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Wednesday’s game against Guatemala was the antithesis of Sunday, which may be a good thing for a team that needs to learn how to get through the frustration of playing lower level CONCACAF teams that seem content to saturate their half of the field and play for a draw. Historically, the US MNT hasn’t been strong in those circumstances, and that trend continued with nary a player showing the creative aptitude to move the ball through the midfield. The tired, picky, foul-laden game did however allow more time to consider that which I was most interested in, the starting line-up.

Keller, Conrad, Demerit, Spector, Simek, Mapp, Feilhaber, Bradley, Dempsey, Johnson, and Donovan. That’s Wednesday’s list. Keller in the back with the youngsters: wisdom on their shoulder. Feilhaber and Bradley in the middle: prize for Sunday’s play (concern for Pablo and Clark?). Mapp and Dempsey down the flanks: without question, where they belong (sorry Beasley). Donovan and Johnson: the most dynamic tandem.

“It’s a difficult game tonight for the US,” Eric Wynalda said early on in the broadcast,. “More difficult than people might think.” We should be able to get a goal here, though, right, as Rob Stone later mentioned the WNT has been able to do in these logjams? A few early chances for Eddie Johnson gave hope he might finally break his goal drought, though it wasn’t to be. The great majority of criticism will continue - Stone even asked if he should be called into camp at all after his second half substitution - but I still like EJ over any of our statue strikers (though admittedly his value is still on paper and potential, not results, and he could learn something from the physicality of Ching et al).

I was stuck on the subject of Johnson even after he left the field, especially considering that a lack of defensive touches didn’t allow for much scrutiny of another new-look back line. His inclusion in the game given the context of the Guatemalan game-plan, which should have been obvious going into the match, made me think Bradley must see something in the as of yet unpolished fleet feet of the young striker, even if Taylor Twellman was supposed to start. There were other options.

After all, if a goal was going to get passed the 11-man Guatemalan defense, it was more likely than not going to come from a cross onto the head of a Kenny Cooper. This is compounded by the team’s past tendencies to depend on crossing balls from the flanks, a tactic that was largely absent on Wednesday. But that was Bruce Arena’s national team. If not before, after four games this is now unequivocally Bob Bradley’s band. And nothing says that more than Johnson’s presence on the field.

“Finding the right spaces and making the right choices in a tight situation has never been [Johnson's] best thing,” The US MNT coach said after the game. “Tonight is more a thinking exercise for him. We
feel like he is a young player who still needs us to challenge him… We’re not giving up on him.”

That’s the coach. And I like it. It gives hope that undependable counter attacks and a cross-and-run offense are things of the past, whether or not Wednesday’s performance proved the team’s ability to implement the tactical charge or even if Johnson never finds his form (which my heart hopes he will).

The national team falls from the front pages for the next month. Unless Gulati, did you want to say something? No? Ok then. Anticipation and a peering media will now shift its attention away from the line-up cards - early MLS performances will renew those arguments come June for guys like EJ - to who will be filling out said card. Will we see the removal of ‘interim’ or ‘US MNT’ from the title of ‘Coach Bob Bradley’? Eddie Johnson is no doubt one guy hoping he stays around a little while longer.