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U.S. Gold Cup Roster Announced (A closer look)

While the Confederations Cup still has one more game to play, the U.S. national team will begin play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup very soon. Now we know who will be on that roster.

Charlie Davies, Freddy Adu, Kenny Cooper, Steve Cherundolo and Jimmy Conrad are five of the players chosen for the U.S. Gold Cup team, which begins play on July 4th vs. Grenada.

Here is the roster:

GOALKEEPERS– Jon Busch (Chicago Fire), Troy Perkins (Valarenga), Luis Robles (FC Kaiserslautern)

DEFENDERS– Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Jay Heaps (New England Revolution), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaellands), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock)

MIDFIELDERS– Davy Arnaud (Kansas City Wizards), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Colin Clark (Colorado Rapids), Sam Cronin (Toronto FC), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Logan Pause (Chicago Fire), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

FORWARDS– Freddy Adu (AS Monaco), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Santino Quaranta (D.C. United)

Surprises? There are plenty.

Charlie Davies is a surprise considering how much he has played in the Confederations Cup, but his inclusion here makes it clear that he has no intention of returning to Hammarby. Veteran defender Jay Heaps has to be considered a surprise, while Jimmy Conrad's return to the national team fold might put to rest some of the conspiracy theories about his lengthy absence. Logan Pause might be a surprise pick for some, but he has quietly enjoyed a very strong season for Chicago.

(So why Heaps? it boils down to this. The team needs a back-up left back to Heath Pearce. How many American left back options are there exactly? Not many.)

Surprising absences? D.C. United rookie Chris Pontius seemed like a good bet to make the squad. Houston winger Brad Davis has enjoyed a good year, but there have long been questions about his work rate on the international level. Jose Francisco Torres seemed like a good bet for this tournament, but you wonder if Pachuca wanted him participating in two tournaments this summer. Houston defender Geoff Cameron, arguably the best defender in MLS right now, is a disappointing exclusion but Houston has Stuart Holden and Brian Ching on the roster so you have to think Bob Bradley didn't want to take three of Houston's best players at the same time.

What might the starting lineup be when the United States takes on Grenada? Here's a possible starting lineup:

—————Ching———–Davies————–

————————-Adu—————————

Rogers—————————————–Holden

———————–Pause—————————

Pearce——Parkhurst—-Conrad——–Cherundolo

———————–Robles————————–

What do you think of the roster? What do you think about this starting lineup? What player's inclusion surprised you the most? Who's absence surprised you the most?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Looking at this roster makes me happy that I decided to not hold off on buying tickets. I’ll save my cash. If the US can’t even take this cup serious enough to bring the B team, then they don’t deserve my support in these games. This MLS-heavy bunch of bland workers will offer little of interest and have little chance of winning the cup. Bradley is so lucky that Spain laid an egg because the man is clearly not going to progress the national team. This roster is all compromise and will do next to nothing to enhance the US’s odds in future competitions.

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  2. I am most surprised not to see Brad Guzan get to take the reins for an entire tournament to get the much needed experience. Also where are Torres, Orozco, B. Davis, Wynne, Pontius, Gaven (instead of his teammate Rogers)? You know guys with an actual future for the USMNT.

    I am vey glad to see Stuart Holden and Davy Arnaud.

    I also wonder if Aaron Holbein of KC is eligible for the US? He seems to be one of the best defenders in the MLS and he is young and has a better USMNT future than that relic J. Conrad? Why are we dragging out these old guys (Conrad, Heaps, Cherundolo) who have no future with the USMNT when we need to be giving starts/experience to younger guys with an eye towards 2010 and 2014. But I guess we need these B-Team geezers to get us a win in the Gold Cup and a spot at the next Confed Cup.

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  3. Good call. Someone finally mentioned Robbie Findlay. young with nice upside. Possible winger or forward.

    Also bemoan the exclusions of Pontius, Cameron. Whitebread deserved a shot as well. Danny Szetela always impressed me as tenacious and versatile in the midfield.

    Happy to see JC back in the fold. Maybe 32 but still in great form and would be an excellent insurance choice for WC with his experience.

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  4. – Cooper Davies –

    – Adu –

    Clark/Davis Berkerman/Pause Holden

    Pearce Parkhurst Marshall Cherundolo

    – Robles –

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