To be honest I couldn't fathom Bradley starting in a few games this season that he did, but Zeman keeps going with him. Even though it seems like he should be a sub this game, I think Zeman will still go with him. I am curious as to what Zeman values about him, though. I'm sure there are plenty on the team which can run all game long and complete a pass longer than 10 yards.
^^ Interesting point in the above post. Serious question because i really don't know the answer to it. What is Bradleys natural position AND what kind of job is the lad assigned to do? As far as i can see, all he does is run and SOMETIMES gets into decent shooting positions.
Michael Bradley is a ball winning midfielder. His primary job is to go box to box, break up counter attacks, and get the ball to attackers. What people don't appreciate and what doesn't show up on the stat sheet, is that he allows other players more freedom to do their jobs. Whoever is on his side of the pitch doesn't need to track back as hard or as much to defend a counter attack because Bradley covers so much space. So if Bradley is on the right and Lamela is the attacker on the right, then Lamela can stay in more dangerous positions because the hope is that Bradley will mark and recover the ball. If you look at Bradley from purely that view, he has done pretty well and that is why Zeman favors him. Where Bradley has suffered is that he is being asked to do a lot in the attacking phase. Bradley isn't completely illiterate when it comes to attacking, he has scored some impressive goals before. He obviously has been poor in front of goal lately. But then again so has half the team. Are people right to be critical of Bradley and request DDR take his spot? Absolutely. He has had a poor run of form. But it is also a symptom of the team playing poorly. We score a few more goals the last two games and everyone's flaws don't look so bad.
I understand that he runs a lot and closes people down, but this is nothing special. Anyone on the team could play this role. At Roma we expect more than physicality, we want complete players. Players able to make perfectly weighted through balls not just once or twice a game, but all game long. Players able to finish with confidence - not miss easy chances. Perhaps no one the bench is better at these things than he is, but if that's all he has to offer he won't be starting soon and definitely not after the summer transfer window.
For me Bradley would work well in a 4-2-3-1 where he is the defensive mid beside a regista. Similar to how Pizarro and De Rossi played together in Spalletti's system.
I'm biased, but I do think Bradley can become a good player one day. Americans tend to hit their peak later in their careers. But for now he isn't good enough for the starting role week in and week.
I completely agree. He needs to step up. But honestly, so do a lot of other guys. Destro, DDR, Balz, Lamela was alarmingly absent last game, Florenzi hasn't had the impact on games he did in the first month. Hopefully everyone gets there shit together at the same time and we go back to a winning streak.
Marquinho is not on the squad list: BALZARETTIBRADLEYBURDISSOCASTANDE ROSSIDESTRODODÒFERRANTEFLORENZIFREDIANIGOICOECHEALUCCAMARQUINHOSPIRISPJANICSTEKELENBURGSVEDKAUSKASTACHTSIDISTADDEI
My hopeful side says it's just a lesson for throwing a fit when getting subbed last game. My realistic side says he's gone. Such a pity.
Ideal Starting Line-up (4-1-2-3) -----------Goic--------------- Piris--Marcos--Castan--Balz ------------DDR-------------- -------Tach--Florenzi-------- Lamela--Destro---Pjanic--- If Zeman was capable of making the slight change of using DDR has a holding midfielder (It's crazy to have him play his own position, I know) behind Tachsidis & Florenzi and letting them focus on feeding our front line while their back is covered then we would probably have a midfield. Benching one of our World Cup winners constantly is awful. I know DDR has not been his usual self most of the season but how can he get back to his peak if he is not allowed playing time? Bradley screws most matches and Zeman still chooses him for our starting line-up.
Sorry about that, then I guess we have to rely on a unproven Primavera winger or two if Destro is out of comission. It goes to show the depth of our team, why Marquinho is being driven away from the club only god knows. He is much better than Bradley and should have been in the list.