Ranking the USA’s World Cup Player Pool

February 26th, 2010 | by: Taylor | View Comments

As we discussed in last week’s podcast, the USA has 23 roster spots to fill for the coming World Cup. No one (including, it seems, Bob Bradley) is set on the number of players we’re taking for each position or the overall look of the squad. Compounding the issue is that even the most hardcore supporters of the US Men’s National Team have difficulty keeping track of all of the players currently listed on the website’s Player Pool. There are an awful lot of names playing in an awful lot of leagues. Since, as we all know, this blog is meant to inspire and educate (just kidding, it’s meant to mock Brian Ching) here are your Top 50 Americans that still have a chance to make the squad. Remember this is all a bit subjective and my own opinion (not meant to reflect the views of the other USA WC Bloggers).

Numbers 1 – 10: On The Plane
1 – Tim Howard – GK – Everton FC (England) – North Brunswick, NJ
Best keeper in England. Best keeper in the USA. Arguably, our best pound for pound player.

2 – Landon Donovan – MF/FW – Everton/LA Galaxy – Redlands, CA
The once-and-future king of American soccer, Donovan has been consistently performing for his current club Everton (he was voted Player of the Month earlier this week). Moreover, he broke Ashley Cole’s ankle, thus reopening the Terry-Bridge Scandal. Outstanding work from the 27 year old.

3 – Carlos Bocanegra – D – Stade Rennais (France) – Alta Loma, CA
It remains to be seen if Boca will start on the left side or center of defense. One thing’s for certain: the captain usually gets to go to the World Cup (unless, of course, you just banged Eric Wynalda’s wife).

4 – Clint Dempsey – MF/FW – Fulham – Nacogdoches, TX
I didn’t realize until last night that Clint Dempsey’s hometown was also the setting for the Bruce Campbell masterpiece “Bubba Ho-Tep.” He makes the squad for that alone (and, you know, for being really good).

5 – Oguchi Onyewu – D – AC Milan – Olney, MD
Yes, he hasn’t played for AC Milan very much this season. Yes, he did suffer a patellar tendon rupture. Yes, that is as bad as it sounds. Yes, he’s still rehabilitating from the surgery. Yes, he’s still #5 on this list.

6 – Jozy Altidore – FW – Hull City/Villarreal – Boca Raton, FL
His recent goal for Hull City perfectly demonstrated his value for the USA. He’s a big, strong attacker who can alternately hold up play or score a deft goal. He’s put up with Phil Brown’s insanity, so you know he can handle almost anything.

7 – Michael Bradley – MF – Borussia Moenchengladbach – Manhattan Beach, CA
Someone’s gotta continue the tradition of a centermid getting sent off at the World Cup.

8 – Jay DeMerit – D – Watford – Green Bay, WI
The Watford captain has managed to overcome an early season eye injury to become one of the club’s most vital players. Plus, with Bret Favre wearing a purple Vikings jersey as of late, the State of Wisconsin needs a new hero to get behind; enter Jay DeMerit.

9 – Brad Guzan – GK – Aston Villa – Homer Glen, IL
Suffice it to say, we’re set at the goalkeeping position.

10 – Ricardo Clark – MF – Eintracht Frankfurt – Jonesboro, GA
Another American who currently resides on the injury list, Clark seems the most likely and logical candidate to partner Bradley in the middle. He’s a touch tackler who can also get a goal, and I genuinely enjoy his work ethic.

#11– #20: At The Gate
11 – Jonathon Spector – D – West Ham United – Arlington Heights, IL
The former Manchester United player rounds out the USA’s back four. He’s figured in 17 matches for a resurgent West Ham side, and has become a more reliable performer as of late.

12 – Charlie Davies – F – FC Sochaux (France) – Manchester, NH
And here’s where the list meets it’s first big bump. Charlie Davies hasn’t played a competitive match since a horrific car accident in October left him with a lacerated bladder, broken bones, facial fractures, and a plethora of other injuries. And yet, he’s returned to France and is expected to resume training early next month (although that certainly doesn’t guarantee his fitness for this summer). More to the point, I would still take him over any other striker (at least at this point).

13 – Stuart Holden – MF – Bolton FC – Houston, TX
Holden is starting to get some PT in Owen Coyle’s Bolton squad, and a capable performer out wide or in the center. Moreover, if Davies isn’t ready come June, then Dempsey could get bumped up to forward and Holden could deputize on the wing.

14 – Benny Feilhaber- MF – AGF Aarhus (Denmark) – Irvine, CA
15 – Jose Francisco Torres – MF – Pachuca (Mexico) – Longview, TX
Talented midfielders who bring goal scoring and creativity to the squad. Not dead certain to make the squad (especially given Torres’ recurring injury problems), but still likely candidates.

16 – Marcus Hahnemann – GK – Wolverhampton Wanderers – Seattle, WA
Three goalkeepers in the Top 20; not sure what that says about the state of the American team, other than that we have some skilled keepers. He’s prone to silly decisions (ask Didier Drogba about Chelsea’s second goal last weekend), but at this point he still gets the nod over anyone else.

17 – Jonathon Bornstein – D – Chivas USA – Los Alamitos, CA
He’s practically a Saint in Honduras; it would be a slap in the face of our Latin American neighbors not to send him.

#18 – #26: Paying the Travel Agent
18 – Brian Ching – F – Houston Dynamo – Haleiwa, HI
Wow… even I can’t believe he’s this high on the list… At the beginning of the week, I had him at #28. However, after Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over El Salvador, I think he may have leapfrogged several other candidates for the #3 striker spot. Sigh… this list makes me want to start drinking…

19 – Maurice Edu – MF – Glasgow Rangers – Fontana, CA
20 – Sacha Kljestan – MF – Chivas USA – Hunginton Beach, CA
Edu and Kljestan both have the potential to be big players for the USA, but injuries and inconsistently/a proclivity to pick up red cards (respectively) make them less than certain to be in the final squad. The facts that Edu has started to get games for Rangers and Kljestan put in a solid performance on Wednesday certainly won’t hurt their chances.

21 – Conor Casey – F – Colorado Rapids – Gilpin, CO
22 – Freddy Adu – MF/F – Aris Thessaloniki (Greece) – Potomac, MD
Two more controversial rankings, but such is life. I actually had Casey in the #18 spot, but a lackluster performance against El Salvador and the fact that his “sprint” is Charlie Davies’ “light jog” makes me a bit concerned about the bald-headed forward. Adu is getting games and goals for Aris, but still appears to be getting the cold shoulder from Bob Bradley (he’s not even on the roster for the upcoming friendly with the Netherlands).

23 – Steve Cherundolo – Hannover 96 (Germany) – San Diego, CA
24 – Clarence Goodson – IK Start (Norway) – Alexandria, VA
25 – Heath Pearce – D – FC Dallas – Modesto, CA
26 – Frankie Hejduk – Columbus Crew – Cardiff, CA
At least two of the above names will be heading to South Africa. Despite my arguments on last week’s show, I think you can rank them in that order. With Cherundolo and Hejduk, you know what you’re getting. Goodson and Hejduk are less experienced, but both had VERY solid performances against El Salvadore and both were rewarded with spots on the roster for the Netherlands friendly. My updated guess is that Hejduk ends up being the odd man out.

#27 – #37 – Talking to the Travel Agent

27 – Robbie Rogers – MF – Columbus Crew – Huntington Beach, CA
28 – Kyle Beckerman – MF – Real Salt Lake – Crofton, MD
Neither really did enough on Wednesday to increase or decrease their standing with Bob Bradley.

29 – Robbie Findley – FW – Real Salt Lake – Phoenix, AZ
30 – Eddie Johnson – FW – Aris Thessaloniki (Greece) – Palm Coast, FL
Findley had a very poor showing on Wednesday, and even went so far as to debut “The Robbie Findley Face”. It remains to be seen whether or not Eddie Johnson’s move to Aris will be a positive one. He’s got one goal in four matches… Which is something… I guess… Regardless, both were names in the squad for the Netherlands match, so both make the list.

31 – Jeff Cunningham – FW – FC Dallas – Crystal River, FL
32 – Frank Simek – D – Sheffield Wednesday – St. Louis, MO
33 – Edgar Castillo – D – UANL (Mexico) – Las Cruces, NM
34 – Jimmy Conrad – D – Kansas City Wizards – Temple City, CA
All three have been selected in the past, but only one makes the roster for next Tuesday’s match (Simek). Conrad has been on the outs as of late, and Castillo hasn’t gotten a game for the USA since coming on as a substitute against Denmark on November 18. Any of the above names could push for a spot, but it’s going to take a considerable amount of work.

35 – Eddie Gaven – MF – Columbus Crew – Hamilton, NJ
Gaven was previously ranked #42 on this list, but a very strong second half against El Salvador bumped him way up on the list. I still don’t think he’ll make the squad and he wasn’t named for the Netherlands friendly, but a solid performance is a solid performance.

36 – DaMarcus Beasley – MF – Glasgow Rangers – Ft. Wayne, IN
The much maligned winger (and horrific defender) looked to be on the decline during his dreadful Confederations Cup run last summer. However, experience and occasional flashes of brilliance mean that Beasley still has a shot of making the squad.

37 – Alejandro Bedoya – MF – Orebro SK (Sweden) – Westin, FL
I honestly don’t know a whole lot about Bedoya, but he’s on the squad list for Tuesday. The 22 year old midfielder has made 25 appearances for Orebro since joining in 2008 but only has one USA cap to his name.

#38 -#50 – Browsing Flights Online

38 – Troy Perkins – GK – DC United – Worthington, OH
39 – Nick Rimando – GK – Real Salt Lake – Montclair, CA
Both goalkeepers could probably be higher on the list, but right now I think the #3 keeper spot his Hahnemann’s to lose. The potential MLS lockout certainly wouldn’t do anything to help either player’s cause.

40– Kenny Cooper – FW – 1860 Munich – Dallas, TX
I would like to see Cooper higher on the list, but it doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere anytime soon. The striker, who’s currently on loan at Plymouth Argyle, hasn’t scored a goal this season and hasn’t had too many call-ups in recent memory.

41 – Chad Marshall – D – Columbus Crew – Riverside, CA
42 – Brad Davis – MF – Houston Dynamo – St. Charles, MO
43 – Dax McCarty – MF – FC Dallas – Winter Park, FL
44 – Geoff Cameron – MF – Houston Dynamo – Attleboro, MA
45 – Omar Gonzalez – D – LA Galaxy – Dallas, TX
46 – Chris Pontius – DC United – Yorba Linda, CA
47 – Michael Orozco – D – Philadelphia Union – Orange, CA
48 – Marvell Wynne – D – Toronto FC – Poway, CA
All are solid MLS performers, but all are unlikely to get significant playing time in the remaining friendlies.

49 – Brad Evans – MD – Seattle Sounders – Phoenix, AZ
Poor, poor Brad Evans…

50 – Jermaine Jones – MF – FC Schalke 04 – Chicago, IL
Has never made an appearance for the US Men’s National Team (although he does have three for Germany) and has been out for most of this season with injuries. And yet, if he were healthy, he would rocket to the near top of this list. Not sure what that says about the USA…

So there are my Top 50 as of February 26, 2010. Obviously, this list will change countless times over the coming months, and it’s my goal to update it once a week, every week, until the official squad is announced. That’s the goal… We’ll see how it goes…