Michael Bradley.

Not just today. This whole tournament

Everyone knew how good Donovan was.

Michael Bradley is the American who most improved his personal value during the group stage.

 

See Sig.

 

His slide tackle where he came in, took the ball away and it was just like the ball was glued to his foot as he got up and sent it upfield was just awesome.

 

The dude was all over the place, stopping Algeria, starting attacks left and right. My MOM.

 

Yes. MB is the reason USA stayed in this game.

All you haters and "only plays 'cause he's the coaches son" losers can suck it.

 

Michael has been playing at this level for quite a while now.

People have just been too blinded by their nepotism cloud to see it.

 

He's just had a fantastic Cup so far. Our best midfielder against England, 2nd to Landon against Slovenia, class again today. Also, he and Benny paired well for possibly the first time ever in the last 30 minutes. Woo!

 

Even at the distance of a tv camera, you'd see something in the look on Bradley's face, when he's 4 yards from an Algerian who has the ball at his feet, before Bradley has even started to move, and you'd think, he knows he's winning that tackle.

 

Obviously I am not in the nepotism crowd. I believe Michael is a lock starter and has deserved everything.

That being said, he has taken his game to another level this tournament. I have watched him play at BMG and in the second half of the season, he wasn't nearly as good as he is playing right now.

So I don't think he's been playing at this level for awhile

 

MOTM for me, Donovan in a close 2nd. Incredible and relentless performance by Mike. How exciting to have a player who is blossoming like he is. Great game by all of our boys. And way to hang in there Johnny B!

 

This is a great pairing that I don't think we unfortunately can play. Michael likes to drift forward a lot and rightfully so, with Benny not as willing to get stuck in.

It's a fantastic pairing for a situation like we were in.

 

I also really liked the Edu/Bradley pairing. Edu just needs to track back a little quicker and he'll be a nice compliment to Bradley. God Mike is a beast.

 

Agreed, until Donovan put it to rest. Junior was AMAZING today.

 

I've never seen better passing from him than today. So many good balls.

 

That's not true. He had a pretty rough run in the second half of the BL season and in some of the friendlies leading up to the cup. You don't need to be part of the nepotism crowd to see that.

I'm not part of that crowd. I'm on record as expecting him to be our next captain.

 

I've been singing his praises since '07, and taking a lot of crap in the process. It's a shame that so many people on this board missed the U20 WC game against Uruguay in '07 because that's when I saw the future of U.S. soccer and knew it was Bradley.

 

I said it in the post-game thread, but I'm glad there's one for MB.

Great game from him. Just awesome.

Congrats, MB -- and be even more proud of your boy, BB.

 

Re: Michael Bradley. [R]

I know this is an MB thread, but Donovan? Really? Yes, he did what he did and thank goodness, and he made some unbelievable passes, but he was not showing for the ball, was not hustling to the ball, not getting back on D, leaving space for attacks down his side, and generally seemed out of the flow. Dempsey, on the other hand...

 

I've been in favor of this matchup all along, but Edu's distribution simply has to get better. With that being said, his defensive positioning and soccer brain is much better than Rico's. I think Edu will calm down for the next match and show his calmness on the ball.

 

In my head.........I was implying........"for the national team he's playing this way."

To a degree, the foes Bradley faces on a weekly basis in the Bundesliga are superior to oppenents he can face for the USMNT. Bayern, Schalke, Bremen, or Leverkusen's midfield is better than that of Algeria, Slovenia, or any of the teams we face in qualifying.

For the USMNT, he's put in outstanding performances for 4 years now. And he's learned to control his agression.

The guy is only 22..............

 

I'm not really a stats guy, but all I need to know about the Edu/Bradley pairing is that we finally got through a first 45 without conceding a goal. In the next round that is crucial. If we need production after that, we can always insert an attacking player.

 

I would be shocked if some bigger teams didn't come calling. He needs to make the right choice. Somewhere where he will continue to PLAY and develop.