
A last huddle...
Now that time has passed since the Yanks–sniffle–exit from South Africa, time for TSG to take a look at which players raised, met, and, yes, failed to meet expectations at World Cup 2010. Which way did their individual stock go?
TSG will also give you some very hypothetical–or dreamy if you prefer–club scenarios for the Yanks.
Exceeded Expectations

Bradley (one word)..."excelled"
1. Michael Bradley
Overall Tournament Player Rating: 7
Analyst Recommended Action: Strong Buy
The skinny: Hard to not give Michael the biggest thumbs-up from TSG here. Junior, much maligned by this publication, proved himself to be up to the task of bossing the midfield in international play. Sure, it was Bradley Senior that authored the younger Bradley in such a role to succeed, but Michael still had to produce.
Bradley did his job at outworking his opponent’s shadow, had a near flawless game against England, and, bravo, no cards for the youngster.
While Junior can be blamed for at least one of the Slovenia goals, that’s a near perfect World Cup given just how unfathomably much he was tasked with.
Clubs that should be looking: MB90 has stated he wants to play at a top club. He’s not going to move unless it’s an appreciable jump for where he currently is. No insights unique to TSG here, but some fits for the up-and-coming Bradley in our minds would be: 1) Roma (hard-nosed team embodies Bradley’s spirit), 2) Tottenham (Tom Huddlestone is Tom Huddlestone and Wilson Palacios is oddly rumored to Barca).
2. Steve Cherundolo
Overall Tournament Rating: 6.5
Analyst Recommended Action: Strong (Value) Buy
The skinny: Cherundolo always blew hot and cold (most, though not TSG, castigate his Azteca performance during the 2009 qualifier), but ‘Dolo was firing early on in World Cup 2010. In the England game, it was Cherundolo who effectively abused James Milner and then limited the impact of Shaun Wright Phillips and Ashley Cole. That is, Ashley Cole, England’s best player in the tournament and a world class leftback.
Cherundolo was further instrumental against both Algeria and Slovenia, though his form against Ghana came back closer to Earth.
For a player who was largely considered a back-up until Jonathan Spector’s form took a turn for the worse in the Send-Off Series, Cherundolo’s play was both steady and dynamic and much needed on a shaky backline.
Clubs that should be looking: None-‘Dolo’s performance got him two more years at Hannover ’96.

Lando the Magnificent (courtesy, Matt Mathai)
3. Landon Donovan:
Overall Tournament Rating: 7
Analyst Recommended Action: Buy
The skinny: Nothing short of a classy tournament for the United States’ flagship player. It’s not that Donovan needed to prove anything–most in the foreign media that TSG spoke with championed Donovan as the States top player before the tournament and a “dangerous” (the most heard adjective) player–it’s that Donovan needed to rewrite the legacy of 2006 while being a leader.
Through his work on the front end of the Slovenia comeback and the back-end of the Algeria game-winning goal, Donovan did that before his penalty shot against Ghana.
Donovan is clearly in his prime right now and he’s figured out his value as a player. He’s kind of like two-time MVP Steve Nash in a way. He’s a passer first, who’s completely able to score when the team needs it at crunch time….and he makes those better around him. Players seem to love play with both of them.
Clubs that should be interested: Will MLS hold out for a Ronaldo-sized ransom? Manchester City rumors have swirled, but Donovan is an idyllic fit for Toffee blue.
4. Clint Dempsey
Overall tournament rating: 6.5
Analyst Recommended Action: Buy
The skinny: Gone was Clint Dempsey’s pouting in this tournament. Gone was Clint Dempsey’s failure to track back.
While Dempsey was never labeled the Chosen One to put the Yanks on his shoulders, he did just that against Ghana, consistently finding his way to midfield to earn and keep possession when it seemed none of the other Yanks could.
While one might disparage Deuce for his inability to find paydirt, especially against Algeria–but also against Ghana–it wouldn’t be fair. Dempsey was consistently yo-yoed between midfield and striker and often had the focus of creation away from his side.
Clubs that should be interested: A report has Dempsey as the apple of Napoli’s eye. Not a bad fit, but Dempsey has expressed multiple times that he’s quite settled in England. Will the Deuce follow Roy Hodgson down the road to Redsland?
5. Benny Feilhaber

Feilhaber got a lot more leeway from Bob Bradley in 2010 versus 2008...
Overall tournament player rating: 5.5
Analyst Recommended Action: Buy
The skinny: I need to apologize because another writer–I believe it was Jeff Carlisle, but if not I apologize–made the point that Bob Bradley allowed Benny Feilhaber to play himself into shape. I missed that notion and I think it’s an excellent point.
Feilhaber continually got stronger as he got in-game reps and by the third game, with the help of an advanced Clint Dempsey, Feilhaber was dictating the run-of-play for the States.
Perhap it should have been Feilhaber–who quarterbacked quite successfully with Michael Bradley in the midfield through 2007 –who partnered Bradley in the middle against Slovenia? Why didn’t Bob use him in the role he used to inhabit (and did during the Confederation Cup final)?
Clubs that should be interested: Feilhaber is at his best oscillating between an advanced midfielder role and a non-defensive assignment-based holding midfielder role, sort of like a Xavi. I’ll have to rely on the TSG community for recommendations here; I still need to mull them over.
5. Jonathan Bornstein
Overall tournament player rating: 6
Analyst Recommended Action: Weak Buy
The skinny: Pipe down with your TSG favoritism comments. Jonathan Bornstein went into World Cup 2010 with–as I said on a radio show a month ago–more vitriol directed at him than any other player on the United States….by far.
He leaves the World Cup vindicating his selection. Surprising? Nothing short of shocking.
Bornstein was far from flawless and needed some support from Carlos Bocanegra, but you could argue that against Ghana he was the Yanks’ best defender! (I just heard the click of the window on about 100,000 browsers.)
More to consider, Bornstein is all of 25 and has the following on his resume: 34 caps (that’s more than half of what Onyewu has), a goal to win a World Cup qualification group, a Confederation Cup and now two World Cup caps to his name.
At 29-years-old in 2014, guess whose name is currently sitting near the top of the States defender depth chart? Those who suggest Bornstein doesn’t deserve it, I’ll ask the question: The best US defender against Ghana will have four more years under his belt and a great deal of experience, he shouldn’t be considered?
Clubs that should be interested in Bornstein: Tough one here. I’m not sure that Bornstein is ready for role outside of MLS and–the bigger question–how much development does Bornstein have left in him? That’s the golden question and I asked above as well.
Primera teams in Mexico have been rumored to be sniffing around. Frankly, I think Bornstein could really benefit–or perhaps sink–from a move to the German second division a la Kenny Cooper. Better chance for him is likely the Portugese leagues somewhere, like Adu’s old Belensenses club.
Met Expectations

Findley, what was expected?
1. Robbie Findley
Overall tournament rating: 4.5
Analyst Recommended Action: Hold or Pass
The skinny: Just about right on for a World Cup for Findley. The same player review could have been written for Findley for all three games he played.
“Showcased world class speed. Consistently worked hard. Out of ideas with the moment bearing down, lacks a final ball.”
Findley, an MLS spot sub, going into camp did the job Bob Bradley asked with the exception of scoring. It’s not like Findley was setting MLS on fire through May.
Clubs that should be interested: Without a final ball, I can only see a mid-table, cash-strapped Scottish Premier League team (because of the physical nature of the league) taking a shot on Findley.
2. Carlos Bocanegra
Overall Player Rating: 5.5
Analyst Recommended Action: Hold or Pass
The skinny: Bocanegra, the captain and team player, was tasked with leftback and central defense for the States. Bocanegra was never dominant over four games and was soundly run by Aaron Lennon against England–though England could do nothing with Lennon’s service.
That said, Captain Carlos never made any egregious mistakes. He was physically beat on Asamoah Gyan’s ultimate USMNT exit ball for the second Ghana goal.
On the downward slide of his career, Captain Carlos did all he could.
Clubs that should be interested: Bocanegra will likely stay at Rennes for another year or two, then I can see him Galaxy-bound.

DeMerit, out of contract with Watford....where next?
3. Jay DeMerit
Overall Player Rating: 6
Analyst Recommended Action: Weak Buy
The skinny: The book on Jay DeMerit was just about spot on.
“Struggles early in games. 1-on-1 defender with the best of them. Misjudges balls in the air.”
DeMerit played to his utmost potential at this World Cup, but not beyond. Truly a heart and soul player, some of DeMerit’s technical ability, or lack there-of was exposed. However the crafty veteran also minimized the damage through the middle with two different partners, one a liability through injury, the other a converted left back.
Clubs that should be looking: Despite some challenges in ability, DeMerit’s know-how and experience…both World Cup experience and Premiership experience with Watford make DeMerit a valuable veteran.
Perhaps a union with Stu Holden backing Gary Cahill–who might fly–at Bolton?
Failed Expectations
1. Oguchi Onyewu
Overall Player Rating: 4
Analyst Recommended Action: Hold
The skinny: Onyewu was a professional and gave his all. However, at the end of the day Gooch was not fit to play in a World Cup. It’s possible that Onyewu’s experience alone helped the US earn the draw against England. However, lacking game fitness and the ability to string together consecutive strong games saw Onyewu hit the pine for the Yanks final two games.
A saving grace for Onyewu is that he is locked in at AC Milan for a few years and at centerback he’ll get a shot at competing for a spot next to Thiago Silva as Nesta sunsets his career.
2. Jozy Altidore
Overall Player Rating: 5.5
Analyst Recommended Action: Hold
The skinny: I’ve now flip-flopped Altidore between the meets expectations and failed expectations category six times. Whose expectations are those? (Just before I published this I moved Altidore to “Failed Expectations” for a seventh time.)
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