by Greg Seltzer for Soccer365

Stripped of several stars, the U.S. National Team offered a lackluster showing in a 1-0 friendly loss to fellow World Cup 2010 invitees Slovakia on a Bratislava Saturday evening.

It wasn't a poor performance so much as... a mixed bag of blah. This certainly will happen when many of the regulars are unavailable and the field did the art of ground passing no favors.

Nevertheless, one good half of organized defense is not good enough; nor is letting a winger slice past a two-man trap near the line when his combo mate also has a tight marker and raid the box. That being said, it was actually the starting back seven that pitched in most of the best work.

Since it was a friendly, I'll spare the ceremony and assume coach Bradley will put together an improved show in Denmark.

U.S. PLAYER RATINGS

Brad Guzan (7.5) - It seems the Aston Villa man was not joking around when he declared his intention to chase club and country #1 shirts. Aside from the penalty, Guzan didn't have much to do before halftime. After the break, he made two top shelf stops and a punch supreme to keep his side in the game.

Steve Cherundolo (6.5) - Certainly still in some shock over the midweek suicide death of Hannover 96 teammate Robert Enke, Cherundolo's effort was a fitting tribute. He had a couple of small flubs and none of his excusions forward paid off in end product, but this was a strong showing against a feisty winger (Miroslav Stoch of FC Twente, on loan from Chelsea).

Jonathan Spector (6.5) - The first hour or so was pure professionalism. Like Cherundolo, Spector eventually made a couple of small mistakes. That being said, it was a performance that threw the USMNT backline picture into even further confusion. I'd like to see more, please.

Carlos Bocanegra (6.5) - The skipper combined well with a new partner, raising the bar on offside traps. Bocanegra also covered well for a stray left back a few times. Still... what happened to the guy who was a constant set piece threat? I can't remember the last time 'Los got his head to one.

Jonathan Bornstein (4) - The Chivas USA star, who by all proper standards shouldn't even be taking part the week he ends a long, taxing season, got off to a swell start. It appeared he would continue some recent fine play for the 'Nats. About the time he let Vladi Weiss loose for the night with two help defenders to set up the penalty, the Jeckyll of nervous-looking Bornstein had appeared. He then went on to turn the ball over up the flank a few times too many and tamely smack a golden late crossing chance straight to the keeper. During the broadcast, a commentator remarked that it will be 'tough' to knock Bornstein out of this starting place. If that is true, I'd sure love to hear a legitimate reason as to why anybody we've run at left back would have a firm hold on the place.

Michael Bradley (6.5) - I don't know if his brief 'Gladbach benching did the trick, but I may send manager Michael Frontzeck a thank you note just in case. When Bradley has his traffic director cool going on, as he generally did on Saturday, one thought bombards my brain: can we please get Mo Edu or Jermaine Jones healthy so Mikey doesn't have to be "the defensive, deep one" in central midfield? I want his game open, with freedom to surge forward into attack much more often. This one looks ready to rumble now.

Benny Feilhaber (5.5) - There wasn't anything particularly galling in Benny's game and the AGF midfielder held his own against a very tough Slovakia central duo. And yet, I'm left wishing he had been able to offensively grab the game by the throat at least once. It never really happened... and when Landon Donovan's out, it kinda needs to.

Robbie Rogers (5) - Another guy who should be getting a rest right now, the Crew winger always looks like he's about to make things happen. On Saturday, not so much actually happened. Only one of five restart serves was dangerous and his defensive world tends to be an on/off proposition. There's plenty to like about Rogers, but he's not there yet.

Clint Dempsey (6.5) - It didn't begin well, and for about 20 minutes, U.S. fans had to be grumbling something about Deuce playing far better for Fulham than he does for the 'Nats. The early problem was errant passing, so he suddenly turned to his wheels to rev things up. Then, until removed he was the team's driving force. When he departed, the U.S. spark was gone.

Josmer Altidore (4.5) - Things just weren't clicking at all for Jozy, who as usual, put in a fine effort. Yup... this one's pretty simple.

Conor Casey (4.5) - I'm not convinced his early goal should have been called off. Even with that moment of power forward play, it wasn't his best outing. Just when he at least had the hold up game working, it started failing on him.

Coach Bob Bradley (5.5) - It was a friendly with half the stars missing, so it isn't a great big deal... but I am marking off for giving 172 minutes to two guys just off MLS seasons stuffed with international duty while offering paltry work to a few guys supposedly getting serious looks. If you want to see Jeff Cunningam, then let's see him. The final grade does come back up to near average for giving Spector his center back shot.

Subs:

Eddie Johnson (4.5) - Let's face it: the guy needs more minutes. Please, Fulham... let E.J. find another decent Championship side to finish the season with.

Clarence Goodson (5) - There were a couple of problems that can be ironed out, but as always, Goodson displayed again that he does a certain ball movement element to the backline. The defender to sub in when trailing? I think he just might be if we can clean up those one-v-one defending flubs.

Dax McCarty (5.5) - The FC Dallas debutant got his feet wet, got himself into a couple of good challenges. There wasn't a whole lot from him to rave or pan.

Sacha Kljestan (5.5) - Normally, eight-minute shifts don't draw a rating from me. However, Kljestan came on to serve the most dangerous restart since the fourth minute, turn the ball over three straight times and finally whip in a tempting cross. That's a lot of action for eight minutes, so he get's marked.

Jeff Cunningham - Not enough time to grade, but he looked after it. It's time to see once and for all if he is an option on Wednesday. Let him loose, coach.

Soccer365 reporter Greg Seltzer blogs daily over at No Short Corners. Questions, comments, kudos or complaints? Email him at greg@noshortcorners.com.

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