Bradley? Uh, no, thanks. NEW "Dave's Soccer Podcast" on 710 ESPN.com

[dawgpound2]

http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/710espn/sectional?id=soccerpodcasts

Thanks.

[dawgpound2]

http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/710espn/sectional?id=soccerpodcasts

Thanks.

[tab5g]

two points of disagreement with your opinions:

-- a team should not be built around a 19-year-old (and no, Adu is not currently a better player than Donovan. and Messi is 24 months older than Adu).

-- the US does not have the talent at this point to win the World Cup. Yes it could happen, but the talent just isn't there to make it a realistic target.

[El Naranja]

Wow....this is a helluva rant about the US v ARG game. Can't disagree, either

[Tmagic77]

No hyperbole right? Bradley would rather tie than win...

I do agree with the gist of basically all your arguments, but I don't like how you go about it. Like the Argentina game, 90% of the time was spent talking about Adu and Bob Bradley. We get it, but not a word about Tim Howard playing lights out or the phantom red on Mastro?

I personally think that Donovan is the best US player ever, by far. It's good that you're now including him with Adu rather than having Adu on a pedestal by himself. What player would you say is about equivalent to Adu on the world stage? Technical talent wise I agree he's phenomenal, but his decision making at times is a bit off. That should come with playing time, that he doesn't get but deserves. He lacks, what's called in football, pocket presence.

[Kevin8833]

He's awesome I completely agree, he gets a little over the top but his points are all correct, awesome podcast and I love how angry it is, very entertaining.

[Kevin8833]

two points of disagreement with your opinions:

-- a team should not be built around a 19-year-old (and no, Adu is not currently a better player than Donovan. and Messi is 24 months older than Adu).

-- the US does not have the talent at this point to win the World Cup. Yes it could happen, but the talent just isn't there to make it a realistic target.
1) The team should not be built around Adu, but I wouldn't see anything wrong with building the team around both Donovan and Adu not Benchanegra.
2) That's awful confidence your target should be to win every game.

[onefineesq]

two points of disagreement with your opinions:

-- a team should not be built around a 19-year-old (and no, Adu is not currently a better player than Donovan. and Messi is 24 months older than Adu).

-- the US does not have the talent at this point to win the World Cup. Yes it could happen, but the talent just isn't there to make it a realistic target. The team is currently built around baby Bradley, so what's the difference? Sure, Donovan is the best player. But when Bradley (daddy) moves him out of the forward role AND the central midfield, and essentially replaces him in the middle with Bradley, do the math. And Adu has simply been better than Bradley in these last 3 games, by a country mile. Period.

[Martin Fischer]

The team is currently built around baby Bradley, so what's the difference? Sure, Donovan is the best player. But when Bradley (daddy) moves him out of the forward role AND the central midfield, and essentially replaces him in the middle with Bradley, do the math. And Adu has simply been better than Bradley in these last 3 games, by a country mile. Period.

There is absolutely no relationship between what Adu does and what Michael Bradley is supposed to do -- totally different players with totally different roles. PERIOD.

[goatnutsgoal]

Dave

You call Landon world class OMG. He's not even close, he is American soccer a fraud. Watching the US play England where was Landon on the bench what a jerk if he wasn't going to play stay home. He makes some good runs at times but, so does my dog. Does that make her world class and she can fall and roll over when she needs too. Watching the game on Sunday was okay but, anyone that has plyed the game can see when Landon makes his run into the box or close to it he's scared to shoot, he falls over when the wind blows. Dave this week was way off ADU is better than who? no you didn't just say what I think you said, lol come on Dave are you just having a long weekend put the weed down or the Cally sun is frying your brain.

Dave, I listen every week this week has been awwwwwful, I'll give you a pass. I haven't even touched on the USA winning the World Cup.

[Maximum Optimal]

There is absolutely no relationship between what Adu does and what Michael Bradley is supposed to do -- totally different players with totally different roles. PERIOD.

Except in the minds of those people who want to turn Bradley loose a la Heerenveen. I do think giving Bradley that kind of role would have implications for what the team does with Adu and/or Donovan. Now to his credit Bob Bradley has not been one of those crazies who wants to give Mike the keys to the car like that. And Mike himself has indicated in a recent interview that he sees his best role as being defensive mid.

[bostonsoccermdl]

That podcast was fantastic.

I love how he attacks the defense mentality.

And he is right about Adu.. 100% right.

[onefineesq]

There is absolutely no relationship between what Adu does and what Michael Bradley is supposed to do -- totally different players with totally different roles. PERIOD. What does that have to do with anything? The point is that the team is built around Bradley. Bradley hasn't played well, and as a consequence we get absolutely nothing moving forward out of his position on the field. Being that the proposal is to insert Adu in central midfield to combat that, the fact that Bradley can't fulfill what he is "supposed to do", he should be on the bench. Of course i know it won't happen because ......... well, i'm not getting into that again.

[TrickHog]

Dave

You call Landon world class OMG. He's not even close, he is American soccer a fraud. Watching the US play England where was Landon on the bench what a jerk if he wasn't going to play stay home.

I would also question whether Donovan is "world class" or not, but I stopped reading your post after this because you are clearly an idiot.

[Revolt]

I agree with some of the rant, but not all. But let's face it - Dave is spot on about this: Zero goals in three games is unacceptable. And while this is a group of death, it is conceivable we could face these three teams in the WC.

[Tmagic77]

I agree with some of the rant, but not all. But let's face it - Dave is spot on about this: Zero goals in three games is unacceptable. And while this is a group of death, it is conceivable we could face these three teams in the WC.

I'm pretty sure Spain and Argentina would get seeded, so probably not. Not scoring is never good, but with the teams we were playing and without Donovan I'll refrain from claiming the sky is falling. I hate the style we're playing except for the second half of the Argentina game. I think everybody agrees on that, maybe just not in the details.

[Cweedchop]

I haven't even clicked onto the link yet, but I'll just go ahead and say what I think Dave will say, based on his ramblings on the American Soccer show all season.

1. Fire Bradley now - he doesn't know what he's doing

2. Freddy Adu is the best player ever for the USA. Landon is OK, even though he has an entire 8 year catalog that includes multiple World cups yet Freddy hasn't even played in a qualifier for the USA yet

3. Two defensive midfielders will never work for the USA - Fire Bradley again

4. We didn't score a goal in three straight matches. Fire Bradley.

5. We're in danger of not qualifying for the World Cup based on these three matches. Gee, last time I checked, we don't actually play anyone who's any good outside of Mexico. And please spare me the "Honduras, Panama and Guatemala all have improved" crap. Until they can actually beat us either home or away, don't bring that stuff (yes, Honduras did beat us in 01' but we still made it).


For what it's worth, I actually enjoy Dave's work on the American Soccer Show. I just think he delves a little too deep in the hyperbole swimming pool from time to time. Last week's rant after the England performance being Exhibit A for the defense.


All is well in the US camp. We will pound Barbados and we will get thru every other phase of qualifying. Relax and enjoy the ride.

[Papin]

The U.S. currently has the talent to win the World Cup?
Huh?!!!

[Tmagic77]

Having the ability to win the World Cup and it being likely are quite different. We were really damn close to playing South Korea in the semi-finals in '02. I don't think it's a strech to say we could have beaten them. After that, who knows. In a one off perhaps we could beat Brazil. Friedel could have played out of his mind, blah blah... I think that's a pretty weak point of his to pick on.

[sidefootsitter]

Against the crap teams, he should play both.

There's no need for a dedicated destroyer vs. the minnows, especially at home.