Who Starts Against South Africa?

Ever since the roster came out I've been debating amongst myself and others about the route that Bob Bradley would take moving forward.  Seeing as there are 18 men for this roster, it would seem a pretty safe bet that everyone will play, if healthy.  That being said, here is the starting lineup that I see Bob Bradley playing out of the gate:

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

Lichaj-----Spector-----Goodson-----Bornstein

------------Carroll-------Pause

Bedoya-------------------------------Rogers

------------Bunbury-----Agudelo

Brad Guzan is the easy pick to start in goal for this one, but look for Cervi to get a half at least for his first cap. 

With Eric Lichaj clearly being the more impressive between he and Jonathan Spector, I see a move for Spector inside, where he is comfortable, and has played there before with West Ham and at various youth levels.  Central defense has become surprisingly thin.  Added depth can never hurt.  Clarence Goodson takes up his position in the middle, and Jonathan Bornstein, the likely captain, fills in on the left.  Tim Ream has played left back in college, so it is very possible that we see him get some time there, with Gale Agbossoumonde and Nat Borchers each getting a fair shake as well

In midfield, I'm not sure why Bob Bradley called in Brian Carroll and Logan Pause, as it would seem neither have much of a future with the Nats.  Knowing Bobs typical cautious style, he likely starts with the holding mids to set the pace, then ups the temperature a bit by introducing the more attack minded Mikkel Diskerud at halftime.  Alejandro Bedoya and Robbie Rogers on the flanks round out the midfield, with Eddie Gaven the as the back up for both.

Up top, the two youth should get the call from the get go, might as well in my opinion.  Robbie Findley is a known quantity.   Juan Agudelo and Teal Bunbury offer some flash and youthful exuberance to a position in desperate need of it. 

So there it is. 

Bob Bradley Names Very Young Roster for South Africa

The United States will take on a very experienced South Africa team in seven days, and the team to battle the Bafana Bafana will be arguably the youngest roster that Bob Bradley has ever named.

United States U20 standouts Juan Agudelo (17) and Gale Agbossoumonde (18) are very surprising calls.  Other youth called in are Teal Bunbury (20) and Mikkel Diskerud (20).  Bunbury, an impressive forward from the Kansas City Wizards, was born in Canada, and once thought to be lost to our northern neighbors, it appears has changed his tune and will likely get his first cap for the US.  Diskerud's name has been coming up since the end of the World Cup as a youngster who has earned his right to be brought into the US fold.  His play in Norway has been a staple of consistency.

Agudelo and Agbossoumonde are the first two players to receive call ups to the full team after being developed at the United States Soccer Development Academy.  Agudelo could become the third youngest United States player to earn a cap, behind Bobby Convey and Freddy Adu, and will be the youngest ever under Bob Bradley.

Here is the full roster:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Dominic Cervi (Celtic), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa)

DEFENDERS (7): Gale Agbossoumonde (Estoril Praia), Nat Borchers (Real Salt Lake), Jonathan Bornstein (Tigres), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Brian Carroll (Columbus Crew), Mikkel Diskerud (Stabaek), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Logan Pause (Chicago Fire), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

FORWARDS (3): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Teal Bunbury (Kansas City Wizards), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)

USA U20 Most Exciting Roster Ever??

Want to know what I'm excited about this month??  No, not the US game next week against South Africa.  It's the Torneo de las Americas tournament in Kennesaw, Georgia on Nov. 21-29.  The United States roster features a who's who of up and coming US stars.  Here is the roster:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Cody Cropper (Ipswich Town; Athens, Ga.), Eduardo Fernandez (Real Salt Lake AZ; Casa Grande, Ariz.)

DEFENDERS (7): Gale Agbossoumonde (G.D. Estoril Praia; Syracuse, N.Y.), Bryan De La Fuente (Chivas USA; Bell, Calif.), Greg Garza (G.D. Estoril Praia; Grapevine, Texas), Korey Veeder (Crystal Palace Baltimore; St. Petersburg, Fla.), Parker Walsh (Karlsruher SC; Roanoke, Va.

MIDFIELDERS (5): Sebastian Lletget (West Ham United; San Francisco, Calif.), Alex Molano (NK Dinamo Zagreb; Grapevine, Texas), Amobi Okugo (Philadelphia Union; Sacramento, Calif.), Moises Orozco (Tigres; Oxnard, Calif.), Conor Shanosky (D.C. United, Sterling, Va.), Alex Zahavi (Maccabi Haifa F.C.; Los Angeles, Calif.), Cesar Zamora (Chivas USA; Sylmar, Calif.)

FORWARDS (4): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls; Barnegat, N.J.), Tristan Bowen (Los Angeles Galaxy; Van Nuys, Calif.), Fuad Ibrahim (Toronto FC; Richfield, Minn.), Omar Salgado (Unattached; El Paso, Texas)

The names that pop off that list are guys like Gale Agbossoumonde, Sebastian Lleget, and Juan Agudelo, but arguably the most important name, is that of Alex Zahavi.  Zahavi, a stand-out in the Portuguese U17 national team, it seems, has switched his allegiance to the United States.  Zahavi is a veteran of the Benfica, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Sporting CP youth systems.  He's a rare talent on the left wide of midfield, despite his being right footed.

The United States will take on Colombia on November 26 and Mexico on November 29 in the three team round-robin tournament.

MLS Cup 2010 Kick Off

Major League Soccer playoffs kickoff tonight when Columbus travel to Dick's Sporting Goods Park to take on the Colorado Rapids.  In a year clearly dominated by western conference teams, this will be the chance for a perennial eastern conference power to grab this series by the collar.  But Columbus comes into the playoffs limping.  They lost starting goalkeeper Will Hesmer to a broken shoulder in the final game of the regular season.  That means that that University of Kentucky alum Andy Gruenebaum will have to step into the most important games of his career in Columbus are to make it to the final.  Here a few keys to the game:

Andy Gruenebaum 
As I said earlier, Gruenebaum is in for the injured Hesmer for as far as Columbus goes in the playoffs.  The Crew's road to the final is pretty tough.  First up is the Colorado strike force of Omar Cummings (14 goals) and Conor Casey (13 goals).  Columbus are vulnerable on the road, especially with a backup GK.  Gruenebaum will need to grow up quick to slow down that duo.

Andy Iro and Chad Marshall vs. Omar Cummings and Conor Casey
Talk about your epic first round battles, this is the key match up in the series.  Iro and Marshall are big and physical, but lack speed.  Casey should be simple enough to deal with, but Cummings will present a different monster to deal with.  How the Crew adjust to compensate could make the difference in this one.

Check out the game tonight on ESPN2 at 9pm ET. 

Major League Soccer End of Season Review

The 2010 MLS season ends today.  A season of new heights for the league has seen exactly what it needed to.  Here we'll review some of the major story lines for the season.

Major Market Teams Flourish
With LA Galaxy controlling their destiny in tonight's game against FC Dallas (a draw will earn them the MLS Supporters Shield), LA has returned to the top the league.  With Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle, and David Beckham leading the way, MLS couldn't be happier with the way LA has dominated for most of the season. 

Meanwhile in the East, the New York Red Bulls sit top of the Eastern Conference heading into the playoffs.  For MLS to succeed in the future, it will need a successful NY club.  The Red Bulls are giving them that and then some with the acquired star power from Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez.

Chicago had it's struggles this season, but have acquired Frddie Ljungberg and Nery Castillo.  The retirement of Brian McBride hurts, but Chicago is a great club and you can bet they'll be back

Philadelphia went through the growing pains of a first season in MLS, but to come away disappointed with them wouldn't be fair.  They are a young, tough club and they'll contend for the future. 

MLS is still in its infancy, and it needs its major market clubs to lead the way into the next decade.

Pacific Northwest Expansion
Though not involved in the play this season, the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC have only added to the great northwestern love fest, joining the Seattle Sounders FC.  This is going to be a great triplet to watch next season.  It started earlier this season when Portland planted its flag on a billboard just walking distance from Quest Field. 

The Year of the Designated Player
As mentioned earlier, the additions of most notably Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez for New York, along with Nery Castillo (Chicago), Mista (Toronto FC, Blaise N'Kufo (Seattle), Alvaro Fernandez (Seattle), Branko Boskovic (DC United), Geovanni (San Jose), and Omar Bravo (Kansas City) have expanded the leagues reach into the depth of football talent.

Now the league needs to go out and get some good young talent.  MLS should be strong enough to make some headway into the market come next summer.

From the "Where in the hell did he come from" department:
Chris Wondolowski...that is all that needs to be said.  Leads the league with 18 goals this season and unless Edson Buddle scores tonight, he'll finish with the Golden Ball.  What a season he's had and it could culminate with a call up to the January camp with the national team.

Playoff preview coming after tonight's matches.  Have a good one.