Bradley Call Ups for Colorado Training Camp Announced

Finally we have some action on the national team level.

Today, Bob Bradley called up 19 players for a four day training camp from Nov. 12-16 in Colorado to prepare for the Nov. 19 match against Guatemala. This game is practically meaningless as the USA has already secured advancement to the Hexagonal round, but it should be a good chance to get a look at some new guys.

One of those being, yes, Kenny Cooper. (Horns sound, women faint, global warming subsequently ceases)

If you think that’s good, here’s the whole thing:

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brian Edwards (Toronto FC), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF), Matt Pickens (out of contract)
DEFENDERS (6): Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Sean Franklin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cory Gibbs (Colorado Rapids), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Drew Moor (FC Dallas), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Colin Clark (Colorado Rapids), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Nick LaBrocca (Colorado Rapids), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)
FORWARDS (5): Davy Arnaud (Kansas City Wizards), Chad Barrett (Toronto FC), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas)

Ok, so maybe Davy Arnaud, Nick LaBrocca, and Colin Clark don’t live up to FrankenCooper’s greatness, but hey, the roster needs to be filled out somehow. I’m guessing at least one of them was brought here simply to be the clean up man for Brian Ching’s chronic nose bleeds anyways.

Although this is a basically all MLS roster due to scheduling around the world, there are some things to look for.

Sean Franklin - The uber-talented rookie from the Galaxy was thrown into the fire this past year on possibly the worst backline in MLS history, and came out with credibility and what clearly looks to be a great future in front of him. Possibly your MLS Rookie of the Year, Franklin showed the consistency that his veteran line mates should have been showing, while displaying a great deal of athleticism that probably makes him the first timer on this roster with the best chance to take it to the next level.

Kenny Cooper - Just to some up what probably many of you are feeling right now…Finally. One of the best forwards in MLS finally gets his call, and he should figure prominently in Bob’s plan of attack. This is probably the guy with the most pressure on him, as both this training camp and fixture vs. Guatemala is his long-awaited chance to impress Bob Bradley and work his way into those final forward spots for 2010.

Jonathan Bornstein - After looking like one of Bob Bradley’s favorites after their time together at Chivas USA, Jonathan struggled with a cycle of injuries which knocked him off the national team map for quite awhile. Finally getting back to full fitness, this is an opportunity for Bornstein to re-stake his claim for what could be a very interesting left-back race for 2010.

Have your say…