Bradley names USA roster for Cuba/T&T qualifiers

U.S. men's national team coach Bob Bradley has named his 20-man roster for the upcoming games against Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago.

Here it is:

• GOALKEEPERS : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 2/2 SO), Tim Howard (Everton FC: 4/3 SO)
• DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes: 14/2), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland: 2/0), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96: 16/0), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew: 12/1), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege: 9/0), Michael Orozco (San Luis: 0/0), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock: 3/0), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC: 0/0)
• MIDFIELDERS: DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers: 17/4), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen: 3/1), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo: 1/0), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers: 2/0), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA: 1/0), Eddie Lewis (Los Angeles Galaxy: 20/3)
• FORWARDS: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 8/4), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy: 22/8), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC: 9/2), Eddie Johnson (Cardiff City: 8/8)

              *numbers indicate all-time World Cup Qualifying caps/goals

Michael Orozco and Marvell Wynne are the new faces, earning call-ups after their performances at the Olympics while Ricardo Clark replaces injured central midfielder Pablo Mastroeni. The other 17 players are the same group that made up the squad that beat Guatemala, 1-0, last week. You might be surprised to see Steve Cherundolo on the list but he is just suspended for the Cuba match, meaning he should be in the lineup vs. Trinidad & Tobago.

As for the absences most likely to cause a stir among fans, Kenny Cooper, Freddy Adu and Jozy Altidore are not on the roster, which is probably causing some U.S. national team supporters to go crazy.

Here's a closer look at the squad:

So why no Altidore, Adu and Cooper? Bob Bradley has decided to go with veteran options in attack while giving newcomers Orozco and Wynne look in the back-line, where Cherundolo's red card suspension from the Cuba matc has opened the door for one of them to possibly get some playing time.

So why no Cooper? I offered this explanation as to why we haven't seen the FC Dallas striker in a Q&A this morning:

It boils down to this. Bradley has had Cooper in camp, had him in camp in January of 2007. At that time Cooper was not impressive and didn't play that well in the camp. Even before he could work his way back into serious consideration he suffered an injury last year. Fast forward to now, while Cooper has emerged as a great goal-scoring threat in MLS, you could argue that he was also scoring goals in MLS in 2006, which is right before he went into that 2007 camp and failed to impress. Now, I think Bradley would want to be able to bring Cooper into another camp and have a long look at him in training, playing against fellow national team players to see how much he has really progressed.

I think this still applies. I'm sure part of the angst from fans over Cooper is the fact that Eddie Johnson is getting call-ups even though he has struggled mightily with the national team. While this is true, Johnson does have a track record of playing well against lower-level CONCACAF teams (eight goals in eight World Cup qualifiers) so these games could theoretically be the type of games that help Johnson get going on the national team.

So why no Altidore and Adu? Perhaps Bradley wasn't impressed with Adu at the Olympics, where he played well against the Dutch but struggled mightily against Japan. He did have that quality half against Spain and showed some glimpses late in the England game, but there must be something. Could it be a desire to led Adu settle at Monaco? The French club is off for two weeks so that doesn't seem to be the reason.

As for Altidore, there may be more to his exclusion than meets the eye. The story coming out of the Olympics was that he was slowed by an ankle injury, but the injury doesn't seem to be affecting his transition to Villarreal. (Not getting anywhere on the story I heard regarding the real reason behind Altidore's lack of playing time at the Olympics, but let's just say don't be surprised if Altidore isn't seen on the national team any time soon.)

What do you think of the roster? Happy to see Wynne included? Surprised to see Orozco included? Angry as heck that Cooper/Adu/Altidore were left off?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[Rudy]

ugh.

[Accion]

HMMMM, Is Cooper going to have to play for England or what? I guess Jozy and Freddy are left out for the same reason as last time, to let them settle in at new teams, even though its a FIFA date and they wouldnt miss any games.

[kriznm]

i dont even know what to say anymore....

[Rudy]

I guess Edu doesn't need time to settle in at Rangers.

[KC]

Why should we expect anything else from Bob Bradley? Ching, Johnson & Hejduk again...yippee.

In what world is Kljestan > Adu? I like Sacha but he still needs some work.

[Louis]

Hey Ives do you have any response to the craziness that the league is saying

"I have no idea who the source is for this story but it's absolute nonsense. While I can't comment on this specific player since he's under contract to Atlanta, Red Bull and the League work absolutely in lockstep on player negotiations and the League has not blocked any move for anyone by the Red Bulls.

It's difficult to respond to blog entries where unknown sources are referenced - and of course blogs are driven by hits, not necessarily by the same standards as print media."

[frank]

I can see no Altidore or Adu due to the newness of their clubs, but Cooper? Why do I get the feeling that this is personal?

[Steve]

Good for Bradley for bringing in Orozco after the Olympics. That's important for a kid whop's shown promise as well as for the ongoing battle with Mexico for these players.

The Altidore / Adu / Cooper thing is mind bogglign at this point. We gonna wait for South Africa to blood these guys?

[Shakes]

Why does he keep refusing to play Kenny Cooper??

- Scott

[Bob Bradley]

If you think i care what you people think, I don't.

[Gabe]

hahaha, it's worth it not see Cooper just for everyones reactions.

[KC]

Also why no Parkhurst? Certainly Califf isn't a better player.

[Ives fanboy]

Cooper is better than Dempsy and Johnson combined. This is hogwash!

[nyc]

Glad Orozco and Wynne got called.

Hope Sacha gets a start.

Maybe BB will swap Landon for Clint, ie. play Clint wide R and Landon at forward. I think Landon's best attribute is running into seams that he sees very well. Clint deals better with tight spaces along the line and making space by quick moves and passes.

Do not understand Johnson/Ching call up over Jozy/Cooper.

[Fumar]

Makes no sense what so ever. Edu doesn't need time to settle in? Are we missing something? Or is Bradley just a idiot in judging attack players. BAHH! Get Adu and Altidore some time with this team so they know how to play together.

[Adeux]

I hope Adu boycotts Bradley and plays with his African team. This is ridiculous!

[KingSnake]

Watch for Edu and Beasley to develop mysterious ailments ...

[Freddy]

They're playing at Toyota Park and no Fire players... Certainly Thorrinton deserves some consideration. Rolfe definitely deserves a call over Johnson.

[MN Soccer]

Please, please, please start Landon Donovan at forward with Brian Ching rather than on the right wing where he has been moved to over the last few months. The team tried to put Dempsey into the withdrawn forward role, but he just isn't the player that Donovan is. Dempsey or Klestjan can start at the RW position instead.

[Dannyc58]

What happend to the imagination, fair shots to all, and general fresh air from post World Cup by Bradley.

He really is Arena all over again. Sticking to guys to a fault, a la Johnson.

[AC]

Okay, Bob Bradley as some serious love affair with Eddie Johnson! This is rediculous....There is not possible explanation other then that he's starting to become too conservative as a coach and is scared to make a small change other then what he's "comfortable" with....I was all for supporting Bob Bradley at the beginning, but what the heck?!

[matt]

Ives can you do some research and maybe even a specific post dedicated to why BB refuses to select Cooper. At this point in time it seems to defy logic. The entire interweb is clamoring for Kenny's inclusion...there has to be some reason for his continued exclusion

[BigWave]

Johnson again??? The only way I can understand the inclusion of Johnson is an attempt at getting his confidence back and/or getting him experience while he's still young. I can understand the non-call of Altidore, since he needs to get his feet wet with Villareal. However, why call up Ching? He's done OK in WCQ's, but by the time 2010 rolls around he'll be 32 yrs. old...I would've called up Cooper. 1) He's young and needs the experience in WCQ's and 2) He deserves a 2nd chance after performing well this season.

[mpatt75]

What the...

Almost half of our field players are defenders.

GK-2
Defenders- 8
Midfield- 6
Forwards- 4

That sure seems to foreshadow our playing style/formation I would think.

Not to mention Michael Bradley and Rico Clark are played as DM so therefore 10 defenders and 8 'other' field players. Color me confused.

[Bob]

What the heck Rico Clark?!?!?!?!? and no Cooper. Does bob hate us all???

[Art]

If Bradley is going to call in Eddie Johnson, and just let him warm the bench, might as well leave him with Cardiff City and give him some playing time. Dannyc58 is exactly right, the Bruce Arena all over again type of attitude....He's thinking if it "worked once," might as well stick with it...NO possible imagination, trying to improve the team at all mentality...Just a coach who thinks he's playing it safe, but is really putting this team on a road to complacency!

[Kenny Cooper]

BB stinks more than a piece of rotting crap

[matt]

scrap lewis, ching, and hejduk and replace them with convey, cooper, and parkhurst respectively. i don't understand the rationale in selecting players that will be too old to compete @ the 2010 WC...i.e. lewis and hejduk

[kevin]

Parkhurst and DeMerit deserve a call up over Orozco and Wynne, although i rather think Wynne should play a sub role in WC qualifying.

Altidore and Adu need time to fit in to their new clubs. Especially Altidore if he wants to be on the first team. They'll probably feature alot come the next round of qualifying, as im sure we will advance.
Though strange why Edu got call-up he needs to ready himself with Rangers.

Why did Ricardo Clark get a call up? Let him work his magic with Houston Dynamo.

[Ryan]

I was never on the anti-Bradley bandwagon. I am now. He is awful. If he is coach at the World Cup expect 3 and out again.

[AC]

Eddie Johnson-Once a high prospect with amazing speed, BUT now is too scared to run at opponents, keeps passing it backwards even in one-on-one situations, and does not make cuts when other players are moving foward looking for a pass, and doesn't score....

Kenny Cooper-A player who will actually try something imaginative with the ball, is selfish when he has to be running at opponents because thats what great players do (know when to take the opposition on!), and actually scores!

You do the math.....

[kebzach]

No Kenny Cooper? WHY GOD OH WHY!!!! I'm an internet soccer fan so I must have my way and I must be right, and what I know is that KENNY COOPER IS THE GREATEST FORWARD EVER!

[kevin]

Ching and Dempsey should get the call up front. EJ should be used as a super-sub. I imagine come World Cup that will be his role with Altidore/Cooper being our starting strikers.

Hell even Charlie Davies should get a call up during the next round of qualifying so he can be in South Africa.

[Frankie B.]

Clearly B. Bradley is incompetent. It seems like he doesn't have the balls to do something different. We need to shake things up a bit if we are ever gonna threaten.

[Reynolds]

Lewis hasn't played 1 game for Galaxy, let him settle in

[Tim]

Edu shouldn't be called up because he should be given time to settle in with his new club especially it looks like his coach likes him, and he will get plenty of playing time with Rangers.

Jozy and Adu should be given the same chance to fight for spots in the starting eleven in their respective club sides.

We really don't need them to defeat Cuba or Trinidad even though we can't underestimate Trinidad as the Revs did so with Joe Public. I would rather Jozy and Adu get starting positions for clubs in two clubs in two of the best leagues in the world rather than let them "get to know each other" there is plenty of time for that. We still have the bulk of qaulifying left.

[kevin]

Frankie Hejduk, Ricardo Clark, Eddie Lewis are either too old or too poor at the international level. Same with Chris Rolfe, Taylor Twellman and Brian Ching. They only need call ups if we are playing a winter friendly with Canada or Latvia.

Let's focus on our Euro players only with the exception of Donovan, Klejstan and Wynne. Within time they will also be playing in Europe.

[Brian]

Was mad at first when I didn't see Jozy listed, but that basically confirms that he is going to be loaned out very soon so Bradley just wants him to settle in at his loan club. Adu should have been called up in my opinion. Cooper as well, although something tells me he will be something like Taylor Twellman when he does get his chance. The more and more I see Eddie Lewis getting picked into the squad, the more and more I want to strangle somebody. Actually that goes double for whenever I see Michael Bradley in the squad and just think about how his own father is misusing him in the XI.

[Art]

Is there some type of petition we can do to bring to USA Soccer President Sunil Gulati to let him know Bob Bradley is becomming a scared, "play it safe," coach who will lead this team to no where if he continues at this selection pace?!

[Tim]

Eddie lewis plays for the Galaxy. He is already in the starting 11. It doesn't have to earn a spot like Adu and Jozy and Edu have to. (Still clueless why Edu is in the lineup) We should give some other players chances to play like Kenny Cooper.

[Reid]

Everyone with complaints go to the USA/Cuba game and voice them so Bradley can hear, definite chants and singing. Maybe then BB will get the dick out of his ear and listen

[Reid]

or any respective other venues, i guess i was just talking to the northeast contingent

[Ben]

I wish Bob had to explain all of decisions in an interview or something. I'm baffled.

[Tony in Ninerland]

Take full points from the next two matches and experiment more in the final three.

At least that is what I would do.

[aatabak]

I am really looking forward to the defensive alignment we are going to come out with. I really like the two defensive mids in front of the back four, BB is a joke. If M. Bradley starts it will be an absolute joke.

[Bernie]

That uber-scrub Pearce and no Kenny Cooper! I am officially boycotting this team

[Adam]

Bob, what the f---!

[Sushant Rao]

First of all, this is WCQ guys, not friendlies. We need to take our best team with some guys that may be important by 2010.

That said, UGH!!!!!!!!

It's a fairly BB squad, meaning very little new blood and very little creativity.

Here's my take in each area:

GOALKEEPERS: Guzan & Howard
- No surprise here. I can't think of anyone else to consider here

DEFENDERS: Bocanegra, Califf, Cherundolo, Hejduk, Onewyu, Orozco, Pearce, Wynne
- I like the inclusion of Califf, Wynne and Orozco, but I'm flabbergasted that he kept 'Dolo who has a red card and will have to miss the first game. I would have thought that he would have brought up Simek or Bornstein.

MIDFIELDERS: Beasley, Bradley, Clark, Edu, Kljestan, Lewis
- Clark and Lewis surprise me. Clark? Lewis did NOT do well against Guat. I would have preferred Adu here. Also, any creativity here? Nope, I don't see it either.

FORWARDS: Ching, Donovan, Dempsey, Johnson
- This is really shocking. EJ is doing so bad that he gets loaned out and he still merits a call-up? I would have taken a chance on Cooper in place of Johnson and possibly Charlie Davies in place of Ching.

Get ready for a couple of 0-0 games.

I think I'll skip watching these games.

[Bobby]

BB stands for Boring Bradley. This roster puts me to sleep!

[BJR]

No Cooper?

I really don't get it.

And I'm getting tired of listening to myself bitch...

Klinsi, come back to the states. Please!

So Sunil passed on a coach that actually got Germany to play attractive futbol and is now leading the top team in the Bundesliga. And what do we get? An MLS coach.

WTF!? Fire Oompa Loompa Gulati and Bradley!

[CD]

so johnson is a better option then Cooper????
Lewis> Adu????????

also Bradley insists on playing his kid as much as possible, give other guys a chance!

[Amy]

You guys are so drama.

[Murphy]

Adu and Altidore should be left to play for their new clubs.

But this Eddie Johnson thing is ridiculous. He has done nothing for club or country for at least a year now. Make him earn his spot! Definitely either Cooper or Rolfe (for the Fire fans) would have filled his spot just as well.

DeMerit keeps getting screwed by Bradley and I don't understand. He is definitely better than Califf, no question about it. And Wynne is a good prospect and fast as hell, but not a better defender than DeMerit.

Otherwise, I think its a good roster overall. Edu probably would have benefitted from staying with Rangers but who would be a good replacement for him? Pablo "Red Card Waiting to Happen" Mastroeni?

[NOLA soccer fan]

Ives...You are the reporter man...you have more contact with BB than the rest of us...you gotta find out what the deal is here. because when EJ was the amazing striker in Kansas City, he got called up..

I dont want to complain about kenny cooper, but i find it hard not to..

that and eddie lewis and frankie needs to be replaced by someone who will be there in 2010.

[Frankie B.]

Frankie Hejduk??? Eddie Lewis??? -way too old

EJ hasn't done anything to be selected time after time.

[DL]

I feel like Bob Bradley personally hates me.

[Louis]

In a way I hope we actually dont qualify

[Feilhaber]

Dempsey is so overrated...he has really become awful....Give the young man a chance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rob]

no kenny cooper? bob bradley needs to see a psychiatrist.

[roberto]

someone remove BB out of office please its a regime started by arena...the regime of boring times and loosing soccer. Someone leave Bradley locked up in guanatanamo bay
this team needs kinnear & Spencer or nicol & mariner
help please

[KCJ]

Cooper couldn't even score on Kansas City last week. Certainly Cuba and TNT are better than KC : )

[Frankie B.]

fire his ass. we need someone with cahones making decisions.

[Jacob]

This is a total departure for me:

F*** Bob F****** Bradley.

Continue.

[Tommy]

Bob Bradley get a clue.

EJ and Dempsey suck lately and don't deserve the national shirt.

[Barry U]

Bob Bradley is really getting on my nerves!
Keep calling in the same guys no matter what happens and Sunil better start getting ready for a European Vacation again.

Eddie Johnson (on current form)and Eddie Lewis do not merit call ups. Mo Edu should stay in Glasgow. Orozco is not playing for his club team in Mexico. Brian Ching is playing in USMNT form? Not sure.

Califf amd Gouch seem to be in great form. Califf's team played two games versus Man City and gave up one goal. Gouch's team played two games versus Liverpool and gave up 1 goal. These guys have the type of form going we need. Getting time and playing well no matter the who you play.

It is only Cuba and T&T but still very dissapointed in the selections.

[Ricky Williams]

Hey Bob,

Pass it back, man!

[kid]

i agree it's a bit dissapointing to not see cooper again. but as for people saying there not gonna watch the games and hope we don't qaulify, come on support your team. As for calling in older players i love watchin frankie and lewis is good for a few minutes to rest beas. and ya can't just call in a group of youngsters you have to have some vets in camp to help them grow.

[Mikeype]

Is this our potential World Cup team? Know I understand why the United States never improves, they play the same players over and over again.

Look at other teams in our region, they are getting better. Why? They are playing their youngsters and having them gain experience and we are not.

Why did our Olympic team bow out in the group stage? Lack of composure! We need our young, up and coming players, to obtain some experience!

[BK]

Does anyone know why Hejduk is still called up? I mean, he can't cross a ball to save his life, he's a red card waiting to happen, and he reminds me of a Caveman.

At this point, I'm not really sure what Adu needs to do to get a sniff at the team. I mean, every game he plays in he sets up a goal or scores himself, he's by far the best free kicker the US has, and he actually plays attacking soccer.

As I've said for years and years, Eddie Johnson is garbage. Put Usain Bolt on the field and he could do exactly the same thing. Run and shoot like a Jeff George offense.

I'm also not real sure when Kljestan became a shoe-in for the team. In my opinion, his Olympics sucked. He gave away at least 50% of the balls that were passed to him and it killed us on numerous occasions. I see the same thing on the MNT.

I didn't even mention Ricardo Clark for Mastroeni. Do you think the MNT has job descriptions? It seems like they must b/c it seems like a requirement for our defensive mids to get a yellow each game. Whether it's Bradley, Clark, or Mastroeni, they're always hurting us with worthless yellows.

I agree with everyone else. Time to see some fresh faces. Some cats with creativity (i.e. Adu, Altidore, etc.).

[freddie footballer]

If this is based off of recent performances, how does Orozco get a call and not Adu? You'd think it was Adu that got the red card against Nigeria and not Orozco. Adu was our best player on the field against Netherlands. I just don't get it. We need his creativity and passing.

[Evan]

I'm wondering if the Altidore situation has anything to do with discipline. I know hes a good kid but there were reports of issues he had while still with the red bulls.

[Sigi]

Stop playing favorites, BOB!

Johnson and Dempsey are NOT in form!
Get a freakin clue!

[Jason]

Bradley, Clark & Edu?! They all play the same position with nearly the same style.

Orozco?!?! EJ?!?! This pretty much confirms it. Suck a** for your country or club and you can get your confidence up with WCQ under Bradley.

[Conner]

Cooper is a call up that should be a no brainer. He is better than Brian Chiing in almost every facet of the game, wxcept for experience and heaven forbid he get the opportunity to get that. Bradley really should clarify his reason for not callinf Adu and Altidore is that they are new at theier respective clubs, because if not he needs to be removed even sooner than i already think. They are the future, i respect eddie lewis, but there is no upside to him. We have to quite bringing in the average players in their late twenties and early thirties at the expense of giving younger more promising talent a chance. The older guys have no upside, and even more importantly its not like we are dealing with the question of calling up Befetimbi Martins instead of Thierry Henry, we have no Thierry Henry. It would be one thing if we were leaving out legends of the game, or our countries history, but we dont have those so why not give the younger players a chance. Am i the only one who feels that giving guys like Cooper and Charlie Davies would be a good idea, and even players in the midfield like Holden and Robbie Rogers offer youthfulness and an UPSIDE. What do we have to lose? My isue is that after out last World cup failure this was the time to rebuild and look to the future and it seems that bradley only has shortterm goals. I realize qualification is important but we cant use that as an excuse to stunt the potential growth of our future players.

[thumpjosh]

I've had enough. Who do we need to write to in order to voice our frustrations? Is it Gulati or is there a board?

I'm no longer making it a priority to watch US matches-maybe we should all watch less? There has got to be a better solution to the US than Bradley.

arrrgh.

[CDeeps]

Califf knocked one into his own goal in the 90th minute today when his team was minutes away from eliminating Manchester City from the UEFA Cup qualifiers. Man City capitalized on this gifted opportunity and won on penalty kicks. Nice job, Danny.

[Kenny Cooper's Mom]

Please give my son the opportunity that you have given yours.

[DeLarge]

If we are taking EJ and Ching to South Africa, it better be because Adu, Altidore, Landycakes, Cooper, Rolfe, Buddle, Twellman, Davies, Jaqua, Arnaud, and freaking Sebastian LeToux are all injured.

[Jurgen Klinsmann]

Somebody has to start it...

www.firebobbradley.com

[Andrew]

I have largely been ok with Bob Bradley, but this exemplifies why the U.S. is always second-rate. He goes with safe mediocrity because it has done well in the past against Caribbean soccer teams. Anyone on the U.S. team should do well against Caribbean soccer teams. I see that he isn't concerned about Eddie Johnson settling at a new club. And Kenny Cooper and Taylor Twellman should be called in before Eddie Johnson and Brian Ching. Clint Dempsey also should have played himself out of the picture at forward, because he is not playing well and that is not his position.

That people are celebrating Orozco's inclusion is amazing. What is wrong with punishing a player for bad performances and stupid actions? Besides throwing the elbow and rightly deserving of scorn, he played like shite in the Japan game, where his side leaked like a sieve. That was at the U-23 level.

Ricardo Clark also has done nothing to deserve a call-up.

Jozy and Freddy better be starting when it matters.

Eddie Lewis is over the hill and should not be on the team in 2010.

[Leech]

DeLarge,

Tell me you are joking about Jaqua nad Arnaud please? Ching is 100 times better than that garbage.

[Robert]

I agree that these games just won't be fun to watch without Adu/Jozy/Cooper. No flair, no creativity, no attractiveness... will cheer for Cuba... and he better call up Jozy for the DC game since I plan to attend!

[Eddie Johnson, bitches!]

Hey, I'm a good soccer player for a guy who started playing at 16! Better than most of you guys anyway, ha!

I'm fast, play for Ful -- Cardiff City, and have a six-pack. I can eat anything I want because I run quick and burn fat. I'm way more awesome than you, and I love Bob Bradley because he is the greatest coach who ever lived.

I'm better than Kenny Cooper too, because I'm playing now for the team that he wasn't good enough to play for! I scored against Barbados after like, two minutes on the field dawg!

And had a hat trick against Panama after coming on as a sub! Ha, think you can do that?!And I almost scored against Spain. It was rainy though and the ball skimmed off my forehead. But whatever, I'm young and run fast. Faster than you guys!

[Kenny Cooper]

Dear Bob,

"I apologize for everything that I have done wrong to you. Now will you let me play?"

[metrostar 4 life]

bob bradley just doesn't get it, we barely beat Guatemala. It should be a wakeup call, get Ching, EJ, Lewis,Orozco out of there. Cooper, Adu, and Jozy definitely deserve call-ups

[Isaac]

--------------Donovan---Ching-----------------

----Beasley------------------------Dempsey----
----------------Edu-----Bradley---------------

----Pearce--------------------------Hejduk----
------------Bocanegra-----Onyew---------------
-------------------Howard---------------------

[God]

Bob Bradley, you're a moron.

I've made a huge mistake.

[Tina Turner]

--------------Donovan---Ching-----------------

----Beasley------------------------Dempsey----
----------------Edu-----Bradley---------------

----Pearce--------------------------Hejduk----
------------Bocanegra-----Onyew---------------

The weak spots cannot be hidden here.

[hoyanick]

I am really, really curious about what Ives has to say about Altidore.

[Jordan]

If you dont like this email Sunil at skg21@columbia.edu

That is his actual email. I emailed him in the past to bitch and I know he got it because he personally replied. Let him know how you feel

[Isaac]

I would be very interested to hear what the HELL Bradley's reason for not including at LEAST Adu in his roster. Its getting ridiculous. Scratch that. Its been ridiculous. It's F***ing Cuba. CUBA!! go ahead and put the majority of experienced players out there but seriously you cant expect young blood to get any better without putting them in a place where they need that experience.

[Eddie Buddle]

Dear Bob,

I look like Eddie Johnson. Will you call me up?

[Rob Usry]

Yeah you can't just say that about our most prized young player and leave us hanging.

[K. Bowen]

"I think this still applies. I'm sure part of the angst from fans over Cooper is the fact that Eddie Johnson is getting call-ups even though he has struggled mightily with the national team. While this is true, Johnson does have a track record of playing well against lower-level CONCACAF teams so these games could theoretically be the type of games that help Johnson get going on the national team."

Why don't you grow a backbone, Ives?

[Sean]

Man, this lineup is a bummer. Heydude? Lewis? Is it 2002 again?

More significantly, are we really not developing more prospects than this? I like Heyduk's game at the MLS level, but for full internationals I'd really like more out of a right back than Frankie's runrunrun game. Crossing, or combination play, or a touch of flair, or decent positioning, or something. Gah.

[A.S.]

Dannyc58 really nailed it above. Bradley is set with his guys, and it doesn't really matter how badly they play, or how well others play. Bradley is going to play Bradley's guys. Period. End of Story.

Folks, you are looking at your World Cup 2010 roster. Expect Eddie Johnson and Eddie Lewis and Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey to start, now matter how crappy they are playing for the national team, and no matter well guys like Adu, Altidore, Cooper are playing. And we all know that this roster is good enough for us to get to World Cup 2010, thereby vindicating Bradley's choices, and then go 0-2-1 in the group stage again.

[randall]

so how does your "getting settled in at their new club" theory apply to eddie johnson?

glad to see wynne get the call. and lets see cuba try the rough stuff with clark and orozco in there ;)

[K. Bowen]

And if not Cooper or Altidore, why not Buddle or Charlie Davies?

[Pwell]

No Adu??? I bid Adeux to this team!

[Anderson Cooper]

"Just don't be surprised if Altidore is in the national team wilderness for a while."
did he piss off Bradely or someone in U.S Soccer?