For all you Bradley haters...

[mercury3164]

Piece on Bradley's performance (http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzMTgmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcxOTM4NDImeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2)

Written by Ives one of the most intelligent minds in the media about the game.

So how come he can see it and you all can't?

Bradley is quality, and he's here to stay, like it or not.

[FC Tallavana]

There are millions of Muslims in the world that believe Islam is the way to go. Odds are a great number of them are much smarter about their religion than Ives is about soccer.

Does that mean I should give up my own beliefs and convert to Islam? In a word, no.

I respect their beliefs but continue to hold my own. And that is what I will do with Ives' beliefs in this instance.

[Maitreya]

There are millions of Muslims in the world that believe Islam is the way to go. Odds are a great number of them are much smarter about their religion than Ives is about soccer.

Does that mean I should give up my own beliefs and convert to Islam? In a word, no.

I respect their beliefs but continue to hold my own. And that is what I will do with Ives' beliefs in this instance.

It's a waiting game now to see who else receives a chance (and how much of a chance) to claim Bradley's spot between now and WC 2010. Perhaps Clark, Edu and others will get a fair shake. On the other hand, if some people (Bob Bradley included) really think that Bradley is a phenomenal talent to build around, and not just one of several promising young players at his position, then I sincerely hope they're right.

[IndividualEleven]

Dude, there's already several dumbass threads on Bradley.

[Tonerl]

Ives one of the most intelligent minds in the media about the game.

Only because the level of competition is suspect.

I like Ives, I really do. But that guy says some squirrelly things about the game, and has been blindly defensive of both Bob and Michael since day one.

[Nutmeg]

Written by Ives one of the most intelligent minds in the media about the game.
Muh huh.

[FC Tallavana]

Muh huh.


I have no idea how intelligent Ives is but the first word that came to mind when I read that post was sockpuppet.

If you ever read someone say that FC Tallavana is one of the most intelligent posters on Big Soccer you can damn well take it to the bank that it's my sockpuppet.

For the record, I do have another BS name but have yet to intentionally use it as a sock. I did by accident one time as I thought I was logged in as FC Tallavana but I was actually logged in as **** **********. Had to quickly delete the post before anyone made the connection.

It wouldn't be too hard to identify my sock though as there aren't many of us who praise Adu and Spector, moan about Bradley and Bradley, yet remain quite indifferent about pretty much everything else.

[Yankee_Devil]

I see his points and still I disagree with them. I will say that I have no confidence in his methods and less for his tactics.

[alocksley]

Piece on Bradley's performance (http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzMTgmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcxOTM4NDImeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2)

Written by Ives one of the most intelligent minds in the media about the game.

So how come he can see it and you all can't?

Bradley is quality, and he's here to stay, like it or not.

If he doesn't get some decent results by the end of the year, he should go. Let's start putting our manager and team under the same kind of pressure that other top-20 nations put theirs.

[DempC]

I started one of those Bradley threads.

Got much of the same reaction from the ditractors...flailing around with aimless, emotion-driven, nonsensical arguments bashing Michael b/c he's the coach's son and they weren't picked first on the playground.

Logic, reason, truth etc., does not seem to factor into the Bradley hatred.

No big deal. They've lost the argument in any event.

Cheers

[ECUNCHATER]

If he doesn't get some decent results by the end of the year, he should go. Let's start putting our manager and team under the same kind of pressure that other top-20 nations put theirs.

Who are we going to try to hire that wants the job? No your favorite European born coaches are more than likely not interested and if they were coaching our team on Sunday we still would have lost. Brazil is good.

[Maximum Optimal]

If he doesn't get some decent results by the end of the year, he should go. Let's start putting our manager and team under the same kind of pressure that other top-20 nations put theirs.

I would rather keep losing to the likes of Brazil and tough European teams and South Africa on the road than build up a winning streak playing creampuff CONCACAF sides at home. The losing doesn't bother me at all. I've criticized Bradley for various things, but I think he and the USSF deserve credit for putting together a very tough schedule for the national team this year. It has enabled us to learn a lot about our players.

[TimB4Last]

Which Bradley are we hating on in this thread? Is it one or the other or poster's choice?

[JohnR]

I started one of those Bradley threads.

Got much of the same reaction from the ditractors...flailing around with aimless, emotion-driven, nonsensical arguments bashing Michael b/c he's the coach's son and they weren't picked first on the playground.

Logic, reason, truth etc., does not seem to factor into the Bradley hatred.

Nor into the Bradley love, it would seem.

At any rate, the statistics posted by Illininizissou show MB to be a unremarkable performer for USMNT, one who has been adequate but hardly star material, and who should by no means be certain of holding his job. That work strikes me as more reliable than the other comments I have seen on this subject, yours included.

[JohnR]

Which Bradley are we hating on in this thread?

From the article, it's Mikey.

[sidefootsitter]

Who are we going to try to hire that wants the job? ... There are probably dozens of highly accomplished international coaches who would be interested in the US job.

Gulati was hunting for a name when he tried to get Klinsmann, Donadoni and Peckerman.

Why couldn't the US go after Marcelo Bielsa or Claudio Ranieri when each was available?

It's not like there's a perfect candidate/coach out there. All those guys have been fired before. What you want is someone smart, preferably experienced both as a player and a coach and with some winning/big club pedigree.

And if he doesn't work out, you'll move on and get someone else.

But the US seems to be married to their coaches by the Catholic church (no offense to the Catholics out there).

PS. Ives's opinion is worth less than of the 50% of the veteran BS posters.

[sidefootsitter]

Which Bradley are we hating on in this thread?... Milton.

[mercury3164]

uh this thread is about michael...i guess people aren't actually reading the link before responding.

[alocksley]

I would rather keep losing to the likes of Brazil and tough European teams and South Africa on the road than build up a winning streak playing creampuff CONCACAF sides at home. The losing doesn't bother me at all. I've criticized Bradley for various things, but I think he and the USSF deserve credit for putting together a very tough schedule for the national team this year. It has enabled us to learn a lot about our players.

I disagree. Not about the creampuff opponents, but about the wins and losses. We need to put more pressure on our coaches and players. There is too much of a relaxed attitude toward these matches. Players need to know that they will lose their place in the starting XI if they are not playing at a high enough level. Coaches need to know that they may be sacked. We have enough depth now, with young players waiting in the wings. Let's see some open competition for spots. Look at what Donadoni did with Italy yesterday. The big names didn't perform vs. France, so he replaced them with lesser-knowns and got a result vs. Ukraine.

Now, I know these are so-called friendly matches, but let's get serious. If another top-20 team had this kind of losing streak, in friendlies or meaningful matches, would the manager still be there?

[GONATS]

I like MB. However, I certainly not yet sold on him being the future. He has had some really good games, but also some really bad ones. On top of that, even in his good games, he seems to have HUGE mental errors. I hope it can all be chalked up to him being young. However, garnering stupid red cards and PKs does not help make a believer out of me.