Is Freddy ready this time? One-time prodigy Freddy Adu returns to the national team for the Gold Cup ((AFP/Getty Images).

The pool of international class American players is small.

The nation’s best players often get lost in the mix at foreign clubs and their skills stagnate to the detriment of the national team.

Bob Bradley’s job at the helm of the national team is a constant and delicate compromise.

And yet, there’s a nagging doubt that Bradley does himself no favors.

If his best quality is persevering with talented players who have yet to consistently demonstrate them, his worst is persisting with players of limited skills who consistently play their part in giving up early goals, make elementary errors or are just not good enough.

Now there’s a suspicion that some players may be turning down the opportunity to play for Bradley, sensing perhaps a lack of vision and leadership both on the field and off it.

And it appears Bradley is running out of ideas on how to maximize his limited resources.

My take on the Gold Cup roster and the state of the national team under Bradley is here.

What say you?

Noted: Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts was called into Jamaica’s Gold Cup squad.