The focus of this site may be Yanks-Abroad, but there's a lot of major American players still playing at home in a constantly improving league. Even more important is the fact that nearly every American international player has come through MLS for some time. Clint Dempsey played in New England, Tim Howard played for the Metrostars and Landon Donovan still calls LA home. Even if American's continue to go over to Europe at the astonishing rate that they have recently, MLS will always be the most important breeding pool for young American talent.
For now my list is limited to players who are both actually members of MLS teams (no Academy-only players) and are considered part of the USMNT Player Pool (so no Zakuani...yet).
One of the biggest highlights of this past week was Justin Brauns Hat Trick against New York. In a game that ended 3-2 that was exactly what they needed. The first goal was great, the second goal was still pretty nice but the third wasn't quite his. Either way you can't blame a guy for making sure the ball gets in.
Justin Braun was the player who left the January camp this year with an injury so he is on Bob's radar, but a game like this against one of the premier teams in the league can go a long way to a second look.
Juan Agudelo F (New York)
Subbed 19 Mins 1 Shot vs CHV (3-2 L)
Eric Alexander M (Dallas)
Started 89 Mins 1 Shot, 1 Fouls vs PHI (2-0 W)
Justin Braun F (Chivas)
Started 69 Mins 3 Goals on 3 Shots, 3 Fouls vs NYR (3-2 W)
Teal Bunbury F (Kansas City)
Started 90 Mins 3 Shots 2 on Goal, 1 Foul vs LAG (4-1 L)
Sam Cronin M (San Jose)
Subbed 18 Mins 1 Foul vs CLB (3-0 W)
Charlie Davies F (DC)
Started 34 Mins vs COL (1-1)
Injured Hamstring, will miss "a couple of weeks"
Bryan De La Fuente M (Chivas)
Unused Sub vs NYR (3-2 W)
AJ De La Garza D (LA)
Started 90 Mins vs SKC (4-1 W)
Jay Demerit D (Vancouver)
Started 64 Mins, 3 Fouls Yellow Card vs NER (1-0 L)
Landon Donovan M (LA)
Started 90 Mins, 2 Goals on 2 Shots vs KC (4-1 W)
Sean Franklin D (LA)
Started 90 Mins, 1 Foul vs KC (4-1 W)
Moises Hernandez D (Dallas)
Unused Sub vs PHI (2-0 W)
Sacir Hot D (New York)
Unused Sub vs Chivas (3-2 L)
Ugo Ihemelu D (Dallas)
Started 90 Mins 1 Shot vs PHI (2-0 W)
Sean Johnson GK (Chicago)
Unused Sub vs TOR (2-2)
Right Quad Injury
Jon Kempin GK (Kansas City)
Unused Sub vs LA (4-1 L)
Perry Kitchen D (DC)
Started 90 Mins, 1 Shot, 4 Fouls vs COL (1-1)
Jeff Larentowicz M (Colorado)
Started 90 Mins vs DC (1-1)
Zach Loyd M (Dallas)
Started 90 Mins, 1 Shot 1 Foul vs PHI (2-0 W)
Zac MacMath GK (Philadelphia)
Unused Sub vs DAL(2-0 L)
Amobi Okugo M (Philadelphia)
Started 90 Mins, 3 Shots, 2 Fouls vs Dallas (2-0 L)
Dax McCarty M (DC)
Started 90 Mins vs COL (1-1)
Jack McInerney F (Philadelphia)
Subbed On 45 Mins 1 Foul vs DAL (2-0 L)
Heath Pearce D (Chivas)
Started 90 Mins 1 Assist, 1 Shot, 2 Fouls vs NYR (3-2 W)
Matt Pickens GK (Colorado)
Started 90 Mins 4 Shots, 3 Saves, 1 PK Goal vs DC (1-1)
Tim Ream D (NY)
Started 90 Mins 1 FC vs CHV (3-2 L)
Nick Rimando GK (Salt Lake)
Started 90 Mins, 3 Shots, 3 Saves vs HOU (0-0)
Robbie Rogers M (Columbus)
Started 90 Mins, 1 Shot, 1 Foul vs San Jose (3-0 L)
Kofi Sarkodie D (Houston)
Unused Sub vs RSL (0-0)
Conor Shanosky M (DC)
Unused Sub vs COL (1-1)
Brek Shea D (Dallas)
Started 90 Mins, 1 Goal on 2 Shots 3 Fouls vs PHI (2-0 W)
Zarek Valentin D (Chivas)
Started 90 Mins, 2 Fouls vs NYR (3-2 W)
Korey Veeder M (Columbus)
Unused Sub vs SJE (3-0 L)
Anthony Wallace D (Colorado)
Unused Sub vs DC (1-1)
Ethan White D (DC)
Started 90 Mins vs COL (1-1)
Chris Wondolowski F (San Jose)
Started 82 Mins, 1 Goal on 6 Shots, 2 Shots on Goal, 1 Foul vs CLB (3-0 W)
Marvell Wynne D (Colorado)
Started 90 Mins vs DC (1-1)
