Where is our #10?

In the beautiful game, the number 10 has always meant being the playmaker, the facilitator, the trusted one. Landon Donovan has always been that person for American soccer throughout his career, until now. The reigning champion hasn't kicked a ball for his club or country since the whistle blew in Los Angeles on December 1st and the effects of his absence are getting more influential as the clock ticks down to his return.

The captain's armband is being worn by Robbie Keane for the LA Galaxy and the MLS Cup winners are already in a position to evolve without David Beckham. After months of silence, Landon announced in February that he would return to training "by the end of March." Bruce Arena has called upon his young guns to step up and veteran Mike Magee to lead the attack. But the Galaxy face arguably the toughest season yet in pursuit of an unprecedented three-peat as numerous teams around the league have bolstered their rosters with designated players, SuperDraft signings, and blockbuster trades.

Tim Cahill, Australian international and NYRB designated player, called for Donovan to "embrace the weight of the world," and to "question why you play football." As a former teammate of Landon's at Everton, Cahill got to know Donovan well and can even draw strong comparisons to him. Both have been captains of international sides for countries whose national sport it not soccer. Both have had success playing in Europe as well as brought unparalleled stardom to Major League Soccer.

It's this "weight of the world" that has Landon Donovan publicly questioning his own commitment to the sport. Twelve MLS seasons, two loan spells in England, numerous grueling World Cup Qualifiers, and a tough extra time loss to Ghana in South Africa have seemingly taken their toll on the mind and body of the 31 year old Californian.

However, now may be the most important time for him to return to the game on an international level. Dropping the opening game in the Hex to Honduras and facing a tough schedule ahead of them, the USMNT is feeling a whole lot of pressure. Defensive woes aside, the US don't have a clear playmaker. Michael Bradley does well to win balls in the middle but he doesn't have another midfielder to help facilitate the attack. Dempsey and Altidore have proven themselves as lethal goal scorers in European premier leagues but they look tame without someone to feed them the ball in the middle to attacking third.

No other active player in American soccer has the experience of Landon Donovan. He's seen it all when it comes to World Cup Qualifying in CONCACAF. Rocks thrown at team busses, high fences in hostile territories, and obscenely poor pitch conditions may be new to some of the players on the current USMNT roster, but not to Landon Donovan. And it's clear now more than ever that Jurgen Klinsmann needs a number 10 to lead them through the qualifying if they want to have a fighting chance at a trip to Brazil in 2014.

Bad Start on a Rough Road

Defensive miscues, inexperience, and questionable coaching were the downfall of the USMNT in San Pedro Sula yesterday as the US dropped the opening game of the Hex to Honduras. A 2-1 road defeat is not the start that Jurgen Klinsmann and the team had hoped for.

Electing to go with the young back line of Chandler, Gonzalez, Cameron, and Johnson, Klinsmann gambled by giving the inexperienced a chance and leaving Carlos Bocanegra on the bench. At first I liked this decision because I think if Gonzalez is going to be the future center back of our national team, he needs to be in every serious game from here on out. However, Tim Chandler looked clearly unfit after the 30' and was caught ball watching on the fist Honduran goal. Unacceptable by the young outside back and one now has to question why Bocanegra was not subbed in, having played the outside back role many times in his career. 

Offensively, it was Clint Dempsey again to strike for the US. Deuce has been in top form for Tottenham lately and appears to still be our only lethal threat up top. Jozy played well in a matured role, creating chances and most notably putting forth a composed performance. However, he is a player that needs to be supported by an attacking midfielder with good delivery. We lacked such a midfielder as Bradley had a hot and cold game and Jones only facilitated well in his assist on Dempsey's goal. Danny Williams was a non factor on the outside flank, leaving the door open for Graham Zusi and Maurice Edu to fight for a starting role. Herculez Gomez, a player that has proved lethal for the US in the previous round of qualification, watched from the bench. 

This performance has also given way to the media begging the question: will Landon Donovan come back into the fold? It was apparent that the USMNT still needs his attacking creativity and reliable passing ability. Donovan's vast CONCACAF experience and his veteran leadership could help bring together this squad of European and MLS players. 

Many questions remain for head coach Jurgen Klinsmann and his staff. As the American soccer legend Cobi Jones put it yesterday, "Klinsmann gambled and he lost." Fortunately, the four other teams in the Hex tied their matches yesterday, leaving the US only a point behind Mexico, Jamaica, Panama and Costa Rica. Yet the fate of other teams does not bare weight on the unresolved issues of the USMNT. They must solve their problems quickly before their next match against the Reggae Boyz and a looming trip to Stadio Azteca.