re: Clint Dempsey >>>> Landon Donovan

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their roles also changed from where they were at their peak. demps moved inside to pure striker and badley plays up as an AM

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Players often move up the field when they are playing down in competition. The problem for Clint and Bradley is that they aren't very good at striker and AM in particular, because the things that made them most effective, timing and late runs, are mitigated by the lack of space. When Clint played so well at Fulham, he was a late-arriving LM who played as a weird auxiliary no. 10/no. 9. He also scored some spectacular goals, particularly his goals against Stoke and Juventus.

Bradley at his best is a CM whose defensive work rate is helps his offensive game, since it basically forces him to make late runs into certain areas. The best example (off the top of my head) of this is the 2nd goal against Slovenia in 2010.

Landon was, by far, the most creative player we've ever had. The fact we limited him to a right midfield role was our downfall and benefit, as the RM role was the only way he could co-exist with Clint coming inside.

The problem with Clint and Bradley ultimately is that they could either be big time players on small teams, or bit part players on bigger teams, neither of which ensure a solid salary.

It's also my contention that they've devolved because Klinsmann has no clue about tactics, and thus causes the whole team to play tentatively.