Completely Anorexic, and No, I'm Not Talking About the Olsen Twins

The United States' "C" team really stunk up the field last night in Guatemala City in a 0-0 draw. Arena put together a relatively talented squad, but the tactics his team employed, and the positions Arena put these players in, were seriously detrimental to any type of attacking soccer. The problems, as far as I saw them:

• Greg Vanney on the left: How many times has Bruce Arena played Greg Vanney on the left side of defense, and how many times has Vanney disappointed? I didn't understand this selection. Hasn't Bruce seen enough of Vanney to know he's no longer a serviceable left back? He doesn't even play the position for his club team. Why not go with a younger player like a Todd Dunivant or a Jose Burciaga, Jr. Even if they didn't pan out, Arena can at least say he tried.
• Clint Dempsey, attacking midfielder: I understand why Arena played Clint in central midfield, but Bruce must realize that Clint plays the position far differently than Landon Donovan does. Donovan likes to play the ball forward, Clint likes to play the ball to the wings and then make a run. His role with the Revolution is almost that of a withdrawn forward, spreading the ball out, and then making a run. On New England, he's freed from defensive duties by the league's best two-way midfielder Shalrie Joseph, and is freed from his creative offensive duties by Jose Cancela. That means that Clint's free to do what he likes, which means taking players on the dribble, and making smart runs into the offensive third. The U.S. needs a player who can create and get the ball to the forwards, not a player who can make attacking runs, that's what the forwards are for.
• Long ball: Not to say that I blame the players for resorting to long ball for long stretches of the match, especially when the team can't control much possession, and its attacking midfielder isn't getting touches and spreading the ball around. However, my biggest gripe with the long ball was that it didn't give an opportunity for anyone to demonstrate anything to Bruce Arena. The only player who really took his opponents on the dribble and tried to make the smart pass was Bobby Convey.
• Subbing out Jeff Cunningham: Cunningham is the kind of player who could possibly be useful late in games, taking tired defenders on the dribble, and making quick runs into the box. Last night, Jeff wasn't given an opportunity to do much of everything. Playing in the long ball is not a style of offensive creation well-suited for a smallish, quick forward. Had Landon been in the game to make short passes that a quick player like Cunningham could run onto, Jeff might've been more effective. Yet Bruce subbed out Jeff before he subbed on Landon, a bit of a head-scratching move if you ask me.
• Moving Clint to the right: Clint Dempsey is not a right midfielder, and really isn't much of a winger to begin with. Perhaps it would've been best for Arena to exchange Clint for Landon, but either way, Dempsey was completely ineffective on the right side of midfield. The Clint Dempsey experiment may be over for this cycle.

Player Ratings:

Marcus Hahnemann - 7 (MOTM): Well, the "man" of the match was probably the near post, but Hahnemann made several crucial saves, and looked comfortable in goal the entire match. His distribution was terrible (except for a beatiful goal kick straight to Clint Dempsey), but he was solid enough in goal to make a case for that third goalkeeper spot.

Chris Albright - 6: Chris made a good case for himself last night. He played solid (if unspectacular) defense, rarely was caught out of position, and played decent offense (his cross that Twellman should have finished was a thing of beauty). He definitely earned himself a few more looks, but he's competing with Frankie Hejduk for that back-up right back slot, and given Frankie's versatility and experience it'll be very tough competition.

Jimmy Conrad - 5: It was not a terrible outing for Jimmy but he practically fell asleep near the end of the match, nearly costing the team a point. But given his effort in the Gold Cup and again last night, Jimmy might've earned himself a spot on the alternates roster for the World Cup.

Chad Marshall - 6: Chad is a big boy and last night, he used his height to his advantage, latching onto a great ball (and forcing a nice save from the Guatemalan keeper) in front of goal, and winning most (if not all) of his aerial challenges. He still plays the unfortunate center back position, a position which is one of the United States' deepest. However, he might've also earned himself an alternate spot, and he certainly earned himself more looks from Arena.

Greg Vanney - 4: As the Doors once sang, "This is the end," and if it isn't, it ought to be. Vanney is too slow, doesn't offer nearly enough offensive output for Arena's system, and is simply not talented enough to play that left back spot internationally. It also doesn't help that he's a center back with his club team, FC Dallas. It's time to move on Bruce. Now, do you cap Jose Burciaga? Todd Dunivant?

Santino Quaranta - 5: Santino was given his chance to start and didn't seize the opportunity. This team desperately needs a natural right midfielder (Donovan can play that role in a box midfield), and Steve Ralston is just too slow for the World Cup. Santino will probably be given another chance, but last night his passes weren't crisp, his defense was suspect, and his forays into the attacking third, ineffective. Perhaps it's time to give Chris Klein another shot. Brian Mullan? Eddie Gaven?

Pablo Mastroeni - 6: A solid performance from Pablo, but he didn't combine well with Clint Dempsey, and was often invisible in the attacking third (in his defense, that's not necessarily what Arena wanted him to do). Pablo has nothing to worry about though, as he's clearly the second-choice defensive/holding midfielder, behind John O'Brien, and with O'Brien's health always a question mark, Mastroeni will be an essential part of the United States' World Cup run.

Clint Dempsey - 5: Clint still hasn't found his place with the U.S. squad, and he probably won't this cycle. That's a shame, because Clint is a very talented player with a keen nose for goal. But he does not fit in with Bruce Arena's idea of a central midfielder, he isn't great on the wings, and he's not quite a forward. If the U.S. used a 4-3-3, with Clint as a withdrawn forward, he might actually find a spot, but unfortunately for him, that isn't going to happen. Time to move on until the next cycle.

Bobby Convey - 7: A fine game again for Bobby, but it's obvious he plays at his best with the U.S. "A" team talent. He wasn't able to put the ball in and make a run, and he just didn't seem to gel right with his teammates. However, he's obviously a much-improved player, and has become a force on set pieces. With Lewis moving to left back, Bobby's probably secured his ticket to Germany as DaMarcus Beasley's back-up.

Taylor Twellman - 5: Sorry Taylor, you worked hard, but you didn't finish and that's all we needed you to do. I'm certain that Taylor will get one more look (at least) from Arena, but last night's performance was a bad omen, and no doubt had Arena wishing for the good health and quick return of Brian Ching.

Jeff Cuningham - 5: Jeff is not a player suited for long ball, which was what the United States was playing for long stretches of the first half last night. He was subbed out before he was given a chance to latch onto a through ball. His one chance on goal was deflected off of his teammate, perhaps a sign of things to come, and indicative of Jeff's career with the Nats.

Subs:

Eddie Johnson - 6: Eddie did some very nice things on the ball, worked hard, and showed flashes of the pre-injury Eddie. However, he needed to bury that header, and he tried to get cute. It was great seeing him back with the Nats though.

Landon Donovan - 6: Landon helped the U.S. play more possession-oriented soccer, and put in some nice through (as opposed to long) balls. I would have liked to see what he could have done with Cunningham on the field, but Bruce thought differently.

Steve Ralston - N/A