No doubt being a CM is def up there but your role is so much more defined and vary based on role. The modern outside backs are legit asked to do it all.
One of the interesting things about this thread is that people who rant and rave about getting rid of Bradley want Adams to play...…..just like captain back pass -and complain that Adams is being misused when he doesn't.
Howdy BigSoccer, I'm back with more of the analysis that you won't read in The Power of Positive Soccer Thinking. Re Adams...he's not the same player (and likely never will be) for one reason only. He has a chronic hip "weakness" that adversely impacts the top 10% of his output. Without that ability, he becomes a good professional footballer but not the elite talent we hoped for. Wish it weren't so but let's be thankful we can talk biology and not virology for a change.
bradley and adams are so different ...i like him because of that and dislike bradley's style of play and approach to the game not him personally. you think people really want adams to model his game and performance off of MB90? haven't seen that but that would be insanely dumb.
Pre ankle injury MB() was acceptable at his position IMO. Up to 2014 WC he was the heart and soul of the team. The ankle injury did him in and he has ruined any legacy his performance before that earned. Prior to that injury I loved him as USMNT player. Since then.....
At some point he lost his motor and agility. That inhibited his defense abilities, which used to be pretty decent. But once those were gone he became a one trick pony with hitting long balls.
Adams got a few sub minutes when the score was 3-0 or so and Adams dinked the ball around to burn time off the clock and posters say that's how they should use him, just look at how good he was. Their view is that he will play Bradley's game but be so much better at it. I'm saying the opposite. I don't think he should play the "BS 6" but should expand his game and convert the chances he had in his last start which was his best game so far, imo.
I agree and I wasn't trying to derail. I am no MB fan post 2014. I just wanted to say comparisons between Tyler and him do sound very much like a pre-injury MB and that iteration was not bad. Tyler probably offers more just because our soccer culture is growing and so the baseline is higher for subsequent generations to become standouts.
He was certainly in the right position to make big plays in his last game. 1/4 success rate on his crosses would have been acceptable if that one were an assist... but since it wasn't it is easy to make it seem like he played poorly. Going towards the end of last season I was of the mind that he was the most talented young player in the USMNT pool. That injury layoff really took the shine off, but considering the damage and loss of playing time I am not all sure we should have just expected him to be the same player right away. Then when you add the covid break and change of position... you have to give him room to get back to his potential. Dude just needs reps and I don't care all that much where he gets them. If he is as good as I think he is then he should succeed as the playing time increases.
His play would be considered below average in a 10 yr veteran of the club and I value it as good in a rookie developing in a new position playing new (for him) tactics.
We've never had a player like Adams that I can remember. Jones might be the closest because he also had a crazy motor who could close down the opposition very fast. But I think Adams might have an even better motor with even better anticipation skills, and has a faster receive-and-release with the ball. That being said Jones had better overall offensive skills.
Well that got weird. A few thoughts: Chievo/Roma Bradley was possibly the best player in CONCACAF at the time, so yeah that would be fine. He was more of a defensive destroyer still and a pendulum for the attack at the 6 than when Juergen decided he was a 10 because we didn't have one. It was his peak and Tyler certainly has those qualities but MB just ran endlessly and was a nuisance, while Tyler has that Jedi ability to sense danger before it happens and the kind of straight line speed to disrupt things he shouldn't have any business being involved in. But the comparison isn't terrible. I think as he develops, he probably becomes more of an 8, because he has good quick pass instincts and can shuttle the ball upfield while under some pressure, and paired with another high work rate and skilled 8 they could be a nightmare to play through. He's still lacking the final pass (though his through balls have improved since the RBNY days, that beauty to Paulsen last year, for example), but that will come. I think in 2 or 3 years he can do what Kampl and Laimer do but way better. For now, just hope he gets the reps and stays healthy.
Before MB's career is truly and completely over, I'd like to see him play as the 6 among the current best the US has to offer. One of those is Adams, perhaps the player who can pull the best out of MB by virtue of his work ethic and ability to place himself in clean positions to receive forward passes directly from MB. Summary: I'd like to see MB as the hub of defensive ball circulation with Adams as his primary target going forward and attacking playmaker.
I understand why he’s been moved back further as he has aged, and he can drop between the center backs and play a good diagonal ball. But I don’t think Bradley has the lateral range or the 1 v 1 defending ability to play the 6 (he dives in too much for my taste). If he’s going to be part of the team, his skill set probably best fits when we are looking for a goal against a packed defense, and he could play a quarterback / libero role.
i agree with the defending part but I think is diagonal balls are smart in that they switch fields but rarely create dangerous situations as he generally hits lofted balls. against a packed bunker late, I think we’d need someone who - is moderately dangerous off the dribble - can hit incisive passes - has an excellent outside shot If we’re less worried about athleticism as we’re trying to break down a compact defense, I’d look at guys like lletget, Llanez, Ledesma, Parks, Mendez, or Hyndman who are more attack oriented rather than possession focused. I’d actually look to score via direct kicks as I think we have a chance to be a top team at that (if we can identify/develop someone to take them - Uly?) TLDR - bradley’s strength isn’t attacking but maintaining possession as he rarely makes risky passes so he’s a bad sub when we’re behind
I see the comparison. Pablo was similar a bit in style but Tyler is much better with the ball, much quicker, much more athletic, and will never get a red card in the World Cup.
Official Bundesliga site predicts Adams on the bench: https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bunde...ts-werner-upamecano-sabitzer-nagelsmann-11311 with Mukiele getting the nod at RB. I hope they are wrong. Going the full 90 in a tight game was a show of faith from the coach but I could easily see Mukiele getting the start. It would certainly take the shine off what could be a fun Monday lunch break for me.
You mean the Michael Bradley that played 200 games in top european leagues, and is one of the most capped USMNT players ever, as well as approaching 200 games in MLS and winning the cup in the twilight of his career? That guy? Yeah, what a terrible outcome that'd be for Tyler Adams, lol.