His first touch is MUCH BETTER than any current American striker and among the best in the USMNT history for strikers. Wynalda and JMM were up there also.

Secondly, he’s a player that cannot play a defined target role. If we had some more tactical variety Cooper would excel. Cooper can push out wide and also can provide critical link up play by coming back into the midfield.

Against CONCACAF teams, especially “B” teams like Honduras (let’s see Honduras is missing Rambo, Suazo, Palacios, Figueroa, Thomas, Guevara, okay basically everyone of note except Carlo Costly) our current group of players may look like world beaters.

But when you play top international sides in critical games, first touch and ability to hold the ball matters. Conor Casey proved against Italy, Brazil and Spain that he doesn’t have the touch and imagination Cooper does. Nor does he have the off the ball work rate. But in this very defined system that’s fine- Bradley wants his forward to be stationary for the most part and hold up play. I’ll admit Cooper is NOT good at that, but if we had more tactical flexibility or another (a foreign) manager I can almost guarantee you Cooper would be more intriguing than Casey, Ching and even perhaps at this stage Altidore.

Cooper’s goal against Denmark in his first cap in 2007 was brilliant. Good ball forward by Heath Pearce, Cooper shields the defender off and baits the keeper before slotting the shot home. So few Americans, even the guys Bradley pick have the vision, understand and composure to finish that chance against a decent European side.

Cooper is suffering from the role he is being put in and the lack of faith the coaches have shown in his natural abilities and technical skill.

So does that rule him out for 2010? Probably, but when a new coaching staff comes in whenever that is do not be surprised if he emerges as a first choice striker.