Once again: Bradley should be a #8 for us, not a #6. But no one is going to remember it until next time one of his turnovers cost us a game.
Bradley dropping back to take the ball of the feet of the CBs, turn and bring the ball forward is a bad idea and no successful teams play that way. That was Klinsmann's major point of tactical contention about MB90 in the #6 role. Some may be confusing it with the modern 'exchange' where a DM will drop back into a CB slot and allow one of the CBs to drive forward, wide right or left with the ball, in order to vary the point of attack. In that scenario the DM replaces one of the CB for the duration of that sequence. You will frequently see Jones drop into the slot and wave either Cameron or Brooks with the ball, forward in order to vary the point of attack.
Andrea Pirlo was used that way with Juventis. The effect is that the d-mid is utilized in the 'quarterback' role of deep-lying maker. In the attack, the 2015 MLS Cup-finalists Crew looked like: -------------------Kamara------------------ -----------Meram---------------------Finlay-- -------------------------Higuain---------- --Francis-----Tchani--------------------------Aful---- ------------Wahl-----Trapp----Parkhurst---- ---------------------Clark------ In terms of functionally matching each position, the US especially fell short with Bedoya at RAM and Garza at LB. Bedoya, in this system, needs to compete for a central role. Garza lacks the pace and attacking nous for a quasi-wingback role, More importantly, even before the hip injury, he wasn't good enough for international level.
Just wanted to say thanks for the replies to my tactical questions. Too many to quote here. Always cool to learn tactical things I didn't know before. Since I've derailed this a bunch anyway: is the German numbers system gone with Klexit? Just curious. Get that a 6, 8, 10, 9 etc. are largely universally-understood positions. Just wondering if US soccer is going to insist I re-orient the 2-5 positions for my kids...
Bradley has got to be on thin ice now......... I really think our best midfield right now is Nagbe--------------Feilhaber------------Pulisic ------------------------Jones----------------------- And Id also like to give Acosta and Roldan good looks at the 6 spot as well, because Bradley needs a fire lit under his butt
In a vacuum, I think Fabian instead of Nagbe would make that our best midfield but we've never played a game in a vacuum.
I have no idea why people think Fabian would be such a good winger for us, whenever we've played him outside of LB he's looked very meh. Jones isn't a trustworthy enough Dmid, he likes to get foward too much, he'd leave holes to be exploited. Bradley is our best Dmid option.
Jones is a horrible 6 for usmnt. Undisciplined, never plays the simple pass when a hero ball will do, and his instinct is to attack instead of cover
Which specific USMNT matches that Jones played the #6 was he "undisciplined, never plays the simple pass when a hero ball will do, and his instinct is to attack instead of cover"?
I think you win this round because Jones has barely played as a 6 for us, the one match I remember was in the lead up to the WC and he played an uncharacteristically reserved game. On Bradley, we had 8 shots in the 60 or so minutes he was off the field, 1 in the 30 he played. Probably a coincidence and due to game state/pre-season legs but still.
I don't think it is a coincidence at all, but I think it is due to this dropping back to become a third center back cum Andre Pirlo thing he is doing. It results in inviting pressure and removing actual passing options in mid field, particularly with 2 strikers playing. Either Bradley or the GK or CB's being forced to just hoof it long and it has absolutely no positive aspect to balance out the huge negative. Once Bradley came on our attack died as we just pumped aimless long balls forward. I am not blaming Bradley btw, it may be by design.
what if Jones, McCarty, Lletget, Feilhaber, Nagbe and Kjletsan are better then Bradley in the middle at the moment? This is a distinct possibility.... one that wont be analyzed on the field but could be possible at the moment.
Granted i haven't seen that much as a 6 but we have seen that as the double pivot .. it isnt much of a stretch to think those characteristics would carry over
Well, somebody loves Michael Bradley . . . I love you so Bradley#TFCLive #SoccerGrams pic.twitter.com/BNINVjGiw7— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) February 14, 2017
Minor quibble... Bradley is a very good Dmid option. He also has versatility and can slide into other roles in the midfield as subs are brought on. He has a 90min motor. And he's been there before in qualifying. For all these reasons he likely gets the start at the 6. But on a pure Dmid basis, I'd go with Dax. His brain is simply wired for the classic 6 role: disrupting attacks while still in the midfield, tackling, positioning to shut down passing lanes, seeing and picking up midfield runners into the box, and possessing safely in that critical zone of the field. Bradley is very good at that (and provides more elsewhere on the field). Dax to me is better.
Messi looked Bradleyesque yesterday, yet the argentine media didn't just ignore it. Instead they pick apart his blunders... http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1984779-...esta-a-90-minutos-de-perder-otro-balon-de-oro
Soccer-mad countries don't believe in the "everybody is a winner! pass the orange slices!" approach, it seems.
Soccer mad countries have soccer media that goes beyond a few blogs and Alexi Lalas. Not like Bradley is getting special treatment. I've also noticed a distinct lack of Timmy Chandler lowlights on SportsCenter over the years.
When was the last time Jones actually played a d mid role for the US? I agree he would be a poor choice for that role but I can't actually recall many games where he was in that role.