T-minus 17 Days...

With today's friendly against the Czech Republic, which you can catch LIVE on EPSN beginning at 730PM Eastern (430PM Pacific), I felt it was time to give my 2-cents on who should make the final 23 for Bob Bradley's squad.  Tonight's match COULD lead to a few surprises, but that's probably doubtful.

GOALKEEPERS
Tim Howard - Starter
Marcus Hahnemann*

*Typically, Brad Guzan is Tim Howard's understudy.  But being stuck behind the older Brad Freidel at Aston Villa hurts Guzan here.  ESPECIALLY following the campaign Hahnemann just had with Wolves in the Barclay's Premier League this past season.

DEFENDERS
Carlos Bocanegra - Starter
Steve Cherundolo
Jay DeMerit - Starter
Clarence Goodson*
Oguchi Onyewu - Starter
Heath Pearce
Jonathan Spector - Starter

*Goodson will be an insurance policy for Onyewu.  The fact that Gooch was invited to Princeton tells us that he's ready and game-fit, but if Gooch appears to be hobbled or slowed at anytime, Goodson would be his fill-in.

MIDFIELDERS
Michael Bradley - Starter
Ricardo Clark - Starter
Clint Dempsey - Starter
Landon Donovan - Starter
Maurice Edu
Benny Feilhaber
Sacha Kljestan
Jose Torres
DeMarcus Beasley*

*Unlikely to play much, but being selected for his veteran leadership.

FORWARDS
Jozy Altidore - Starter
Edson Buddle
Brian Ching
Hercules Gomez
Eddie Johnson

So, who is the other starter up front?  Your guess is as good as mine.  I prefer it to be CLINT DEMPSEY.  If not, my guess is either Ching of Buddle.

DON'T FORGET TO WATCH TONIGHT!!!

T-Minus 24 Days...

I do apologize for the lack of updates (long work weekend).  Today, we highlight one of the USMNT's key figures in qualifying, and a player who will need to be HUGE in South Africa; Clint Dempsey.  After his amazing performance in the Confederations Cup last summer, could another breakout performance on the worlds' BIGGEST stage be in the offing for Dempsey?

T-Minus 28 Days...

Today, we highlight one of Clint Dempsey's lesser known skills: RAPPER.  This is Clint Dempsey, AKA: Deuce, along with Houston's own Big Hawk and XO.  The song: "DON'T TREAD ON THIS"

Enjoy!!!

-Mike

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE IN OUR POLL!!!

To the right on your screen, under the Twitter feed.  Our current question, "Which player will be key to USMNT success in South Africa?"

DON'T TREAD ON THIS!!!

Team Announced: Few Surprises

     Other than Charlie Davies being left off as Bob Bradley ultimately decided that he was just not quite recovered enough, and Eddie Johnson being included due to his recent exceptional play with his club, there were few surprises when the 30-man roster announcement came down.  Below is video of the announcement from ESPNews.

     Today is a VERY important day for the USMNT: Coach Bob Bradley will be announcing his 30-Man Provisional Roster for World Cup training.  This announcement is supposed to take place LIVE on ESPNews at 2pm ET (11am PT). In reality, probably somewhere around 27 players will actually attend training in Princeton, NJ (why is this training not taking place AT ALTITUDE?!?).

     The official deadline to submit the final 23-man squad to FIFA is the 1st of June. All 23 must come from the original 30. HOWEVER, in the event of serious injuries following the June 1st deadline, replacements from either inside or outside the original 30 will be permitted up to 24 hours before the team's first World Cup match.

     Understanding all of this, I thought it fitting to make the first true post for the Don't Tread On This Blog to be a prediction of said 30-Man Provisional Roster.

GOALKEEPERS

Tim Howard (Everton): One of the best in the world.  Will start.

Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton): Quality season in the Barclay's Premier League may make him the surprise #2.

Brad Guzan (Aston Villa): Typically considered the #2, but being behind Brad Freidel at Aston Villa hurts him here.

Troy Perkins (DC United): Will be on the list, but won't go to Princeton.

DEFENDERS

Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan): Will he be fit in time?  Some say yes.  He is an absolute necessity in the middle for the tournament.

Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes): Starter, only question is whether it will be in the middle or left?

Jay DeMerit (Watford): Strong presence in middle.

Jonathan Spector (West Ham): Can play anywhere on the back line.

Steve Cherundolo (Hanover): Veteran right back is once again health, but might not be on final 23).

Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA): VERY athletic, and a regular on the left.

Clarence Goodson (Start): Provides depth in middle, ESPECIALLY if Onyewu is not fit.

Chad Marshall (Columbus): Brings size and strength in the center.  Will only make final 23 if Onyewu is not fit in time.

MIDFIELDERS

Michael Bradley (Moenchengladbach): Son on the head coach, but there is no question that he will start in the center-half.

Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers): Provides defensive help as well.

Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt): Is healthy, and will probably start.

Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers): Nice reserve for the center-half.

Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus): Can play any position in the half, but definitely a reserve at best.

Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca): Sneaky and clever, but is he ready?  Probably not on final 23.

Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro): Nice pace on the right, but probably not going to Princeton.

DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers): Never mind the questions of "Can he still play at this level?"  He'll go to Princeton to help get the final 23 ready, but will not go to South Africa.

Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA): Smooth feet, very creative.  Great reserve for a spark.

MIDFIELDER-FORWARDS

Clint Dempsey (Fulham): No question that he will start, but where?  My vote: UP FRONT.  He seems to find the net when he's moved up.

Landon Donovan (Los Angeles): Most valuable when stacked in front of Michael Bradley as a "withdrawn striker".

FORWARDS

Jozy Altidore (Hull City/Villarreal): VERY strong up front.  Needs to keep his head clear.

Edson Buddle (Los Angeles): Quite possibly one of the hottest scorers in the world right now.  How can he NOT get an invite.  Not certain he'll make the final 23, but he has to get a shot as hot as he's been for the Galaxy thus far.

Brian Ching (Houston): The veteran is still recovering, but regardless of that he is INVALUABLE when a strike is needed.

Charlie Davies (Sochaux): Will he be fit?  If he is, look for him to play with total abandon.  He's lucky to be alive.  If he could end up PLAYING...

Herculez Gomez (Puebla): Has been amazing in Mexico.

Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake): This is where the speed will be if Davies is unavailable.

Conor Casey (Colorado): VERY solid up front.  May not make the final 23, but has to get a serious look

Possible "Wild Cards"

D AJ DeLaGarza, D Jimmy Conrad, D Omar Gonsalez, D Edgar Castillo, D Frankie Hejduk, MF Jermaine Jones, MF Robbie Rogers, MF-F Freddy Adu

Any thoughts?  Don't forget to watch the announcement on ESPNews @ 2pm ET!!!

-Mike

Welcome to THE Fan-Based Source for YOUR US Men's National Soccer Team

My name is Mike Palmer.  I am a HUGE fan of our US Men's National Soccer team (USMNT), and hopefully you are here as a USMNT fan as well.  Over the next few months which lead up to and include the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa (and hopefully beyond), I will make several weekly updates to this blog.  These updates will include player profiles, predictions, match previews, match highlights, among other things.

Enjoy, and feel free to make suggestions!!!

-Mike