In praise of Landon Donovan and Mike Bradley[R]

[appoo]

I think what this tournament, thus far, has done is solidify the status of these two players. They are easily the most influential players we have, and I think this team goes as far they can take us. We saw it tonight against Egypt, and we saw it against Italy. When these two play well, we can take on just about anyone. Hopefully we get to see it against Spain.

Specifically, I think it's the drive and passion and will these two players show throughout a match. When they have to, they simply say screw everyone else, and pick everyone else on their back and carry them. Bradley with his endless energy in the midfield allows to at least have a fighting chance against anyone in the center of the field - again when he's playing well.

When Landon is on his game, we are never truly that far from a goal. One way or another. You can pretty much guarantee that he'll be causing hell for the other side with his running and passing.

So here's the analytical question. going forward, how do we maximize the impact these two have for USA?

[SgtSchultz]

The reality is Jermaine Jones helps this team out so much. He could be the perfect fit. His inclusion into the midfield will have a ripple effect and the two prime beneficiaries will be Bradley and Donovan.

For me, Bradley has been a revelation. He is a young player who is really making some fantastic progress. Who would have ever thought of that 5 years ago.

As for Donovan, he has been one of the best players in this tournament. The guy has been a beast.

[ty webb]

Great post. Clearly Landy and Junior have been great the entire tourney. The two of them absolutely dominated the game against Egypt and helped to create multiple chances all game long.

With a similar effort from them, I do think we will give Spain some problems, similar to our game last year. With both players, they have to show up and play smart and confident. Having good players around them also helps them.

[Matrim55]

No.

Donovan and Bradley are our two best players, but they're not so good that their performance is the most important thing for us from this point forward.

Here's what's axiomatic for the US team:

1) Confidence - whoever the 11 are, they have to work and believe for 90
2) Two forwards - and no, Donovan is not a forward
3) A true d-mid - and no, Bradley is not a d-mid

Now, our best lineup includes Bradley and Donovan, no question. But it's not as if we can only go as far as they take us.

What we need to do is be confident, keep our shape, and be hard to beat. That's what we were today, and as long as Bob has learned his lesson (Donovan in the midfield; one of Clark, Edu, Jones, Pablo at d-mid) then we have every reason to be confident going forward.

Problem is... Bob always out-thinks himself. Did it with Metro, does it with the USMNT on a regular basis. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Landon back up top on Wednesday. I hope I'm wrong.

[aarond23]

They both played great today, though I almost did break my tv when Landon passed up that shot early in the game. That was typical Landon. The guy needs to be more selfish, but then again he actually executed the same thing on the hook up with Bradley in traffic even.

[Ghosting]

They both played great today, though I almost did break my tv when Landon passed up that shot early in the game. That was typical Landon. The guy needs to be more selfish, but then again he actually executed the same thing on the hook up with Bradley in traffic even.
I agree that LD needs to shoot that... but what the hell was Jozy doing?????

[Yank-RUGGER]

I think what this tournament, thus far, has done is solidify the status of these two players. They are easily the most influential players we have, and I think this team goes as far they can take us. We saw it tonight against Egypt, and we saw it against Italy. When these two play well, we can take on just about anyone. Hopefully we get to see it against Spain.

Specifically, I think it's the drive and passion and will these two players show throughout a match. When they have to, they simply say screw everyone else, and pick everyone else on their back and carry them. Bradley with his endless energy in the midfield allows to at least have a fighting chance against anyone in the center of the field - again when he's playing well.

When Landon is on his game, we are never truly that far from a goal. One way or another. You can pretty much guarantee that he'll be causing hell for the other side with his running and passing.

So here's the analytical question. going forward, how do we maximize the impact these two have for USA?


You are out of your mine

Landon is running straight ahead and thats all his got..when it counts he wilters

MBradley is one tackle away from a red card every match

[Maximum Optimal]

I'm impressed that the initial poster finds Michael's 59% pass completion rate against Italy and Brazil acceptable.

[Arid_Torpor]

I think Oguchi Onyewu might have something to say about them being the two most influential players on the team. But I agree with your general point. When we played well, it was those two carrying the midfield (and the attack in general). When they're having off days, things are rough. And, as someone mentioned, JJ will really help those two out, since they won't have to spark things by themselves in the midfield and attack. And to think, about four months and ten days ago, I thought MB was only playing (at least as much as he did) because of nepotism. He's really stepped up this year.

[TrueCrew]

I'll rise in agreement with appoo.

And I'd also like to praise Gooch. For the most part, the notion that smaller, quicker forwards would be too much for him to handle has bitten the dust.

I know every team has had some missing players, but team USA has played the whole tournament without:

1) Team captain and starting CB Carlos Bocanegra
2) Our top 2 RB's (Dolo and Hejduk), one who seems to be our spiritual leader.
3) Our starting center forward (Ching).
4) Our best available pure DM (Edu).

Yes, the middle game was awful. But wow, what a response today.

Plus, we have Jones coming on board.

If Torres, Adu, and Altidore can get some playing time next year, we could be dangerous.

Do I still think Bradley is the best guy for the job? No.

But we DID get out of the first round, which I think any rational person would have said would qualify as a success, given the group we were in.

Today was, for me, reminiscent of Portugal in '02, and Italia in '06. I know it wasn't a WC, but still.

[bney7]

I'm impressed that the initial poster finds Michael's 59% pass completion rate against Italy and Brazil acceptable.lol did you watch the games? Bradley played very well, just accept it. Completion % against top teams when you're playing down a man as a defensive middle fielder is just silly. Anytime you clear the ball to relieve possession it goes down as an incomplete pass.

Some of your guys need to learn to separate your dislike of Bob Bradley the coach, from Michael Bradley the player. The kid is becoming one of our best players. He showed it this tournament, besides Donovan who played as well as he did game in and game out.

[Beazley17]

I think Onyewu has to be included in this list. He is the best defender we have, has become very smart over the past few years, and is easily the best distributor we have. His run today was great after he intercepted the pass. He's quality, definatley should be moving to a bigger club.

[FlapJack]

You are out of your mine

Landon is running straight ahead and thats all his got..when it counts he wilters

MBradley is one tackle away from a red card every match
Look - you already created a thread to complain, please go back there. This thread is entitled, "In praise of ...".

You, are out of your mind. Donovan and Bradley played well all three games, and although, I certainly wouldn't have faulted anyone for doing so given the results, they didn't show any quit.

Donovan has always been a guy with great vision. He passed because in the split second he had he thought Jozy was making a hard far post run and was going to have a an open net. He is not, nor do I want him to be the "think only of shooting kind of guy" when he's on goal. Yes, in hind sight, Jozy changed his run and Landon should have shot, but that's what you get with Landon. He also rarely fails to make the right pass, and never misses a wide open man for a tap in (like Davis did when he shot instead of passing to Altidore).

And for Bradely's part he does make some rash challenges, but more and more he makes them less and less - he actually didn't make much contact with anything - ball or player on his yellow-carded tackle today. I'm one who's always thought Bradely was solid, but not much of a believer in him being able to elevate his game much beyond that, but let me say his play in all three games this tournament has won me over. He's a young player who is still improving but he was already the best central midfielder out there by far for the US.

[msatlin]

Michael's has missed a lot of passes, but many not by much. Unlike many other players he gets his head, up, looks foward, can use either feet, and really tries to release players this tournament better than I ever remember.
I used to think that he and another defensive midfielder were redudndant, but I don't anymore. I think he adds something clearly different in the middle compared to Edu or Clark (I've never seen Jones play).

Doesn't Landon seem so much more effective facing goal from the midfield where he can really use his speed than as a striker? Even though he's attack minded he has the stamina and speed to help out defensively (kind of like Beasley USED to). Yes, he didn't finish today and was too unselfish at times, but he caused Egypt fits and set up Bradley's goal. I love him at RM (or LM as he can use both feet very well).

I think I'd rather see Demspey up top than Donovan. Problem is I don't know who plays one of the wide midfield spots with Dempsey up top? Feilhaber is not a wide player. Beasley, Klejstan, yikes. Torres maybe at LM? Has he ever played their for Pachuca?

[aaronbrown]

Michael's has missed a lot of passes, but many not by much. Unlike many other players he gets his head, up, looks foward, can use either feet, and really tries to release players this tournament better than I ever remember.


Exactly. Bradley's vision is fantastic, but at times his execution is lacking.

[TrueCrew]

I'd also like like so say that run that Donovan had today would have been the goal of the tournament had he finished. A goal Maradonna or Messi would have envied on a run worthy of Franz Klammer.

[IndividualEleven]

Neither have the level of club attainment to back up the claim of the op. And certainly to my eyes they aren't either.

The US is a middle-ranking team. One of the keys to success is flexibility. What would the team like using a destroyer/creative midfield axis for example. Give Bradley a seat when JJ gets here and see how the team performs.

[Craig P]

I agree that LD needs to shoot that... but what the hell was Jozy doing?????
Recognizing that the Egyptian defender was going to beat him to the spot in front of the goal and trying to get open space at the penalty spot.

[moytoy12]

Sorry, but Bradley wasn't good today. He had a well taken goal and a very important one to say the least. Otherwise, his play was dreadful as was Clark's.

[backwithblack]

Sorry, but Bradley wasn't good today. He had a well taken goal and a very important one to say the least. Otherwise, his play was dreadful as was Clark's.

The US was on ESPN2 today. Hope that cleared everything up.