I will add this: GB talks about that Mexico game as a unique opportunity to try and play through an all out press by a good team. When confronted that it was dumb and doomed, he said it would have been, " negligent" to not do it. It was that important to get pasted by Mexico and lose more fans and even the Outlaws. But if it was that important, why wasn't the starting #6 called up? Could we really run the exercise without him and learn anything? If it was that important, Bradley should have played.
Tenorio and Stejskal reported the information about Bradley's contract back in July. Although it’s been widely reported that Michael Bradley’s deal with Toronto FC expires at the end of the season, multiple sources have told The Athletic that the club has an option to pick up his contract for the 2020 season. Bradley is making $6,500,000 in guaranteed compensation in 2019, the second-highest total in MLS behind Zlatan Ibrahamovic. The sources said he’d make that same amount next season if TFC pick up his option for 2020. His option will automatically trigger if Toronto win MLS Cup this fall. https://theathletic.com/1108954/201...all-star-board-of-governors-cba-negotiations/
Th That is a different thing. He's not being paid a bonus, he still has to play next year to earn the money. The Bradley hate is so strong here that I can't tell whether people were misrepresenting this or will just believe anything.
[1]At the level he is playing, and how consistently he jogs his way through matches this year, it is absolutely a bonus. To be given that money, as tribute to barely going through the motion for 80% of the season, and waking up into reasonable mediocrity only when the check needs cashing, is exactly that sordid thing we've come to expect from Late Mikey. And next year there won't even be that incentive. It's going to be a rich comedy for MB, an angry tragedy for the Toronto fans. [2] Corrected for truth.
It is a different thing. Toronto has transformed from a dead corpse to a dominant force, and there are probably only 3-4 clubs in MLS that have been successful enough since 2014 to be able to say that they did better without somrbody like Bradley. I'm sure Toronto fans will be in tears if they win yet another trophy.
Whatever you knew was a lie, it is one you own. So the optional year of 6.5 million kicks in for Mikey iff they win MLS Cup? So at least the hack is now trying hard, whereas he produced a pile of shit for the USMNT from Couva on? It's pretty clear what one single thing is the disease of his heart. Next year, whatever happens this year, expect Couva Mikey 90% of the time.
And if they don't, they will rejoice at the team not being saddled with 6.5 million for Mr. Mikey Mediocrity himself.
Either Superdave has a peculiarly inept sense of humor, which would not be a lie, or Superdave is inept at logic, which also would not be a lie. Perhaps it is better to let Sleeping SuperDaves lie.
Pretty amazing clause to have in your contract though: If you win the MLS Cup, you are guaranteed another 6.5M in salary if you continue to play. I need that guy's contract lawyer.
It is interesting that Bradley sycophants like Tenorio are reporting this as a gift for Bradley. Nowhere, has anyone suggested he would have earned it or Toronto would have done it regardless. Nobody is suggesting that Mikey deserves the option if TFC win or lose.
I think Bradley is past it and paying him that kind of money if they win MLS Cup is one heck of a contract clause, especially how much this is a team game and all. It's far above his value on the field at this time. But, I think it is hard to say Toronto's move to grab some bigger name players and pay the US nationals what they wanted to get them in the squad hasn't paid off. Before they started splashing the cash around, they were a pretty second rate outfit and now they contend almost every year (yes, last year was a glaring exception) and they're in another final. Bradley isn't the sole reason for this, but he is a big part of it and Toronto's willingness to throw some money around made the difference so I can't think that the club would be anything but pleased even if they end up having to overpay him next year.
It was proclaimed in The History of The World [Part I] that "It is Good to be King!". It is now proclaimed that "It is Good to be The Son of The King!". It's a good thing our sport isn't ruled by Kings...eh?
It was Giovinco who was the stellar signing, the one who made all the difference, the one who put Toronto on the map for future players. The two American signees, Altidore and Bradley, have done much less for the club. When healthy, Jozy has been the superior contributor... unfortunately he has kept not being healthy. Bradley was ok his first couple of years, and has been Couva'ing the field the last couple of years. As a "PR difference maker", Bradley was insignificant for Toronto. As a player, he has now declined into insignificance, with the team usually playing significantly better in the midfield when Mikey isn't there. The fantastical mismatch between what Mikey has contributed, and how he has been materially enriched, is the kind of rigged good fortune that makes the current era such a remarkably uplifting time.
I'm a huge Bradley critic for the USMNT but c'mon. The guy is a CM for a team that made it to the finals without Giovinco so credit to Bradley for helping his team. If you asked TFC management if they would pay $6.5m right now to win a championship, they'd say yes. That being said, i'm interested in where Bradley will end up and at what salary if TFC doesn't win. He's worth less than Pomykal IMO so I'd think $500k/year for two years at most.
Bradley's first year at TFC they did not make the playoffs. Then TFC went out and acquired Jozy and Giovinco ...
I think this captures how many, if not most, TFC fans see it. They've been thrilled with his tenure in Toronto. Also, they're generally confused and embarrassed at the ineptitude of the US in using Bradley in his Toronto years (Altidore too). It's not likely to be a popular opinion in this forum! Club play is different from international play, of course.
They made it to the finals without Giovinco because they brought in Pozuelo, and because the Canadians on the squad have stepped up, and because Westberg has been on an outstanding run, and absolutely not because of any significant contribution from Bradley. In the last few games, as the perfume of a huge payday has inspired him, Mikey has climbed up to mediocrity. And mediocre is exactly what he is right now. Next year, with no such boondoggle to bring care into his heart, I expect him to dazzle us with his Couva story.
According to the Toronto Press, the TAM deal he just signed is a $1.5m 3 year deal with an option. The option is actually quite interesting: 1205179651305431045 is not a valid tweet id edit: I guess the $1.5m figure is an estimate, seems like all TFC has said is that it's a TAM deal, which makes it more than $600k but less than $1.53m.
Seeing this spun as Mike being brave and noble and taking a pay cut to help the team. Errr...it was either take a pay cut or retire. If you look at MLS salaries, two players that absolutely robbed the bank last year were Bradley and Schweinsteiger. Probably still overpaid, but not my money.
Bradley was dispossessed just 0.6 times per 90min in 2019 and had only 1.1 unsuccessful touches per game. As a comparison, Mark-Anthony Kaye, widely viewed as one of the best young 6s in MLS today, averages 1.9 of each. in '19 Bradley lost the ball less often than any CDM in MLS.— Duane Rollins (@24thminute) December 12, 2019
When your "talent" is to pass back or, if in a daring mood sideways, as soon as an opponent gets within three yards of you, then by default you will not be "dispossessed" very often....... even as you do nothing to advance your team. You actually have to take the game to the opponent, try to go by a player or move forward into a dangerous position, to be in "danger" of losing the ball. Mikey has perfected the art of simply avoiding any kind of play that asks him to be substantive. Yet you choose to pay him gobs for such little smack? MB is your Oblong, which you have put on a Pedestal, and that is your Triumph.