uofmmarcum

February 29th, 2012 at 4:05 PM ^

Listen, I know all about Jozy's role.  I think you missed my initial point, though.  I was refering to a few chances that he missed on the counter attack to link up with Dempsey through quicker play.  If you look at the move where he was easily pushed off of the ball, or even the play that he drew the fould that led to Dempsey's free kick, you could clearly see some frustration from Dempsey about Jozy's slow pace.

That was a lovely lay off by Jozy on Clint's goal, though!

ken725

February 29th, 2012 at 4:04 PM ^

He is probably the future at LB for us.  It is going to be down to him or Chandler because those two seem to be ahead of Eric Lichaj right now.

LB has been a really weak spot for us so it is really great to have young prospects at that position.

Genzilla

February 29th, 2012 at 4:06 PM ^

Chandler and Lichaj can fight it out for the spot at RB.  I love 'Dolo, but he's getting old.  I think Chandler could also be deployed as a holding mid if he's needed there.  Obviously we have a ton of people at that spot right now.  Otherwise Lichaj might be able to play CB.  I really like the German defenders though.

ken725

February 29th, 2012 at 4:13 PM ^

I love Dolo too, but he might be too old once 2014 rolls around.  We have no idea how his body will hold up in the remaining two years. 

When we are healthy our MF is really deep.

I can't wait to see the Olympic team because I'm really excited to see these young players.  I'm especially excited to see guys like Gayu, Gatt and Mixx.

DeadMan

February 29th, 2012 at 4:23 PM ^

No. I like him a lot, don't get me wrong, but he's basically a less skilled Dirk Kuyt. He runs around the field and is useful in clogging up passing lanes. He's a good player phyiscally and mentally, but his technical abilities are nowhere near CL level. 

Genzilla

February 29th, 2012 at 4:35 PM ^

Kuyt is a striker and MB is a holding mid.  Kuyt just happens to play as a forward like he's playing a completely different positition.  The reason people criticize Kuyt for his lack of skill is because he plays at a position where skill is more important.  At CDM it's more important to be tough, physical, strong, and aggressive.



Look at Nigel De Jong or either of the Toure.  They don't need to be super skilled because their position doesn't call for it, needless to say they are starters on the best team in the EPL.

DeadMan

February 29th, 2012 at 4:46 PM ^

You do have a point about techinical skills not mattering as much, but even the players you mention are much better passers and dribblers than Bradley. Bradley is a solid box-to-box midfielder for a mid table team in the big European leagues, but he's not going to get better than that. Similar midfielders for the top teams have a lot of skill. Examples: Song, De Rossi, Yaya Toure, Van Bommel, Cambiasso, etc. All of them have skills that Bradley simply doesn't have.

 

 

swan flu

February 29th, 2012 at 5:44 PM ^

Sergio Busquets and Xavi are the best holding midfielders in the world.  Find ONE example of either of those two guys doing a fancy step-over move or anything you'd consider "technical."

 

Being a good holding midfielder is about being in good position, playing the way you face in 1 or 2 touches, and controlling the pace.  Bradley does a phenominal job of all those things and I could see him EASILY fitting into a CL squad.  He still struggles in his own box, but he is a high quality player.

DeadMan

February 29th, 2012 at 11:26 PM ^

Comparing Michael Bradley to Xavi and Busquets? Overstating your point much. Xavi is the best midfielder and best passer in the world, and Busquets is also a much better passer than Bradley. They would (and have) run circles around Bradley.

swan flu

February 29th, 2012 at 6:16 PM ^

The initial point was that Bradley can play Champions League football.  Not that he was better than Alex Song, Cambiasso, De Rossi, Yaya Toure, or Mark Van Bommel. 

 

Bradley is having as good a season as any holding midfielders in Serie A right now. 

smwilliams

February 29th, 2012 at 4:16 PM ^

I don't think the USA looked this good in the World Cup. Outside of some shaky play in the back, they've looked great. Bradley's doing his job as a box-to-box mid, Altidore with a beautiful layoff and using his size to draw fouls in dangerous positions, Clint putting the ball on net, Maurice Edu holding shit down in the back middle, Shea making dangerous runs down the flank, and Fabian Johnson being an actual solution at LB as a guy who can push forward and hold his line.

Replace Dolo with Timmy Chandler and Danny Williams with Landon Donovan and we got ourselves a squad. Would love to see one of the young CBs step up too because the Goodson/Boca combo makes me nervous.

DeadMan

February 29th, 2012 at 4:30 PM ^

Let their fullbacks keep crossing the ball. Their dangerous crosses come from in behind the defense, not out wide from the fullbacks. Their fullbacks cannot cross at all.

DeadMan

February 29th, 2012 at 4:40 PM ^

Good game, but not one of the best results in US soccer history, no matter what Darke and Twellman say. It was a good defensive performance, especially considering how shaky Goodson and Boca can look at times. But definitely a good sign going forward.