The knock on Torrez is his lack off speed and stregnth to hold onto the ball in center/playmaking mid. He is by far the most skillfull player however at the international level, you need the speed and stregnth to withstand physical play. I think he won't be on the WC team on 2014.
Brek Shea is not really on his game now and needs to step it up otherwise left mid is wide open to Dempsey or even Stuart Holden is he can stay healthy.
Yeah, Torres is having a tough time finding a spot. Attacking midfielder probably best position, but our best team puts Donovan, Feilhaber, Adu or Dempsey in that slot.
Holden's been gone so long I forgot all about him. Poor guy, Bolton would've had a lot better chance of staying up last season if he didn't get hurt. Internet says Bolton hope to have him back in October with any luck. Be too late for this round, but let's hope both he and the US will be around for the final qualifying round.
Shea's still young, a lot of potential there though. And size with speed always helps. But he's been playing out of position as a striker with KC all season though, doesn't help if the only games he plays on the left wing are with the national team.