I can't decide between Bradley, Donovan and Cherundolo. Donovan has scored the goals and has been huge for us. I think enough is said and he'll probably get the vote from most for the goals. But I do feel he has had moments he has disappeared (but who doesn't?) Overall beyond outstanding! Bradley has been the motor in the middle who has made things happen. And a goal, and some outstanding back-tracking to break plays up. I thought he was our best first half player today vs. Algeria Cherundolo has defended and attacked like a star, and his crosses have been stellar. Even the one today when he was on the attacking left side of the field as a right sided player with his left foot hit Buddle in the head (and was saved by the keeper).
1 Bradley - BALLS. Big ones. A kid like this is just a joy to have on your team. 2 Donovan - Scored the goal of his lifetime. Twice. 3 Cherundolo - So good that the whiny English couldnt figure out how he wasnt playing in the Prem 4 Howard - Always consistent, sometimes spectacular. Had a hockey assist with a John Elway bomb to Donovan to lead the break. 5 Dempsey - Worked his butt off for the entire group stage despite being the punching bag for the opposing defensive midfield. Always dangerous, always creating chances.
I'm just glad we have the same top 3, it is hard to decide between them. Cherundolo really has been an unsung hero for us.
Spot on. My only difference would be to give Bradley and Donovan a tie at #1. Landon's moment of brillance on his first goal against Slovenia really got the team rolling forward.
based on all 3 performances combined, landon donovan by far his overall performance, including his goal vs. Slovenia and play/goal vs. Algeria
I think everyone is competing for second place. We needed a goal early in the second half versus Slovenia to avoid elimination. I think if 10 more minutes had gone by down 2-0, we're out of the competition. Donovan seized the moment and brought us back into the tournament. And today he cemented his legacy. The first and second touches he took on the ball from Howard were brilliant. There were a lot of ways that break could have played out. By reading the situation and taking a powerful touch, he kept the defenders moving backwards and allowed his teammates to run full speed onside into the attacking lanes. I vote Howard as my number 2. Without him, we don't earn the point against England. And today, when a draw was not an option, he repeatedly not only shut the door but also actually assisted the attack with his distribution.
I can't decide. I won't choose. Our top guys are playing lights-out. Our marginal guys have elevated their effort. Peak performances from a majority of the players, just like in 2002. Wonderful.
I agree with that all the players mentioned here so far have been really good for us. A question like this is hard to answer (kind of like the player ratings) for the following reasons: - We have lots of expectations, and it's hard to seperate those from the actual performances on the field - Different players play really different roles, and sometimes the things that they do can be hidden from cassual observers With that in mind, I think Donovan and Bradley have been our best field players. Bradley has been more visible with his work in the middle while Donovan has been more visible with his goals. However, LD is a marked man. All of our opponents know that they need to key on him. Many of them believe that they can shut us down just by taking him out of the match. That is why Dempsey has been so good for us, he provides a second threat. I also think that Jozy has been huge for us in the last couple of games. His hold-up play has been key to allowing us to control posession and transition from the back third to the attacking third. A healthy Stevie has also been key for our success. He is a solid defender, and a threat getting forward. Much like "The Big Cat" in 2002, 'Dolo has played at an unexpectedly high level. Of course, Timmay is Timmay. He hasn't had to do a lot, but just the confidence that he gives our defense is invaluablt. So, even though I don't think you can make any sort of definitive judgement, I keep coming back to Donovan. 90% of our dangerous attacks come through him in one way or another. Bob uses Donovan tactically against attacking fullbacks, so he's not always just running wild in a free role. In addition, Bob has asked him to play like a third forward a number of times, which makes him invisible for stretches of the game. In other words, he does so much for this team that I think it's hard to over-estimate his contributions.
Game 1: Tim Howard Game 2: Donovan/Bradley - It'd be Bradley alone here but Landon changed that game with his goal. Without it, I don't see us having the energy and the passion to get to where we got. Game 3: Donovan/Dempsey - Donovan had the goal but Dempsey was dangerous all game. Now for a bit of a slant... The player who's game has most improved since watching them in the friendlies... DeMeritt. He's had three massive games and quietly settled down to function really well back there as a sweeper style defender. As much as the frontline did for our attacks in the second half against Slovenia and all game today, I think a lot of that was fueled by DeMeritt's hustle in the back and insistent pushing the ball forward. I'd prefer to see less long-ball, but what they do to push the game forward does create chances. I think they'll need to do a better job finishing them than what we saw today though.
I figured Cherundolo would get a bit of a slight here. But seeing him in comparison to Spector, its leaps and bounds over what Spector did at the end of the Premier League season and the warm up friendlies. Cherundolo is the only defender (who played in over half the minutes of the group stage) who hasn't really made a defensive blunder leading to a major chance. Onyewu - duh DeMerit - partially for the england goal and almost handed algeria a goal in the 5th minute Bocanegra - also partially for the england goal, but he has been overall solid. Anyone other than Cherundolo over at RB and I fear we are worse off in this particular group stage. I vote him in a tie for 2nd with Bradley, behind Landon. Timmy, Dempsey, DeMerit, Jozy are a tie for 4th to me.
Am I the only one who thought Donovan really underperformed vs Algeria? He was nearly invisible and his free kicks hardly threatening until he cashed in a deflection. I appreciate the goal as much as the next Nat supporter, but I didn't think Landon played up to par vs Algeria. Conversely, I though DeMerit, Altidore and Edu had excellent games. If only Altidore could finish...
I thought Jozy had a crap first half and a great 2nd half. Edu was silent, but solid. Landon wasn't as good as he was vs. slovenia, but he put his stamp on the game in a way no other american did. I still think I can't find a major fault of Cherundolo's all game.
Yep, I think they are the consensus top 6. But I think Landon, Bradley, Cherundolo are consensus 1-2-3 (in some order) and Dempsey/Howard/Jozy 4-5-6 in some order.
Sad to say I have little extra to offer; when I saw the thread title I thought "well it's got to be Donovan, Bradley, or Cherundolo." Which is apparently what everyone else has.
Its too bad with all likelihood this is Cherundolo's last world cup. He was also very good in 2006 and has been one of our most consistent players for some time. He went through a bad stretch in 2009, but is back on top of his game. Landon should have another world cup ahead of them, and Bradley will have at least one more minimum (I'd bet on 2, but not 3).