and have US Soccer talk to Kevin Payne of DC Utd to give him a job. If this is what we have to look forward to in the years to come, for cripes sake then we deserve what we get: nothing much. Thanks to Mike W for a better way of presenting the ratings, as I agree that Ridge M. really doesn't seem to understand the game or players, for that matter! In the long run, from what I saw, it was much more of the same-old-same-old.

Tom Dugan

commented on: August 14, 2010 at 11:48 a.m.

If Bob Bradley is allowed to stay, the US can look forward to another 4 years of excuses for losing. Hopefully the powers that be will get tired of the excuses & dismal performances and shake up the roster AND the coaching staff ASAP!

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