MLS Insider Blog

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

While back in the U.S. on his post-World Cup break, erstwhile Houston Dynamo star Stuart Holden made an appearance at Robertson Stadium last night to cheer on his former team in their U.S. Open Cup match against Chivas USA. And although the Dynamo would be eliminated from the tournament with a loss, the Bolton man was still in good spirits and sat down with Dwain Capodice of MLSsoccer.com to discuss his World Cup playing time, his decision to move to Bolton and his hometown club, the Dynamo. “This is home for me,” the USMNT midfielder said, “I really feel a part of this franchise, which is why I’m here now supporting the guys, as they’re still friends.”

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Tim Howard competing against Clint Dempsey and Stuart Holden? What gives? It was all part of a friendly competition between the three of them to win $50,000 grant for the charitable project of their choosing from Pepsi.

Howard finished victorious  with the Pepsi Refresh Grant going to the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome but USMNT  teammates Holden and Dempsey each received a $5,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant for their ideas. The winner was determined by fan voting at http://www.ussoccer.com/PepsiRefresh.

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

With 45 minutes gone the Yanks started off strong but took their foot off the gas for the last 1o minutes of the half, affording the Czechs ample opportunity to score. As for individual players, Stuart Holden and Maurice Edu look ready ride the bubble all the way across the Atlantic and into South Africa. Both players have shown hustle and a willingness to get involved defensively as well as offensively.

On the other end of things Oguchi Onyewu seems physically up to the task but has made a pair of mental mistakes, one of which cost the U.S. a goal. We’ll see what the second-half brings but I wouldn’t expect his gaff to cost him a spot on the 23-man roster.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

One of the myriad of USMNT players to acquire a serious injury over the last nine months is former Houston Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden, currently of Bolton Wanderers, who suffered a broken leg during a friendly against Holland in Amsterdam. He’s now well on his way to obtaining his pre-injury form and nearing “100% match fitness” he can have a laugh about an added bonus of his recent surgery: he’s got a pretty wicked scar to show for it.

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

After a few years of steady performances on the left wing, Brad Davis is getting his shot at the play-making role in Houston. The MLS All-Star and occasional USMNT player looks set to be drafted into a central midfield role following the injury to Geoff Cameron according to the Houston Chronicle.

Davis has big shoes to fill for sure; in recent years Houston’s has been one of the premier central midfields in the league, having been occupied by MLS All-Star’s Rico Clark, Stuart Holden and Dwayne DeRosario. But a skilled veteran like Davis won’t be intimidated by the legacy of former teammates and should be up to that task; expect him to make the most of his new role and help right the injury-weakened ship in Houston.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Stuart Holden wants you to know that he’ll be ready come May 11th, which is the FIFA-mandated deadline for World Cup rosters. Speaking to MLSsoccer.com the Bolton Wanderers midfielder said “I’ll definitely be 100 percent by then.”

Currently recovering from a right fibula fracture suffered in a USMNT friendly against Holland, the former Houston Dynamo player also hopes to get back on the field for his club team this weekend against Tottenham Hotspur. “It’s a possibility, but it’s not my decision,” Holden said. “I’m going to see how training goes this week. If all goes well with no setbacks, then I’ll be available for the weekend.”

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Soccernet has an insightful piece today on the relationship between soccer, increased globalization and dual-citizenship. The piece highlights USMNT up & comer and Pachuca midfielder Jose Torres and the tough call he had to make when deciding to represent the United States at the international level. The Longview, TX-born midfielder is of Mexican decent but lining up for El Tri doesn’t seem to be something he every really considered. “I decided to play for the United States — that was my choice all along,” Torres said, “The opportunity came with the national team, and I took it.”

Torres is part of a USMNT contingent that includes a number of players who could have chosen another path internationally: Charlie Davies, Stuart Holden, Oguchi Onyewu and Benny Feilhaber were all eligible to suit up for another country. One recently capped player, Edgar Castillo, has actually represented another country (Mexico) before making his first appearance for the U.S. in November of 2009.

Prior to Castillo’s move there had only been one other player to play for both sides of the Rio Grande: Chivas USA coach Martin Vasquez. Hear the soft-spoken coaches thoughts on his decision to make the switch and the U.S.-Mexico rivalry below

*Please excuse the background noise courtesy of I-95 traffic.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

“Great soccer player, even better guy”. Couldn’t have have said it better myself.