Bradley: Internzionale vs. Chievo Verona 10/23 (R)

Tough test for Bradley- Rigoni(normally the central DM) is on the bench and Bradley has been listed by FSC as the middle of the 3 DM's. He has Sneijder to worry about...

 

He's definitely CDM and staying deep and it seems like he's marking Sneijder closely. Some good one touch passing too.

 

Yeah, I'd go far as to say he's been shadowing Sneijder (who just got a switched mark and used it to take a shot).

 

Thiago Motta leaps over Bradley, who doesn't get up in the air, for a goal on a corner. 1-0 Inter. Hmmph.

 

Yeah he's not follwoing him everywhere, just staying close when Sneijder is in the middle. Maicon is fouled on the right side outside the box, Sneijder free kick saved out for a corner. Thiago Motta scores on the corner, Bradley was on him and didn't even jump.

 

Bradley played pretty well defensively in the first half- there was one time Sneijder made him look silly, but it didn't lead to anything. Unfortunately he was at fault on the goal, not jumping against Thiago Motta, who might have scored anyway, but Bradley could have made it more difficult.

 

Hetemaj off for Thereau. Midfielder for striker. Interesting move- they're going for it. Hetemaj was dealing with Maicon all game and looked injured.

 

I watched about 15 min ... this is pretty crappy soccer overall.

Compared to Leverkusen-Schalke, this is inferior football. Even from Inter.

 

Glad you said that... it feels like watching Vancouver vs the Revs.

 

...and they've lost the feed.

 

It's back now.. Inter looking a bit better. Chievo is toothless in all directions.

 

It seems like Cruzado is covering the left side since Hetemaj went off, but Maicon is finding lots of space over there now.

Bradley corner finds a Chievo head but it's an easy save for Julio Cesar. That seems like their only route to score in this game. Bradley pushing forward a bit now, things should open up for Inter.

Rigoni on now, could mean Bradley attacking more. Moscardelli forces a save. Chievo going for it.

 

5 minute added on.

Bradley's corners have been consistently good today. Chievo have done little to test the worst defense in serie A, so it's unfortunate someone couldn't do something with one of those corners like Motta did.

1-0 FT.

 

Chievo stayed toothless until the end....
... reasonable on defense, truly weak on offense. But then with a 3-D mid set up you're engineering exactly that.

It'll be interesting to see if Bradley gets much playing time and, if he does, if he's allowed a more expansive, attacking, role. His role as of now is highly constricted.

 

His role has changed from game to game. One game he's defending wingers and tucking into the back line almost like a fullback, the next game he's defending centrally but going forward down the right wing, the next game he's central and staying deep. Their coach seems to adapt the midfield to the opponent.

It's unfortunate he allowed the goal on the corner, because I thought he did well defensively overall. There was another time Motta jumped over him and headed high too. Combined with him being caught seemingly unaware on the Mexico goal earlier this year, that is a weakness he needs to work on. He did have a bunch of headed clearances too, to be fair.

 

Yeah Mike's going to have to work harder and better defending against those aerial duels, which is funny considering how clutch he can be when making those same challenges.

 

I feel Mikey may be too American for Italy. He does not go down easily or dive with little contact like a few of Chievo's players.

 

he was tidy with the ball all game, but stayed back and never ventured forward (by coach design i'm sure). couple late give aways, but he's fit and never seemed to tire. corner kicks were solid. gave up the header on the goal, it is what it is.

defensively takes those weird angles that usually result in overcommit, or a whiff swipe, or a foul. seems consistent with that over the years.

seemed good with the ball at his feet today, looked to play it forward but usually moved it square, didn't create anything but that wasn't his job today. overall good playing given the opponent.

 

Be interesting to see if he gets much playing time where - the Nats? He's started the last 5 for Chievo, no? Is there some indication he's out of favor?

 

not at all out-of-favor for the NAT's. Klinsman gave him gracious time to get acclimated to Chievo.

 

I was thinking this the last time I watched him. When it comes to deceptive tactics and diving, Italy is the Central America of Europe.

Serie A can really suck at times. I truly prefer to watch MLS at this point in time.

 

where did you get this one? He is not out of favor at all. I strongly hope the anti-Bradley vitriol does not extend in to the Klinsmann era.

 

Any idea why Rigoni didn't start and instead Bradley played the deep CDM role?

 

Sneijer would have eaten Rigatoni alive...