Bobby Convey came up with a rather stunning analysis of the US' horrible opening World Cup loss to the Czech Republic: After four years of practicing, scouting and skill sessions, US players didn't know what they were supposed to do.
With their must-win match against Italy just two days away, the US team were heading for the friendly confines of Ramstein Air Base, hoping to figure it all out.
If they don't, they'll not only be packing for home, they'll have a hard time convincing their loyal army of fans that they ever really belonged.
"I think the reason why we didn't do well is because everyone did not do their role, maybe didn't know their role, maybe didn't know what to do," Convey said on Wednesday.
"I don't think it was confusion. It wasn't that people didn't know where to go. We just kind of didn't really jell well together," he said. "It wasn't a negative thing. It's just that we just did OK. At a World Cup, it's not fine to do just OK."
When the team departed Hamburg yesterday for Kaiserslautern, the US will eschew the usual World Cup hotels and stay at a base that's home to about 50,000 US armed forces, civilians and family members. There, Convey hopes to "get my American cereal, get my American food."
"We feel like we're at home, having a bunch of Americans there behind us, rooting us," forward Eddie Johnson said. "We couldn't ask for a better environment to be playing this game."
Arena didn't speak with reporters on Wednesday, but on Tuesday he did promise changes.
Landon Donovan, who did little to combine with Brian McBride at forward, could be dropped back to attacking midfield, the position he prefers. Johnson, who entered at halftime and provided some spark, could start along with midfielder John O'Brien, who also came in at the start of the second half.
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