NP's Mock Roster 2.0

After seeing the young but talented roster released by Brazil yesterday, I'll make a realistic roster of 24 players (the same number Brazil is bringing).  Here goes nothing.

GK(3):  Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Dominic Cervi (Celtic), Chris Seitz (Philadelphia Union)

DF(8): Jonathan Spector (West Ham United), Daniel Williams (SC Freiberg), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland), Edgar Castillo (San Luis), Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa)

MD: Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers), Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro SK), Michael Bradley (Borussia Monchengladbach), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Mikkel Diskerud (Stabaek), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Bobby Convey (San Jose Earthquakes)

FW: Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Hurculez Gomez (Pachuca), Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy), Eddie Johnson (Fulham FC)


Starting 11 from this list:

----------------------Guzan

Spector-----Goodson-----Onyewu----Lichaj

--------------Bradley--------Edu

Holden----------------------------------Convey

---------------Altidore-----Gomez

Big names left off: Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard, Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Jay DeMerit, DaMarcus Beasley, Jonathan Bornstein, Ricardo Clark, Jermaine Jones, Charlie Davies.  Why you ask?

Donovan just needs a break, plain and simple.  Dempsey needs to get settled with whoever his new manager will be, be that at Fulham or not.  Howard needs a break, no need to bring our number 1 across the pond for a friendly.  Bocanegra needs to get settled with his new club.  DeMerit and Beasley need to find new clubs, Bornstein is injured.  Clark has already turned a call up for this match to focus on his club.  Jones and Davies need to get regular playing time during the regular season to be sure that they are past their injuries.  Still, its a solid roster that should be able to compete with a young Brazil side.  The real roster is supposed to be released early next week...in typical USSF fashion, we must wait until the last second.

Brazil Announces Roster to Face the United States

Yesterday new Brazil manager Mano Menezes unveiled his first ever roster, the one that will face the United States on August 10 at the New Meadowlands Stadium.  It includes savvy veterans like Robinho and Daniel Alves and future/current stars like Alexandre Pato, Marcelo, and Ramires.  Here is the full roster:

GK(3): Victor (Gremio), Jefferson (Botafogo), Renan (Avai)

DF(8): Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Andre Santos (Fenerbahce), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Henrique (Racing Santander), Rever (Atletico Mineiro), David Luiz (Benfica), Rafael (Manchester United)

MD(8): Ramires (Benfica), Lucas Leiva (Liverpool), Carlos Eduardo (Hoffenheim), Hernanes (Sao Paulo), Sandro (Internacional), Ederson (Lyon), Jucilei (Corinthians), Paulo Henrique Ganso (Santos)

FW(5): Robinho (Manchester City), Alexandre Pato (AC Milan), Diego Tardelli (Atletico Mineiro), Andre (Dynamo Kyiv), Neymar (Santos)

USA vs Brazil, August 10, NP's mock up roster

I just love armchair managing.  Just a fun mock roster for who I'd like to see come into camp in a couple weeks.

GK: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Dominic Cervi, Chris Seitz

DF: Jonathan Spector, Steve Cherundolo, Hunter Freeman, Eric Lichaj, Oguchi Onyewu, Jay DeMerit, Clarence Goodson, Carlos Bocanegra, Edgar Castillo, Daniel Williams

MD: Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Stuart Holden, Maurice Edu, Benny Feilhaber, Jose Torres, Mikkel Diskerud, Alejandro Bedoya, Sacha Kljestan, Jermaine Jones, Ricardo Clark

FW: Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, Hurculez Gomez, Charlie Davies, Eddie Johnson

Yes I realize there are 30 names there, but this being unofficial, 30 players seems like a good amount.  I cannot wait until August 10. COME ON YOU YANKS!!!!!!!

Who will coach these keeeeds???

January 2011, Camp Cupcake, who will be in charge?  Bob Bradley is easily the greatest coach statistically in US Soccer history.  Does that mean he should stay in charge?  I say no.  It is time to move up to bigger and better things.  The United States Soccer Federation should remember what happened last time they decided to keep a manager around for two World Cup cycles.  Jurgen Klinnsmann sure could use something to do now that his job as an analyst for ESPN is up.  Bob Bradley is on the shortlist for the vacant Fulham job, and this would be a great opportunity for an American coach to ply his trade on the biggest stage.  Just my two cents...

If I might lend a machette to the transfer season thicket...

Transfer season is full go right now and there are multitudes of yanks abroad looking for new homes.  Let's run down the list with what we know right this very moment:

Landon Donovan- British tabloids have Manchester City and Everton in the hunt for the American sensation.  But MLS commissioner Don Garber is vehemently stating that Landon is going nowhere, ever.  I guess its what the fans want to hear and what he has to say, but Citeh are reportedly ready to offer $15 million for his services and Donovan would see a three-fold increase in his salary to around $7 million per year.  There's also an AC Milan rumor floating around stating a player swap with Ronaldinho is in the works.  All seem plausible at this point.

Clint Dempsey- With the last few weeks of uncertainty at Fulham, Dempsey is in a precarious position.  Not knowing who his next manager can be irritating and there are rumors of a transfer to Liverpool to hook back up with former Fulham boss Roy Hodgson.  AC Milan and Napoli are also reportedly interested.

Jozy Altidore- Villarreal seem keen to sell the wayward forward.  Ajax, Besiktas, and some other unnamed clubs are sniffing around, with Ajax wanting a season long loan, but Villarreal is demanding a full sale.  The Netherlands would be great for Jozy, let's hope this goes through.

Carlos Bocanegra- Signed, sealed, and delivered....to Saint Etienne for around 400,000 Euros.

Jay DeMerit- Blackpool, Crystal Palace, Leeds United are among the primary names in the chase for the former Watford captain.  He also has interest from Germany, Turkey, and the Netherlands according to his agent. 

Clarence Goodson- Turned down a move to FC Kaiserslautern in the Bundesliga and is currently hearing from Danish Superliga runners-up Odense BK. 

Benny Feilhaber- AGF Aarhus are trying desperately to sell the midfielder and Feilhabers agent claims interest from Spain, the Netherlands, and Turkey, but according to Feilhaber he is keeping his fingers crossed for a move to La Liga.

DaMarcus Beasley- Blackpool is reportedly interested in Beasley, but the more likely move seems back to the Netherlands or to Spain.

Jonathan Bornstein- Signed a 3-year deal with Tigres UANL in the Primera Division in Mexico.  I like this move.

Freddy Adu- Revamped Aris deal in hand, Adu is in Greece for at least a year.

Eddie Johnson- Aris reportedly wanted to extend the loan for Johnson, but Fulham said buy or nothing.

More to come....