With the next meaningful game for the USMNT still eight months away, Bob Bradley made good use of his first two opportunities to play around with his squad, its formation, and tactics. While the games against Poland and Colombia meant absolutely nothing, there are still plenty of people out there screaming about how they hate Jozy Altidore and why Michael Bradley doesn't deserve a spot in the starting IX.

Bob Bradley has called up 20 players to participate in the October 9th and 12th friendlies against Poland and Colombia. Jermaine Jones looks to finally make his USMNT debut following an injury-plagued 2009. Also, promising young talents Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa) and Brek Shea (F.C. Dallas) will try to earn their first caps as members of the senior US national team.

Today marks the release of FIFA 11 here in the US. Hopefully it will be a little more fine-tuned than last year's edition:

USMNT junkies have another date to circle on their calendars. The Yanks will play Chile in January of 2011, on either the 22nd or 23rd according to Soccer By Ives. This is the fourth friendly that will take place in the upcoming months, including a November 17th match against South Africa and two matches in about two weeks time: Poland on October 9th and Colombia on the 12th.

1. The USMNT has added another friendly to the 2010 calendar, and will travel back to South Africa on November 17th to play Bafana Bafana.

2. On a more disappointing note, it appears that in the search for a new US head coach, Jürgen Klinsmann was there for the taking, but the USSF was reluctant to relinquish the amount of control that he wanted in order to run the team.

In honor of everyone's favorite club competition, which happens to kick off today, I introduce my Bold-Ass Predictions for the 2010-11 edition of the UEFA Champions League. In the event that one or more of these prognostications don't come to fruition, I give my word that I will not send this post down the memory hole, or that sinkhole in Guatemala.

"I'm a Nobel Peace Prize winner, get me out of here!"

The suits from FIFA landed on American soil on Monday, ready to be wined and dined by the USSF in the hopes that the United States would be selected as the site of World Cup 2018 (not likely) or 2022 (much better chance). The committee, after a long flight in a strange metal bird, were then taken into New York City in amazing horseless carriages (get it, because they're afraid of technology).

Benny Feilhaber = the USA-Mexico rivalry, the dude choking him = CONCACAF

While not officially official, word on the street is that CONCACAF is set to approve a complete re-structuring of its World Cup qualifying competition. This may not seem like that big of a deal (the USMNT hasn't failed to qualify for a World Cup since 1986 after all), until you get to the little part about the US and Mexico never playing each other under the new format.

The USSF has put to rest any uncertainty surrounding the head coaching position of the USMNT by re-upping Bob Bradley's contract for another four years.

For the record, I'm ambivalent about this decision: I love what he has done with US Soccer over the past four years, outside of a few questionable lineup decisions winning the 2007 Gold Cup, beating Spain and nearly doing the same to Brazil in the 09 Confed Cup, finishing first in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying and winning a World Cup group for the first time since 1930.

Rounding up the notable happenings of recent days.

1. US Soccer has reportedly contacted Jürgen Klinsmann to discuss the USMNT's head coaching position. I see this as a step in the right direction, and hopefully the situation will be resolved sooner rather than later. It's always better to have a definite direction than to be wondering which way to go.

The results of the 2010-11 UCL group stage draw (projected advancers in blue):

GROUP A

• Inter Milan
• Werder Bremen
• Tottenham
• FC Twente

Inter, the defending champions of Europe, are the easy pick here, even sans The Special One.

Almost as impressive as a Ronaldo free kick.

Because this will never ever ever get old:

Breathtakingly exciting.

It's October 9th, in Chicago, 8 PM Eastern. My wishlist: (1) A permanent coach, whether that means Bob Bradley or whomever else, (2) Appearances by Jermaine Jones and/or Charlie Davies, (3) A tad bit better performance than that debacle against Brazil last week.