So I've taken the liberty of breaking it down as I see it.
Goalkeepers-Our strongest position aside from Midfield.
1-Tim Howard
Not much of a question here, anybody who supports the USA loves him, and anybody who follows the premiership fears him. Top class goalkeeper who's going to be a difference maker for us this summer.
2-Brad Guzan
Could you ask for a better 2nd string than Guzan? This guy should be starting at Aston Villa if not for another American's (Brad Friedel)impeccable form. At 24 years old, the future in the long line of outstanding American goalkeepers is in safe hands. No pun intended. Ok, maybe it was.
This is where it gets tricky. Logic would have it that you should take your top 3 goalkeepers to the World Cup, which for me would give this spot to Marcus Hahnemann. However, the odds of the 3rd string goalkeeper ever seeing a minute of time in the World Cup are so astronomically high that most people feel that Bob should bring along a younger goalie to give him some experience, such as Brian Perk, Chris Seitz, Domonic Cervi, or Luis Robles. For me, I'd rather have the experience, just in case. The younger guys will get their shot when the time comes, and we'll have Guzan for a long time.
3-Marcus Hahnemann
Despite the fact that he's 39 years old, he's looking damn good in the EPL right now for Wolves, coming off a shutout away to top 4 Tottenham Hotspur. In the event that we actually need our 3rd string goalie on the field (Knock on wood), this is the guy we need ready.
Defenders-My, oh my. What a mess this has been all year. Things were starting to sort themselves out at the Confederations Cup, then down go Gooch and DeMerit and all of a sudden we're back at square 1.
1-Carlos Bocanegra
Captain, Veteran Center Back in a depleted pool of CBs. Starting in the French Ligue 1 for god knows how many years at Rennes. Not the greatest defender, but makes up for it with heart and goal scoring ability from the back.
2-Steve Cherundolo
I honestly couldn't tell you how long Stevie C's been starting in the Bundesliga for Hanover 96, but it's well over 5 years. Easily the most experienced back in the pool, he's a lock for SA.
3-Jay DeMerit
Having been out for 3 months with some sort of freak eye injury, he made his return as captain of Watford over the weekend in a 1-0 loss. His performance at the Confederations Cup and in the few qualifiers he played has cemented him as a starter as long as he's healthy.
4-Jonathan Bornstein
It's kind of scary that this Chivas USA Left-back is 4th on our depth chart for defenders, right? Wrong. This guy isn't nearly as bad as most people rate him. I'd be totally comfortable with him at LB this summer, especially after the late heroics vs Costa Rica in DC to win us the Hex.
5-Oguchi Onyewu
Again, kind of scary that our 5th roster spot on defense goes to a guy who had major knee surgery just a month and a half ago. Gooch however is certain he'll be back in time for the WC, and if this is so, he's a lock for the roster because when he's healthy, he's our best defender.
6-Jonathon Spector
I love this guy. His services from the back are a huge concern for opposing defenses (Ask Egypt, Brazil) Inconsistent, but improving playing time with West Ham in the EPL has Specs on my roster any day. The only question is where along the potentially makeshift backline he'll play. We've seen him at RB (this past summer) CB (November vs Slovakia and Denmark), and LB (West Ham).
7-Clarence Goodson
Looked good against Denmark. Consistently starting at IK Start in Norway, Goodson looks to be our #4 CB behind Jay, Gooch, and Boca. My gut feeling is that he is merely there for insurance purposes though, as Bobby B successfully played Spector at CB in search of potential replacements to our long-time stalwarts currently out with injury.
Midfielders - Our deepest position. Combine that with our lack of depth at striker, and you're going to see a whole lot of these guys on the roster. Some of these guys can play as Backs as well, and some can also play in the striker role, so this position is going to take up the biggest chunk of our roster.
1-Landon Donovan
Again, a done deal. Easily our best outfield player, Landon's form this year has been surreal. I'm not a fan of his move to Everton, but hopefully it'll work out for the best, and he'll keep his form and lead us to sucess this summer.
2-Clint Dempsey
AKA "Houdini", this guy seems to disappear for 89 minutes and 58 seconds, then come out of no where and bury a diving header to win us the game. That big play ability, as well as his consistent goal scoring at Fulham, means he'll be on the pitch for the USA.
3-Michael Bradley
Despite being the coach's kid, this guy can play. Hard-nosed box-to-box midfielder and a legitimate scoring threat (our best scoring CM in the history of US Soccer), Bradley's starting role at Borrusia Moenchengladbach in the Bundesliga and past performances for the USA give him a plane ticket.
4-Benny Feilhaber
YESSS!!!!! YESSS!!!!! BENNY! FEILHABER! 73rd MINUTE! BENNY WITH HIS JETS! 2-1, USA!!!!
If you dont know what im talking about, see :52 seconds into this clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I3HCOMYTYc
Benny is a fan favorite for moments like that and his flashes of brilliance against Spain and Brazil make him a sure pick for this summer.
5-Ricardo Clark
I'm not to high on Clark, but he plays pretty well for us, and right now he's our only other CM with alot of starting experience. His role in the Confed Cup will play to his advantage when the roster is picked, but he better watch out for 2 dark horses looking to take his spot.
6-Stuart Holden
Absolutely love this kid. A true "#7", his play on the right wing has been exciting and dangerous. Good speed, solid track-back defense and a deadly cross make him valuable to our air-oriented attack. Got his first look in the Gold Cup, and came out with 2 goals and 3 assists (I was there for the one against Haiti, aboslutely unbelieveable). Stu followed up his GC performance and silenced his "big fish in a pond of minnows" critics with solid performances in Azteca (Sub), and vs Honduras and Costa Rica as a starter. With Charlie Davies out, he may very well take the starting RM spot and push Dempsey up top with Jozy.
Side Note: Coolest picture of the bunch
7-Jose Francisco Torres
I can't figure out why this guy doesn't get more time for the USA. He was one of the two players who were really the reason we were able to tie up the Costa Rica game in DC, and every time he gets on the field he seems to dicatate the flow of play. His posession-savvy game make him a viable substitute when we need to slow the game down and keep the ball. Paco Torres will be there next summer.
8-Robbie Rogers
Dangerous winger who has burst onto the scene lately with strong performances in the last few WCQs and in the November friendlies. A potential substitute when an offensive spark is needed, he can play on the left and we can push Donovan into the free-roaming supporting striker role.
9-Maurice Edu
If he can get healthy and get back to where he was before his knee injury with Rangers, I don't see how he can possibly be left off the roster. Watch out Rico, Maurice is looking like a pretty good option at Defensive CM. Again, the key is if he can recover from his injury and regain his form.
10-Jermaine Jones
Ok, the hype surrounding this guy is absolutely incredbile. I understand that he is widely considered the best defensive center mid in the Bundesliga for Schalke 04, but with this awful leg injury he's currently facing, I'm skeptical. IF, and only if he regains his health, fitness, and form for Schalke, he'll have one shot to impress Bob Bradley in our March 3rd friendly @ The Netherlands. If he impresses in his first cap for the USA against a team like Holland, he's not only a lock to make the team, he's a guaranteed starter.
Forwards-Our weakest position. We have young potential, and some old guys who have become obselete at the international level. This is a tricky one. Dempsey and Donovan can both play up top, so we really have 5 options at striker rather than 3, and with our depth at midfield, we may be able to afford to make one of those moves.
1-Jozy Altidore
Jozy is without a question our best striker, getting good minutes in the EPL for Hull City and scoring a who slue of goals for the USA over the past year, including the game winner in our historic dos-a-cero over Spain in Bloemfontein. Jozy will be starting up top this summer, but with who, if anybody, remains to be seen.
2-Robbie Findley
His incredible form in MLS is going to earn him a chance at camp "cupcake" in January, and I think he'll take that chance and score a few goals. A younger guy with a huge upside coming off a banner season and an MLS cup ring, he'll push his way into the roster.
This spot quite literally brings me to tears thinking about. We all know the situation with Charlie Davies, and the timeline for recovery is projected to keep him out of the World Cup, even though there have been some reports leaking out suggesting he may somehow miraculously make it back in time. At this point, I have to play devil's advocate and say that at this point, Bob can't risk putting him on the roster. Let it be known that Charlie Davies is my favorite player for the US, and if he does make it back in time for the World Cup, I'll be the happiest camper in the whole wide world.
3-Conor Casey
Bob Bradley's project player. Casey does well in MLS, but until his tremendous game vs Honduras, struggled for the USA. Less than acceptable finishing against Costa Rica (he could have scored to put us up 1-0 during the 9th minute Charlie Davies tribute, but made a mess of it) again puts doubts in my head about the big baldy up top, but my gut feeling tells me he'll grab a spot.
There ya have it folks, this here is what the United States World Cup 2010 roster will look like. If all of these guys can stay healthy (or get healthy) and maintain good playing situations for their clubs leading up to the big dance, nobody can deny that we have a very, very dangerous team.
Miss you Charlie<3
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