2009 was a rather schizophrenic year for the US Men’s National Soccer Team. I’ll list the highs tomorrow, but below are the moments from this year that made me despair the most for what is to await in South Africa next summer.

5) Losing to Mexico 5–0 in Gold Cup Final
This is number 5 on my list and not higher simply due to the meaninglessness of the game. It sucks completely any time you lose by a blowout score like 5–0, but having it come at the hands of México to end an undefeated streak against them at home is just icing on that crap cake of a game.

4) Blowing the 2–0 lead to lose 3–2 to Brazil in South Africa
There is really no great shame in this, partially because I was as shocked as anybody that we even had a 2–0 lead against 5–time World Cup Champions Brazil to blow to begin with, especially following the 3–0 loss to them in the first round. In other words, I think we all expected them to blow this one. I’d be surprised if they looked deep in their hearts if some of the players on the field that day wouldn’t agree.

3) Losing Oguchi Onyewu to a knee injury on the last day of qualification
The only silver lining to losing the most dominant and imposing central defender that the US has ever been able to field is that it wasn’t more serious, and that it occurred relatively far enough before next summer’s Cup that he should be back soon enough to at least have a chance to regain his fitness and form. The down–side is that with his transfer in the summer from Standard Liege to AC Milan his chances of gaining enough playing time following his recovery to shake all of the rust off aren’t exactly what I’d call great.

2) Giving up the game–winning goal in the 82nd minute vs. Mexico at Azteca
Given that only one team has ever beaten El Tri in Estadio Azteca, this is similar to the Brazil Confederations Cup Final loss in its sheer predictability, but it gains poignancy for simply having come so close to stealing a point right after the semi–humiliation in the Gold Cup Final in Giants Stadium.

1) Losing Charlie Davies likely for the World Cup
There are multiple dimensions to the Charlie Davies tragedy, starting with the core personal one of being involved in an accident that took the life of one of his companions and seriously injured the other that will cause emotional scars lasting long after his physical wounds are healed. The impact of Davies’ injuries and the fact that they could keep him from participating in the US efforts in South Africa are compounded by the sheer surprise that his arrival on the international stage this past summer brought to those who hadn’t been closely following his growth as a professional abroad.

His pace was well–known from his Boston College days, but the US hasn’t exactly suffered from a dearth of that quality. The ability to actually finish goals against top competition? Well, the current team has Donovan and Dempsey and that’s about it in the “proven” category. Jozy Altidore has had a very nice start, but if he goes cold at Hull, what then? And even if not, having Altidore all by his lonesome up top as a striker really isn’t the sort of prospect likely to cause to much problems against top competition.

Davies’ pace and aggression appeared to be possibly a more than satisfactory complement as a strike partner to Altidore’s physical presence. Without Davies’, it’s almost an open casting call again for strikers for the US. Dempsey and Donovan can certainly answer the call, but there aren’t currently any midfield replacements waiting in the wings who would make us not forget Dempsey and Donovan’s absence, which might negate their positions on the front–line if they find themselves constantly having to come back into midfield to get the ball.

Stuart Holden, Robbie Rogers, José Francisco Torres, Freddy Adu, and possibly a recovered DaMarcus Beasley are all potentials, but that’s about it at this stage of the game.

What do you think? Did I overlook any big downers from the year that was 2009? Let me know if so, and add your vote below!