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Sunil Gulati read from his cards at halftime of the international soccer friendly between the United States and Mexico. The same cards we’ve heard him read from for the better part of a year. The same cards his economics students must grow tired of. Blah Blah Blah, the ball is at Bradley’s feet. As to the real story, the game, Sunil hardly addressed it, as if it were the underachieving student he wants to let slide past in class if only because by addressing the problem, he may have to look himself in the mirror, and what part is he to blame. He voiced his satisfaction with the score, 0-0, after what was anything but a satisfying first half. I can picture him now talking to that student whom he couldn’t connect with, and who may not be as smart as the other kids, but with a little direction you never know. I can picture Sunil saying, ‘at least you graduated,’ before moving on to something in less need of his attention. Eric Wynalda, any thoughts…?

“All that uncertainty [with the interim coaching tag]. I think it filters down to the players. And I think you’re seeing it on the game tonight… I don’t like the way they’re playing.” Head shake. Hands back in the pockets. Beautiful. He’s such a piece of work. What I have always disliked about Wynalda, I was lapping up Wednesday night. If I didn’t know any better, Knowing its halftime, I half thought my fiancé changed the channel, and we were suddenly watching an American Idol contestant throwing a hissy fit, which of course means the tantrom is questionably acted out by someone who may or may not be well aware of themselves. I used to not like the way Wynalda handled himself on air, but the fact that his opinions were spot on last night combined with the caricature he has created for himself that admittedly entertained me throughout the game, I don’t know anymore. We might have something here, as long as you’re into reality TV, which I’m not by rule. But I don’t know. I could see props and costumes in his future. Let’s give it some time.

The second half began as if both teams got chewed out in the locker rooms, and the fire under their britches just seemed to build. At first, I found it surprising we didn’t see a single substitution. I half expected Ricardo Clark to be gone. He maybe had two touches all half (and all night as it would end up). I loved him last year in MLS. Not sure what the deal is there, and I hate chalking it up to inexperience at the international level. Too cliché, seems a cheap excuse. Chris Albright, for his part, is playing his way off the team, but he was there when the half began, so maybe I’m mising something. He had a rough game against Denmark and became an instant target for our southern neighbors to attack.

By the 66th minute, we had learned two things. Mexican coach Hugo Sanchez made what immediately looked like the perfect substitutions (for a man who was soon to face a nightmare of a press conference thanks to a loss in which his team controlled most of the game), which then forced the second unveiling of our former EPL keeper of the year, Tim Howard. Fact number two. The way he tracked over on that one corner kick, which appeared to look to Borgetti as if Howard appeared out of thin air. Very nice. He saved a game’s worth of shots and watched just as many roll through the penalty box, blessed without so much as a glance from strikers during a stretch of heart wrenching moments for US fans.

It was classic US v Mexico the rest of the game. Outside of Howard, Jimmy Conrad, Carlos Bocanegra, and Jonathan Bornstein were my men of the match. Conrad’s goal aside, the three of them filled Gooch’s shoes and then some. The offense still needs to find its personality, but an honorable mention for any award has to go to Landon Donovan, who, while still playing in what I think is an awkward position for him up front, showed some moments of the great player he has been and still can be. The boy can run. People will explain away his goal by calling out the referee’s interference, but he blew past the one defender he had to beat, and handled the keeper, Oswaldo Sanchez, with maturity, maintaining the ball at his feet to secure the easy goal.

So what do you think? Everybody is asking. How much does it mean? Does Bradley get the job now? These kind of games always bring more questions than answers.