World Cup 2010 Preview: How U.S. Coach Bob Bradley Should Use His Players

With just a few days left before the United States takes on England in South Africa in their first game in the 2010 World Cup, Bob Bradley still has a few decisions to make regarding his roster.

After watching nearly every game leading up to the World Cup, this is how I view each player and how I think they should be used by Bob Bradley.

Goalies:

This is the easiest decision Bob Bradley will have to make. Tim Howard should be in goal every game for the United States. He is far and away the best keeper on Team USA and is arguably one of the best keepers in the world.

The choice for top backup behind Howard will be far more difficult. Brad Guzan and Marcus Hahnemann are the two reserve keepers for the US.

Guzan had a very poor showing against the Czech Republic, though his defenders didn't offer much resistance to the Czech attack.

Hahnemann has not played much for the Americans, but was the first choice keeper for Wolverhampton of the English Premier League this past season.

Should Tim Howard be forced to miss a game due to injury or suspension, Bob Bradley will have a tough decision to make on who to put in at keeper.

Defenders:

The injury bug has really taken its toll on the American defenders.

At right back, Steve Cherundolo has proven to be the best option. Although somewhat undersized, he is has been a consistent starter for Hannover 96 in the Bundesliga. He is the quickest, most experienced defender the US has.

At left back, Carlos Bocanegra should get the nod from Bob Bradley. He may not have the pace and skills most teams want from a fullback, but he is the best option the Americans have on the roster.

Center back is a bit of a question mark for the Americans. When healthy, Oguchi Onyewu is no doubt the best defender on the US. The question is, will he be healthy? If Bradley deems Onyewu fit and healthy, he should get the nod.

Jay DeMerit has given the US a solid contributor from the center back position. He is not the biggest, or the fastest, or the most skilled, but he holds his own. He does need to work on his distribution out of the back.

Bradley chose to only bring seven defenders to South Africa, so that gives him only three reserves to use. Clarence Goodson, Jonathon Spector, and Jonathon Bornstein should be the reserves.

Goodson will be pushed into a starting role if Onyewu is unable to get in shape in time. He is a good presence in the air, but he lacks the foot speed and skills needed to be a successful defender in the international game.

Jonathon Spector has fallen out of favor with most fans after a few poor showings. He has the ability to play across the entire back line. He will be called on if a fullback is needed, and he might be forced to play center back if an injury or two occurs.

Jonathon Bornstein is a head scratcher. Bob Bradley has seemingly fallen in love with Bornstein even though he consistently gets beat by the opponents. If he sees the field at all, the US is in big trouble.

Midfielders:

Landon Donovan is an obvious choice at one of the outside mid positions. He is the best player for the Americans, and he will look to keep his hot streak going after a successful campaign on loan at Everton.

Clint Dempsey should be playing at the other outside midfield position. He is the most creative player on the roster, and offers the best chance at breaking down a defense. His defensive commitment leaves something to be desired, but this is his best position.

Michael Bradley will be starting at one of the central midfield positions. He is the best central midfielder for the US. Bradley's defensive prowess is admirable, and he is slowly developing into a major offensive threat.

At the other central midfield position, Bradley has a few options. Jose Torres gives the US a creative play-maker they have lacked for quite a while. He is an average defender at best, and with Bradley's defend-and-counter strategy, Torres may be left looking on from the bench.

Ricardo Clark is the best defensive option at center mid. He and Michael Bradley give the Americans a stout defensive pair that clog the middle and make it tough for opponents to break through. With that being said, he lacks the play-making ability that the US needs from its' central midfielder.

Maurice Edu offers a combination of Torres and Clark. He might seem like the best option for Bob Bradley, but a lack of playing time following an injury might keep him out of the lineup. If healthy and in form, Edu gives the US the best option as an all-around central midfielder.

Stuart Holden gives Bob Bradley a solid wing option off the bench. He is very comfortable on the ball and has a killer cross that the US needs. The only things keeping him out of the starting lineup are Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. Look for him to be called upon often when the US needs a spark.

DeMarcus Beasley is one of the most experienced players on the American team, but he is also one of the least consistent. When on his game, Beasley provides speed and skill down the left flank that no other player can match. The question is, can he do it on a consistent basis on a national stage?

Benny Feilhaber had a strong showing in the 2009 Confederations Cup, giving the US a player in the midfield that can keep possession of the ball and distribute effectively. He showed in a friendly that he is not a good option at outside mid, and with an abundance of center mids, he might struggle to see the field at all.

Forwards:

Jozy Altidore has the most potential out of all the US forwards, but he has had trouble performing consistently. In international games, Altidore has had success, but he only had one goal this past season at Hull City. He gives the Americans an athletic forward with the more experience than the other forwards combined.

No one is hotter on the US team than Edson Buddle, and when forwards are hot, coaches usually play them. Buddle is a similar player to Jozy Altidore. He is somewhat bigger than the other forwards and will probably be used as a substitute for Altidore, but he may get the chance to start if Altidore is unable to recover from an ankle injury he suffered during training.

Robbie Findley provides the US the speed and determination it lost when Charlie Davies was deemed unable to play. He does not have the skills that Davies has, but he provides the pace needed to open up the field for other players to make their impact. He has a great chance at starting up top next to Altidore.

Herculez Gomez is another interesting addition to the roster. He has a knack for being in the right place at the right time and has shown that he can consistently put the ball in the back of the net. Like Buddle, Bradley may choose to ride his hot streak until he flames out.

This is how I think Bob Bradley will start on June 12 against England.

Howard

Cherundolo----------DeMerit----------Onyewu----------Bocanegra

Donovan----------Clark----------Bradley----------Dempsey

Findley----------Altidore

What do you think?