The Gold Cup is always an interesting one for the USMNT as they can’t very well field a full strength roster, but against fairly winnowy competition it does usually offer a good look at some talent that’s trying to crack the first team. Here are some things we noticed from Sunday’s game.

Strategy: After outclassing lesser opponents St. Kitts & Nevis and Trinidad & Tobago, the USMNT was largely held in check by a tougher, yet still inferior-to-them Canada side. Disappointingly, the team departed from its free-flowing creative style earlier in the tournament, back to Berhalter ball – a bummer of a development in what figures to be one of BJ Callahan’s last matches in charge. No real overlapping movements up front. Dozens of unnecessary back passes to Matt Turner. An overreliance on crossing the ball to Jesus Ferreira who is shit in the air. The USMNT still figures to beat Panama in the semis, but nothing is ever guaranteed.

This was also the first time that Callahan seemed out of touch with his substitutions. Yes, bringing on Brandon “El Guapo” Vazquez for Gressell late on worked out well, but the Cincinnatti striker was always going to come on. It wasn’t some kind of strategical masterpiece. Then there was replacing the center back pairing of Miles Robinson and Jalen Neal with Aaron Long and Matt Miazga. Not that Neal and Robinson reminded anyone of Franz Beckenbauer but they were generally in the right places, and apart from Robinson being unable to maintain responsibility for his hands (a skill he’ll hopefully develop), Canada had no real chances from open play while they were both still on. Meanwhile, a clearly exhausted Bryan Reynolds was left out there to die in extra time despite a fit DeAndre Yedlin being available – something that certainly contributed to Canada’s short-lived go-ahead goal. It just wasn’t a good showing from BJ, tactically or managerially.

Notable Names:

Jesus Ferreira. We weren’t expecting another hat trick, but this was a downer for him. He offers nothing in hold up play. He’s feckless in the air. And he needs service against decent defenses. That’s not to say he played awful. He didn’t. He’s a willing defender from the front. He worked his way into a couple of decent spots only to have shots either blocked or scuffed. But we’re starting to see why he’s at best a third or fourth option for the US up front right now.

DeJuan Jones. If you didn’t know, now you do. The New England Revolution defender was a revelation at left back, defending well, marauding up the field at every opportunity, and feathering an inch-perfect 40 yard cross onto the dome of Vazquez for the opener. Beyond just that, he played all 120 minutes and didn’t seem at all worse for wear. One game is one game, but he’s one to watch for the future. After decades of paucity at the position, the US is strong at left back for the forseeable future.

Brendan Aaronson. What!? He didn’t even play, moron! Yes, I know this. But I’ve been screaming that in addition to terrorizing defenders in possession with his relentless pursuit, he needs to run at people. Especially late. See Jacob Shaffelburg, the speedy Canadian winger who scored the go-ahead goal in added time. With fresh legs, and Bryan Reynolds far in the dust, he only had to beat Ferreira to a loose ball and then Miazga one on one. He sprinted right at the lumbersome Miazga, forcing Miazga to either maintain space or risk a possible red card foul, and ripped a fine shot that Matt Turner could only dream of saving. THIS is how Aaronson needs to play and use his speed, not running into blind alleys over and over again. Take notes, kid.

Miazga. I know I’m hard on the guy, and I probably shouldn’t be. He’s a fine MLS center back and fairly good in the air. He nearly scored off a corner kick, only for the finger tips of the excellent Dayne St. Clair to deny him in goal. He’s just… slow. And doesn’t position well enough to make up for his lack of speed. Tim Ream? Also slower than molasses in January. But he is always, and I mean ALWAYS, in the right spot, so he can get away with it. This is the difference between an international quality center back and a guy who plays fairly well in MLS. The US is pretty deep at center back, even if Ream eventually retires, with the excellent Chris Richards, Scottish Premiership best defender Cam Carter-Vickers, Berhalter cast-off John Brooks, MLS defender of the year Walker Zimmerman, and the aforementioned Neal. But in games like today when all of a sudden you have Miazga paired with the awful Aaron Long, the boat starts taking water rapidly. And it did.

Vazquez. He’s not nearly as skillful as Ferreira, and doesn’t cross well – something Ferreira can and will do if asked to. In fact, he does little well outside of finishing in front of goal, and hold-up play. And that’s enough. You don’t need your center forward to have skills like Messi. You just need a guy who can smash the ball in the goal. He scored one, could have had a second, and forces defenses to collapse on him in the middle. Yes, he blasted his shootout penalty a good 10 feet over the bar, but that was probably more of him being too amped up in front of his hometown crowd. Folarin Balogun should be the first choice at center forward whenever he’s healthy and not club-tied, but Vazquez really needs to be the number 2, especially with the team all but certain to revert back to dour Berhalter ball.

Matt Turner. It’s time to start mentioning his name alongside the best goalies in the world. I read a stat on Twitter (too lazy to fact check) that said he has now saved 14 of 29 penalties taken against him. If accurate, that’s an absurd rate on a play in which the striker should be nearly certain to score. Beyond that, his play with the ball at his feet – which was once an adventure – is now a strength. His passing is firm and accurate, and it was his perfectly placed long ball into the Canadian box that caused the chaos leading to the US’ own-goal equalizer.

Cade Cowell. Probably should have started ahead of Alex Zendejas, who is better suited as a fleet-footed late sub. Cowell tries to get too cute on his final product nearly every time he has the ball in an attacking position, be it a pass or shot. But he’s relentless, and another one to watch for the future. He’s unlikely to Wally Pipp Christian Pulisic on the left attacking flank but if he tightens up his final pass, he is capable of stepping in with no drop off in quality of play from that position.

Djordje Mihailovic & James Sands. That should put it to bed, right? These guys are pretty good MLS players, or in Djordje’s case, Eriedivisie. And I don’t care what anyone says, while Ajax and Alkmaar are good teams, virtually all others in that league get boatraced by 2/3 of MLS clubs. These guys are just not good enough to warrant regular national team consideration. And that’s ok. Not everyone can be.

Reynolds. Add right back to the list of positions the US is deep at. Watching his play these last couple of weeks just reignites the fury I have for Berhalter using Shaq Moore in the World Cup. Sergino Dest and Joe Scally should be the unquestioned top choices at right back, but Reynolds at this juncture is the unquestioned number three with remaining upside.

Those are my thoughts. What are yours? Let us know on Twitter @TheStainSports. Thanks for reading.

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