There was nothing "unusual" about Azteca. Last cycle's Hex we went down there and got a 0-0 point playing: Jozy Gomez Dempsey Zusi Bradley Edu Beasley Besler Gonzo Cameron Guzan We don't have to play a gimmick 5-4-1 like Arean played to be a sound defensive squad. Given that you were one of the leaders of the "Jermaine Jones is preventing Bradley from being successful" campaign, I am not surprised by your attempted "folks are trying to discount him" spin.
We should have clearly made WC2014 no questions. The pool was more than good enough to finish in the top 2. I am not discounting TFC's team-building in fact I have praised their genius.
Not quite. They went on to be even worse, before finally being saved by the USMNT at the end of the Hex. Though your point still stands. And, that 0-0 tie needed an in-form Howard to make a lot of saves. Our recent 1-1 draw, arguably we were the better team on the balance of play.
Howard did not play in the 0-0.at Azteca. Guzan made 3 saves. https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/03/17/13/53/mnt-secures-draw-at-estadio-azteca
Oops. Must've confused it with the Friendly win in 2011 or 2012, the 1-0, where Orozco scored. Thanks for finding that correction.
Bradley played CB in a 5 man line for Toronto in the 2nd half down in Azteca on Tuesday. Delgado moved to dmid and Hasler moved into Delgado's right CMID position. The move came after VanDWiel came off at the half, presumably due to some physical issue because he has been really good for them at rcb. Bradley played really well. I wonder if they see him lengthening his career usefulness at cb next year. p.s. edit: Drew Moor turns 35 next January so he'd be almost 36 years old at the end of 2019 https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/toronto-fc-re-signs-drew-moor-one-year-extension/
If he was really poor we should have. The best #6 alts over the last cycle were Cameron (who is more of a pulley 6, past his peak, and a starting CB) and Dax (who is not as good overall but a better tackler). We could have played either with Mike or Williams or each other. Would that have been better for the team, I think that depends on the game. I probably would have tried Bradley and Williams out first. Beckerman was important because the spaces he took up allowed Mike and Jermaine to roam and he could help us build out of the back. Functional systems don't need to have just one guy designated to cover that space but it needs to be accounted for.
Michael Bradley skying this penalty kick in the #CCL final is as MLS as it gets. #CHIvTOR pic.twitter.com/lcijG2lZ4U— Across the Pond (@acrossthepond) April 26, 2018
Baggio '94. Donovan '09. Zusi '13 (although, his team still won). Messi '16. Bradley '18. All guys you expect to be clutch in a shootout, all missed over the bar. He'll be "forgiven" for the same reason the other guys were; without him they don't get there in the first place.
Bradley isn't Baggio nor Messi. Nor even Donovan. His performances (or lackthereof) and those of Jozy among others contributed us missing a WC for the first time in over 30 years. The negative spin (and quick reactions to anger) probably won't allow a cooling down period.
I don't think we were. A big part of the US success in cacacaf has been mental: in pressure moments our vets previously would rise to the occasion. Frankie or Casey or EJ, ect. We do not have that mental toughness or leadership right now. I put that both on JK and arena not wanting personality on the team and a new generation of meek kids. Second was the fear of the cacacaf opponents of the US. There is no longer any fear of our sides because of MLS. It should be clear to anyone watching, unless the US has more players in top leagues from here on out we will not succeed as a country . Bradley at his best was a charging 8 doing a bit of everything but at his worst is at a 6 being asked to accomplish a specific defensive job. They should never have removed Dempsey as captain. I'm sure some smart person can compare pre/post Dempsey stats in meaningful matches.
On Saturday Schweinsteiger comes through Bradley on the way to kicking the ball away, knocking Bradley over (with what would be called a "clip" in the NFL)and the turnover falls to a Chicago guy who passes to somebody in the box who is fouled by Morgan and Chicago converts the penalty, I don't get why Bradley didn't loudly protest the foul on him when the ref went to VAR. He just stood around like a sheep.