Tim Howard, G - I may be a little biased as an Everton fan, but Timmy has been having a great season...and you know what, bias aside, the states back it up.
Brad Guzan, G - Aston Villa is struggling, but its not really the keepers fault. Still its good to have a keeper of his quality on the bench.
Nick Rimando, G - Bummer that the second MLS Cup Final Shootout of his career didn't end as well as the first, but Rimando is still a heck of a shot stopper.
Geoff Cameron, D - Maybe its just because I've watched Stoke a bit more lately, but Cameron seems to really be coming into his own at right back.
Matt Beslar, D - MLS Champion...we'll ignore the missed PK. I am still upset we didn't get to seem him play against Austria and Scotland. Needs to show big in the suspected Euro friendlies in March
Omar Gonzalez, D - More likely than Beslar to lose his spot at CB, but is clearly staying on the roster. Should feature in January.
DaMarcus Beasley, D - We have 5 months to see if Beasley or Johnson will start at left back...Beasley started 17 of 23 games in the spot in 2013
Clarence Goodson, D - Gets the last CB spot on the grounds that Brooks is having issues with his squad...not to say he doesn't have a legitmate chance on his own merits.
Brad Evans, D - I get the feeling that his spot is in jeopardy, not just if Cameron steps up...for more see the next one down.
Steve Cherundolo, D - He's back on the horse, and I couldn't be happier. Wish he had more game time before the Bundesliga winter break...and also they didn't have a manager change...but still. Evans should be concerned, especially with Dolo's experience in Germany.
Michael Bradley, M - Putting himself firmly in the mix at Roma...but the rumors of a transfer for more playing time are heating up, hopefully they won't cool him down (I don't feel proud of that)
Graham Zusi, M - Lets be honest, this guy is a playmaker and a game changer, Bedoya is good, Zusi is better.
Fabian Johnson, M - Alright...he's a midfielder...how do you play him Zusi, Dempsey, Donovan and Altidore?
Jermaine Jones, M - It seems like every couple of months there is a new rift between Jones and Schalke, but Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Jones aren't anywhere close to trouble
Brek Shea, M - Standing by this...transfer to Barnsley will help, wish it was for longer but still Shea is a spark off the bench.
Mix Diskerud, M - Man do I want him to earn Jones' job, but I also love Mix coming off the Bench. I expect we will see him play in January and March and who knows he may become the starter we all hope he can/need him to be
Alejandro Bedoya, M - Bedoya had a great summer, but since the Gold Cup he has been kinda "meh" with the US. Or maybe its just that Zusi is playing so well...
Sacha Kljestan, M - Sacha is a better option than Torres... and Williams...to me its him or Beckerman right now, but considering we have European talent to play...he's got the edge
Jozy Altidore, F - Score goals, score goals, score goals...is this getting through?
Aron Johannsson, F - Bit of a man crush here, imagine a world where Mix, Shea and Bacon all come of the bench for more offense in the second half...OMG
Landon Donovan, F - Only ahead of Dempsey because of how each of them ended their seasons. I hope he's healthy enough for January camp.
Clint Dempsey, F - This Fulham loan is the best possible thing that could happen
Eddie Johnson, F - DC is rebuilding and this is the perfect tool to start with. Hmm, wondering why he's all the way down here...oh yeah, I can't stand seeing him as a winger.
Okedoky, now to the guys who are close but not quite there
John Anthony Brooks - Whats going on between him and his coach?
Kyle Beckerman - Could edge out Mix or Sacha...but he can't keep up with the group of death
Michael Parkhurst - Transfer! Now!
Terrence Boyd - 2016 can't get here soon enough.
Danny Williams - He is a darkhorse to win a job, but he does have experience in Germany
Hercules Gomez - A great early season in Liga MX could do him a world of good
Michael Orozco Fiscal - Copy and paste from above and maybe an injury or two will help
Edgar Castillo - On this list as a favor to Klinsi, but he's not gonna make it without a ton injuries
Eric Lichaj - His name is in the mix...thats pretty much it.
Timmy Chandler - Still holding out hope Klinsmann gives him one more chance in January or March
Maurice Edu - See Michael Parkhurst
Joe Corona - Shea and Bedoya may completely fall of the map...but that is really the only shot
Just missed both lists (and by that I mean, these are the guys who have been on this list before) - Stuart Holden, Sean Johnson, Chris Wondolowski, Brad Davis, Jose Torres, Julian Green