Not a lot of discussion on this point yet. To me, Bradley was born to be the USA captain. In terms of timing, up to JK. And when that time comes, I'd like to think Jurgen, Dempsey, and Bradley can sit down and make the transition happen with minimal drama or disruption.
Considering Dempsey was supposedly made captain as some sort of motivational tool rather than his leadership abilities this needs to happen.
Agreed. My question though, is there anyone who thinks that Dempsey should be the captain rather than Bradley? For me, and I know the actual players probably don't really give a sh!t, there isn't any other option than Bradley. Clint is a great player, one of our best, but he's never been captain material, for any reason other than the coach trying to change him and his mentality. It seems like a good motivation on JK's part, albeit futile, to try to encourage captain-like behavior from Clint, but at some point you have to look at the body of evidence in front of you and say that Bradley is more deserving than any other, and is the guy that you want your younger players to strive to emulate on and off the field. If I'm JK, I would make him the Gold Cup captain.
The captain discussion is what the lunatics in England drone on and on over. Who cares. Everyone on the team knows who the leaders are, no matter who is wearing the armband. This goes for national teams as well as youth teams.
It's a figurehead role for sure, but I would rather let MB be my spokesman on the field to the ref as opposed to Clint at this point.
Like others have mentioned, the weight placed by some on who gets the armband has always been strange to me. As a player, I followed the normal American route of pretty competitive club play, ODP, high school, and then playing in college. I honestly have no recollection of who the captain was for any of that, other than me being a co-captain my senior year in high school (and that was more because being a captain gave one a leg up with the ladies). The guys in the locker room know who is more committed, more likely to rally the team in bad situations, etc. Who officially has the armband is pretty much immaterial.
Bingo. Only real use of the captain's armband is to signal to a player that the coach has singled him out. To be honest, it appears to have worked a bit with Clint.
With Klinsmann, it appears that captain is not a big deal other than making a statement. Under BB, captain seemed to have a somewhat bigger role for stuff like Boca orienting new players with how things were done in camps and basic expectations. Boca also had a lot to say on the pitch for directing players, keeping a cool head, etc. Two coaches with different views of the captaincy.
Great observation. I re-watched the Germany game last night, and my biggest takeaway was how frequently Bradley found the half-yard of space on the dribble. The sequence before the Wood goal was great, and I loved his hip-turn fake-out of Schurrle even more. The best thing about Bradley is that over the years, he's added extra dimensions to his game. I think BigSoccer has a collective tendency to see younger players as a finished product. Bradley's complemented his "what got him there" skillset with an increasing amount of technical and tactical skill. The dribbling out of danger is the latest advancement.
This kind of thing is Bradley's greatest weakness. He gives the ball away in his own final third like that. Or like he did against Portugal at the end. If he could do any of those dribbles in the offensive third, then we'd be getting somewhere. Look how he turns into the first challenger in the box, who kicks the ball off Bradley so he can continue.
SBI, Gold Cup Captain poll . . http://www.sbisoccer.com/2015/06/question-should-captain.html Bradley holding strong at 87+%
I think that this is absolutely right. Bradley may not be the best dribbler on the team, but I believe that he is the one that understands how to use the dribble the best. (Which in some ways makes him the best dribbler I suppose). For a forward, it isn't necessarily a skill that is as important but for a midfielder it is all important. A forward uses the dribble to get to goal (I know, a huge generalization). A midfielder uses the dribble in many more ways. Dribbling can draw players to you so that others get open, dribbling allows time for others to find space or to make a run, dribbling sets up the pass by positioning the defenders (based upon which way the player takes his dribble... Combine the dribble with Bradley's vision and ability to make that beautiful pass that creates the goal and you have a special player. (Jozy's goal last night, Green's goal in Brazil etc) Over the years, many people have spoken about the damage done to our younger players by not allowing them to dribble but instead forcing them to pass. Our players should be encouraged to dribble but they need to understand how a dribble can be used and when to dribble. One of my biggest complaints in the last game that the US U-20 team had was that so many of the dribbles just ended with a player dribbling into 3-4 defenders. They didn't know how to use the dribble. I think that our next step in developing quality attacking midfielders will be teaching them how to use the dribble in a passing game. I still remember when I was young, playing (pickup game) with a player that used to play for the LA Aztecs and England's div II (pre-PL). That player got mad at me when I passed the ball to him too quickly. That is where I first learned the importance of holding the ball to allow the play to set up.
Indeed. His role as the rhythm-imposing distributor requires a certain degree of mental maturity. At 27, he's only now hitting his peak.
Great post. As you alluded, dribbling can't be separated from tactical ability. If you can't dribble, you take away one of the foundations of attacking soccer. If there's a 3v3 and the German guy knows the US guy isn't going to dribble, well, there goes your passing lane.
Bradley's role is one of the more fascinating developments I have ever seen in US soccer. In a way, he is a problem like Donovan was a problem. He has a great set of tools that allows him to be played in various positions. Ideally, he is a superb linking midfielder. Big and aggressive he can shield the back four, he protects the ball well and will ride out the initial counter-pressing with great short range pressing. Finally, he has a great passing range and can spray balls left or right. The problem/opportunity has been that he's got this outstanding change of pace with the dribble where if he's given a bit of space he can take the ball from box to box in an instant but it's too aggressive for the typical linking mid. The second problem/opportunity is his quick decision making has him as our best danger creator at the final third. This was the whole discussion that Vanney and Klinsmann were having late last year. Is he a 6/8 or an 8/10? The ideal position has turned out to be to go from a diamond to a more attacking 4-1-3-2. For the NT, Bradley plays a 8/10 role with a heavier emphasis on the 8 and in a ways a secondary 6. He often goes deep to defend and initiate the attack. The shuttlers are now more like wings giving Bradley more passing options from deep or opening lanes for him to burst through with his quick dribble and become a 10. My big problem with this development is that it comes two years too early and two years too late in the cycle. Very soon, every team we face will be dreaming up ways on how to stop this.
Fixed your post. Not saying you personally, but just that overall sentiment is more a reflection of posters' desire to live vicariously through their favorite athletes. And it's not just a couple of extra mill/yr. His Toronto contract sets him up for life. Administered well, and that money will make it so that his kids never have to worry about money. That's frickin' huge, you guys.
now, when he makes enough money that my kids never have to worry, we'll have gotten somewhere...come on Mikey, do it for us, i mean me, i mean you i am he as he is she and she is me and we are all together...see how they run like pigs from a gun...im dying (Lennon and McCartney) ...nevermind.
Bradley named captain for the Gold Cup. Congrats to Captain America. He deserves it and I don't see him giving it up any time soon.
Klinsmann's Clever Dempsey Demotion http://www.socceramerica.com/article/64504/klinsmanns-clever-dempsey-demotion.html