bob Bradley didn't waste any time announcing his roster for next week's friendly against Holland.
GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Tim Howard (Everton)
No real surprises. The only question for me is who will play. I would like to see Guzan or Hahnemann get the start as Tim Howard is playing today and will play on the weekend as well. Guzan will probably not be playing in the Carling Cup final (and played yesterday in the FA cup replay). My guess is right now, these will be the three men on the plane to South Africa
DEFENDERS: Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Frank Simek (Sheffield Wednesday), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
As I suspected, Bornstein, Goodson and Pearce make this squad. Otherwise the only surprise is to seek Frank Simek on this list. Simek has been playing very well for Sheffield Wednesday so he might get a shot here. The back line that I suspect we will see next week is Spector on the right, DeMerit and Bocanegra in the middle and Bornstein on the left. Bradley could mix it up and put Goodson in the middle and push Bocanegra to the bench for a while. I would like to see that, you know what you are going to get with Bocanegra, let's see Goodson against a top attacking side.
MIDFIELDERS : DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers), Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Landon Donovan (Everton), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers), José Torres (Pachuca)
Apparently Paco Torres has gotten himself out of the Bradley doghouse and is making the trip. I think it is great to see Alejandro Bedoya on this list again. He played very well against Honduras in January in the short time he was on the field. It is also good to see DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu on the list again after their injury woes. Likely to see Donovan start on the right side, Bradley and Edu in the middle and probably Beasely on the left. I would expect to see Torres and Holden come in for about 30 minutes for Edu and Beasley or possibly Donovan to give him some rest. I would love Bradley give Bedoya a good lengthly shift to see what he can do more of. He is a very, very long shot to make South Africa, but he is getting the looks and that is positive.
FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Hull City), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Eddie Johnson (Aris Thessaloniki)
EJ is back, but I think that is a factor more of Bradley's lack of choices rather than EJ seeing South Africa as anything other than a spectator. Johnson has found some form with Aris, but I think it is too little too late for him. Bradley apparently saw enough of what he liked of Findley to give the man another chance. A lot of people are going to wonder why Kenny Cooper didn't get a call, but Cooper has had his chances with Bob Bradley and has wasted them. Maybe the next World Cup for Cooper. Altidore and Findley will get the start and maybe Johnson will come in late in the game, probably for Altidore who is definitely going to South Africa, while Findley is still fighting.
The probable line-up
---------------Howard-----------------
Spector--Demerit--Bocanegra---Bornstein
Donovan----Bradley-----Edu-----Beasley
-------Findley-------Altidore---------
What I would like to see for evaluative purposes
--------------Guzan------------------
Spector----DeMerit----Goodson---Bornstein
Holden-----Bradley----Edu------Bedoya/Torres
-----------Altidore----Findley-----------
Hope to be able to watch while in the office.
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