Michael Bradley talks in the camp in Spain about the situation of the club, the course of the season, and has an eye on the WC in South Africa 'I don't know what you prefer' My sloppy translation: Michael Bradley (22) on... ... the course of the season so far: »The first part of the season was ok, except of the five straight losses. All in all it was satisfying.« ... the comparison to the last season: »We've had a really poor start last year. We've been on last place from the beginning, and always under pressure. Being 17th or 18th and having to get out of there needs a lot of power and mental strength. It's not easy to catch up. In the end we showed that we were up to the pressure, and got the wins, when we needed them. This season we got points and confidence from the beginning, and never panicked when it went not so well.«. ... the expectations for the Rückrunde: »A good start is important, that's obvious. We have to keep our current level, and try to improve. We should challenge the teams ahead of us. Against Hamburg and Schalke for example, but also against Bayern Munich and Leverkusen, we've proven that we can be on their level, and even beat such teams.«. ... his qualities: »I'm a player who can help his team. Ok, many players think so about themselves. You're only important, when your performance helps the team to have success. Goals and assists don't help, when you lose the game. It's my job to make it unpleasant for the opponent. Every team needs someone to do the dirty work.«. ... his extra vacation in the short winter break: »I was a bit surprised. I was prepared to get back on 12/28. When the coach told me he gave me 4 additional days, I was pleased of course. So I had some more time with the family - ‚It was nice!‘« ... the WC 2010 with the USA: »It's normal and human to have the WC in the back of your mind, when such a big event is coming. But it's still a long time, and I only care about Borussia now. I have to perform here, or it won't work at the WC.«. ... the possible course of the tournament: »Our goal is to reach the knock-out stage. So we have to get out of the group, and that's not easy. The game against England is the most difficult on paper, but you must not underestimate anyone at a WC.« ... on the hopes of germany not to meet England in the first KO stage: »You'd have to play against us then. If that would be better for you? I don't know what you prefer...«
That's a solid list to be on all. All of those players are rising stars in the game. Nice to see that Bradley is considered to be in that group. My thoughts Liverpool could do far worse if they were to sell Mascherano.
From what I can tell, since the 2006 World Cup: 39 Full National Team caps 5 matches in the U20 World Cup (i know he didn't play in any qualifiers, but I don't know about friendlies) 2 matches at the Olympics 53 games at Heerenveen 43 games at Borussia Monchengladbach 142 competitive matches in 3 and a half years. That is 40 competitive matches every single year. For a young player, that is an incredible grind. He also played 31 matches for the Metrobulls in 2005. That leaves the first 6 months of 2006 as the last time Michael Bradley had anything resembling significant rest. I know a lot of young players get experience against some of the best teams in the world, but damn, Mikey has gone up against the very best in the world in competitive matches as a key player for both club and country: Brazil, Argentina, Spain, England, Japan, Sweden, Mexico, the Netherlands, Italy, Twente, Ajax, PSV, Wolfsburg, Werder Bremen, Schalke, Bayern Munich, etc. And he's still just 22!!!
In 2009: - 30 Bundesliga games - 2 Cup games - 13 competitive games for the US, plus 2 friendlies 45 competitive matches and 2 friendly internationals in the last year, almost all of them as a starter.
At first I thought it was a little jab at England, but upon reflection he might have been serious. We tied them at WC02 (I will never forget, or forgive), and they always....always beat England. The fear the English have of Germany in knockout rounds is palpable. Of course, no one in their right minds would prefer to play England over the US, but who knows what would make the better game. You know Capello wants to get first in the group, to avoid Germany in the second round. That's going to be a big help to us, perhaps, because instead of resting when they know they're through, hopefully they'll keep the pressure on and take points from Algeria/Slovenia. It'd be funny if Ghana or Serbia won Group D, and Germany got 2nd. Heh.
I read it as MB joking around and talking a tiny bit of trash. In the "do you *really* want a piece of me? Do ya? Do ya? " (while laughing) sense.
Uh huh! http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas2000-10/2008-09/M0870Ger2008.html http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas2000-10/2001-02/M0782Ger2001.html http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1990-00/1999-00/M0770Ger2000.html
Another American on the list. Oh how I wish he played for us now that Onyewu is injured and his status and form is in question for WC2010. Neven Subotic Defender, Borussia Dortmund / Serbia, 21 He is 6ft 4in, fast and solid on the ball, but Subotic has only scraped the surface of his potential. Just needs to iron out the odd mental error to be the real deal.
midfield-fan-voting HINRUNDE (28020 votes) on borussia.de http://www.borussia.de/de/voting-archiv,119287,0.html 1) Reus 51,5% 2) Arango 28,5% 3) Bradley 10,1% 4) Marx 9,9% Yep, it's easier to make a good impression on the flank especially if you're an offensive player and (like Reus) surpass all expectations. BILD-Headline: "Bradley: Ich bin eine Drecksau!" http://www.bild.de/BILD/sport/fussb...07/michael-bradley/ich-bin-eine-drecksau.html "I'm the one for the dirty work. I have to be a "Drecksau" on the pitch. That's me! There should be no fun in playing against me!" "I want to win the big battles in midfield. When the match starts the opponent has to get to know his limits. I want to play a major role. That needs character. You have to feel comfortable with it. I do." "You can't be a leader being twenty. You've to gain experience. I've learned a lot last season." I wonder what he really said instead of "Drecksau". (borussia.de skips the Drecksau-part ;-) In German it's more like "bastard" I guess: a guy who jumps on his opponent's balls and has a nice time in doing so. As he said: the man for the dirty work. Though: I heard he intends giving interviews in German in 2010. So maybe Michael already knows such words in German. ;-) (On the contrary there is alway a decent probability that BILD didn't stick to the facts and gave the whole thing an extra spin.)
really? we're used to it! maybe shocking: according to this http://www.wan-press.org/article2825.html it's world's biggest non-japanese newspaper tell me, can you stand this? ;-)
Wie sagt man auf Deutsch "Your Sarcasm-meter needs adjusting"? "Dein Sarkasmusmessgerät sollte geeicht werden" ??
I thought the joke was obvious enough that I could leave out the I guess not. Sarcasm can be difficult to translate via the written word.
You're not really shocked? I'm relieved ;-). To be honest I thought of that and decided to administer an extra heavy shock-dose. Guess I failed. That's pretty good! But sarcasm? I merely recognized a balmy breeze of irony in my posting! ;-)
http://fohlen-hautnah.de/galerie/ Many Photos from the training cam in Spain Interview Michael about the longer winter break for him, Frontzeck and the chance for the us team by the WM.
Ahhh . . . I love that movie so much. My wife gave me a DVD of it for Christmas. She thinks I have a strange obsession with actresses of the bygone film era.
I doubt Bradley's German is to the point where he really knows the ins and outs and hierarchy of German expletives. If he did actually use the word "Drecksau," he was probably aping a native's use of it when talking to him and may not really know what an intense word it is. It literally means "filthy sow," so he might just think it means someone who does the dirty work. That sort of thing takes time to learn. I remember when one of my Anglophone friends jokingly called a German friend the German word for "jerk(off)," which isn't that bad in English, but is probably the most insulting thing you can call someone in German. That was a linguistically gifted kid who had been living in Germany for half a year. Anyway, hooray Mikey. Keep kicking Arsch.