U.S. Men's National Soccer Team: Picking the 23 for the Gold Cup

The biennial Confederation of North, Central American, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) championship is once again upon us in June. 

U.S. Men's National Team Coach Bob Bradley has stated that he will release the 23-man roster for the Gold Cup on Monday, May 23rd.  Which players will he pick?

The winner of this Gold Cup gets to represent the federation in the 2013 Confederations Cup, a tune-up for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.  U.S. Soccer has made targeting the Confederations Cup a priority.  The United States doesn't get the high-profile games that Europe (UEFA) and South America (CONMEBOL) do during their World Cup qualifying rounds and continental championships. 

With that in mind, Bradley's roster will be an "A" team, selected to win the tournament.  Developmental and fringe players will get their chances in later friendlies. 

Goal:  Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann, David Yelldell

Tim is still wearing the USA's No. 1 shirt, and normal first backup Brad Guzan is getting married during the Gold Cup.

Defenders:

Left Back:  Jonathan Bornstein, Eric Lichaj

Left Back/Center Back: Carlos Bocanegra

Center Back: Oguchi Onyewu, Clarence Goodson, Tim Ream

Right Back: Steve Cherundolo, Timothy Chandler

Despite some back line choices being a little bit banged up (Jay DeMerit), there's a solid eight available.

Bornstein is a World Cup veteran and has been the starter at left back when Bocanegra plays in the center. 

Lichaj finished the season at Leeds playing left back, and we sorely need options there. 

Onyewu was banged up enough not to play in his Dutch league final but has stated he's ready for the Gold Cup. 

Goodson has often looked like our best center back and is coming off a good year in Denmark. 

Tim Ream has been worked into the first team in the Argentina and Paraguay friendlies and has earned his spot through his excellent distribution out of the back. 

Cherundolo had a great World Cup and a career year in Germany, and Timothy Chandler showed himself to be an impressive option at getting forward, and would also be an option for right wing. 

Midfield:

Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Jermaine Jones, Jonathan Spector, Benny Feilhaber, Sacha Kljestan

It should be noted that the United States will be lining up in the same 4-4-2 it used to effect in winning CONCACAF qualifying, reaching the final of the 2009 Confederations Cup and in winning their group in the 2010 World Cup.  For those who wish to see a change to a five man midfield, it's not happening this tournament, except perhaps as a late defensive move to protect a lead. 

Dempsey and Donovan will start on the wings, of course, with two of Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu and Jermaine Jones playing in the middle.  All three will get plenty of rotation in the tournament. 

Spector is a veteran of last summer, and is able to play all four back line positions as well. 

Feilhaber is also a World Cup veteran, and a capable backup at wing or central midfield. 

This really only leaves one spot available in an eight-man midfield group, and the top candidates to fill it are Alejandro Bedoya, Mikkel Diskerud and Sacha Kljestan.  All three have been playing significant minutes with their clubs and contributing goals and assists. 

Kljestan gets the nod being the only one of those three to get any time with the "A" team in the most recent friendlies (Argentina & Paraguay).  Diskerud did not play, and Bedoya was not selected, possibly due to injury at the time.

**UPDATE**

Sporting Kansas City's coach Peter Vermes has apparently said that Teal Bunbury has been called up.  The New York Red Bulls' Hans Backe has also acknowledged that Juan Agudelo has been called in.

Forwards:

Jozy Altidore, Juan Agudelo, Edson Buddle, Teal Bunbury

The U.S. forward stable is, again, a mess.  Charlie Davies recently injured his hamstring and will not be in consideration.  The Gold Cup is a three week long tournament, plus a week long training camp and a friendly versus Spain, so the U.S. will definitely be taking four bodies at forward. 

Altidore is the one constant in the U.S. forward pool. 

Juan Agudelo is a young and exciting player but will not be relied upon to spearhead our attack for 90 minutes over multiple games, meaning Bradley is going to feel most comfortable bringing in some veterans, and in this case, I think it makes the most sense to bring in both Gomez and Buddle.

Teal Bunbury has gotten two national team call-ups against South Africa and Chile—neither with the "A" squad.  While he looked good in those games, he's not yet tearing up MLS, with only three goals to date.  However, Bunbury looks like he's been called in to be our traditional "speed" option.  With two less experienced players in Agudelo and Bunbury, the case for Buddle or Gomez as a fourth is looking stronger, most likely Buddle as a second target forward in case of poor production, cards, or injuries to Altidore.

Other MLS strikers having good seasons so far, such as Chris Wondolowski or Kenny Cooper also will be left to play with their squads.  Bradley rarely integrates players "cold," i.e. those who haven't been selected for "A" team duty in the past 12 months, and the Gold Cup roster will be heavily predicted by the rosters in the March Argentina/Paraguay friendlies.