[Beebs]

Just some thoughts that came to mind while watching, not a full review.

I think the 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 system with Donovan given basically a free role behind the striker is the way forward, but we just don't have a good enough striker to play ahead of him.

Jose Torres is an automatic starter in my mind. He can carry out the defensive duties of playing deeper, which is necessary to given Donovan that freedom, but more importantly he is a consistent, accurate, and creative distributor of the ball, starting out most of the US's attacks from deep.

Too many players seem to be a victim of playing in a strict 4-4-2 most of their lives, and have trouble adjusting to different roles. I don't know exactly what Maurice Edu's instructions were, so I can't necessarily tell how bad he played, but it was not good. He was largely responsible for the goal by not closing down the ball, instead standing off until he was almost touching the center backs.

If Edu was indeed told to play that deep, he needs to play it much more aggressively, patrolling the space in front of the defense and simply winning the ball and getting it to Torres ; if he was just given the role of a more versatile holding midfielder similar to Torres he needs to use that physical ability of his to make some forward runs and draw a marker to him. Edu is not a very technical player, but can be useful simply by getting from box to box.

I don't think we need a purely defensive holding midfielder like Edu was playing tonight, especially against Costa Rica. I think once Holden gets back, he will likely play alongside Torres, making for 2 very creative midfielders, but Torres will likely have to do more defensive work.

We need a better center back to partner Bocanegra, there is pretty simply just a lack of quality beside him. More specifically we need a stereotypical big, strong, committed defender who can win the ball in the air. We have guys like Goodson and Demerit, who are fairly limited technically, but can do a sufficient job. I think Edu might work very well here too. He has played as a CB before, has the physical tools, and while he isn't very technically gifted as a midfielder, he would be as the sort of player I am talking about here.

Bocanegra is a converted left back, and is getting on in age, but since he is a converted fullback he is decent with the ball, and passes well out of the back.

Brek Shea is a special talent, but is one of the players I was talking about having been forced into a 4-4-2 most of his youth career; as a left footed player he has been played on the left side of midfield, but he is quite clearly a natural forward. In the current system he provides a huge threat as a wide forward, and should be continued to play there; I would like to see him occasionally switching wings to the right, or even moving centrally. He is 6'3" and a strong player, I think the closer to goal he plays, the more of a threat he will carry.

I don't know what to make of Robbie Rogers, he is similar to Shea in that he probably grew up playing on the right of a 4-4-2, and is now being asked to play as more of a forward in a 4-3-3ish system. Rogers is not as talented as Shea, nor does he seem as natural of a forward as Shea, I think his spot is very much up for grabs.

I appreciate Jozy Altidore's hard work, and the potential is plainly there, but he simply isn't completing his job, scoring goals. Jozy isn't the type of forward that can afford to not score goals; it's not as though he is the type of player that drops off into midfield and creates for others, he is meant to be a pure old fashioned #9 who dominates the penalty area, and it just isn't happening. I am glad that he is playing in Holland, where 4-3-3 is the norm, and is playing well, hopefully he can turn his international career back around.

I think the solution is to play Clint Dempsey, who will be healthy by the next game, as the nominal center forward, but one that drifts around the field, interchanging with Donovan and the wide attackers, which is his natural game anyway. We simply can't afford to carry a striker who isn't getting the job done. If that means playing without an orthodox center forward, so be it, it simply costs too much to not have all players contributing.

I still don't know what to make of Juan Agudelo. He has some talent, but right now he seems like just another striker that isn't good enough, which essentially leaves the US playing with 10 men.