The U.S. World Cup Roster: Let The Debate Begin
May 26, 2010 
27 Comments
BY SHAWN FRANCIS
Here it is, Bob Bradley’s 23-man roster for the U.S. Mens National Team. I know you have something to say about it so let the pontificating begin.
USA’s 23-man Provisional World Cup Roster
Goalkeepers- Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann, Brad Guzan
Defenders- Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Steve Cherundolo, Jonathan Spector, Jay DeMerit, Clarence Goodson, Jonathan Bornstein
Midfielders- Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Stuart Holden, Ricardo Clark, Maurice Edu, Benny Feilhaber, Jose Francisco Torres, DaMarcus Beasley
Forwards- Jozy Altidore, Robbie Findley, Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomez
I’ll take this team to war!!!
No problem at all with this selection
know a lot of people may be surprised ching didn’t make it but eh, in my opinion, ching or findley wouldn’t have seen a lot of minutes in the finals anyway, i’d much rather have buddle or gomez.. they both impressed me last night… midfield and defenders, would’ve picked it the same way
I feel real good with this team… no B.Ching tho?
Happy 32nd Birthday Brian Ching, you’re going back to Houston. Sorry, you’re getting older and a tad slower. Gomez deserves his place after performing well in Mexico.
Great choices. Props to Bradley for going with some young awesome talent. I’m pumped to see Edson Buddle and Herculez in there.
I’m truly puzzled at the front line selection. Aside from Jozy it is full of SPEED. Inexperienced and unproven SPEED. Is this a sign that Bradley is going to go back to the play of 2002, fast scrappy and agressive football. and 3 keepers seems a bit excessive.
So glad to see Gomez instead of Ching. For once, a good call by Bob Bradley.
Phil…
Having 3 keepers is mandatory for all of the teams in the World Cup or any other major competitions.
On the whole, I’d say that I am happy with the selections. I do wish Ching had made it into the roster over Findley (who has been very unimpressive in his matches so far). I’m not a huge fan of Ching, but at least he’s proven himself.
Love it, I am really looking forward to seeing them all play Saturday. Ching isnt a loss at all. Im hoping Altidore and Buddle can work together well and increase the threat of our attack. I am really interested to see tores play mid field with landon, holden and dempsey, they could be eal dangerous. Our defense worries me a little. Guchi’s still a question mark, Spector can hold his own, goodsone looked good…We wont really know how this tema is going to be until July 12th.
GO USA!!
Love it, I am really looking forward to seeing them all play Saturday. Ching isnt a loss at all. Im hoping Altidore and Buddle can work together well and increase the threat of our attack. I am really interested to see tores play mid field with landon, holden and dempsey, they could be eal dangerous. Our defense worries me a little. Guchi’s still a question mark, Spector can hold his own, goodson looked good…We wont really know how this tema is going to be until July 12th.
GO USA!!
Im replying to Phil too…
Having speed up top is essential. It creates havoc for the opposing defenders. And how can speed be unproven?! seems contradictory. Gomez and Buddle have proven themselves in their leagues so far this year and Gomez scored last night.
I am content with Bradley’s decisions.
And like Dave said..3 keepers is mandatory.
ching sucks. great selections by Bradley
I knew about the 3 keepers, I’m just running on 30+ hours no sleep so I’m not all here. When I say unproven I mean on a big meaningful stage. Buddle obviously is on FIRE at the moment but consider the competition. Gomez I have not seen much of due to where he plays, but from everything I’ve watched and read he’s the real deal. However Findley is just puzzling to me. I am a Real Salt Lake fan, I go to almost every game of theirs. However I never saw this coming… The largest stage he’s been on is the MLS cup which he did perform well in. However against the worlds best back lines and keepers I seem to doubt his ability. Obviously I hope I’m wrong, but I had just expected Bradley to go with Ching or Casey(yes i know he was not on the 30) for the experience and stronger play.
Speed up front is HUGE for the World Cup. As for Findley’s selection: he is a great goal scorer who hasn’t even hit his prime yet. I think we all wish that Charlie Davies could play and anyone else beside Altidore isn’t going to be up to his level. That being said, I’ll take Findley’s speed and scoring ability (and health) over Ching’s lackluster performance from the last few years any day. (And I am a Brian Ching fan…)
Let us also not forgot our very suspect back line. 3 players not 100% and one in Bornstein who is just not ready for this stage as evidenced by his performance last night.
GO TIM HOWARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hes most deff our teams best player!!!
Danny Califf should have been on this roster. Bornstein is not ready, Boca’s not 100% and I’m no fan of Onyewu. Califf is the most under rated player in the MLS.
Good Roster… missing Jide Ogunbiyi from Santa Clara University. Hes playing in Denmark now…
Brian Ching deserves to be on this team! He is a threat whether he scores or not. Should have left over-rated Altidore off the team!
FREE SASHA KLJESTAN (with purchase of invisible midfielder of equal or greater value) Seriously. A year ago the guy was pants, but I didn’t even realize he was on the field for a solid 15 mins last night. The cut was just.
I like these selections. It is going to be very interesting to see how well some of these inexperienced guys perform internationally. Some bold moves from Bradley…hope they pay off.
To those that are saying “no Ching, no loss”, you really don’t understand his value to the team. The US now is without a target forward and is a work horse. His fitness isn’t as much of an issue as Onyewu’s clearly who made the team. The defense is looking weak which was once something we didn’t concern ourselves at all (maybe it should have?). Ching’s presence on the field will be missed by the team.
Once again, a terrible decision by coach Bradley. Hopefully our midfield picks up the slack for the forwards. GO USA!
yeah, ching has proven he can hold the ball and draw fouls to set up excellent free kick opportunities. i am suprised he didnt make it but not too terribly upset as long as altidore or buddle do those things for the team. if gooch isnt totally fit i think the defense might be the weakest it has ever been. but overall i am quite happy with the selections.
@Graham
As a Philadelphia Union fan, I think I’d have to disagree… Danny Califf is complete garbage. His performance this season has been enough to bench him in my book. Pointless fouls, crappy defending and all around lazy attitude. I can’t wait for him to leave Philadelphia…
overall good picks but if we could have another midfielder in place of Jonathan Bornstein, I would have almost completely agreed with the line up. Maybe bring in Robbie Rogers (yes even he is better than Jonathan Bornstein).
Jeremy-
I’m no Bornstein fan but he had to be on the team. Without him we would have had 6 defenders which just isn’t enough. He won’t play much but he will provide cover when Spector/Dolo/Boca need a rest. Bornstein can be shaky but he has international experience and is the best option we have. Also Robbie Rogers has potential but Alejandro Bedoya is better. And one more midfielder would have been way too many. Some teams have 8 defenders…