mediano-- "the mediator", or "enforcer"; not to be confused with the . . . regista-- the "puppet-master" or deep-lying playmaker. I think more and more center mids that play box-to-box (and thus have both 6 and 8 duties) are just being called "centralli" (pardon my spelling there). By the way, the regista shouldn't be confused with the trequartista, who is the CAM (playing just behind the forwards). Any of the playmakers (or even the forwards) could be the team's fantasista (the "inspired" playmaker and goal scorer).
Il diesel calvo jeep guidata (The bald headed jeep diesel) gets Yahoo Eurosport fan rating as top rated starting midfielder for Genoa match: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/serie-a/2011-2012/chievo-genoa-467239.html note: the three highest rated players of all, came off the bench. Two of the starting midfielders were subbed out, the first, Cruzado, for a forward, Moscardelli (great come from behind victory, btw).
He's already a key player for them, having been directly involved in their last three goals since entering the lineup. He has also been very good at collecting the ball and distributing. Chievo really needs a Bradley type guy (a worker among the glamour boys), and he has already made a solid claim for the job. This is what its supposed to look like when you join a new club. He's off to a fast start.
Your claim was that he could potentially be a key player, which is selling him short as he has been a top player with the side from the minute he hit the pitch. Its really funny to see people try to extrapolate greatness from every touch that Adu makes while having inferior performances, but with Bradley you get superior performances and people trying to downplay every significant contribution that he makes to winning football. I can guarantee you that Chievo fans are smiling right now about Bradley. He looks better in this league than he did in the Bundesliga.
But it seems to be able to negate Michael Bradley, as whenever he has a bad couple games his impressive resume suddenly disappears. And keep deleting my posts, but it's true. To many on this website so easily discard players that don't find the pretty picture in their minds rather whimsically. Michael Bradley has earned his status, and earned his place. Don't run from the fact that people you prominently feature on this website do the same short-sighted crap as the mob.
I'm a Bradley fan, but I wouldn't go that far. He's looked good on the pitch so far, and the quickness from which he's gone from a bench spot to doing 90(so far!) has been unexpected. Personally I thought it'd take a few more games before that happened, but i'm not complaining. I'm also not quite sure that Mikey's playing better in Serie A than he was in the BL. He was often one of the best players on the field for Gladbach when he was playing for them during the first half of the season so that's not a low bar to leap over, even if Frontzeck's BMG during that time was absolutely horrible.
....and in order to be a key player, he must play well throughout the entire season, not two games. If he plays like the entire season, then he will be a key player for Chievo this season. That's not a controversial statement to make. If Leo Messi scores five goals in every game, he will win the Ballon D'or. As for Freddy Adu, the only one extrapolating anything about him is you. Now I remember why I hate Bradley threads. The Bradley supporters go just as nuts as the haters. You can't just watch Michael Bradley apparently. You must either love him or hate him, and apparently it seems, that determines your opinion about Freddy Adu as well.
I don't know why you're quoting me, considering what you said. I'll just assume you hit quote instead of reply for the ease of use.
Caught a bit of the Highlights...MB was playing a DM sort of? MB can play that role as long as the he has someone around him to keep possession moving along and someone that is more of a pure DM. Nice to see him taking free kicks again too.
He was a right center midfielder for an hour in a flat midfield and then later in the game he was by himself in front of the backline in the center.
My opinion about Adu has been formed over years of seeing him play in leagues around the world. As a guy who went out of my way to see him play in person with the U17 Nats all the way through modern times, I have had a front row seat to the hysteria and the mental gymnastics done by people whos emotional investment in his success exceeds their reason. It stands in sharp contrast to the odd emotional investment that people have in Bradley's failure. What stands in greater contrast is the level of success that Michael Bradley has enjoyed at the club level while Adu has had great difficulty adjusting to different cultures and earning minutes. The comparison of these two players is the most interesting case of disconnect associated with the US Mens National Team, and it is accentuated in its oddness by the willingness of detractors to criticize everything Bradley does. So if you even just appeal to reason regarding Bradley, you're painted as a 'lover'. The truth is that Bradley made quick work of establishing himself as a player at Chievo Verona in Serie A of Italy, and is likely to become a trailblazer and standard-setter in the league for future Americans. That he has already had a significant impact in his first starts establishes the fact that he's a piece for now there, not for later in the season though he likely will be a 90-minute player at that point too.
Bradley has been the 'posession guy' for Chievo so far. He collects and distributes. Switches fields and begins attacks. His ball movement has led to all three goals that Chievo has scored during his first two starts.
Comment #363 above: well said. I'm glad that you clarified that two games do not equal an entire season, because I was getting confused by statements to the contrary like "since entering the lineup" "solid claim for the job" "join a new club" and "fast start"....
since entering the lineup solid claim for the job join a new club and fast start are not contrary statements to two games does not equal a season Wow, you guys, I don't even know what to say. Responses like this, Freddy Adu coming out of nowhere. I'm at a loss to figure out what is even going on in this thread any more.
Yes, it is true. The Italian press follows Big Soccer and has already discovered the magic of "Mr. Warmth" . . . .
Okay...fine; I'll be more explicit. Please keep the nasty habits that were formed in the USA Bradley threads out of this one. Do not prosecute here sidebar arguments (e.g. the Freddy meme and shots about the nature of posters on the "other side") cultivated there. We've got a YA playing well in a top league, people. So far, so good. That, in and of itself, is worth talking about; and it is of course what this thread is supposed to be about.
Is that what you think? Hmmm, seems a bit of an extreme position. I'm not sure how one game is an extended period. What's a normal period for you? Twenty minutes? So if Bradley had come in as a sub at half time in his first game, would that have satisfied you?
Is that similar to teabagging or steamering? I think it'd be awesome if a few people (they know who they are,and so does most of the board)came on here , sacked up, and admitted they don't know shit about what's required to be an elite player. Not holding my breath,though. Not worth mocking them either. Just glad Mike's in a good place right now.