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What has happened to Michael Bradley?
Posted on 6/22/16 at 12:15 am
Posted on 6/22/16 at 12:15 am
For me, it began in Brazil and has gotten worse. He's gone from a rock in the center of the park for us to a liability in some spots. During what should be his prime years of his career no less. His touch and passing is miles away from where it was a couple years ago. He's constantly a step slow getting rid of the ball. He's not scoring goals anymore. He's simply not playing like a captain should. For a time there, he had the look of a big time central midfielder and unquestionably the best US player. I understand he's playing out of position half the time for the US, but that alone can't explain his general regression as a player. Has the step down in competition he took by returning to the MLS really affected his game to this extent?
12
Posted on 6/22/16 at 12:17 am to mynamebowl
He came back to MLS too soon
Posted on 6/22/16 at 12:18 am to mynamebowl
I mean what do you expect when he returns to the MLS at 26, for him to improve or at least maintain the level that he reached playing in Europe (not that he was every anything to write home about, for either Roma or Chievo, but at least he's playing respectable competition on a weekly basis as opposed to competition that is similar to most 2nd tier European leagues)
Posted on 6/22/16 at 12:19 am to mynamebowl
He should have never come back to the MLS (for our sake, his salary disagrees) and he doesn't need to be counted on as a creator. He's a destroyer who can occasionally play a good ball in. When he's asked to create offense, we lose a lot.
Posted on 6/22/16 at 12:20 am to mynamebowl
quote:
Has the step down in competition he took by returning to the MLS really affected his game to this extent?
As an MLS fan, Yes. Love the league, but it's a far cry from 2nd tier Euro leagues, and he plays with less technically gifted players. It shows in his lack of timing and vision. He shows flashes here or there, he made a couple of decent long balls, but for the most part he's been terrible.
Posted on 6/22/16 at 12:56 am to mynamebowl
Misses having Landon in front of him.
Posted on 6/22/16 at 1:31 am to mynamebowl
MLS happened.
Posted on 6/22/16 at 1:48 am to mynamebowl
He continues to be tasked by Klinsmann to play as a 10 when he is much better as a 6 or an 8.
Posted on 6/22/16 at 6:23 am to mynamebowl
He's not good as a 10. He is good as a 6. That simple.
Posted on 6/22/16 at 8:50 am to mynamebowl
Rapidly improved in Europe from Holland to Germany and to Italy. The week in week out grind honed him into a very solid 6. His performances for Roma and Chievo were often very good.
But he got married, had a kid, and got offered a shite ton to come to MLS, where weaker competition has made him a sloppy player. Still in great shape. Still runs a ton. But touch, vision, and tactical awareness have eroded.
As a married father, I get the appeal as a human of raising your kids in North America and making shite loads of money. But it's hurt him terribly as an athlete.
But he got married, had a kid, and got offered a shite ton to come to MLS, where weaker competition has made him a sloppy player. Still in great shape. Still runs a ton. But touch, vision, and tactical awareness have eroded.
As a married father, I get the appeal as a human of raising your kids in North America and making shite loads of money. But it's hurt him terribly as an athlete.
Posted on 6/22/16 at 8:54 am to John Keating
quote:
He continues to be tasked by Klinsmann to play as a 10 when he is much better as a 6 or an 8.
in this tournament, jurgen only did this in the game last night b/c of jones' suspension
Posted on 6/22/16 at 8:56 am to Stewie Griffin
quote:
has made him a sloppy player
and mentally slow. he has lost a step in his decision making and it makes a big difference when he's sitting back b/c his positioning and passing are in the danger zone. small mistakes lead to big responses
Posted on 6/22/16 at 8:57 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
in this tournament, jurgen only did this in the game last night b/c of jones' suspension
But TFC and Jurgy had him doing this the last few years. Last night was one night.
Posted on 6/22/16 at 8:59 am to mynamebowl
Someone let me know when 5thTiger posts in this thread. 
Posted on 6/22/16 at 10:10 am to GeauxColonels
He looked pretty disgusted with his own perf romance last night. Possibly the only silver lining is that he goes back and really looks at his game and bust his arse to get back to his previous level. That's what I'm telling myself anyway.
Posted on 6/22/16 at 10:53 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
and mentally slow. he has lost a step in his decision making and it makes a big difference when he's sitting back b/c his positioning and passing are in the danger zone. small mistakes lead to big responses
Exactly. This is what I was trying to point out more than anything in the OP, but you said it better. It's what I've noticed more than anything with his play for a while now. His lack of awareness of the opposing defenders trying to get the ball off of him has gotten really bad. It seems to happen constantly - right before he's about to spray a long ball towards the sideline or hit a pass to play someone through on goal, he's robbed of the ball from a player he didn't know was there and the break is on going the other way.
I don't watch a ton of MLS games but I caught a half of the SKC v FC Dallas match the other day and the amount of time the players have to make a decision on a pass or shot is incredible. Also just the intensity of the players and fans in general was lightyears away from what I'm used to seeing on my TV from the soccer in Europe. Now imagine going from that to playing against Argentina/Columbia etc. That tenth of a second in sports at this level makes all the difference. Every case with every player is different, but it looks pretty clear cut to me that coming back home really has made him a worse player. And it sucks.
Turns out Jurgen was right
This post was edited on 6/22/16 at 10:55 am
Posted on 6/22/16 at 12:17 pm to mynamebowl
The MLS has destroyed him. He is getting overpaid his worth to play in a terrible league against terrible competition and nobody is gonna be able to sustain the level of play they had while playing/fighting for playing time in Europe under those circumstances.
Posted on 6/22/16 at 12:33 pm to mynamebowl
A former bench player from Roma who has always played very well against CONCACAF teams, and has always played mediocre at best in major competitions continues to do so. Also he plays in MLS and has a different role, well a different role than the position he should be playing for the national team
Posted on 6/22/16 at 12:58 pm to Cocotheape
I need wm72 to give us the lowdown on whether he was ever really as good as we thought at Chievo.
Posted on 6/22/16 at 1:01 pm to americanoutlaw
quote:
He looked pretty disgusted with his own perf romance last night. Possibly the only silver lining is that he goes back and really looks at his game and bust his arse to get back to his previous level.
His level of competition isn't going to help with that.
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