U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley has chosen his 18-man roster for Sunday’s World Cup qualifying second-leg match against Barbados. Here it is:
GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Chivas USA: 1/1 SO), Dominic Cervi (out of contract: 0/0), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake: 0/0)
DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra (out of contract: 12/1), Dan Califf (FC Midtjylland: 1/0), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC: 0/0), Drew Moor (FC Dallas: 0/0) Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege: 8/0), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock: 1/0)
MIDFIELDERS: DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers: 15/4), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen: 1/1), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA: 0/0), Eddie Lewis (Derby County: 18/2), Danny Szetela (Brescia: 0/0), John Thorrington (Chicago Fire: 0/0)
FORWARDS: Freddy Adu (SL Benfica: 1/0), Chad Barrett (Chicago Fire: 0/0), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire: 0/0)
So what lineup will Bradley field to "protect" that 8-0 lead from the first leg? Here is a starting XI I could see taking the field:
—————-Rolfe—————–
Lewis———-Adu————Beasley
———Bradley—Kljestan———
Pearce–Bocanegra–Onyewu—Moor
————–Guzan——————–
I wouldn’t be surprised if someone like Califf or DeMerit played at right back, but since it’s Barbados, and there’s no real threat, giving Moor a run out is a very real possibility (hey, if he can start vs. Mexico then why not? Wait, don’t answer that.) I could also see Danny Szetela getting a look in the lineup. And no, I don’t see Chad Barrett starting, not after Thursday’s showing against Chivas USA, but stranger things have happened.
What lineup do you think Bob Bradley will use? What lineup would you like to see?
Share your thoughts below.
No Kenny Cooper but US Soccer’s website reports that one of Cooper’s backups, Brek Shea, has been called in for the trip.
Cooper is tall, fairly young and still unproven. Brek Shea is much more like Kenny Cooper than Cooper himself is!
Actually, like calling in RSL backup Chris Seitz, this is another case of calling in someone who was unlikely to see gametime in MLS this weekend.
Give Gooch a rest man…Hes got Champions League next year.
Stranger things have happened, you mean like Bradley continuing to give EJ playing time?
How much more will it take for people to recognize the “wisdom” of Bob Bradley?
I’m just surprised he didn’t pair Barrett with Eddie Johnson. We had a shot at Gus Hiddink as a coach and we end up with this joker? I demand a chance to play up front for the U.S. national team! 🙂
I’d like everyone to think about all of the things they have said about Bruce Arena while Bradley guides this train wreck he calls a team to our worst World Cup since 1990. He better watch out, Bermuda might be able to hold us scoreless.
Seriously, I understand about the fact that it’s just Barbados, and the fact that he’s being considerate of MLS teams in trying not to take players he doesn’t need, but the problems go way beyond that as far as team selection is concerned. At least give someone a chance up front who at least has a possibility of some day playing on and contributing to the USMNT, instead of playing players who clearly will never be of any use to the USMNT.
numbers mean caps/goals.
to sushant:
I think it is (World Cup Qualifying Caps/Goals Scored in Qualifying)… b/c guzan has 1/1 SO shutout instead of a goal number
and bradley has (1/1) one cap, one goal
Barrett?? what the hey!! he can’t even score with a $2 hooker!!! Its true you know.
For once I agree….Barrett was a disaster last night. I’ll go even further and say he is the perfect example of what is wrong in American soccer today. He’s a very good athlete, strong and has pace, but has little skill and ZERO soccer “brains”. It’s slowly changing, but there are still too many Barretts out there.
Career WCQ caps/goals perhaps?