GOLD CUP ROSTER PREDICTION/ANALYSIS

The roster for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup should be announced pretty soon (before May 21st) , and here's a look at what OTP believes will be the 23 chosen by Bob Bradley....

Goalkeepers (3): Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann, David Yelldell*

*If Brad Guzan doesn't skip out due to his wedding, then he will be one of the three.


Defenders (8): Eric Lichaj, Carlos Bocanegra, Tim Chandler, Tim Ream, Clarence Goodson, Zak Whitbread, Steve Cherundolo, Jonathan Spector


Midfielders (8): Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Sacha Kljestan, Benny Feilhaber, Alejandro Bedoya

Forwards (4): Juan Agudelo, Jozy Altidore, Teal Bunbury, Edson Buddle


Just missing the cut: Oguchi Onyewu, Jonathan Bornstein, Herculez Gomez, Charlie Davies, Ricardo Clark, Mix Diskerud


I truly believe this will be a tough decision making process for Bradley. The core of the team is getting older, and it's feasible to believe that the integration of younger players to the first team is both needed and expected. With that said, I believe Bradley will want to get younger players experience in this type of tournament against continent foes. Defensively, I could definitely see O Onyewu on this list given his experience but he's been hurt recently for FC Twente and hasn't played at a great level since his knee injury. Bornstein is omitted due to a lack of form for his club side Tigres. It would not surprise me, however to see Bornstein because he's a favorite of Bob Bradley. The back line is a little younger and offers a lot of versatility, with the majority of the players able to play both on the wing and in the center. Ream looks to cement himself on the squad, and I believe both youngsters Lichaj and Chandler will get play time as well. Those two might be the best options going forward out on the flanks (and looking ahead to the 2014 WC when Cherundolo will be 35), so they need time going up against the crafty Central American sides, the athletic Caribbean squads, and of course El Tri.

The ever crowded midfield will have 3 hotly contested spots (after locks Donovan, Dempsey, Jones, Edu, and Bradley). Just based on current form, Bedoya and Kljestan should be on the roster. Bedoya is arguably the best player on his Swedish side Orebro, and Kljestan has been solid for Belgian side Anderlecht. I think Feilhaber makes the side as the creative force off the bench, and he has been a Bradley favorite as well. Diskerud is young and very talented but I just feel Bradley will go for experience in this instance. The much maligned Rico Clark has been a thorn to many United States fan's sides over the years but he's quietly put together some nice games for German team Eintracht Frankfort as not only a midfielder but also a center back. It would not shock me to see Clark on the roster.

The forward line selections is the most fascinating to watch. Will Bradley choose to go for experienced, less exciting players, or the green youngsters that evoke flair and creativity? Truth be told, none of the US forwards are in great form, nor are any of them lethal goal poachers so spots will be open. Altidore will be on the list by default (although his loan in Turkey hasn't exactly been stellar). The 'next big American star' proclaimed by the media is 18 year old Juan Agudelo, and you can bet he'll be on the team as a game changer off the bench with his willingness to attack players 1 v 1 and his mass technical ability. Buddle should be on the squad as a target forward who holds the ball up and uses his size on set pieces. He's also experienced on the world stage as well. The last forward spot is a tough call but I'm going with Bunbury. He's also very young and inexperienced but it's imperative for Bradley to integrate youthful forwards, especially with the anemic production of goals over the last few year. Bunbury has great potential at 6'2, but he's not a lumbering type, rather a smooth player with good technical ability and speed. Due to the fact that both Buddle, Altidore, and Bunbury are similar types of forwards size wise, I can see Gomez on the squad in place of one of the aforementioned three due to his recent scoring streak. While that's the case, I believe Bunbury and Agudelo are the future striking pairing for the National Team, and those two have displayed great chemistry as well.

*While his miraculous comeback has produced great results thus far in the MLS, there's no rush to bring Davies back. Let him continue to get more games under his belt, along with enhancing his endurance and conditioning. Although he isn't quite the same player he was pre-accident, I wouldn't be surprised to see him back on the team in the near future, considering his torrid goal pace.




JOGA BONITO