As promised, an ENORMOUS post!

While watching the US National Team's thoroughly mediocre display against England (by whom I am rarely impressed for a number of reasons) a week or so ago I found myself puzzled (enraged?) by some of Bob Bradley's choices to make up the team. So, wanting to be the “solution” and not just the “problem,” I thought I'd take a look at who is in the official USNT Player Pool, who should be, and a few wild cards that are probably not on anyone's soccer radar at the moment.

And, of course, what list would be complete without caveats?

-does not include players who play in below MLS in the US and in minor foreign leagues.
-does not include players who have declared themselves as “retired” from international duty.
-does not include players who have been selected in the past, but won't be again, e.g., Clint Mathis.
-does not include players who are buried on the “depth chart”- goalkeepers, for example.
-does not include players about whom little information is available.

USSF 2008 Player Pool

Brad Guzan: Raw, but clearly talented. Tends to rush around the box like a lot of young keepers do, but he's aggressive and a good shot stopper. I can see why European teams (Aston Villa and Celtic among them) are interested in getting him. The more time he sees on the national team, the better.

Frankie Hejduk: It's hard to criticize Frankie. He hustles, he plays tough defense, and he's not afraid to get forward and cause problems for the opposition. At the same time, he's had little success outside of MLS and while he's deserving of future call-ups, it's time to look for younger players at his position.

Carlos Bocanegra: Carlos has been miscast as a defender. On the back line, he's is good enough to have 100+ appearances for Fulham, but I think he should play in the midfield. His size and tendency to make rash challenges would be less of an issue and he could be incorporated more into the offense. He's managed 10 goals in 54 matches for the national team (most off set pieces I would suspect) and one has to wonder how many more he would have had as a midfielder from the run of play?

Oguchi Onyewu: A year ago I would have said that his game had stalled- good in the air, and an intimidating (if stationary) presence on the back line. However, another year playing for a top team (albeit in a weaker league) has given him a more well-rounded game. He's better on the ball and generally seems to be playing more within himself.

Heath Pearce: The more I see, the more I like. Pearce is a solid defender, has a high work rate, and is not afraid to get forward and take his shots. He strikes me as the kind of player whose game will improve by leaps and bounds if he is surrounded by better players.

Michael Bradley: Forget the “coach's son” tag, the kid can play. He's shown he can score in a good league (Holland) and he plays good, scrappy defense. Hopefully he will continue to be selected regardless of whether his father is the coach or not.

Ricardo Clark: That he's ever been selected boggles my mind- his eight caps are eight too many. Not only does he rarely contribute anything positive, he commits needless and ill-time fouls and is often caught out of position. He makes me long for Chris Armas.

Josh Wolff: He's been a decent striker in MLS, but I've yet to watch a international match (or an MLS one for that matter) where I've had the thought, “Wow! That Josh Wolff is some player!” At this point, every call-up he receives is one taken away from a younger, hungrier, and potentially better striker.

Eddie Lewis: He's getting on in years, but Eddie continues to be a steady player for the national team who brings veteran presence to the side and is still one of the best free kick and corner kick takers on the team. It's probably time to phase him out, but in favor of whom?

Tim Howard: Howard has proven himself in the EPL on big-time teams (Manchester United, Everton) and deserves to be the national team's keeper until somebody else can take the position away from him.

Freddy Adu: It's easy to bash Freddy, but keep in mind that he doesn't turn 19 for another week! If he was any other American playing for a major European team (Benfica), scoring the occasional goal, and already with five national team caps, we'd be impressed. My guess is his best soccer is still ahead of him even if some have already started to sour on him.

Maurice Edu: The jury is out. Edu seems like a decent player, but he's only earned four caps and it's just too early to tell. He will probably have to move beyond MLS before his quality can be assessed.

Steve Cherundolo: I always find myself wondering why he's been selected again, and then he goes out and plays a mistake-free match with occasional flashes of brilliance. This is probably why he's made a decade long career for himself in the top two divisions in Germany.

Eddie Johnson: So far, a reliable MLS striker and a decent one for the national team. However, there seems to be much more potential than production to date. Johnson's time at Fulham doesn't appear to have done his game much good, but he's still young, so there's still hope. I guess.

Clint Dempsey: At some point, somebody is just going to let the Deuce be the Deuce. Clint was successful in MLS and this past season has come into his own in the EPL while playing for Fulham. However, he's not a striker, he's a winger, and an attacking one at that. Once somebody lets him do this and take players on, he's only going to get better.

DaMarcus Beasley: As long as he's healthy, Beasley should always be in the team. He's proven himself in MLS as well as in the Netherlands, England, and Scotland. His speed and his willingness to run at defenders causes problems for the opposition and that's always a good thing.

Nat Jaqua: A “pretty good” MLS forward now plying his trade for a midlevel team in the Austrian Bundesliga. He's only earned three caps so far, so it's a little early to make a judgment, but he also doesn't appear to be the answer as far as scoring national team goals is concerned.

Dan Califf: I'm not sure why, but I like Dan Califf. I think it's because he plays his position- fullback- with a little bit of anger. He did well in MLS, and has done well enough in Denmark to be named captain of his team- not an easy thing for an American. So, yes, give him more matches.

Josmer “Jozy” Altidore: Size, strength, and bags of skill. However, he's also starting to get a bit of a 'tude towards his fellow players and a sense of entitlement when it comes to getting calls from referees. There's nothing wrong with having some competitive fire, but Altidore would benefit from playing in a European league where he could be “put in his place” and grow up a little on and off the pitch.

Brian Ching: I like Brian Ching, but when it comes right down to it, he's a “poor man's” Brian McBride- team first, physical well-being second. I wish him many years of further success in MLS, but I don't think he's good enough to beat out the other potential forwards on the national team.

Jimmy Conrad: Probably has two or three useful years left on the national team and based on past efforts, he deserves them. He's played well enough and earned enough respect from his teammates and coaches to be name team captain on several occasions and that speaks volumes about him.

Bobby Convey: The question surrounding Bobby Convey is, “Will he get his career back on track once he's 100%?” Up until he suffered his knee injury he seemed to be on his way to being a first team selection at Reading and for the national team. If he comes all the way back, both teams will be better off. If not, he'll probably be back in MLS and only sporadically on the national team.

Ramiro Corrales: A reliable MLS midfielder who supposedly came into his own while playing in Norway. Based on what I've seen upon his return to San Jose and his selection to the national team, not so much. To old and not good enough. Next.

Brad Davis: Another reasonably productive MLS scorer who probably is not the answer for the national team. No reason not to give him a few more chances- he only has three so far- but are there any reasons to give him more chances?

Jay DeMerit: Good enough to play 100+ matches for Watford and to be named the club's captain, yet not good enough to play more than six matches for the US?! Watford is probably as good or better than all but the top teams in Austria, Scotland, Belgium, the Netherlands, etc. (where other Americans are employed) and he's got six caps? Somebody is wrong here, and it's not Watford.

Donovan, Landon: Landy Cakes. When he plays with a chip on his shoulder he's among the best American players ever and I can't even hold his failure to make a European career against him. Unfortunately, he spends too much time “coasting.” He's pretty much said that he stays in MLS because he can be one of the best players without sacrificing much and that's not a great attitude for a team captain. But, that being said, he has to be in the team.

Benny Feilhaber: Recently suffered a knee injury, but looks to be a promising prospect when he's healthy again. He plays with both grit and flair and could really make a difference in the national team's midfield. I hope he gets plenty of call-ups during WC 2010 qualifying.

Clarence Goodson: A tall defender sounds great, but he's already 26 and has yet to make much of in impact in MLS (and has now moved to Norway). The fact that he wasn't protected by Houston in the expansion draft and has only been awarded one cap says to me that he's probably not going to get many more...and probably shouldn't.

Sacha Kljestan: With the exception of his tackle on Andy Williams, I like this kid. He likes to make things happen in the midfield and isn't afraid to take a shot. I've been pretty impressed with his free kick ability as well. Only five caps so far, but should get many more.

Drew Moor: Another case of it being too early to tell, but as a defender, he should be given a chance to prove himself. He's done well so far in MLS, but I'd like to see how he holds up against some better competition.

Pat Noonan: A very productive scorer in MLS who should have more than the dozen national team appearances that he has so far. If the US ever decides to play a formation in which there is a “withdrawn” forward, he could make a big impact. He's been around for a long time, but you might be surprised- as I was- that he's still only 27.

Michael Parkhurst: He's not big, he's not fast, he's not flashy. He's just good, very, very good- calm, cool, and collected. It's not surprising that he has begun to attract interest from European teams. He's only been capped twice but he should be in the national team camp as much as possible.

Eddie Robinson: One goal in one appearance is a good start, but nothing he has done as an MLS defender suggests to me that he is an elite player and he'll be 30 in less than a month. In other words, he's on the downside and probably won't be selected unless there is some sort of defender shortage.

Chris Rolfe: Rolfe is a pest, in the best possible way. I don't think he's a starting forward, your “go to guy” on the national team, but, he's just the kind of energetic, scrappy, goal poacher who could prove to be a handful if he were brought off the bench. Potentially a great “12th man” on the national team.

Jonathan Spector: Spector's nine caps are even harder to explain than Jay DeMerit's six. Spector hasn't played as many matches, but he's younger (22) and has played his matches in the Premier League (Manchester United, Charlton, West Ham United) rather than the Championship. What's not to like?

Taylor Twellman: Twellman is not a “complete” soccer player. However, he averaged more than a goal every other game since 2001 and is one of the top five goal scorers in MLS history. He's made 29 appearances, but not many as a starter. He needs to be in the team more and be allowed to do what he does best- score goals.

Jeremiah White: Has played in Serbia, Greece, France, and Denmark and has only one cap. Maybe he's just a “journeyman,” but how many MLS players with more caps haven't been able to get a contract with even one European team? Worth a longer look.

PLAYERS NOT IN THE OFFICIAL POOL, BUT WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION

Brian McBride: Keep running him out there until he says “stop.” He's proven himself to be a scoring threat in the top league in Europe and now that he's moving back to MLS he'll be playing fewer matches and can probably extended his international career by a year or two if he wants to.

Jeff Larentowicz: No caps? Really? A tough midfielder/defender with a cannon of a shot from both open play and set pieces, he deserves a chance to show what he's made of at the international level.

Bryan Arguez: Only 19 and already under contract with Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga. Worth keeping an eye on.

Kyle Beckerman: Two caps, already 26, and a glut of better midfielders ahead of him. Also, I've watched him play and I don't even think he's a top MLS midfielder. Pass.

Kenny Cooper: I had high hopes for Kenny Cooper- he was a big, young striker with experience at one of Europe's biggest clubs (Manchester United). He's still young and he's still big, but also become injury prone and he's dropped from the EPL, to a mid-level Portuguese team, to MLS. He may still come around, but right now his trajectory is a negative one.

Gregg Berhalter: Probably done as an international, but still a serviceable player and worth having on the bench while the younger generation gets its minutes.

Eddie Gaven: It's easy to forget that Eddie is only 21 years old and that he's become a decent MLS player and a regular player on the national youth teams. Both are good things. However, if he wants to make an impact on the national team he's going to need to find a way to stand out from the crowd.

Colin Burns: Another GK buried so deep on the depth chart that he may never get close enough to get a call-up. That's too bad, because he's on the verge of making a career in Europe and he's a player I've seen in person and been impressed by- don't be surprised if he shows up in MLS at some point.

Jonathan Bornstein: Though a bit small for a defender, Bornstein has done well at the position. However, his ability to score goals from the midfield suggests he is better suited to that position. He seems to have caught Bob Bradley's eye and is like to be given additional matches.

Jorge Flores: Though only 18, Flores has begun to make a name for himself in MLS and on the national youth teams. A gifted forward, it is likely that Flores will feature in the full national team in the near future.

Pablo Mastroeni: Where have you gone Pablo? Once a fixture in the national side Mastroeni seems to have faded into oblivion. I liked him as a player- though he was prone to rash tackles- but I suppose this is what happens as a player ages and the player pool grows deeper.

Dominic Servi: A towering goalkeeper who at age 21 has already drawn interest or been offered trials by top Scottish and English sides. Should he live up to the hype he could be the one who challenges (surpasses?) Brad Guzan for the goalkeepers shirt after Tim Howard retires from international soccer.

Cory Gibbs: A good defender, but one who is approaching 30 and whose career trajectory is heading in the wrong direction. Three years with Charlton without a league appearance does not bode well for him when other Americans playing regularly in England have had a difficult time getting selected.

Lee Nguyen: A player to watch. Left college after a year to play in the Netherlands and now plays in Denmark. I watched him during the NCAA tournament when he played for Indiana and he looked to be a “special player.” Very much in the mold of DaMarcus Beasley.

Danny Szetela: Under contract with Racing Santander (the only American player currently under contract in Spain), but on loan to Brescia (where he is one of only a handful of American players), he appears to have a bright future.
Brian West: Had a decent MLS career and has done well in Norway and earned himself 7 caps as a result. That being said, he's 29, not in the 2008 player pool and finds himself competing against younger, similar, and better players- Michael Bradley for one.

Quentin Westberg: The French-born goalkeeper may be one of the few younger keepers (he just turned 22) who have a chance- along with Brad Guzan- once Tim Howard has moved on. He's been with Troyes FC since he was 17 and is drawing interest from other, higher level teams, outside of France.

Preston Zimmerman: Only 19, did well with Hamburger SV's youth squad, and is now looking for a new club in Europe. Probably a few years away from playing for the full national team, but again, he's a forward so he'll probably get a look.

Greg Dalby: No caps yet, but has captained the U-20 and is currently under contract to a team in Belgium's top division. Probably a player with a future on the national team.

Neven Subotic: A big young (19) who has featured on various US youth national teams and is already playing in Germany. The only problem is that he is eligible to play for the US, Bosnia, and possibly Serbia as well. Hopefully, he chooses the US.

Frank Simek: Another player who has only a few caps (5) despite the fact that he's played over a hundred matches for a good club (Sheffield Wednesday). I would hope that given his young age (23) he will get plenty more chances to contribute to the national team's back line.

Charlie Davies: Not only has Charlie established himself in Sweden's top division, he's a New Hampshire boy and thus, I'll be pulling for him. He's already earned three caps and I expect that he'll get a chance to score some goals for the US before too long.

Robbie Russell: Probably one of the best uncapped American players. He's established himself as top defender in Norway and Denmark and played in the Champions League as well. Almost 29, so his call-up will need to come soon if he's going to make a contribution.

Tally Hall: Another young GK playing in Europe who might have enough time to develop as a challenger for a national team place in the post-Tim Howard era.

FINALLY...

If the USSF is willing to do the legwork, I guarantee there are HUNDREDS of quality players playing in city leagues- especially those which draw from the immigrant population and their first generation American children- who could improve the National Team.

The balls in your court (pitch)...