I have to say, I’m a bit disappointed the U.S. Men’s National Team match against Costa Rica tonight didn’t have more snow angels. But if you take that away, considering everything, I have to say I’m breathing a massive sigh of relief with the result. And I’m on a snow high.

The conditions in Denver were worrisome from the get go. Snow had already started to fall and coat the pitch by the time the whistle blew to start the game. While that was a bit scary, it actually seemed to help the USMNT? I don’t get it either, I won’t pretend to try to understand it. My head is spinning a bit from it. There was even a point at the 55 minute mark that the game was halted. The players pretty much begged to continue – USMNT players because, hey they were in the lead off an early goal from Clint Dempsey, and Costa Rica players because they were in the middle of strong run at the US goal – and so the ref allowed the game to continue.

Insanity, folks. Utter insanity. The Battle for Hoth, for you fellow Star Wars geeks out there (And credit for Jared from the Best Soccer Show for coming up with that. I’m sorry, it’s awesome). But it was the bit of insanity I think the team needed, especially after the past week. So, to recap the night? I’ll keep it to a few points.

1.)    DaMarcus Beasley – Wow. Just, wow. I am not too ashamed to admit when I saw he was going to be a left back for the match, I was pretty damn frightened by the prospect. That’s not the man’s natural position. And the last time he played … well, that didn’t end so well. But, I can admit when I’m put in my place. Tonight that man put me in it. I can’t believe how right this call was for U.S. Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann. I’m still on the fence as to whether it was sheer dumb luck or something he was able to piece together through training sessions.

Whatever the case, it was a damn good call. DaMarcus was spectacular tonight. He tracked back, got Costa Rica’s Bryan Ruiz feeling off balance a few times and was able to help push the ball up the field. I was incredibly pleased. So you go, DaMarcus. Bask in this win cause you helped them earn it, man.

2.)    Jozy Altidore – Again, another wow. I’ve been pretty disappointed in Jozy as of late. It’s been one of those instances where he hasn’t been able to transfer his club performance to country. Now, it wasn’t a perfect game for him. There were many passes he wasn’t able to hook up on. But, he put in some work. He did get some nice shots on goal; one that deflected into the path of Clint Dempsey for the lone goal of the match.
I think if the snow hadn’t been so bad, we might have seen a Jozy goal. I feel like this was the first step toward the Jozy Altidore USMNT fans used to see. And all I have to say to that is, “Welcome back, Jozy!”

3.)    The Back Four – If you would have told me you weren’t worried about the defense situation of the USMNT, I would have told you, you were nuts. With the team’s “injuries” – some of which I’m not really sure are justifiable, hence the quotations – Klinsmann was digging deep in the talent pool to figure out what to do. He chose Geoff Cameron, Clarence Goodson, Omar Gonzalez and DaMarcus Beasley … and it freakin’ worked. It worked really well.
Goodson was stellar, giving the stability and experience that was needed. And he was just spot on all night. Great clearances, holding the line … just fabulous. Cameron made a few mistakes here and there, but overall, he put in great work on the right. Beasley, see above. And Omar was a bit quiet but he did his job and did it well. He deserved the start and is a solid defensive player, one I hope Jurgen continues to use.
So, I applaud you Jurgen. You nailed it. In a crazy, snow blizzard, these four held it together. They got a little shaky there toward the end, but over all, I am massively happy with their performance.

4.)    The USMNT Coming Together – After what is being labeled as “Klinsmann Gate” earlier this week with Brain Straus’ article, everyone knew this team had a lot to prove. They had two options. Rise to the occasion and show the fans and the media they could over come, or fall into tragedy and into the rumors and accusations. And while as a fan, I believed there had been a lack of communication and a disconnect, I was praying they would bond together and learn from the experience.
I believe they did just that with this game. And you can say the weather thwarted it, even if they did win, and this game didn’t count, but I would say you’re wrong. They came together and the team as a whole had a good game considering the conditions. From Brad Guzan in goal to Altidore up front, the USMNT went out and performed and they got the three points they needed. Of course this game counted! It was always going to be the difference between frustration at dropping points or relief and elation at nabbing a win. As Taylor Twellman is fond of saying, a win is a win. Let’s not try to break that down or take that away from the players or hell, ourselves as fans. The USMNT are now sitting second in the group; I’ll take that, thank you very much.

5.)    Geoff Cameron, snow shoveler – Because I want to round out to five points in this, I’m going to end with probably one of the most awesome ones. We might not have seen snow angels from the USMNT. But we did get to see Geoff Cameron put in some work helping the grounds crew shovel snow off the lines.
Yes, you read that right. In stoppage time of the game, the cameras panned over to see Cameron helping one of the snow shovelers push their shovel full of snow across and off the pitch. It was pretty cool to see. Especially when you factor in the game was minutes from being over and the snow was getting heavier and heavier. So go you, Geoff. That was pretty cool.

Side note: Every one of the 20,000 fans that were in that stadium, you all are amazing. Staying through that entire game and being loud the entire time. You guys represented well and it was fantastic.

To wrap up; with snow up to their ankles, no one played “beautiful” football. But I could care less. It’s almost 1 a.m. here in Indiana and I’m still grinning. The USMNT needed that win, not just for the points. The game will go down in history; for the snow, for the craziness leading up to it and for the win. Some times it’s not all about the style of play.

Camaraderie. It’s something U.S. Men’s National team fans take a lot of pride in, I think. When I talk amongst fellow USMNT faithful and among my friends, it might not be spoken, but it is an underlining current. We may not have the best national team, we may not have the strongest national team, but we have a team with heart and a camaraderie like none other.

It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that it’s a hard thing to be called up to the national team. You’re under a different coaching staff, you come in for three or four days at a time and it’s demanded of you to switch gears quickly. Players have to not only prove themselves to their coaches, but they are expected to gel with guys they rarely see during the year. It’s not an easy task. Some teams do it better than others.  Some teams make it enough to pass by.

There’s a romanticism, I think, about camaraderie in national teams. Fans want to believe that these players come in and old wounds are put aside, rivalries forgotten, jealousy is left at the door. I’m a victim of this line of thought, and I’m sure we’ve all been that way at least once. But the truth of the matter is, players are humans. There’s going to be fights and rifts and cliques and everything else you can imagine. The important thing will always be if they can get it together on the pitch, on the training grounds, and get the work they need to do, done.

If you haven’t read Brian Straus’ article today concerning the recent performance of the USMNT and the disconnect between head coach Jurgen Klinsmann and the players, you really need to stop what you’re doing and read it. It’s an excellent piece, one that has opened the Pandora’s box of debates in the US Soccer community: Is Jurgen Klinsmann the right leader for the USMNT?

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to give my reaction about the information in that story. There are two sides to every coin. Some might say this article is a blasting of Klinsmann and his staff. Some might say this is a huge amount of evidence that the players of the USMNT are close-minded and unwilling to open to change in their playing style.

My thoughts amount to this. I was very optimistic when Klinsmann came in as head coach. Bob Bradley wasn’t the most horrid coach we ever had, but I believe there had been a staleness that settled over the team. The US was lackluster at best and Bob had done what he could with them. It was time for a different tactic, not the same rut. Again, not to bash on Bob; the U.S. were mildly successful under his command and his years should not be taken for granted.

But I was ready for something new. Jurgen promised that. And hey, with his laundry list of accomplishments, I think the high expectations were founded. I knew it wouldn’t take over night. I knew it would take more than his first few months. Changes in rosters, different training exercises and more MLS players going into camps made me feel hopeful.

In the last six months though, my mentality and those of several USMNT fans I know has changed. We started reading about players spending lots of time with nutritionists and yoga instructors. A phone-book ripping preacher was another “delightful” surprise that left us spinning. What in the hell was going on? Maybe we wouldn’t have questioned it so much if it was translating to something on the pitch. But the truth of the matter was, nothing seemed to change. In fact, to me, it seemed a little worse. Not only that, it felt like something was off. You could see it on the pitch; a kind of tiredness, a bit of confusion. The January camp and horrid game against Canada, followed by last month’s dismal match in Honduras was the bottom line.

Something was up in the locker room, not necessarily on the pitch. Reading through Straus’ article, the overwhelming feeling I got as a USMNT fan was confirmation. Confirmation that players weren’t exactly getting what Klinsmann was selling. Because hell, I wasn’t buying it anymore. The biggest knock as of late has been the absence of U.S. Captain Carlos Bocanegra. I have a laundry list of my own to ramble on about how this is the epicenter of the recent dissent, but it’s not important for this point.

Change is what is needed and I honestly believe what is wanted through out the federation, its players, staff and fans. But it’s not going to happen with this squad or even in this generation. Klinsmann can challenge them, can work to gradually implement strategies that will help the play of the USMNT change.

As Straus pointed out in his article:

Teaching players to challenge their assumptions and to consider new approaches to their sport, their careers and in some cases their lifestyles is a tall task, especially when a national team gathers for only a few days at a time. Injuries, problematic club situations, deep-seated player development issues far beyond Klinsmann’s control, rough road trips and his effort to broaden the U.S. talent pool have added to the growing pains. It’s also important to note, as multiple sources stressed, that no team is completely happy and harmonious—especially after a tough loss.

But there has to be a give and a take between Klinsmann and the players. Klinsmann should expect commitment in his players and he is not out of line by asking them to trust him, to be open to this change. In turn, however, Klinsmann must recognize what the USMNT is and what it isn’t at this point in its existence. Players need more guidance than a pep talk; they need strategy. They need stability. They want to know the night before the game that they are up on deck for the start. They want to know what strategy they will be implementing. And as a few pointed out in Straus’ article, tactics seem to not be Jurgen’s cup of tea.

One paragraph rang very true to me:

 “We do all this stuff. OK, it’s good for us and it’s scientifically proven. But in the end it’s a round ball. The Pelés and the Maradonas in the world weren’t doing all these things,” a U.S. player said. “I think we spend more time worrying about gyms and nutrition, and we don’t do enough of what we need to do on the field.” Another source said the players are “overtrained and undercoached.”

To me, if Klinsmann wants the players to change their style, then he must also change and part ways with assistant coach Martin Vasquez, a man who seems no better with communicating strategy and tactics than Klinsmann himself. This is what is breeding the confusion, cultivating that disconnect that is starting to show. Klinsmann thinks he’s keeping players on their toes and there for making them more effective in the long run. However the fact is, it’s not translating like that to the players. The fact that there has been 23 different line ups in all 23 games Klinsmann has coached furthers the rift and the lack to build any sort of camaraderie the team could hope to have in a short time frame.

It’s a pot of calamity that the U.S. fans have been watching anxiously come to a boil over the past few games. And now we’re heading into the second set of Hex qualifying matches. What does it all mean? Who knows, I know I don’t. I know myself and other USMNT fans will back the team to whatever ends. But I also know that now that most of our suspicions are confirmed, we’ll all be wondering what will become of our team now. And if this disconnect will turn into an American revolt.

By now, if you’ve read a few of my articles or know me at all, you know I’m a panicky person. I freak out a lot. And no more do I freak out than when it concerns the U.S. Men’s National Team. Today the boys in red, white and blue took on Honduras in San Pedro Sula in the first of their hexagonal matches on the road to qualify for World Cup 2014.

Going in, I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game. As I stated so eloquently in my post about the friendly against Canada last week,  I wasn’t expecting this match up to be smooth sailing with an easy three points going the U.S.’s way. At best, I was hoping for a draw and praying for a win. But a loss? Oh Lord, no.

But a loss is what happened. When the final whistle blew, it was 2-1 and the stadium in San Pedro Sula was shaking with the noise. And I wanted to find a pint of beer. Don’t get me wrong, Honduras is not a push over team. In the last few years, they’ve become a strong force to reckon with. Get them on their home turf, and it’s down right scary. But man, I thought with the squad on the books for U.S. Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann, a draw was surely in the team’s future.

Now, the debate has raged since the ending of the game – to panic or not to panic. It’s only the first game of the Hex, but in any tournament in which CONCACAF teams are facing off, every game and point counts. Even the first one. I’ve seen people make statements from both sides. But here’s what I can say for sure; I’m definitely one of the people slamming my hand against the panic button.

I feel I am justified in this as well, considering the sort of play that came from the U.S. Most of the first part of the match was spent chasing after Honduras, who pressed in the final 18 of the U.S. half and even had the midfielders pressing deep to help defend. Seriously people, Eddie Johnson was helping in the final third! This shouldn’t be happening.

There was a bright spot where the U.S. started to hold possession, which helped lead to the fantastic service from Jermaine Jones that put the ball in front of a sprinting Clint Dempsey. That first goal was brilliant. But the joy that goal brought didn’t last long.

So I should really wrap this rambling up with a point, shouldn’t I? Okay, here it is.

My biggest pet peeve about this game? It wasn’t that the USMNT players were sluggish, because there were a lot of factors in that – heat, humidity, the grass, the pitch, etc. Honduras struggled a bit with the heat as well, I believe, but they bore everything else better. It wasn’t that Jurgen used all three of his substitutions pretty early and very quickly. Though that did touch a nerve, I don’t pretend to know what plan he had. No, the biggest pet peeve was the lack of some experience in our back line.

The USMNT’s captain, Carlos Bocanegra, didn’t start the match. He didn’t even get subbed in! I know Bocanegra is getting up there in the years – he’s not the fastest horse out there. But I’ll tell you what he is, he’s a war horse. He’s been there, done that, bought the T-shirt, yadda, yadda. Could he have provided a header goal? Not necessarily. Could he have dashed after Jerry Bengtson and stopped Honduras’ second goal? Eh, probably not.

But what Bocanegra offers is something far more valuable – leadership. Something severely lacking in the team that took to the pitch today. The two guys in the US back line center are young. Geoff Cameron and Omar Gonzalez are good, and they have matured, but they don’t talk to each other or others on the pitch. Bocanegra talks, pushes, points out holes and looks around at what’s going on instead of tending to worry solely about his spot. He’s not the perfect defender, he’s not the best or the fastest. However, he’s got the experience and the knowledge to help settle the team – to anchor it when things get a little out of hand or too stagnant.

I’m not saying get rid of the back line – though I will not get started on my opinion of Timmy Chandler. What I think Jurgen Klinsmann flubbed up on today was leaving out his seasoned vet. Yes, Boca is playing with a second-tier Spanish team. But this isn’t his first rodeo. And that fact could have helped settled the young back line today.

And who knows, maybe that scoreline would have looked a little different.

The USMNT take to the pitch again March 22 against Costa Rica for their next Hex match up. Here’s hoping they can nab those needed three points.

Yes, I had to break out a face palm picture for this one, folks.

ZzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Oh, I’m sorry. You caught me catching a little shut eye. After all, the match between the USMNT and Canada Tuesday kind of put me to sleep. Okay, “kind of” is a very polite term in this instance. Let’s be honest, most of us want that 90+ minutes of our lives back, thank you very much.

I’m not going to go through and pick this game a part because, well, where do I begin? And if you watched it, why would I want to make you relive that? Some might think such an attitude toward a friendly against Canada is a bit over the top or too dramatic. Some might think USMNT fans have too high of standards for their team in this particular situation. But I think the truth of the matter boils down to this.

This match came at the end of a long January camp, where the players were asked to come together in a short amount of time and prove themselves – something that is asked of rookie and veteran national team players alike. This friendly was the stage for them to say “Hey Jurgen, over here man, look at me!” And not a single one of them took that opportunity to its fullest.

The U.S. Men’s National Team plays its first World Cup Qualifying Hexagonal match in eight days. Against Honduras. IN Honduras. This is not a drill, people, this is game time. World Cup 2014 is just a little  more than a year away from us. And we just had a group of possible future players not even show up tonight. Okay, that might be too harsh. Some of them did.

Omar Gonzalez
Benny Feilhaber
Joshua Gatt

I like you three. Quite a lot right now, considering the few other players out there kicking some butt were Dwayne De Rosario and Kyle Bekker for the Canadians. So at least a few of the USMNT players put in – or attempted to put in some good shifts.

But really guys, did we need this before the next stage of World Cup qualifying? There are so many other issues that need worked on – the centerback issues, the finishing in the final third issues, Klinsmann realizing that 4-3-3 isn’t going to do what he really wants it to and we Americans kind of like the 4-4-2.

I guess it’s just my disappointment rambling, I don’t know. Do I think they didn’t work hard? Of course not; I’m sure they ran their butts off in camp. But it didn’t translate. That’s what’s so disconcerting.  I didn’t expect them to go out there and win 6-nil, and Hell, I might have even been happy with the 0-0 had they shown a little passion, a little initiative,  a little promise. But they didn’t. They were dull, uninspiring, uncreative and just generally boring. I wanted more. I expected more. And really, they should have delivered.

Image courtesy of US Soccer official Facebook

Some of my friends can attest to what I’m about to admit. I some times think I’m a jinx for the USMNT. I have two scarves, one I refuse to wear at any time because it’s tainted. And the other I only wear on game days when I am not attending in person.

I never dress in red, white and blue on game days when I’m not in the stands. I don’t even wear my AO bandana on my purse anymore because I was sure it was jinxing them.

It’s superstitious, yes and maybe a little bit childish. But I was certain I was the biggest jinx there was.

Today, I grew up. Quite a bit.

The U.S. Men’s National Team took on No. 9 ranked Russia today in the motherland. I didn’t feel too much fear about this match heading in. It was just a friendly and Russia would be a great test for the guys. Also, fans would be get a chance to see some new blood in the team, which I’m always excited about seeing, to be honest.

What I wanted to take away from today’s game was how certain individuals on the team performed. Most notably, my eyes were on Timothy Chandler and Jozy Altidore.

Most will remember the shunning the USMNT got from Chandler earlier this year. Apparently he’s “1000-percent” committed to the U.S., but I won’t believe a word of that until he gets cap-tied, which could be in February if he keeps his word.

I was also interested in seeing what Altidore would do now that Jurgen Klinsmann has apparently brought him out of the “dog house,” so to speak. Sure, Jozy has been amazing with his club, but those goals and work haven’t translated to the national team. Now was Jozy’s chance to show he was also committed to the national squad.

So what did we get out of this match up? A whole lot of “What the …” that’s for sure. Yeah, my superstitions broke today because I realized the US lose is because they are just a hot mess out on the pitch.

Whatever blog or recap or opinion you are going to read today about this game is going to focus on the biggest glaring flaw of the USMNT. The defense. Within in the opening minutes of the game, captain Carlos Bocanegra was pulled from the match with a hamstring injury. The US were already down a goal to Russia after a miss-pass from Danny Williams. Things would not look up for the team from this point defense wise.

I could lament about this until the sun sets. I have done that several times on this site. That’s old news. Any U.S. fan knows what the problem is and it’s that freakin’ back line. It’s a wound Jurgen Klinsmann inherited from Bob Bradley and with the first three hexagonal games coming up in the next couple of months being away matches, it’s one Klinsmann will need to address quickly. However, the biggest thing that is picking my brain right now is on the other end of the pitch; the US offense.

There are two things that saved the USMNT today and they are things no one will be surprised by:  Timmy Howard and Michael Bradley. They are these two mighty freedom pillars on which US games stand on as of late.

Timmy Howard saved his team’s collective can in the the second half, no bones about it. He had six phenomenal saves through out the match. And it’s clear why Russia are ranked what they are; they are a force to be reckoned. The USMNT defense struggled helplessly sometimes against them. It’s because of Tim Howard this match didn’t end 4-2. Ian Drake had a fantastic comment, which he made after the US’ second goal. Cameras showed Russia Head Coach Fabio Capello shaking his head and laughing slightly in disbelieve. “We’ve bossed this game and it’s 2-2,” Drake said, giving his own narration to Capello’s reaction.

And it’s the truth. And U.S. fans can thank Tim Howard for that.

As for Michael Bradley – when I was thinking about this match this morning, I hoped  I could focus on how amazing Michael is. I’m thankful I get to do that now. This guy is just brilliant. He’s technical, he pushes, he’s in the right place at the right time. He fights for possession and he creates play. Michael Bradley is the USMNT’s key in the midfield and offense. His performances are fantastic to watch and the team always seems to struggle when he’s not on the pitch. Michael has honed this ability to filter the ball from the defense, through the midfield and provide needed service. What’s more is he also has this habit of making sure he continues to push forward for rebounds or, as he did today, be available for a forward to nod a ball back to him.

Taylor Twellman had an excellent point to make about the U.S.’s midfielders and forwards. The two goals for the U.S. came from two very, very similar plays. Namely, center forwards being big, using their size to muscle and control the ball with defenders on them, then provide service back to someone rushing up the mid. Juan Agudelo did it for Michael Bradley’s goal, making a beautiful header back to MB. Terrance Boyd did it for Mix Diskerud, controlling the ball around the Russian defenders and laying it back to Mix. Which brings me back to the offense point. The U.S. forwards and wingers need to work on providing service. Sure, they can get the ball up through the midfield, but then what do they do with it? Most of the time, nothing magical happens and a build up is wasted. How many games have fans watched the U.S. create some heart-stopping build ups, only to have the opportunity wasted?

And this isn’t just about the service, it’s about taking the opportunity too. Taking the service given to you and capitalizing on it. Putting it in the back of the net. Hell, at least putting the shot on goal! The U.S. have a scary problem of not only missing opportunities and service, but not even getting shots on goal. No surprise that Altidore couldn’t do it again today. Even Herc Gomez was a ghost on the pitch, which is disappointing as he is always such a strong forward for the U.S.

But Bradley and Diskerud did it. The prime opportunities opened up to them from service from center forwards and they targeted goal and let loose.

So yes, the defense is scary as all Hell and something the USMNT need to get under control before the first Hexagonal match in February. But let us hope Klinsmann doesn’t neglect the offense either. I don’t operate under the belief that if the defense is okay, the offense will fix itself. If we don’t have solid performances up top, a good defense would be all for not.

Photo courtesy of Major League Soccer’s Twitter account

How to start this, how to start this. Hmmm.

At the conclusion of the U.S. Men’s National Team match against Guatemala in Kansas City tonight, I did one thing I think the majority of USMNT fans did. I let out a big, huge breath. One I think I had been holding since Friday and that ugly, ugly game in Antigua. And let me tell you, if feels so nice to breath easy again.

I feel like praying to the soccer gods because tonight I saw a U.S. team I would like to see continually. Was it perfect? Lord, you know this song and dance from me by now. It wasn’t perfect at all. But it was something. And that something was solid. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what this national team needs.

Remember, we are still in the infancy of the Klinsmann era here. He’s smack in the middle of a push of World Cup qualification and it puts the pressure on immediately, but that doesn’t take away the fact that he’s implementing a change here. A change revolving around attack. It’s created some trials, a whole lot of errors, but it’s shown fans and critics there is a lot of potential under it.

We saw the worst of it in Antigua. But tonight we saw where he can start. In the first five minutes of the game, it seemed like the same old song and dance. USMNT held the majority of possession, but a simple mis-communication between Carlos Bocanegra and Geoff Cameron found Carlos Ruiz with free range to slap one past Tim Howard.

The death blow? Not quite. In the post game interview, Kasey Keller said, “With that, (Guatemala) poked the bear in the beginning and the U.S. woke up a bit.” What I believe is always the telling factor of a team is how they respond. Do they get frustrated? Do they continue to error? What happens, as a team, after they go down in a crucial match?

Tonight, the U.S. responded just as they should; they dug in and they took that control back. They responded effectively, clinically, and most importantly, calmly.

Yes, they were smooth and cool. Frankly, a USMNT I’m not use to seeing. It was a solid performance from everyone. Every. Single. Player.

Sure, Boca and Cameron had that miscue earlier in the night. But you could see, by the mid of the first half, it became a “Ruiz who?” game. If Bocanegra wasn’t shutting down the speedy Guatemalan forward, Cameron sure as hell was. Because of that, Parkhurst and Cherundolo could push up.

Did the midfielders get passes picked off? Yeah, but they tracked back to help shut down the Guatemalan offense. Hell, even Tim Howard seemed to be having an off night, which would have normally frightened the ever-lovin’ dickens out of me. But tonight … it didn’t really bother the USMNT that much.

Granted, this was just Guatemala, who have one speedy forward in Ruiz. But like I said, if the USMNT can be solid like they were tonight, consistently, then it’s a platform to build on. To get stronger and be able to be formidable opponents  to say, our neighbors to the south?

So really, what does this mean? Other than the U.S. won their group and their moving on to the hexagonal? Well, it means a few things actually.

It means that if no one knew it before, they know it now – Michael Bradley is not just needed in the USMNT line up, he is  essential. I remember first watching Michael and thinking he had a lot of growing to do. And now, he’s matured so much as a player, it’s fantastic. He’s one of those resources the U.S. cannot afford to lose. He was pure class tonight and when the USMNT is working as a well-oiled machine, the things Michael Bradley can do are pure magic.

It means that Eddie Johnson has come full circle. I’m not going to hate on Jozy Altidore, but Eddie Johnson has done in two games what Jozy hasn’t been able to do in a long time. And that’s score in open play and if he’s not scoring, he’s creating the chances to help score. He, Clint Dempsey and Herc Gomez played beautifully off each other. He could have been the missing link we needed all along.

It means that Geoff Cameron is clearly the heir apparent to the throne that is Carlos Bocanegra’s reign over the back line. And he’s definitely capable of that crown and the responsibility that comes with it. I admit, I was weary of Cameron at first. But he’s done well, he’s learned and he’s come into his own. And tonight after the blunder, instead of continuing to fumble, he and Bocanegra learned from the mistake. Cameron took what happened and built on it. It’s a positive thing and also shows that he’s versatile – he plays on the right for Stoke, not the center.

I could go on, (Graham Zusi, Herc Gomez, etc., etc.) but this is already a novel. So, here’s my sum up. Solid play gets solid wins. If this team continues being cool and collected, Klinsmann can finally start going more forward with his grand scheme. And that’s good news indeed. Because a cool, calm, smooth USMNT is one that can be a force to be reckoned  with.

And that will help me breathe easier again.

Christ. On. A. Bicycle.

The U.S. Men’s National Team took on Antigua and Barbuda tonight in Antigua. To say that this game wasn’t of the most important in the U.S. quest for World Cup 2014 would be a lie. Pretty much all of the USMNT fans today were a nervous wreck about what tonight would bring, especially when we found out Fabian Johnson would be out with the flu and Landon Donovan and Brek Shea would be left home due to injuries.

But, I’ll be honest, when the line up came out about an hour before the match, I didn’t find myself too worked up about it. I was a tad concerned about Graham Zusi, only because of his lack of USMNT playing time. But anyone who’s seen a Sporting Kansas City game knows this kid has talent.

Then there was Eddie Johnson.

Now, this has happened to me before with one Geoff Cameron. When he was named in the starting line up earlier this year, I can admit, I was pretty terrified. But he’s stepped up and proved he can be a top notch player for the USMNT.

When EJ was named on tonight’s starting line up, I had the same mixed feelings. And again, I was happy to be shown up by Mr. Eddie Johnson. The brace of headers he notched were fantastic, and, well, the last one pretty much saved the USMNT’s necks.

So – as it’s been tweeted by several times tonight – Major League Soccer, in the form of Zusi, Johnson and Alan Gordon, saved the U.S. Men’s National Team.

But let’s get down to the grit.

That game was ugly. No, it was more than ugly. It was brutal and terrifying.

And out of this, one basic fear emerges, yet again. Our midfield.

One can point out that our defense collapsed on the play that allowed A&B to score. I won’t deny that. But the midfield shouldn’t lose possession as easily as they do. I don’t like to knock other teams because I don’t like to count anyone out. But let’s get real here. What should the score have been tonight? Definitely not 2-1.

Grant Wahl made an excellent point in his after-game post; Mexico would have beat Antigua and Barbuda 5-0. The U.S. should be doing the same.

And thus here we find the sum of all our fears.

A friend of mine and I were talking about the game on Twitter and the point was made that even though the U.S. won, it was a scary win. When the USMNT play teams like Antigua and Barbuda, they should be doing one thing and one thing only – dominating. They should not be making it to the 90-minute mark barely escaping with the skins on their backs.

With this take-away win, the U.S. fans and the team can breathe a sigh of relief. A tie in Kansas City next week will get the team through to the hexagonal.

But really, things shouldn’t have been this close. Things shouldn’t have gotten this scary. I feel sick to my stomach when I think about what could have happened if the U.S. hadn’t gotten those three points tonight.

I believe in Jurgen Klinsmann and his plan. I believe in an attacking mentality and I believe the U.S. can be that type of team. But I admit, if the USMNT can’t get things under control, things might only get uglier. Here’s hoping the ugly is over and the up swing can begin.

Hang on a second. Let me process this.

….

Okay, so it’s going to take longer than that; you’re going to have to bear with me as I try to put everything together and attempt to make something out of the U.S. Men’s National Team match against Jamaica tonight. Trust me, if you didn’t see this game, I’m well within dramatizing rights here.

As the title indicates, this game has left me in a glass case of emotions. I will admit, one of the most prominent now – as I type this up a few hours after the final whistle – is relief. Utter and complete relief. The USMNT pulled out a 1-0 win at home against the Jamaicans and put themselves back on the top of their World Cup qualifying group. This is very good news indeed. Due to the Guatemalans notching a win against Antigua and Barbuda earlier today, the USMNT found themselves sitting in third in points. We had no choice; we had to win and tie up the points and pull out a few goals to get us on top.

That’s how close the Jurgen Klinsmann dynasty came to crumbling at the feet of U.S. Soccer. And that’s a scary thought.

Am I letting my classic USMNT pessimism take over here? Eh, maybe a little. Or a lot.

But what if you took away the alarming factors – the do-or-die win, the collapse of the Klinsmann plan, the World Cup qualifying stakes? Does the situation still seem as dire as it was? I guess maybe not as dire.

The truth of the matter is, the USMNT had a great first half. I mean, really, that first half was brilliant. There was a clean, effective midfield who held possession of the ball for a whooping 79 percent. The passing was sure and accurate. The pressure was brilliant. If it hadn’t been for that stupid cross bar, Hell, the USMNT might have been up 3-0 in the first half alone. It’s a shame they weren’t because it was rightly deserved.

The problem was they broke down easily in the second half – the root of my anxiety for the evening – and practically parked a bus as they allowed Jamaica more possession for a 25 to 30 minute spell in the second half. But, I’m not reaching for the bottle like I wanted to do on Friday night. I thought about it, but I’m going to pass.

And as my glass case of emotions has both negative and positives battling one another, I think, for once, I want to concentrate on the positives of the night. It was, after all, a steely win for the US on a night that meant a lot and in an atmosphere that was absolutely amazing.

Am I ignoring the bad? No. Was it perfect? Um, hello. It was the USMNT, so no it wasn’t. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t things to be proud of or to celebrate. Namely, the performances turned in by Steve Cherundolo, Danny Williams and Hercules Gomez.

Oh, Steve Cherundolo. This man is a USMNT legend. There should be songs sung about this guy because he will be U.S. Soccer lore to the next generation. The sheer difference in the games Friday and tonight are mostly due in part to him. Dolo was able to read passes from the Jamaicans and shut them down with ease. Not only that, he was able to retain great possession, push forward along the wing and whip in some incredible service to the U.S. attack.

The man is really brilliant and an unsung hero. The USMNT fans know how important he is and it’s clear after this game, Klinsmann knows it too.

Something else Klinsmann should know after this game – don’t ever take Danny Williams out of the defensive midfield position. This kid was amazing tonight and clocked in his first spectacular match in a USMNT kit. He’s cap-tied now with us, so we best use his talents to our advantage. And his talents are in the holding midfield. Williams was able to move the ball through the mid like Dolo, but also did a great job at tracking back and covering on the defense, something the USMNT mid so desperately needs in that spot.

And jeez, what about that cracking shot he had on goal in the first half? Long, dangerous shots like that showed the Jamaicans they had more to worry about than our forwards – they needed to watch from 25 and 30 yards out too. That’s a tactical advantage in our favor and one the USMNT has been lacking in the past few years.

Finally, how could I make a list of positives for the USMNT and NOT include Herc Gomez? It’s not possible. If you think this guy is anything but amazing, you’re kidding yourself. After a bout of no call ups from the new coach, Gomez finally got the call up and has proved ever since why he’s needed in the USMNT kit. He’s creative, he’s effective, he’s clinical and he’s clutch. His free kick goal tonight was perfect. He was constantly in the right place, at the right time being an absolute nuisance to the Jamaican back line. Between him and Dempsey, they were a force to be reckoned. What a USMNT offense should be.

It was a nervy game, but the boys came through. Klinsmann has probably learned his fair share from the match and I especially hope he learns from his substitutes tonight (whew). And with any luck, come October, we’ll be seeing more of that first half USMNT. And maybe I won’t have so many emotions over one game.

The USA captured the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup crown with a 1-0 defeat over Germany. Photo via ussoccer.com

Before we get to discussing the dreadful U.S. Men’s National Team performance last night, I want to give a big shoutout of congratulations to the U-20 U.S. Women, FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Champions! That’s right — not only did our senior squad capture gold in London this summer, but the U-20 girls held on to a 1-0 lead in the final against Germany today, taking their third World Cup crown and ending Germany’s 610 minute shutout streak. The future of the U.S. Women’s National team is looking good.

The men on the other hand… well, the good news is that Clint Dempsey is back in red, white and blue and scored the fastest goal in USMNT WCQ history 36 seconds into last night’s World Cup Qualifier against Jamaica in Kingston.

The bad news? The team stunk it up big time with a “lack luster” performance (to put it mildly), driving our own editor to the bottle. Trista really threw it down on our boys, who deserve to be ripped to shreds after that uninspired showing:

We had no midfield and no service. We couldn’t keep the ball worth anything. How can Dempsey or Gomez – or hell, even Altidore if Klinsmann wants to keep using that flag ship – score if the team can’t keep the ball in the mid and allowing opposing teams to practically pick their pockets so to speak?

The USMNT have the pieces, they just have to put them together in with the plan and get to work on dominating. Lack luster is not good enough. Gritty scrappy wins aren’t good enough. It’s time to step up and live up to the name of being a dominant team in CONCACAF.

MLS’s Armchair Analyst also focuses on the team’s inability to possess the ball in three things we learned from the loss, but offers a different perspective on the pieces involved:

Yeah, the US got those 1-0 wins at Italy and Mexico, but those wins had waaaay more to do with great goalkeeping and a few timely interventions than they did with keeping the ball. Even against Antigua & Barbuda, which was as unimpressive as a 3-1 win could be, the US were hardly dominant in stringing together long series of passes.

So the question is twofold: Does Klinsmann have the team to play a possession game? And if so, is he lining them up to do just that?

I’d say the answer to the second is “yes”, but the answer to the first, with this squad, anyway, is “no.” A US team that omits the most skillful midfielders in favor of multiple d-mids is not designed to hold the ball.

And, unfortunately, with the narrowness of the formation, they weren’t designed to hit on the break, either. It’s not a catch-22, it’s just the wrong players.

In another CONCACAF stunner, Canada defeated Panama 1-0 behind Dwayne DeRosario’s 20th career goal. Canada leads Group C now with 7 points and will face Panama in a rematch in Panama City Tuesday.

Turning to UEFA World Cup qualifying, Ashley Cole will not be available for Tuesday’s match against Ukraine, and John Terry is questionable, as both recover from ankle injuries.

And speaking of injuries, poor Phil Jones can’t catch a break, suffering a tear of the meniscus in his knee that will keep him off the field for eight weeks:

After an extensive break following Euro 2012, Jones suffered a back injury that prevented him from playing any part in the preseason.

He missed United’s opening three Barclays Premier League games and the start of England’s World Cup qualifying campaign, but Jones’ return to training was supposed to be the prelude to his comeback.

Instead, Jones is sidelined until November.

It means he will miss England’s next two qualifiers against San Marino and Poland next month.

More importantly for United though, he is ruled out of a succession of key league fixtures, including matches against Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.

In addition, he will miss at least the Red Devils’ opening three Champions League group matches.

OK, back to American soccer. In case you missed the news, the ever-hilarious Jimmy Conrad is getting his own show for KICKTV, American Soccer Spectacular, in an effort to prove why Americans should be as good at soccer as we are at stuffing our faces with hot dogs. Bring it on, Jimmy.

I do believe I need a drink. Something to drown my sorrows in after the match between the U.S. Men’s National Team and Jamaica in the first of two World Cup qualifying matches between the countries. The U.S. had a commanding start, with Clint Dempsey scoring a goal only 36 seconds in. But the downfall would be Jamaica’s pace, which would help them get two goals in and defeat the U.S. 2-1.

But perhaps I should explain a bit more about the “needing a drink” part. Any good USMNT fan worth their salt will know that playing any team in CONCACAF is hard – especially those teams residing in Central America. Are the U.S. looked at as one of the strongest in the region? Yes. But I dare any European country to go down there and not feel like their heads are spinning.

Playing in Central America always brings about a hint of sick anticipation. Are we favored to come out on top? Yes. Given our history in these types of games, however, I’m not sure why. These teams are intimidating and some times, the guys in the red, white and blue let that get to them.

Jamaica had not beaten the USMNT in the 18 times that our countries have met before tonight — wait, I’ll just stop myself there as I’m having a bit of deja vu. I typed similar words when discussing the recent USMNT v. Mexico game. Only that time, roles were reversed. Tonight, we were the ones that were whopped on the head.

I know, I know. Pessimism is a USMNT fan’s cup of tea. And you can’t really blame us. The past year as been crazy for us and while I back Klinsmann in his quest for his perfect court of players to form some kind of great Camelot USMNT – even I can admit, it’s been kinda weird. Lack luster, how about that? Yeah, that sounds better.

If you look at the stats for 2012, they actually don’t look too concerning; including tonight’s match, the USMNT are 6-2-2. Seriously, on paper, 2012 doesn’t look so bad, right? But that’s on paper. And remember, pessimism is our favorite tea here in the good ol’ US of A.

We may have only played 10 games this year, and we may only be in the infancy of the Jurgen Klinsmann era — but it’s not been pretty. There are been moments; take the game against Scotland perhaps. Dominating, fierce, ruthless. The type of USMNT squad fans dream about in their sleep. A team so fluid and strong, one would ask, “Who can stop them?”

But the reality of the situation is, we’re not always like that. We’re not consistent. And yeah, we’ll admit our players aren’t the next Messi or Ronaldo, but we have some strong, solid talent. We have the players Klinsmann can mold into his grand scheme of things. He’s just gotta find that right combination.

What works for the Klinsmann Round Table?
Brek Shea
Clint Dempsey
Hercules Gomez (seriously, don’t leave that man off the roster, EVER.)
Geoff Cameron
Maurice Edu
Michael Bradley
Fabian Johnson
*Also, I’m pretty sure Sacha Kljestan would be a great fit in this as well.

Are the others talentless? Good lord no. So please get off Kyle Beckerman’s back, thank you very much. )He’s made some mistakes, I get it. But he’s a talented player. Just … not in a USMNT kit.)

They just don’t fit. If it doesn’t work, don’t use it. It’s as simple as that. It sucks for those players who are talented, but really in the end, it’s something they will understand. They are big boys after all – they lace up their own cleats and everything. They can handle it if they just don’t fit in right.

With this loss in Jamaica, the USMNT are in a precarious place in our group. Second, with four points. We need a win to tie things up and feel sorta okay about going into the next round. Playing how we did tonight will not work. As it was so gloriously pointed out on Twitter, “Playing a narrow field will not work if you can’t keep possession.”

Our defense wasn’t horrid – until a scary bit in the second half – it was our possession that made me want to reach for a strong drink. We had no midfield and no service. We couldn’t keep the ball worth anything. How can Dempsey or Gomez – or hell, even Altidore if Klinsmann wants to keep using that flag ship – score if the team can’t keep the ball in the mid and allowing opposing teams to practically pick their pockets so to speak?

Leave Cameron in the back, bring back Steve Cherundolo or Carlos Bocanegra, push Maurice Edu in the mid and pair him with someone strong like Sacha Kljestan or Michael Bradley and let the magic happen. It’s there, I know it.

The USMNT have the pieces, they just have to put them together in with the plan and get to work on dominating. Lack luster is not good enough. Gritty scrappy wins aren’t good enough. It’s time to step up and live up to the name of being a dominant team in CONCACAF.

But until that happens, please pass me my strong drink.