by Greg Seltzer for Soccer365

My how time does indeed fly. We are now just over a year-and-a-half away from World Cup 2010, so I figured it was about time to put on my fantasy manager helmet and pencil sketch some sort of prospective U.S. National Team squad.

Coach Bob Bradley used 46 players in 2008 - exactly twice the amount he'll be allowed to bring to South Africa. No doubt, a handful of those with at least one cap this year won't pose a serious threat to make the World Cup squad, while a few other new names will enjoy late opportunities to make a splash (a la Damarcus Beasley in 2002).

For the purpose of this exercise, I will make roster building choices based on Bradley's typical tactics. This means my 23 will be comprised of three netminders, eight defenders, eight midfielders and four forwards.

However, the personnel selections are all my call, and based on the here and now. This is no future mind-read; it's more of an agenda push. Injuries are often a factor, but let's just go ahead and delude ourselves into imagining a fully healthy stable in the spring of 2010.

I will first denote my starter pick as of today in bold, and then identify each back-up using underlined italics. Do bear in mind, though, that most candidates still have work to do and several places will see a shuffle over 18 months' time.

Before we go down the team sheet, a quick side note: I don't actually have a literal fantasy helmet. Just wanted to clarify that.

And away we go...

Keeper: Tim Howard surely has an insurmountable lead for the #1 shirt. He has improved a good bit since 2006, despite a couple of early season Everton gaffes. Brad Guzan may not have the starter's job at Aston Villa until after this World Cup is played, but he ranks a solid second here.

As is often the case with the USMNT, the third netminder will be the approximate male toss-up equivalent to a bride's bouquet at a wedding. As things stand, Reading veteran Marcus Hahnemann holds this place - but he will need to beware. There is enough time for Vålerenga's Troy Perkins, New England's Matt Reis or even reigning MLS GK of the Year Jon Busch of Chicago to make a compelling rally case.

Unless Reading go back up to the Prem, my futures money would land on Perkins, who has UEFA Cup play to look forward to in 2009. But that's not how we're playing this one.

Right back: Hannover 96 man Steve Cherundolo has been the man to beat here for a good while, but some middling form in the Bundesliga this season leaves him vulnerable to a few wildcard challenges.

First, you have Sheffield Wednesday's Frank Simek, who is just now making it back from a lengthy injury layoff and may well be in the Premiership next season if he shows strong on the return.

The greener model is Toronto FC specimen Marvell Wynne, who is only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential and could also find his way to Europe before long.

If West Ham's versatile Jonathan Spector wasn't also on the mend much of 2008, he could lay a claim for this spot as well. Playing by the rules, though, Wynne gains my current back-up slot over his more cultured competitors by fitness default. Obviously, he will not be able to retain it by that alone.

Center backs: Aaaaaand here's where it gets muddy. Obviously, captain Carlos Bocanegra and Oguchi Onyewu would appear to have a lock on the starting nods. But... what if 'Los drawing continued kudos working left back for Rennes eventually also pushes him over to the Red, White & Blue wing?

The U.S. boss certainly has a deep pool of decent quality central defenders to choose from for the pair of back-ups. The question is: can one of Danny Califf, Jimmy Conrad, Jay DeMerit, Clarence Goodson, Chad Marshall, Michael Parkhurst play at a consistently high enough level to convince Bradley to ditch the back-up left back and slide his skipper?

And let's certainly not forget the finally resurgent and silky smooth Cory Gibbs or potential 'Nat Neven Subotic, currently dazzling in Dortmund. If you ask me, those two will be the #3 & #4 come South Africa time - but as of now, my two silver CB seats are occupied by Califf and Conrad.

Left back: Hansa Rostock's Heath Pearce is the current starter, but his 2010 status is not set in stone. A move to a better league than the 2.Bundesliga - or at least consistent starts from the new coach - would go a long way towards the engraving.

Of course, his path to World Cup group play is hardly cluttered. Earlier Bradley favorite Jonathan Bornstein would probably be too much of a defensive liability and I feel that San Luis "gringo" Michael Orozco is unlikely to gain enough international experience in 2009 to threaten seriously as a squad defender this time around.

Therefore, my call for now is the same name as the one I'd bet will grab the place two Mays from now. Despite his current injury, Spector slides over instead of Bocanegra, rounding out the backline with a four-position guy.

Central midfielders: Welcome to the jumble, baby. There are conceivably four players with starter potential and a handful of other back-up contenders.

Michael Bradley would appear to head the chart right now, but he is also going through a tough Bundesliga learning phase. My Spidey Sense tells me Rangers prodigy Maurice Edu stands second, despite very strong Guatemala showings by veterans Ricardo Clark and Pablo Mastroeni.

Guys like Kyle Beckerman, Brian Carroll, Dax McCarty and Danny Szetela are intriguing options beyond those four, but remain on the outside looking in for now. Any injury, however, would have them scrapping for the chance to get a game.

Right attacking midfield: And on we move to another fine mess. Barring the arrival of Landon Donovan in this spot, Fulham man Clint Dempsey seems a decent wager to be the first teamer, but there is a large bushel of potential sidekicks to sort through for his chasing competition.

Sacha Kljestan looks to have a fair hold on the consolation prize, but the likes of Davy Arnaud, Eddie Gaven, Stuart Holden and Jeremiah White may still have something to say about that. Meanwhile, guys like Kamani Hill, Lee Nguyen and Sal Zizzo would need to light it up next year to have any chance - and none is currently in a situation that would allow ignition.

Left attacking midfield: Far more straightforward than the right side, this position still has some stories to be told before the final scene.

Can DaMarcus Beasley continue to show he's the clear #1 choice? Will Freddy Adu suddenly blow up at Monaco? When does Bobby Convey get to play again for Reading? Does Robbie Rogers earn a better place if he places his crosses better? Does José Francisco Torres have enough to be a player in this race? Can Colin Clark or White (who has most often been found on the left for AGF this term) make a late push?

Stay tuned.

Support striker: From what I understand, some wunderkind named Landon has the edge here. Perhaps by the time Herr Donovan nets his 412th Honda vehicle, we will know whether he can consistently be counted on to spark offense.

All kidding aside, the stand-in slot could turn out to be a small melee. I'm giving Hammarby ace Charlie Davies the inside track. Kenny Cooper looks set to get a chance to build his resume in Europe, but he may well be auditioning for the lead striker stand-in role.

Adu and Dempsey could also be considered here (but really don't belong, in my view), and a guy like Chris Rolfe is one hot MLS start away from getting looks again.

Target man: It's such a shame Noah wasn't in charge of bringing kids to Bradenton. He could have produced two Josmer Altidores for travel. Oh sure, Jozy may not get all the starts now, but that's temporary... real meet deal.

He's a #9 for the new century, physically dominating in every possible sense while possessing range and a nifty bag of tricks. As far as I'm concerned, he is the starter as of now, end of discussion.

Only when he is unavailable or better off staying with Villarreal on a selected occasion, should Brian Ching, Cooper, Eddie Johnson (that's right, I'm not ready to give up on him so hastily as some are) or Taylor Twellman get any starting nod to lead the line.

I'm serious.

Hand Jozy the torch, let his international shows help his club status, instead of the vice-versa usual. For the time being, Cooper is the insurance policy/change-up super-sub - and depending on Euro-landing spot, I expect him to tighten that tentative new grip on the place sadly surrendered by Johnson.

And the longshots?

Aside from those already mentioned, I will tab one long odds play for each line, four guys I rate as the one most capable of busting into the mix from afar.

Keeper: Aalesund big bear Adin Brown has been out injured since May, but seemed like he was within range of a call-up when he went down. A huge 2009 would put him in frame.

Defender: Millwall defender Zak Whitbread can play wide or inside, and is enjoying a fine enough season to draw attention from a few Prem outfits. I'm just sayin'.

Midfielder: Do not count out Benny Feilhaber. He can go at a variety of places, and could very well blossom once given a regular diet of matches at Aarhus GF. Though unlikely, any potential formation switch would also enhance his chances as the particular 4-4-2 used by Bradley is the set he fits into the least.

Forward: Toronto FC plugger Chad Barrett was my dark horse 2010 pick back when World Cup Germany was just into the books. Now, he will benefit from being "the man" presumably working in conjunction with a classy Designated Player signing that could teach him a thing or two. If his finishing takes a Charlie Davies turn in 2009, he's an instant threat to make me look very, very good.

Soccer365 reporter Greg Seltzer blogs daily over at No Short Corners.

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