The US national team had a much tougher time getting forward than in recent matches against Scotland, settling for a 0-0 draw in Glasgow on Friday that resulted in several average grades on the report card.
With Scotland organized in a 4-2-3-1 to match the visitors, the Yanks spent much of the night trapped in a hall of mirrors and failed to plant possession stakes in the attacking end for much of the first half. After intermission, the USMNT was unable to turn added pressure into a goal, requiring a top-shelf Tim Howard save to pull out the share.
GK Tim Howard (8) - The in-form Everton netminder performed like a No. 1, doing a little bit of everything. He handled the ball well when asked to, showed command in a few tricky area situations and made the highlight reel by plucking a free kick out of his top corner shortly after the break.
RB Brad Evans (6.5) - For the most part, it was a competent outing for the midfielder-turned-right back. The lone notable demerit came with a mistimed tackle that gave Scotland a danger free kick.
CB Omar Gonzalez (6) - Gonzo largely did a credible job keeping Steven Fletcher quiet, owning the air space with one exception. On that first-half occasion, he got away with losing the Sunderland striker.
CB Geoff Cameron (6) - A bad early mistake in front of the area set Scotland to attack, but after that the Stoke man played it cool. Cameron spent the rest of the game picking pockets and even jumped forward to tee up a nice shot opportunity for Jozy Altidore.
LB DaMarcus Beasley (6.5) - Let's not get too excited just yet, but this was the first time Beasley looked like a wingback playing textbook defense. The focus needed for that may have taken him out of the more familiar offensive game, but watching the natural winger pick up overlaps like an ace and hold the line with good spacing is encouraging.
CM Jermaine Jones (4.5) - The midfield busy is always going to make some plays. However, Jones had some very bad turnovers and wasn't nearly as aggressive with his forward passing as usual.
CM Michael Bradley (6.5) - The General was good, just perhaps not as commanding as you'd expect. His restarts were a mixed bag; the corners often fell flat, while his free kicks were on-point troublemakers.
RM Alejandro Bedoya (6.5) - Naturally a central attacker, Bedoya is gradually bringing his wide game up to level. The Nantes standout attacks with physicality, often opening up raids that might not have happened with the fight. Putting it all together as a flank threat remains on the to-do list at this level, but he's getting there.
AM Sacha Kljestan (6.5) - With the US struggling for long stretches to set up across midfield, the unofficial playmaker-of-the-month for Movember didn't see the ball as much as you'd like. Still, he was the only one bringing Altidore in until the subs arrived and sparked a few clever moves.
LM Eddie Johnson (5) - First, let's applaud that the Seattle strike ace has clearly done his homework in terms of positioning and anticipation as a wide midfielder. That being said, EJ rarely had effect in attack on the night and made one turnover to cost his defense trouble.
FWD Jozy Altidore (6) - Like Kljestan, the striker spent large chunks of the first half waiting to touch the ball. Altidore performed better as the game went on, but never quite got his crosshairs trained on the net. His best chance to fire ended in a narrow miss from one of his favorite spots and his best assist pass also was off a short distance.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann (5.5) - The subs worked well again, but for an hour, the team played more negatively than it had in what seems like ages. It's not that the boss did anything, really. Even he looked frustrated on the sideline, urging the team to spark up.
They eventually did, but it wasn't quite enough. We all know Klinsi wants to win every game, so this result will be a happier one in the Scotland locker room.
Substitutes:
LM Brek Shea (6) - Maybe it's the winger in me talking, but it sure seemed like Shea had a legit penalty gripe on the blocked cross. He also got his legs stretched out well a couple times on the dribble.
CM Mikkel Diskerud (5.5) - His first play of note was a gaffe to send Scotland running at the US goal. Mix was very professional after that, but without any of his late-game playmaking heroics.
FWD Aron Jóhannsson (6.5) - The forward was looking rather footloose directly upon entering the fray, but then made a couple of uncharacteristic touch mistakes. The rest of his 28 minutes, though, displayed how well things open up with him involved in the game.
RB Eric Lichaj (6) - The play didn't find him very often in 18 relief minutes, but Lichaj ably handled his business when it did.
RM Chris Wondolowski (-) - It was a short shift with little to discuss for Wondo. No extra "W" tonight.
FWD Terrence Boyd (-) - Barely time for him to break a sweat.
