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USMNT Camp Notes: Bradley talks Holden, no more players being called in

Bob Bradley (ISIPhotos.com)

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By JOHN BOSCHINI

CARY, North Carolina- Nine months after the United State's exited the 2010 World Cup, Bob Bradley was finally set to coach a full-strength national team. Injuries changed those plans after news that breakout midfielder Stuart Holden's knee injury would keep him out for six months and defender Steve Cherundolo suffered a groin injury.

"We all feel bad for Stuart," Bradley said. "He got injured last year when we played Holland and was able to work his way back and be in the World Cup but he still wasn't 100 percent. He's had an excellent season at Bolton and he's a player we still see as an important part of the team."

Holden needed 26 stiches to repair a gash in his knee inflicted by a nasty challenge from Manchester United's Johnny Evans. Holden said on Twitter that Evans called to apologize and the 25-year-old will undergo surgery on his injured knee in London today.

"We were looking forward to him being back 100 percent and confident," Bradley said. "This is a setback but he's shown in the past the mentality to fight through these things and he knows we're all behind him."

Bradley also said the team would miss Cherundolo, who's enjoying a stellar season as captain of Hannover 96, but that it would give some younger defenders the chance to prove themselves.

Joining Cherundolo and Holden on the injured list is Norwich City defender Zak Whitbread. Bradley called up 22-year-old Leeds United defender Eric Lichaj to replace him but U.S. Soccer confirmed that no one will be called up to replace Holden and Cherundolo, bringing the total roster to 22.

Players traveling with the team to New Jersey for Saturday's game with Argentina will be announced Thursday. 

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What do you think about Holden's injury? Disappointed Bradley won't call anyone else up?

Comments

  1. bizzy,

    “(if only Adu’s dad was head coach!!!!!) ”

    You really think so?

    Freddy Adu’s dad abandoned his family shortly after they got to DC when Freddy was about 8 or 9. Apparently he is completely out of the picture.

    My guess is if Maxwell Adu was manager of the USMNT you’d never see Freddy in a US shirt again.

    Reply
  2. There is a reason and he was fired a little while ago.

    I haven’t seen them since the World Cup but this edition of Argentina could be a lot more potent than Diego’s World Cup street ballers.

    Reply
  3. When was the last time Bradley played a full 90 min match??

    ———————————-

    It was December 12, 2010, where Mikey must have dazzled the assembled masses with Gladbach losing 3:0 away to mighty SC Freiburg. He has made only 2 appearances in 2011, one as a late substitute and the other as a starter in the fa cup, where he was hauled-off the park immediately after City’s 3rd goal.

    Villa only have 8 matches left and find themselves in a relegation battle. It is highly unlikely that Mikey will play again this season for Villa, his loan just being cheap cover.

    My guess is that Mikey is using his 2 week vacation stateside to line-up a move to MLS. I think he should just forget it and go to college, a mid level D-1 player is still what he looks like to me.

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  4. You bradley “lovers” are so ignorant, you are holding on to past glory (if only Adu’s dad was head coach!!!!!) FORGET the world cup, did you watch MB’s villa debut?? I haven’t seen any US player that lost in recent years. Have you even asked yourselves why he was coming off the bench as a second half sub at a time Gladbach needed its “A” team the most to avoid relegation?? Or why he’s riding the bench and not even coming on as a sub…period. Oh I forgot he played in the world cup…..that ended JUNE LAST YEAR!!! Villa is not like the USMNT, daddy isn’t the coach. There you play your way to the top like everyone else

    Holla….

    Reply
  5. I second that. I was speaking of people immediately having MB in the CM role while saying Chandler hasn’t proved himself as a midfield option (right winger).

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  6. Lichaj may have had a rough game against Tevez but that was maybe a couple days after he shut down Bale. To the point he actually made Bale switch sides just so he could get some play. I think he can handle it and it will be another good test and learning experience for someone with great potential

    Reply
  7. I like your line-up, but I’d switch Donovan and Dempsey and plug Chanlder in at RB. I think that people are really going to like what they see out of Chandler. I’d bet on him claiming the spot come next WC cycle. By far our best athlete at the position. Huge upside.

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  8. No kidding. You Bradley bashers are stupid, did you even watch the World Cup or Confed Cup last year?

    The only question for me in this game is do we play with three DMs and one forward or two DMs and two forwards. I say start Aduelgo. I know he’s young but he’s the future.

    Besides we’ll probably start Altidore and Davies in the Gold Cup anyway so might as well practice the 442.

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  9. Bradley hating is so predictable. When Chandler actually has a body of work to make an argument for starting over an established national team player like Bradley, then I will actually bother with posts like the one above.

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  10. Why are we hung up on a player who was coming of the bench in the latter stages of his time with Gladbach and is currently bench warming on a team that lacks luster?? When was the last time Bradley played a full 90 min match?? How do you get considered to play CM for the US National team, one of the most important spots on the team, yet you don’t have the current skill set to play, let alone start on a team like Aston Villa?? Chandler is a starter and an integral part of Nurnberg, a team way higher in the league table than a “bound for relegation” Borussia Mönchengladbach MB played for, and yet we can’t trust him to play in the midfield???

    How does this work?? How is daddy going to justify playing junior when he’s not even getting time in as a second half sub!!!!

    Reply
  11. You mean the same Messi that only scored three goals for his country during qualifying. And the same guy that can’t score a goal against teams like Bolivia and Peru. There is a reason why he scores lots of goals for FC Barcelona and so few for his country, you meatball!!!!!!

    Reply

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