BICEN SOC GOMEZ
As I write this, Herculez Gomez has just scored again for Puebla in the Mexican top-flight. That's five goals in five matches for the ex-MLSer, making Gomez far and away the hottest American forward in any league. With the dearth of forward options facing Bob Bradley, any player capable of scoring should be on the USMNT radar; the probably for Herculez is that his timing is truly and utterly terrible.


Gomez hasn't had an National Team cap since getting his only two during the Copa America debacle of 2007. Never a first choice option at his position, he didn't impress enough to merit Bradley including him in future squads. He continued his career in MLS, but didn't shine with Colorado or Kansas City, scoring just seven times in three seasons.


Making his explosion in Mexico all the more puzzling. Gomez was always a frustrating player in Major League Soccer, full of promise but unable to turn it into consistent performances on the field. His run of form at Puebla is amazing on many levels, and would, in almost any other year, make him an obvious choice for National Team duty.


Is Gomez a better choice than Eddie Johnson? Conor Casey? Robbie Findley? It wouldn't be difficult to make the argument that he is, especially considering that none of the those mentioned have done much when given the opportunity to make their World Cup cases. But Gomez is on the outside looking in both because his streak is so late in the game and because he showed little sign of its coming previously; if Gomez had been scoring like this in '08 or '09, wouldn't he have already had a chance to make his way into the team?


Maybe not, especially since Jozy Altidore and Charlie Davies, both younger players with more potential, announced themselves in 2009. But Gomez can obviously score, and aside from Donovan and Dempsey, the Americans lack healthy players with good goal scoring records for either club or country.


Gomez is twenty-seven. If he was to have a shot at a World Cup squad, this one would have been it.


Congrats on all of your success, Herculez, but curse your terrible timing.


Hell, maybe it's not too late for some of you. Anyone want to see Bradley give Gomez a look?
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