U.S.'s Chicago-style pie misses opportunity

U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley announced the roster for the second leg of the qualifier against island whipping boys Barbados, who will have an eight-goal deficit to make up when they host the Nats on Sunday, June 22, at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

After the first match, I suggested that B.S. Bradley might want to use the second leg to test out some players since the danger of the U.S. losing 9-0 is far fetched at best. I also suggested a few new names that he could call up, particularly some attacking players that the U.S. will need against the more experienced teams that lie ahead.

In more proof that B.S. Bradley is a TYH reader, he added No.7 on my list, Danny Szetela. It's a start, I guess, but it is disappointing to see that the only other new faces added are John Thorrington and the midget twins (Chad Barrett and Chris Rolfe). Now, don't get me wrong, Barrett is a decent player (a homeless man's Wayne Rooney) and Rolfe has had his moments, but Bradley's Chicago-style national team pie again misses an opportunity to run out players with 2010 potential. Eddie Lewis is still on this team (who did he service to keep his name on this roster?) Danny Califf is still on this team (no way is he going to make 2010).

Not to mention that some of the likely starters for 2010 should be sitting out this ridiculously one-sided contest. What if, god forbid, Carlos Bocanegra, DaMarcus Beasley, Freddy Adu, or even your son get injured in this match and have to miss subsequent, tougher qualifiers, Mr. Bradley? It is an unnecessary gamble. This roster could consist entirely of our C-team players and no one would bat an eye. But one reason I think of that Bradley might have for keeping a core of "veterans" is that he feels pressure to get results so that he can continue to make a case for why he should remain our national team coach when he is so woefully out of his league.

ROSTER FOR BARBADOS (by position)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Dominic Cervi (out of contract), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (6): Carlos Bocanegra (out of contract), Dan Califf (FC Midtjylland), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Drew Moor (FC Dallas) Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock)
MIDFIELDERS (6): DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Eddie Lewis (Derby County), Danny Szetela (Brescia), John Thorrington (Chicago Fire)
FORWARDS (3): Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), Chad Barrett (Chicago Fire), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire)