Actually the title should read 5 things I learned from the second half of USA England, because I'm and idiot and set up my vcr incorrectly. Anyways, onto the 5 things I learned about the USMNT from Wednesday's friendly:

1) Bob Bradley needs to make quicker substitutions
If the first half played out anything like the second half, Bradley should've been able to see that changes needed to be made at the half. If not to give us a better chance of getting the result then at least to get some other players a decent amount of minutes (see Nate Jaqua entering the game in the 90th minute, what effing good does that do anyone?). Throughout his tenure, at least the games I've watched, Bradley has been way to cautious and waited way to long to make substitutions. We, as Americans, come from Puritan blood however we've been conditioned throughout the years to be cavalier and daring. It's time we got the same out of a soccer coach, because right now daring decisions and tactics are the only thing that are going to get us anywhere in South Africa.

2) The central midfield pairing of Clark & Bradley, Bradley & Mastroeni, or Clark & Mastroeni is hereby banned from ever, ever, appearing for the 'Nats again.
For some reason the head coach of the USMNT continues to think that two holding/destroying midfielders is the best way to give our team a chance to win. I am here to tell you, as are all of the blogosphere and the English press, this will not ever, ever work against top class opposition. Why? Because none of our destroyers can maintain possession either through shielding and dribbling, or through intelligent distribution. Our best hope right now is Michael Bradley, who at the CONCACAF level shows flashes of possession. However, he needs to be paired with a more offensive minded midfielder, such as Maurice Edu (whom not known for his offensive prowess can at least distribute the ball decently), Benny Feilhaber (I think the kid, given playing time, can be a decent midfield general in the Claudio Reyna mold), or Freddy Adu (the kid is just yearning for a chance to play the number 10 role, why the hell not let him in some high caliber friendlies). The reason for this rant, our passing last night was atrocious, I think I witnessed a completion percentage of about 15% in the second half. We need someone who can at least bump that stat up a little and give others the confidence to make some passes.

3) We either need Knute Rockney giving pre-game talks or a captain that can inspire on the field
As most people who watched the game will tell you we lacked any heart, soul, pride, and passion. 'Los is a decent choice for a captain because he is reliable (most of the time) at the international level. However, there's no player in the talent pool that can rally the troops, inspire, and possibly will the team onto victory. Maybe next time we play England in the States we commandeer some of Steven Gerrard and John Terry's "little swimmers" and pair them up some of Mia Hamm's DNA, then we might be able to produce some soccer players who can lead a team and nation.

4) It's time to scrap everything we've ever known about the USMNT and just start from scratch with a young crop of players
Everything the USMNT has ever known about the sport of soccer needs to be thrown out the window. For a long time now pundits and punters alike have bemoaned the US's lack of a definitive style of play. It's time we shake some shit up and go with a new formation. I suggest a 3-5-2 this will accommodate all of our center backs and midfielders in our player pool. Granted, we still need a forward who can score. Playing this formation would allow us to utilize our speed on the flanks, and incorporate Deuce, Freddy, and LannyCakes in the same starting 11 playing close to their natural positions.

Also, it's time that we shed some dead weight. Eddie Lewis is a class act, Josh Wolff may have scored some important goals, Frankie Hejduk gives 1100% when on the field (I did mean to type eleven hundred, one hundred percent for every man on the field) and seems to live and die for our shirt, smae with Pablo Mastroeni. However much leadership these players provide, they're also remnants of the past and bring with them past baggage. I think we should just scrap anyone over the age of 28 (except goal-keepers) and just give the young'ns a baptism by fire. The kids in 1990 found a way to get into the World Cup and lay the foundation for where we are today. It's time for today's kids to lay a new foundation. We may not qualify at the top of our group, or at all, but I guarantee you that US Soccer would rise from whatever ashes there may be from this experiment and be better for it.

5) It pains me to say this but Landon Donovan was sorely missed yesterday
Without Landon Donovan on the pitch we don't stand a chance of being respected by any of the major soccer powers. I'm coming around to be tolerable of the LannyCakes fan club, and I'm realizing more and more how important he is to our team. Even with him on the pitch the Argentinas, Spains, Brazils, and Englands (etc.) of the world may not respect us, but at least we'd have proven speed and goal scoring abilities.