Itโs time to hand out our grades for the US national teamโs 2-1 victory over Turkey.
It was a big of an ugly match, but in a good way โ from a neutral perspective โ as shaky defense led to plenty of chances on goal.
Unfortunately, both teams also struggled to finish, as the scoreline could very well have been much higher.ย Few players made glaring mistakes, but few players also played well enough to distance themselves from the median.
Letโs run through the starting lineup first, and then touch on the substitutes.
Tim Howard: 7
Howard had little to do at first. The United States defense was nervy throughout, but it mostly cleaned up its own messes.ย However, Howard was solid and didnโt let any mental lapses by his defense affect his goalkeeping, and a number of times it appeared had the Turks gotten solid shots off, Howard had the goal covered anyways.
The only moment Howard was truly caught out was on Nuri Sahinโs 13th minute shot, but it hit the post and went wide.
Timmy Chandler: 5
Chandler looked a bit over his head in the left-back position. Itโs odd that Klinsmann would even put him out of position in the first place, given that Fabian Johnson has proven capable on the left despite not being right-footed.ย He ultimately gave away the ball that would lead to Turkeyโs only goal late, forcing Brad Guzan out of goal on a one-on-one situation and causing defenders to slide onto the goal line.
Hopefully Klinsmann has learned to use Chandler in his natural position only, because mistakes like this would without a doubt be lethal in Brazil. Klinsmann shouldnโt be tinkering too much at this point, and hopefully thatโs the last weโll see of it.
Matt Besler: 6
Besler still has communication issues with the defense constantly changing around him, but overall he remains solid at the back. Nobody in the US defense had a particularly good match, and Besler only played 45 minutes but didnโt make any glaring mistakes.
Geoff Cameron: 6
Much the same as Besler, he is emerging as the best option for Klinsmann in the center of defense, but still has communication issues.ย Itโs imperative that Klinsmann instill an environment of consistency as soon as possible so the defense can play as a unit rather than four members.ย Still, Cameron himself didnโt make any glaring mistakes, and hopefully the big picture improves going forward.
Fabian Johnson: 7
Johnson covered an incredible amount of ground today, and while the defense as a whole struggled, Johnson stood out going forward.ย He was constantly in a positive position in the attacking half, and still managed to get back and cover for his fellow defenders after a spell in attack.ย Itโs beating a dead horse at this point, but like the others, Johnson can improve by communicating more and working together with his back line.ย For a night when he picks up his first international goal, weโll give him a pass for other small issues.
Jermaine Jones: 5
Jones was a constant source of turnovers, and while he remains an athletic and technically gifted option, itโs becoming more and more of a question whether he can handle the duties that fall to the man in back of the midfield diamond. Jones appeared to be frustrated at being shackled by Klinsmannโs tactics, and his playing style is much like Michael Bradleyโs rather than the Kyle Beckerman mold that fits that position perfectly.ย Jones never seems to shake the sentiment that heโs a red card waiting to happen, either, and itโs all fans can do to hope that doesnโt hurt the team in Brazil.
Graham Zusi: 6
Zusi put in his usual quota of quality crosses, something that US fans have gotten accustomed to.ย Donโt. Theyโre fun to watch, and are incredibly important, as they give the formation yet another threat out wide. However, he also found himself bit by the finishing bug, and blasted into the side netting on a wonderful opportunity from a tight angle.ย Zusi is the ideal player for Klinsmannโs formation, and he will be a lock going forward.
Brad Davis: 7.5
While itโs hard to give him an 8 given how much he seemed to drift in and out, Davis was the most effective midfielder the US had in the first half, and he also delivered some beautiful crosses in for the big Jozy Altidore to handle. Bradโs backtracking appeared worse than it really was thanks to Chandler struggling mightily one-on-one. His handball is whatever, thatโs not an important talking point. With Ale Bedoya, Aron Johannsson, and Davis all vying for the starting wing position, Davis โ like Bedoya last weekend โ did his best to show Klinsmann heโs the right choice.
Michael Bradley: 7
While not as sloppy as against Azerbaijan, Bradley still has strides to make in the ball security category.ย However, his brilliant flick to spring Fabian Johnson for the goal was superb, and had Fabian not gotten there Clint Dempsey was waiting in the wings to finish it.ย Bradley is the most creative American on the pitch when he gets the license to roam as he pleases, and he has just that at the top of the diamond.ย If he can clean up the rest of his game, Bradley will be a gamechanger for the US in Brazil. But you already knew that.
Clint Dempsey: 6.5
Dempsey found himself in plenty of attacking areas and in gobs of space, but was overshadowed by Jozy Altidore in this match. While thatโs not exactly a bad thing, he didnโt necessarily take his few chances to heart either.ย His goal was silly โ a straight-up gift โ which he acknowledged with a hearty chuckle after putting the ball in the back of the net.ย He displayed an incredible double-touch to get past a defender, but couldnโt get back into a shooting area. Dempsey is an important player, and while he looked bright at times, the US may need a little more from him in the coming days. His play, however, has that feel of a player just starting to heat upโฆ
Jozy Altidore: 7
Altidore did exactly what heโs done for Sunderland all Premier League season: get into excellent areas, find space, unlock teammates, and body down defenders, only to fail at the final moment.ย He was by far the best attacking option the US had throughout the match, but just couldnโt find the finishing touch.ย Itโs imperative we give Altidore credit where credit is due, as he played exceptionally well, but he has to score for the US to be successful โ and for his own confidence โ in Brazil.
Altidore hasnโt gotten many breaks either, as the referee ruled out an obvious Altidore goal for an incredibly soft foul.ย But he also blew numerous other chances at their vital moments, and after so much hard work itโs a shame he remains goalless for club or country since December 4th.
Substitutes:
Brad Guzan: 7
Guzan faced much more action than Tim Howard, and he was up to the task.ย The Turkish attack wasnโt exactly launching missiles into his top corners, but he was still equal to everything he faced until the penalty.ย He looked somewhat anchored down on the penalty stop, picking the correct side but not getting all the way to the post, but it was a quality penalty.
Kyle Beckerman: 6
Beckerman doesnโt do anything flashy, but heโs not supposed to in that position.ย He holds the back of the diamond down with expert skill, and covers for his defenders so well nobody even notices heโs doing it.ย Still, with Turkey pressing towards the end, Beckerman wasnโt exactly throwing his body on the line either (nor, frankly, should he just before the World Cup). A solid performance but nothing that stands out.
John Brooks: 5.5
Brooks came on at halftime for Besler, and he continued the back line theme. There was little teamwork, and although the penalty canโt be blamed on him whatsoever, he didnโt do much to prove heโs on the level of Cameron or Besler and multiple times he lost his mark in the box.ย Brooks, like a few of the other defenders, is lucky Turkey didnโt have their shooting boots on.
DeAndre Yedlin: 6
He didnโt do much in the half-hour he was on the pitch, and Turkey gained a presence on possession after he entered.
Julian Green: 6
Green still appears to be a little nervous, and heโs not fully confident on the ball either.ย He had a very tough task in front of him while receiving a long ball from the back, and just touched too hard bringing it down in the box for his best chance.ย At this point itโs hard to see him getting much time in Brazil, but itโs possible Klinsmann gives him a full 90 against Nigeria to try and bring out his confidence and show the fans what heโs capable of.ย We still donโt have a very good bead on his abilities at this point.
