I just disagree on Dempsey. I know he's a Sounder and that shifts things for some. Honestly I wouldn't care if he was my neighbor. His influence is negligible when you consider it over a 90 minute match. I'm not trying to pick a fight with you guys. I just see it differently.
His goal was a penalty earned by another player. His first assist wasn't actually a pass. He had Jones sitting wide for nearly 30 seconds but instead tried to take on 4 players. The ball was deflected to Jones who finished from 20 out. Dempsey did actually luck himself into the assist.
I don't think Dempsey is "grit and leadership." His head is down most of the time. He's not seeing the activity around him at a level commiserate with his responsibility and supposed quality. He's selfish, or worse just not seeing better options than his own. His second assist was passing the ball literally 8 yards where Wood did a wonderful turn and finish. Even there, the pass was stubbornly late and a good group of defenders close that option out before Dempsey decides its the best option. He's frustrating to watch. I am looking forward to the day when a proper CM can come in and allow Bradley to move into that 8/10 role. Or better yet, when a proper, fluid inventive CAM emerges from the USMNT program. Dempsey was that player for a brief time. He's just not right now.
I don't disagree on either Jones or Bradley's performances, but both had far better games than Dempsey in terms of overall impact. Jones was all over the "pitch" for the US, at times even pushing into Bradley. In a match where the US were out-possessed 60-40, those two were the only way the US was getting the ball back and getting forward. Brooks also had an unheralded strong game I suppose.
I guess these are more my concerns about the quality of the US program in general. I mean hell, Wondolowski came on for Dempsey. that's just heartbreaking.