Who Should the US Start Against Australia?

This Saturday marks the last tune up match the United States have before they take the field June 12 against England in their World Cup opener.  After four years of building his squad, Bradley still has some questions that still need to be cleared up before the South African campaign begins.  Here is my lineup.  It allows the establish players to gain more cohesion as group and at the same time it provides Bradley with a few answers.  Feel free to post your starting 11.

Forwards:  Jozy Altidore and Herculez Gomez

In the last match Jozy started to show signs of what all US fans hoped he would be after a season in the Premiership. Give the big man another run out to help him find his game.  After the disappointing end to his season at Hull City, he needs as much confidence as possible.  As for his partner I choose Gomez.  Robbie Findley only improved his chances of seeing the field June 12^th, but we need to see what Gomez can bring as a starter. He is an established entity as a super sub, and my reasoning is that he has had a better season, in a more competitive league than Findley. Show us what you got Herc!

Midfielders:  Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Jose Francisco Torres, Landon Donovan

Torres skill in the Turkey match was a revelation to all watching.  It was what we all wanted to see since the loss of Claudio Reyna and John O’Brien, but can he do it for the full 90, that is my question and that is what I want to see on Saturday. I would trade Maurice Edu for Michael Bradley at the half to see how that combo works in midfield, and I would also like to see Beasley and Holden come in for Deuce and Donovan later on as I feel this guys all have the potential to be subs that can come in and score, something the US has lone needed.

Defenders:  Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Jay Demerit, Steve Cherundolo

This is it for Gooch; show us that you have fully recovered. Allay all the fears that US fans had after seeing him get beat in the Czech match; build on the solid showing you had in the Turkey.  The same can be said for Bocanegra, prove your match fitness.  We have been hearing everything is ok all training camp, show us fellas.  Lastly, with having Cherundolo as the right back it would give the US a chance to work on covering him when he bombs up the right, something that Demerit and Bradley had trouble to doing in the early stages of the last match when Spector was in.  If Bocanegra can’t go the full 90 I would like to see Spector come in as a left back sub, as Bornstein showed me that he was incapable up handling the speed of the international game.

 Let’s hope Australia puts out a strong team so we can see what our boys are capable of and if they have learned anything from their previous matches.