Bob Bradley Announces USA Roster for Nov. 18 Denmark Friendly

The 24th and final USMNT game and roster of 2009, a national record, consists of

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton), Troy Perkins (Valerenga)

DEFENDERS (8): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Edgar Castillo (Tigres), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Hull City), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas), Eddie Johnson (Fulham)

The key tryouts here, of course, continue to be left back, a central defender, and a striking partner for Jozy Altidore.

With Steve Cherundolo's knee injury, Johnathan Spector starts at right back, with FC Dallas' Heath Pearce being called up for substitution.  Pearce started at left back during qualifying 16 months ago, and will get a second look at being a potential backup for both the left and right back positions.

At left back we finally have a call-up of the long-awaited Edgar Castillo.  No, he will not start.  These are his first few minutes on the national team, and the Bob Bradley regime is nothing if not conservative based on previous playing time.  Jonathan Bornstein, despite his performance versus Slovakia, starts, with Castillo getting 30, depending on practice.

At center back, Carlos Bocanegra pairs with Clarence Goodson, who got minutes in Slovakia, and Johnathan Spector plays right back.  Chad Marshall is gone, and Cherundolo is injured.

Castillo, Conrad, and Pearce should get some back line time at some point.

Brad Guzan will start and play the full game. 

In the midfield, we will start the same four we did against Slovakia--Dempsey, Bradley, Feilhaber, and Rogers.  Not a bad midfield and very effective against Slovakia, but I'd prefer Feilhaber learning to back up Donovan at left wide, where he plays at Danish Aarhus (and the friendly will be played at his home stadium), followed by Bradley, Clark, and Dempsey at his Fulham right wide position.  This lineup may occur after substitutions.

The Bradley coaching staff prefers to work on the core, so to speak, and build incrementally.  

Up front, however, we have zero chemistry with Altidore.  I'm shocked that Brian Ching wasn't called up.  Therefore, it's going to be Eddie Johnson getting a full shift with the 'Nats, and if he doesn't perform, I'll have an article about that soon.