MLS Insider Blog

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

What do you think of last night’s news that Jonathon Bornstein will spend 2011 playing for UNAL Tigres in Mexico? Initially I was somewhat surprised as I thought he would be one of the next MLS-based Americans internationals to make a move to Europe post-World Cup. But then a friend reminded me where Jose Torres, Herculez Gomez and Marco Vidal are all playing (Pachuca, the Fulham of the FMF) and it dawned on me that it might not be so strange after all because Mexican-Americans seem to be en vogue as of late in south of the border.

Now the flip side of this is that Mexican internationals seem to be gaining just as much popularity with MLS clubs in recent weeks: Chicago announced the capture of Nery Castillo, CDG Chivas issued a press release on the loss of Omar Bravo to the Wizards (although Kansas City has yet to acknowledge the move) and there is continuing talk of an MLS move for Rafa Marquez.

Newton’s third law states that “to every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction.” I knew this applied to physics but who knew this applied to the summer transfer window?

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

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

In the end the Czechs were too much for the auditioning Americans that made up Bob Bradley’s side tonight in East Hartford. And while reading too much into tonight’s result isn’t the best idea, you still have to wonder what this will all mean in relation to June 12. Or of more immediate concern, this Saturday in Philadelphia.

Will Bradley’s faith in Onyewu pay off or was tonight’s mixed performance as good as it will get? Did Herculez Gomez do enough to make the plane? And does Marcus Hahnemann move up in the pecking order following Brad Guzan’s 4-goal evening? These are all questions that will be answered tomorrow at 1pm EST when the 23-man roster is announced live on ESPN.

BY SIMON BORG

Herculez Gomez has apparently signed a deal with reigning CONCACAF champ Pachuca in one of the major club moves of the offseason involving an American. Too bad he did not want to speak about it at US World Cup camp, citing the need to focus on the national team. Defender Oguchi Onyewu did the same thing regarding news of an AC Milan extension.

Gomez said he “respectfully” wished to decline comment on the breaking news involving him, but he should have used the word “disrespectfully” instead. It’s slap in the face to the media which has given the forward more attention in the last month than he’s had in his entire career. Not to mention the message it sends to those fans who have bothered to follow him of late.

More than anything else, his “focus” excuse sounds bogus. Has Gomez completely erased Pachuca from his mind? Has the US National Team confiscated his cell phone? Is he not involved in meetings on the topic in his private time? Whoever was responsible for imposing this silence could have employed more tactful strategies: “The deal is not official … Negotiations are still in progress … Pachuca and my agent are handling media requests … There’s a moratorium on club announcements at camp.” For Gomez and Onyewu to say nothing was in poor taste. Focus pocus.

BY Shawn Francis

Herculez Gomez may be one of the bubble players in the current USMNT camp but if his soccer career ever goes south, something I don’t see happening any time soon, he can always turn to a career in magic. At first I was surprised but then I realized he’s a guy from Las Vegas; he probably already has a 6-week, post-World Cup stand at the Flamingo already booked.

BY SIMON BORG

After the opening of camp on Monday and the Landon Donovan therapy session on Tuesday, there was very little newsworthy notes coming out of U.S. camp in Princeton on Wednesday. Overall, except for the rain on Tuesday, things have gone according to plan for USA manager Bob Bradley who said “so far, so good.”

Here’s where things stand: Bradley seems to have a strong feeling of who his 23 are and will use the match in Hartford to confirm those thoughts. The three injured players who will likely be in the final squad are progressing well (Eddie Johnson, Carlos Bocanegra and Jay DeMerit). Defender Chad Marshall is unlikely to make it to South Africa after a hamstring injury kept him out of the third day of team practice. Also, reading into Bradley’s comments on Wednesday, it’s tough to see DaMarcus Beasley figuring into his plans.

Lastly, forward Edson Buddle says the only forward he has not been paired up with thus far during camp is Herculez Gomez, which likely means that the two are in direct competition for a spot on the 23.

LIKELY NOT TO MAKE FINAL 23: Chad Marshall, DaMarcus Beasley, Alejandro Bedoya, Robbie Findley, Robbie Rogers, Sacha Kljestan, Herculez Gomez OR Edson Buddle

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Although Eddie Johnson might beg to differ, the call-ups of Edson Buddle and Herculez Gomez are the feel-good stories of this year’s camp. But there’s a good chance that only one will make the final 23-man World Cup roster.

So put yourself in Bob Bradley’s shoes for a minute: which player would you take to South Africa? Buddle, Gomez or both?

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Is the year 2010 or 2001? It certainly seems like we’ve turned back the clock a little with all of the recently-resurgent players in midst. Edson Buddle is currently the league’s leading scorer while former MLSer Herculez Gomez is back in the national team picture. And now Jamar Beasley looks set to make his MLS return after an almost 10-year absence. Who’s next for a comeback? Has anyone heard from Ante Razov lately?

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Coach Bob Bradley announced his preliminary 30-man roster ahead of next week’s pre-World Cup training camp in Princeton, NJ. All of the usual suspects (Howard, Donovan, Bocanegra, Bradley, Altidore) are present including a few who were questionable due to injury (Onyewu, Ching).

The selection of forwards does not include the recovering Charlie Davies, a player whose potential inclusion has been the subject of much debate in U.S. soccer circles for months. It does however include relative USMNT greenhorns Edson Buddle & Herculez Gomez as well as once out-of-favor striker Eddie Johnson.

The preliminary 30-man roster in full:

Keepers: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Marcus Hahnemann

Defenders: Oguchi Onyewu, Carlos Bocanegra, Jonathan Bornstien, Jay De Merit, Heath Pearce, Johnathan Spector, Clarence Goodson, Chad Marshall, Steve Cherundolo

Midfielders: Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Alejandro Bedoya, Clint Dempsey, Sacha Kljestan, Ricardo Clark, Robbie Rogers, Stuart Holden, Maurice Edu, Benny Feilhaber, Jose Francisco Torres, Michael Bradley

Forwards: Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, Robbie Findley, Brian Ching, Herculez Gomez, Eddie Johnson

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Alexi Lalas reckons that Brian McBride could still be a viable option at forward for a striker-strapped USMNT. It’s true that Jozy Altidore, a presumed starter, is still in need of a partner up top with no real front-runner among the regular candidates. Lately talk has centered around former MLSer Herculez Gomez and LA’s Edson Buddle but neither of the currently hot forwards carry much national team experience; together they combine for only 3 caps. Brian McBride, on the other hand, has 96 caps and is a veteran of 3 World Cups. He’s also 37 years old and retired from the national team.

So what do you do if you are Bob Bradley? Do you even consider taking a “retiree” to the World Cup? And if you are McBride do really consider going? Alexi seems to think that there isn’t a player alive who would shun an offer to play for his national team in such a high-profile tournament; oh, how quickly we’ve forgotten Alan Shearer.