Just call me the Ghost

So I got a text from Rich last night, "where you been man? I know you were in Ohio, but you've been a ghost lately."

Truthfully there's no real explanation, I've just been stuck in a rut and haven't gotten myself back into a rhythm since the World Cup ended. I definitely needed a little time there to recharge the batteries, but Rich has been completely carrying the team as we begin to near the new European campaign. Well starting today is where I get out of my Big Papi like 2-45 April slump and get back on the horse.

We don't know how much longer Bob Bradley will be in charge of the Men's National Team, his contract expires in December. I honestly have to applaud Bradley, and maybe even give him a standing ovation because I think he's done a sensational job building the team back up after their terrible World Cup tournament in 2006 under Bruce Arena.

I for one wanted Jurgen Klinsmann to take over the position after his brilliant performance guiding Germany to third place in that same 2006 tournament, but instead we got Bradley - a man at the time I did not know much about other than the fact a somewhat mixed performance as a coach in the MLS.

Yet Bradley has done yeoman's work guiding the team to the 2007 CONCAF Golf Cup title, a shocking runner's up place at the 2009 Confederation's Cup in which the team upset then No. 1 ranked Spain and nearly pulled of another monumental upset over Brazil, and then most recently helped the U.S. win its group stage for the first time in 80 years. You can't deny all of those were fabulous.

Additionally, Bradley has been responsible for capping many young players and sticking with them. Players like Michael Bradley, Charlie Davies, Jozy Altidore all received their first senior team caps under Bradley and these are a few of the guys that will be the core nucleus for the U.S. for the next couple of World Cups.

That practice will continue next week likely as Jermaine Jones was called into the fold as part of the 18-man roster for the U.S. match against Brazil in the New Meadowlands. After FIFA allowed Jones to switch alliances to the U.S. (his father is an American) after having made three appearances for Germany, he likely would have been a contributor in South Africa had he not broken his shin this past season. But it will be interesting to see what the defensive Schalke midfeilder could potentially matched up with Michael Bradley in the middle as that combination could be the future center midfield tandem for the U.S.

Three other players were picked that were cut off the 30-man preliminary roster before the World Cup: Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Alejandro Bedoja (Orebro), and Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht). I will be very interested how the 25-year-old Marshall plays considering the entire makeup of the defense could and should be different entering the next World Cup, and Marshall was likely the last cut off the defense before the tournament. Only really Steve Cherundolo had any semblance of a good tournament in the back in South Africa, point in fact he was terrific, but he would be 35 at the start of the 2014 World Cup, so he probably won't make it.

The last 14 guys on the roster are all World Cup players, which I am happy to see. Brazil may be sending a young team, but this young team is filled with guys that are already established stars like Pato and Robinho and potential future stars like Santos striker Neymar and Manchester United defender Rafael.

Here's the breakdown:

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England), Tim Howard (Everton, England)

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Etienne, France), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA),Steve Cherundolo (Hannover, Germany), Clarence Goodson (IK Start, Norway), Chad Marshall (Columbus), Jonathan Spector (West Ham, England)

Midfielders: Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro, Sweden), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus, Denmark), Jermaine Jones (Schalke, Germany), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht, Belgium)

Forwards: Edson Buddle (Los Angeles), Robbie Findley (Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez(Pachuca, Mexico)