Bob Bradley Is a Fool if He Doesn't Select Edson Buddle for South Africa

While American soccer fans wait in anticipation for the announcement of the preliminary 30-man roster for South Africa, Edson Buddle waits as well.

Buddle is the most in-form forward in the player selection pool right now and with the events of the past year, he should be on the roster.

Buddle's competition comes from Jozy Altidore, Charlie Davies, Brian Ching, Conor Casey and Eddie Johnson.

Altidore will be selected to the team, so that leaves four, possibly five spots for forwards on the roster, depending on how Clint Dempsey and/or Landon Donovan are listed on the roster.

Davies will make the team despite his injuries from a car accident last year because of his performance in the Confederations Cup last season against top-notch national teams.

Johnson this season at Greek club Aris Thessaloniki put together a decent year, scoring five times in 15 games and adding the fact that he has national team experience should put him on the roster.

The other two or three spots are wide open.

Buddle has by far played better soccer than the others and should be on the roster as a lock. But, that is not what Bradley and Co. at US Soccer are thinking.

Buddle has not made a national team appearance since 2003 and has had injury-plagued seasons throughout his MLS career. These are reasons to believe he will not make the squad but the reasons that he will make it are overwhelming.

Reason No. 1: Nine goals in eight games with LA Galaxy in 2010.

Reason No. 2: Brian Ching is injured.

Reason No. 3: Conor Casey admitted himself in an interview that he most likely will not make the 30-man roster.

Buddle has the advantage over his fellow MLS compatriots and will make the 30-man roster, most likely the final 23-man roster and could even have a move to Europe ahead of him, if he performs well on the world's biggest stage.