Mainly because you guys used to overrate him greatly and Bob never subbing him but Bradley had some killer instincts. He is a leader and is willing to do whatever it took to win. Watching the U-23 reminds me that it's what the US is lacking. Bradley is not the most skilled player. Not not even all that good overall but he is a leader who has a lot of intangibles that most in the world lack. Bradley can play for my team any day. In fact, he is now to me is more important than Donovan and Dempsey as Nats. I think he is NOW the most important player in the pool.
Not even that good overrall? Ha. Ha. Ha. He'll go down as the best CM in the history of this country. Few doubts about that one. He should be captain after Boca.
I doubted Bradley at first and thought he only played because of his dad but I kept watching his performances from 09 forward and he is a really good player and he will likely be playing in a CL club in the near future if he keeps it up at Chievo.
I'm still not sold. Close, but not yet. I need to see more than the Italy match. Don't get me wrong . . . he was Man Of The Match against The Azzurri. After getting pretty much every start when he was available for 5 years, he started for the first time since the Mexico match in/against the country he plays professionally. . . yeah, he's gonna be motivated. He was the most rested of everyone on the pitch because he missed the previous weekends match with Chievo because of . . . surprise surprise . . . yellow card accumulation. The Italy match was the first in a LOOOOOOOONG time when he started in CM and there WASN'T a huge hole in front of the defense. Bitch about Beckerman all you want but it actually might be the first time that Mikey has been shown how a true #6 is supposed to play. No more roaming around wherever he wants because he has a "partner" to cover him. He has defensive responsibilities he didn't have before. He has yet to come even close to Claudio Reyna . . . What are you . . . 17?
I love reading posts from people who dislike Bradley. They always look for new and innovative ways to discredit him and slight his accomplishments
Has been my favorite player for some time, and has left no doubt that he should be featured in our starting XIs
Let's remember,guys,most of his alleged fanboys don't overrate Mike Bradley. They just know he's better than Rico Clark,Kyle Beckerman,Logan Pause,and Jeff Larentowicz.All day. I also remember the days when BS wanted a -hadn't played in two years- Freddy to start ahead of Mike.
The guy brings his hard hat and wants to do anything for his team to win. He just is the glue to a team.
If you need Bradley to put in "Man-of-the-Match against Italy" performances every time out in order for you to be "sold" then prepare to never be sold on any US player. Ever. I think you'll have a hard time convincing anybody that Bradley is ever lacking motivation regardless of context. I do appreciate it anytime anybody marches out this type of antiquated opinion. Bradley simply does not receive an excessive amount of cards. Especially when one considers his position. He hasn't been anything approaching a card risk for years now. I don't get this. You start by saying he has left a hole in defense in the past. Then you admit that he didn't have the same defensive responsibilities he does now. So, now that he has more defensive responsibilities, he's better defensively. I don't think there's a coincidence there. Reyna at 24: 26 appearances for Leverkusen 28 appearances for Wolfsburg Bradley at 24: 30 appearances for Metrostars 57 appearances for Heerenveen 76 appearances for Gladbach 3 appearances for Villa 23 appearances for Chievo Bradley is not as good as Reyna's peak, but he is better (and more accomplished) than Reyna at the same age. Bradley still has stuff to work on, he's certainly not a flawless player, but he is doubtlessly one of the top 2 or 3 CMs in the US pool regardless of tactic.
actually, it is a surprise. The guy is no longer a card accumulating CM. What's next? Are you are going to start to complain that the USSF truly screwed up by sending a C-team to Copa 07?
MB yellow card accumulation for the USMN: 2010 - ZERO 2011 - 1 (against Canada in GC) 2012 - ZERO (so far) I think we can put this to rest that he's some card liability on the pitch. The kids has grown up from his first couple years as a US Seniors player/starter
All the more reason to emphasize scouting for premature baldness as part of any U.S. youth revitalization scheme.
Not to mention the USMNT of today has Jermaine "lol yellow card every other game" Jones as an on and off starter so players with a card issue get time anyway.
Correct. He's averaged just about one yellow card for every seven matches played in the league so far this season (I was really surprised to learn that 4 yellow cards in 23 matches earns you a suspension in Italy, seems a bit harsh to me).
If ever there was a time to come clean, now would be it. Ten Hail Marys and a 2 minute session of self-flagellation and you'll be relieved of your otherwise eternal sin. Bless you. Next!
I don't really disagree. Going to Chievo was the best thing Bradley could've done. You can just see how his positional sense has improved by leaps and bounds in a short time. I recently saw him interviewed by local Italian press where he kept saying that the extreme focus on reading the match and maintaining defensive shape was far and away the biggest difference for him in moving to Serie A.
And just b/c i was bored: Defense: Lichaj – 1 Demerit – 1 Chandler – 1 Pearce – 1 Goodson – 1 Loyd – 2 Conrad – 2 Dolo – 3 Boca – 7 19 total Midfield: Torres – 1 Bradley – 1 DMB – 1 Bedoya – 1 Kljestan – 1 Clark – 2 Dempsey – 2 Edu – 2 Shea – 2 Donovan – 3 Jones – 6 22 total Striker: Findley – 2 Altidore – 6 8 total 49 total yellow cards from 2010 – 2012 (current) Shocking we had 1 clear winner from each position.
I think that the worst part of the OP was the claim that MB is "not even all that good overall." Michael Bradley for a long time has impressed me as one of the best players in the pool. The nepotism charges really colored popular opinion though. I think MB will improve even more going forward. As he gains experience, I think his decision making will improve, and I think he'll really be the guy that can help us transition from defense to offense with his smart and sharp passing. I also think his ability to take good free kicks will come in handy going forward. And finally, I think that his leadership abilities will continue to grow (already good in my mind), and he will probably (hopefully) be considered for the captaincy when Boca officially retires.
Why is this even a thread? None of the frothing at the mouth anti-Bradley brigade need remind me what they have been saying for the past few years. I'm sure there are other people who remember the more hilarious statements whenever they see those usernames pop up here and there as well. So what's the point?
That's funny, because that's exactly how I feel about Klinsmann No one knows how good Michael will be, hopefully great, but he's already pretty good. What is undeniable is that he has been the the best US central midfielder over the past five years. It not like he all of the sudden got good when he went to Italy, like some people are making out. He has been steadily improving and finding his position over the five years and it has been fun to see his progress. I'm always delighted by the success of any American player and love to see them all improve. Someday, someone will take Mikes spot away and that is great, that's sports. Hopefully, he will continue the trajectory he has had over the past few years and will have what it takes to keep his spot for another cycle or two.
He always plays with lots of heart, but lets be honest, he is way better now than ever before, his passing game and vision has improved by leaps and bounds. I give all the credit to his move to Italy.
