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Bradley names 30 players for January camp

US Soccer

Strong rookie seasons have earned three MLS rising stars a chance to show Bob Bradley what they can do. Omar Gonzalez, Chris Pontius and Kevin Alston were all named a part of the 30-man roster for the January 4 camp to be held at the Home Depot Center. The three will be in search of a first cap when the U.S. goes up against Honduras on January 23.

As is typical, the squad is made up primarily of MLS players, with a few Scandinavian-based players in the mix as well — including Marcus Tracy and Alejandro Bedoya, two players who have put themselves on Bradley's radar with a strong 2009. Other selections include Kansas City Wizards goalie Kevin Hartman, Jeff Larentowicz of the Revolution and Zach Thornton of Chivas.

Here's a look at the complete roster:

GOALKEEPERS: Kevin Hartman (Kansas City), Troy Perkins (Valerenga), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)

DEFENDERS: Kevin Alston (New England Revolution), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)

MIDFIELDERS: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Jeff Larentowicz (New England Revolution), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas), Chris Pontius (D.C. United), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

FORWARDS: Justin Braun (Chivas USA), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Brandon McDonald (San Jose Earthquakes), Marcus Tracy (Aalborg)

What do you think of the roster? Who are you surprised to see? Who do you think should have been called in?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. My guess would be:

    Conrad is a World Cup experienced CB and the last time he played for the US in the Gold Cup, he looked very good before he got concussed. This camp may be Bradley’s last chance to get a good look at injury alternates (lots of time for starters to get hurt or arrested). The US has had to replace someone on the original world cup roster the last two times due to late injury.

    Same for Pierce who just moved to Dallas and has looked good in the past for the US. Surely, you aren’t absolutely confident the LB position is well covered?

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  2. I will say this. I am no Bradley fan and nothing will change that other then positive things at the WC. However, I am glad to see that he has called in some of the rising MLS stars for in some cases, a first look. The only way we can ever move forward is by moving new, young players into the system

    I would only question why he bothered with Conrad and Pierce? This has to be Pierce’s last chance

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  3. Barnes is a very good CB and will be in the hunt next cycle. His presence helped make up for the hole left by Parkhurst’s departure for Europe. He maybe should have been called in place of older people like Conrad that really are past their prime

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  4. I could four players here who have no shot at making the World Cup squad: Larentowicz, Evans, Braun, and McDonald. But the squad is pretty much going to be the regulars plus maybe a few of the others here who have been called it, and there aren’t really any players out there who weren’t called in who I think would make a difference, so I’m OK with this.

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  5. The main reason Casey is out there is because we’re trying to simulate the Davies-Altidore pairing by placing Casey next to a faster, more mobile forward. This way, we get a better sense of who can play best next to a target.

    But hey, if you want to jeopardize success just because you hate Casey, then be my guest.

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  6. Here’s a scenario for you…US game in the round of 16 is tied going into the second half of extra time…Bob Bradley has one substitution left…Oh, here’s Nicki Rimando who stopped I believe it was 6 PK’s in the MLS cup to win it for RSL…get’s substituted into the game and saves two PK’s for the USMNT to send them to the quarter finals…haha.

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  7. why is mcdonald there? and why r there 4 keepers called up? I love the call ups of gonzalez, bedoya, tracy, and a couple others there. I wished white was there instead of mcdonald

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  8. Started the first game, in which he did show plenty of technical ability, but it was just like all the other american breed players weren’t on the same page as him. God I dislike Thomas Rogen

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  9. I’d like to see a Marshall/Gonzalez pairing at the back… that could be real solid in the future if these two guys continue to develop… also glad to see Larentawics get a call up… he’s a red-headed-mad-man…. I’d like to see him go to a lower table EPL team and see what kind of havoc he could cause.

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  10. Did Bradley actually say he was rewarding guys for good behavior? Show me the quote. Or did you get that from another poster?

    This camp is all about the 2010 World Cup so the Under 20’s can wait. You may have heard that it is being played in June of 2010. What part of “camp” don’t you understand? The vast majority of his frontliners are unavailable for any number of reasons which I doubt you are privy to. The final 23 for SA is mostly set.

    However, besides prepping for the Honduras game (and focusing on Cunningham and Findley), he has to audition guys for possible injury alternate situations (there is plenty of time for the regulars to get hurt between now and May).

    A 30 man roster allows him to hold full scale scrimmages with real players, which is important because USMNT practice time is always at a premium. 4 keepers allows him cover in case of injury or people pulling out. You’ll notice, as someone else pointed out, there is a strong geographical bias to the side, obviously because it makes travel easier on the players and teams.

    If 3 guys out of the 30, say a forward, a midfielder and a defender really shine in this camp, then I would call that time well spent. But hey, you’re the experienced managerial genius, not the rest of us slobs.

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  11. if available I would’ve liked to see castillo white and beasley if healthy edu and jones and I think we need to give clint a full 90 at forward before we decide to play him up top in south africa

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  12. Bad:hopefully bornstein is just there as a test for other guys should have called up darius barnes instead of goodson and anyone besides pearce bedoya is overated due to the fact he plays in sweeden (which is at best mls level) and gets playing time evans is not ready feilhaber has proven himself I dont even need to say anything about sacha what’s braun doing here casey can’t play at the international level McDonald had a good 2nd half of season but he’s not a forward tracy is overated but were thin at striker

    Good: alston’s good and wynne can be used against wingers who rely heavily on speed but spector and cherundolo are our right backs gonzalez has a shot marshall and conrad have a shot beckerman McCarty and Larentowicz decent but we already have depth at cm cameron has a shot epecially with his versatility davis provides great service and is very underated and could be the suprise inclusion in this team gaven’s ok but won’t make team pontius has an outside chance rogers has a shot cunningham and findley have a good chance given our striker situation keepers are already decided really ( howard, hannemahn, guzan)

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  13. Looks like Bob call in someone from every MLS team. I think this is a GREAT motivator for ALL American MLS players. They’ll start training camp a few weeks after, and they’ll wish that they got called up, like Rimando, like McDonald, like Brad Evans. They’ll copy their professionalism, their effort, they’ll pull them aside and ask what camp was like.

    This is a great way to light a fire under all of the Americans. Bust your hump, do the right things, and you’ll get a shot.

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  14. “I am not so sure about good internationally.”

    Wait, didn’t you just say “every knows everything there is to know about him.”?

    You are contradicting yourself.

    Isn’t finding out what Cunningham can do internationally the whole point of this excercise?

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  15. Why should Bradley use up his credit with the clubs by calling one or two of his frontliners when it will be more meaningful to bring them in when more of the other frontliners are also around?

    Ives recently made a point about Freddy being the sort of player who plays best when the team is built around him. When has Freddy looked his best? During the under 20’s and the Olympics, when those youth teams were built around him. Unfortunately, once you get to the adult teams, Freddy , while certainly talented, is simply not good enough and has too many holes in his game to build either the USMNT, or Beleneses,Benfica or even Notts County around him.

    We’re not talking about Hagi, Maradona,Rooney or Messi here.

    Basically he has great Under 20 talent, in an adult world.

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  16. white; i bet is in europe or (hopefully) Philly working on his contract as is Holden. Although you would think that an international game verse Honduras would be a good thing to do while applying for a job i guess it is more important to be in person meeting managers and figuring out our club situation.

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  17. Davis may have been better, but Holden has much more upside, and I have to say that Stuart certainly has improved in his time with the national team. It won’t be long before Holden surpasses Davis. Also, it wouldn’t have been right to take that many players from the Dynamo’s starting lineup. Ching, Holden, Clark AND Davis? Might be pushing it a little.

    I’d also like to argue that Davis wasn’t MUCH more of a force, but marginally better than Holden.

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  18. Kljestan suited Bradley well because Sacha didn’t mind sitting in deeper positions while Bradley made his charging runs forward. He helped the team possess and create, and could defend very well. At the same time, the timing of his runs were excellent, and I don’t think anyone has forgotten his excellent goal against Holland/The Netherlands.

    I think Pearce is actually more skilled and technically gifted than Bornstein. He’s got excellent feet and vision for a fullback and also knew how to time his runs forward. He gave England, Spain, and Argentina(ESPECIALLY Argentina) something to worry about each game. He’s simply lost the touch, passing and confidence that we know he has.

    They can both get back in form, but it’s going to take a lot of work on their part.

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  19. My 22 would be:

    -Forwards-

    Cunningham

    Findley

    Casey

    Tracy

    -Midfielders-

    Beckerman

    Feilhaber

    Davis

    Bedoya

    Kljestan

    Rogers

    McCarty

    Pontius

    -Defenders-

    Bornstein

    Conrad

    Marshall

    Goodson

    Gonzalez

    Wynne

    Pearce

    -Goalkeepers-

    Perkins

    Thornton

    Rimando

    My 18 would be:

    -Forwards-

    Findley

    Cunningham

    Casey

    -Midfielders-

    Beckerman

    Feilhaber

    Davies

    Bedoya

    Kljestan

    Rogers

    Pontius

    -Defenders-

    Bornstein

    Conrad

    Marshall

    Goodson

    Wynne

    Pearce

    -Goalkeepers-

    Perkins

    Thornton

    My XI would be

    —————Cunningham—–Casey——————

    Davis———Beckerman——Feilhaber———Rogers

    Bornstein——–Conrad——Marshall———–Wynne

    ———————–Perkins———————–

    after subs:

    —————–Findley—–Casey——————-

    Bedoya———–Kljestan—-Beckerman——–Pontius

    Pearce———–Goodson—–Marshall———–Wynne

    ————————Perkins———————-

    Seems like a good bunch. Tell me what you think, because I’m not totally sure of how all these guys play/performed during their seasons.

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