Very sad to hear about Charlie Davies, though I suppose a silver lining would be he was relatively fortunate to not be injured even worse, namely avoiding a head injury altogether from what I gather. 6-12 months before projected recovery, and possibly even a return to the field, is a rather sunny outlook considering the final state of the automobile.
The most important event is the passing of the girl involved, but in all honesty it's hard for a death to resonate with me when knowing nothing about the victim outside of their affiliation with another person.
Less important is the question of how does team USA progress subsequent to the loss of Davies. However, it doesn't hurt to ask.
Tonight I think Stuart Holden should be the answer at one of the two forward positions, while remaining with Casey for the other. Holden can make runs at the defense, run onto through balls, and cross with precision, (and also when he helps out pressuring the opponent it will be in midfield and not the defense, where he has been prone to mistakes); a good compliment to the majority of stationary forwards who litter the player pool. Of the aforementioned stationary forwards, in spite of my ire for low-skilled nonathletic players, Casey has produced results most recently, and Bradley needs to afford him another opportunity to see if it was a fluke.
In South Africa, I think Clint Dempsey should be moved up front to pair with either Altidore, or Casey if he continues to produce. With his tendency to become gassed throughout a game, Dempsey belongs up front where he doesn't have to run as much, but his ability to take 1/2 players in a row off the dribble will still be of benefit.
As for the general strategy tonight, I think it should it should be a combination of playing to win, protecting players from injury, and giving prospects a tryout. I want revenge against the Ticos, but not irrationally to the point of risking our future. Sit Donovan, he has enough mileage on those tires. Give prospects on the cusp like Goodson, Torres, etc.; a shot.
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