Ch-Ching added to U.S. qualifier roster

U.S. coach Bob Bradley named the 21 players that will begin qualification for the 2010 World Cup against Barbados on Sunday, June 15. This is a tricky situation because Barbados should be easy like Sunday morning. But you don't want to try a bunch of untested players and end up staggering out of the gate like Barbaro. I mean, a rag-tag collection of immigrants beat mighty England once upon a time, so anything can happen.

But this is why I have been so disappointed with B.S. Bradley's decisions for the series of friendlies against top competition. He had the choice to test the quality of a host of players and he blew it by calling up "veterans" who for the most part will be watching the 2010 World Cup from their nursing homes (You know I still love ya, Heydude). I will be coming out with a post shortly of players that I believe deserve a call-up to the Nats. Maybe not for a qualifier but certainly for any friendlies in between.

Bradley's roster for the qualifier is nearly identical to the Argentina roster and similar to the rosters against England and Spain. Carlos Bocanegra is back after missing Argentina. MLS Player of the Week Brian Ching has been added (BS Bradley must read my site -- first Cooper, than Ching). Drew Moor and Kenny Cooper, who didn't see the pitch against last Sunday, have been dropped. Moor's still too green, but I would have liked to have seen Cooper get on the pitch. He's a big, physical forward like Ching, but I think he has better touch and a better shot from distance. Ching is a bit of a one-trick pony, although so was McBride and he was pretty successful (when he wasn't breaking his face on elbows). I also like that Sacha Kljestan continues to be part of the mix. He is a talented player and definitely will be part of the 2010 squad. I'm not sold on Heath Pearce or Jay DeMerit, though.

I still do not understand the logic of keeping Jozy Altidore off this team. He is currently your best option up front. I like Dempsey out wide in the midfield, not as a striker and LD needs a partner or he's useless. But all in all, it is a fairly strong line-up that shouldn't have any trouble with the Bearded Boys from the Caribbean.

Here's your Father's Day line-up:
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Dominic Cervi, Brad Guzan, Tim Howard
DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra, Dan Califf, Steve Cherundolo, Jay DeMerit, Frankie Hejduk, Oguchi Onyewu, Heath Pearce
MIDFIELDERS (7): Freddy Adu, DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Sacha Kljestan, Eddie Lewis, Pablo Mastroeni
FORWARDS (4): Brian Ching, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson