Bob Bradley going public with his interest in coaching Aston Villa could not have been better timed as the Villans were thrashed by Newcastle in an absolute embarrassment.

There has been a distinct lack of pressure trying to find an adequate replacement for Martin O'Neill. And it is not certain whether Randy Lerner has a short list - but this result could change it all.

Quite a shocker. The CW was that Ching would partner Jozy Altidore. Every pundit in the land predicted that the Houston Dynamo forward would make the final 23.

Ching suffered a hamstring injury on April 1 in the Dynamo's opener but he had recovered by the time he was called to training camp.

He may have to trade that look for a suit and tie

The Cottagers are still looking for a coach with Alan Curbishley turning them down and now Bob Bradley is the name mentioned the most.

Fulhamerica's long association with US national team soccer is already well established. But Bob Bradley?

A familiar face from last summer will be missing. Charlie Davies who captured the imagination of US fans with his Confederations Cup performance did not make Bob Bradley's 30 man roster. He is still recuperating from the injuries sustained in that horrific car injury in August last year.

Herculez Gomez should be on that plane

U.S. head coach Bob Bradley will announce the 23-man U.S. World Cup roster today live on ESPN during SportsCenter's 1 p.m. ET hour.

I fully anticipate that Herculez Gomez will be on that final list. His 66th minute goal showed his usefulness as a super sub.

The USA's final lap at Philadelphia before departing for SA

Danny Jordaan, the CEO of South Africa's World Cup Committee had a message for the US on their arrival at Oliver Tambo International Airport.

"The USA won the hearts of many South Africans when they made it to the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup last year and we welcome them back to South Africa.

Bob Bradley names an 18 man squad to face Brazil

GOALKEEPERS (2): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton)

DEFENDERS (6): Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Étienne), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht)

FORWARDS (3): Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Pachuca)

German born Jermaine Jones, Schalke's holding midfielder will get a chance to take to the pitch for his US debut.

Tomorrow's match against Brazil and Martin O'Neill's departure could have a significant import on the future of Bob Bradley.

A good performance and US Soccer could be tempted into offering a contract extension set to expire this December. So far, the organization have held back and left Bradley's career in limbo because the World Cup performance although exhilarating in many ways ended in an unsatisfactory loss to Ghana in the group of 16.

Yesterday a distinctly unmotivated and haphazard US team lost to a youthful Brazilian side, 2-0. Were they channeling Bradley's present coaching distraction with stories linking him to Aston Villa?

He is still the front runner according to the betmasters at 7/2 odds. He is followed by Sven Goran Eriksson at 13/2.

As per a number of media outlets including ESPN, there are emerging reports that Bob Bradley has handed in his resignation and could be unveiled as Aston Villa's new manager next week.

All sorts of conjecture really with few hard facts to back it up. The resignation part is perfectly believable - Bradley has been quite vocal in his desire for a new challenge preferably overseas.

All the internet chatter (including Soccerblog) about Bob Bradley resigning is just that: chatter. For now.

USSF spokesman Neil Buethe said, "The reports that Bob Bradley has resigned are not true."

USSF president Sunil Gulati and secretary general Dan Flynn might meet with Bradley next week to discuss his future.

Bob Bradley met with Sunil Gulati yesterday to discuss his future as national coach but reportedly nothing was resolved. His coaching contract runs out in December and in between there are friendlies against Poland and Colombia. USSF is probably going to come to a decision in the next few weeks.

There are no viable candidates to replace him other than rumoured links to the likes of Juergen Klinsmann and Jose Pekerman.

Bob Bradley addressed the media before yesterday's Fire-Toronto match up. The US manager discussed topics such as USA v Poland in Chicago on October 9, MLS player selections, the Olympics in 2012, deciding not to play during last week's FIFA international dates, and the possible national team futures of Omar Gonzalez and Tim Ream.