Toggle sidebar

OT: *** 2014 FIFA World Cup ~ Brazil ~ 6/12-7/13 [ESPN] ***

  • Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
LittleKev6D9 said:
1) Zusi was the one who served the ball that John Brooks headed in against Ghana. He's played outside attacking midfield for Sporting KC practically every game. It's his position. It always has been.

2) Landon Donovan is not on the team because Klinsmman didn't have a spot for him. He brought 4 forwards. He's not playing over Altidore or Dempsey period. He brought Johannsson because he could use the experience in this WC so he's ready for 2018. And Wondo made the team because he will provide more off the bench than Donovan would.

Also, Donovan hasn't been a staple at WCQ.

And Landon even said he's not physically able to train 12 days in a row and have 12 good days. Also no one was at camp and saw how these players were playing.

It's not as black and white as you think. Bradley is the unanimous best field player the United States has. Just cause these last two games don't show that, doesn't mean it's not true.

As for him looking slow and careless, that was an entirely made up statement.
Click to expand...

Seems like you're struggling a little bit with seeing what you want to see.

The Zusi cross in to Brooks was off a corner. Zusi had about 5-6 of those in yesterdays game and muffed at least 3. The other bunch of them were placed in positions that were easily punched away by Portugal's goalie.

Also, I still don't get your logic. Donovan isn't on the team because Klinsman didn't have a spot for him? We're talking about arguably the most decorated and dynamic American soccer player in history. He's 32. The point you made earlier was that just because Bradley isn't showing much in these last few games that what he has done for the program warrants his respect and spot on the starting 11.

I disagree. What Donovan has done for soccer is far more significant. He looked out of place. Klinsman benched him. He didn't get into better shape. He cut him.

Bradley looked like serious dung during the friendlies right before the WC started. It's been longer than 2 games.

This isn't how a leader should be playing. He's supposed to be the orchestrator of the whole offense! He sure orchestrated some offense last night... for Portugal.

At the very least you hope to see him dogging it out there. Trying his ass off. It doesn't come off like that. And don't tell me that's how he plays, because he sure looked like he had a fire lit under his ass 4 years ago. Careless, slow, overwhelmed, reckless.

He has above average skills but he's not playing the way he should be. There wasn't 1 moment in the Ghana game where Bradley looked dominant. Sans a 20 minute period against Portugal, Bradley looked the same against Portugal. Meanwhile, Dempsey and Howard are making their presence as leaders known. Howard making unreal saves. Dempsey scoring key goals for the team when they needed them. Whatever it takes - and you could see it when Demps scored that goal with his ****ing torso. He willed it to go in.

Bradley? Can't say the same about him.
 
McRanger said:
He did look a bit out of it against Ghana.

Significantly better yesterday though.
Click to expand...

Minus a strong showing for a 20 minute stretch in the first half, I don't think i'd agree. About the same performace as Ghana for 65-70 minutes of last nights game.
 
AHB said:
This is just a horrible assessment.

1) Bradley was not "terrible" last night. He had a fairly strong game, with one horrid play.

2) That open net was not easy. The fact that he even got that ball, which was bouncing all over the place, on net, was a fantastic play. Sometimes luck doesn't go your way. If you were listening, you would know the US couldn't even practice on that end of the field the day before because of the pathetic conditions on that end of the pitch. That was a great play by Bradley to redirect that ball on net, with quite some force and it was an unfortunate knee that got in his way.

3) His play on the Dempsey goal was again, not lucky. When you get the ball in that area, you are taught to shoot immediately. Not wait, not look for a pass, put it on net. And you know what they say, put things on net, good things happen. Same as hockey.

4) The fact that you aren't sure if he's the right choice to be on teh field for the USA just shows your lack of knowledge. He is arguably and certainly in my opinion, the USA's most important player. He is one of very few guys to have played on a top team in Europe and START. He is a wonderfully gifted player that the US is lucky to have. If you followed soccer at all, you would understand just how lucky we are to have him. It's like someone saying Lundqvist sucks because he has a bad game and one bad play. That's how important Bradley is to the USA squad.

This is what drives me nuts about the World Cup. You literally have people that will blame this guy to the death, when meanwhile, he has done more for US soccer then most can dream of. Once every four years people care about these guys and they judge them like they've followed them their whole careers.

Let me ask you this, who should start in Bradley's place?
Click to expand...


A 12 year old playing middle school soccer knows that in that situation you boot the ball in the corner. Bradley's bad touch and subsequent awful giveaway was inexcusable. If the US fails to advance he shoulders a huge portion of the blame, and that mistake wipes out any good play (of which there wasn't much) he had before that.
 
Bradley could barely stand by the end. Probably wasn't thinking straight. An Italian player said he was hallucinating in that city.

Still, I think we should incorporate some fresh legs vs Germany. Use guys like Davis who are competent and rested.
 
Rust Heisenberg said:
Seems like you're struggling a little bit with seeing what you want to see.

The Zusi cross in to Brooks was off a corner. Zusi had about 5-6 of those in yesterdays game and muffed at least 3. The other bunch of them were placed in positions that were easily punched away by Portugal's goalie.

Also, I still don't get your logic. Donovan isn't on the team because Klinsman didn't have a spot for him? We're talking about arguably the most decorated and dynamic American soccer player in history. He's 32. The point you made earlier was that just because Bradley isn't showing much in these last few games that what he has done for the program warrants his respect and spot on the starting 11.

I disagree. What Donovan has done for soccer is far more significant. He looked out of place. Klinsman benched him. He didn't get into better shape. He cut him.

Bradley looked like serious dung during the friendlies right before the WC started. It's been longer than 2 games.

This isn't how a leader should be playing. He's supposed to be the orchestrator of the whole offense! He sure orchestrated some offense last night... for Portugal.

At the very least you hope to see him dogging it out there. Trying his ass off. It doesn't come off like that. And don't tell me that's how he plays, because he sure looked like he had a fire lit under his ass 4 years ago. Careless, slow, overwhelmed, reckless.

He has above average skills but he's not playing the way he should be. There wasn't 1 moment in the Ghana game where Bradley looked dominant. Sans a 20 minute period against Portugal, Bradley looked the same against Portugal. Meanwhile, Dempsey and Howard are making their presence as leaders known. Howard making unreal saves. Dempsey scoring key goals for the team when they needed them. Whatever it takes - and you could see it when Demps scored that goal with his ****ing torso. He willed it to go in.

Bradley? Can't say the same about him.
Click to expand...

You are basing your opinion on Zusi on 2 ****ing games. He's played outside midfield his ENTIRE CAREER!!!! I didn't think any of his corners were "muffed". They were placed in the 18. The US players didn't make runs to where the ball was placed.

I see your sucking off Dempsey for tapping in a goal. Did you see who crossed it to him? It was Graham Zusi.

And I didn't say what Bradley has done for the USMNT in the past warrants respect and a starting spot.

The fact that he is the best midfielder on the US warrants a starting spot. It's been that way for months on months.

Stop basing your opinions on 2 games.
 
Dr. Ogrodnick said:
A 12 year old playing middle school soccer knows that in that situation you boot the ball in the corner. Bradley's bad touch and subsequent awful giveaway was inexcusable. If the US fails to advance he shoulders a huge portion of the blame, and that mistake wipes out any good play (of which there wasn't much) he had before that.
Click to expand...

What are you talking about? Where did i defend that play? I agree, it was disastrous and he will shoulder much of the blame. But people talking about benching him? Starting Zusi in his spot LOLOL.

It's one thing to bench Donovan, this is benching McDonagh in Game 7, after playing bad in Game 5 and making a horrid giveaway in Game 6.

Sorry, Bradley should not be related to Donovan in anyway. He's in the prime of his career and is arguably the best all around USA player.

YOu don't bench your best players because they have bad moments. The only reason this is a discussion is because people don't watch team USA or Bradley on a regular basis. This is probably the first two games that most people have ever seen him play (or at least since 4 years ago).

I've watched team USA with and without Bradley. I've watched Bradley play for Roma. Sorry, if you think Zusi is a better option then him, that's laughable. Zusi can't hold the ball if his life depended on it.

Bradley is a top 3 player on team USA. He has been for 4 years with Dempsey and Howard as the only other two in his league.

I don't care how he's played or what play he has. YOu go with your best. Fact is, most of this USA team hasn't played with the best, Bradley has and he's been successful.
 
LittleKev6D9 said:
You are basing your opinion on Zusi on 2 ****ing games. He's played outside midfield his ENTIRE CAREER!!!! I didn't think any of his corners were "muffed". They were placed in the 18. The US players didn't make runs to where the ball was placed.

I see your sucking off Dempsey for tapping in a goal. Did you see who crossed it to him? It was Graham Zusi.

And I didn't say what Bradley has done for the USMNT in the past warrants respect and a starting spot.

The fact that he is the best midfielder on the US warrants a starting spot. It's been that way for months on months.

Stop basing your opinions on 2 games.
Click to expand...

It's hard for players to make runs to where the ball was placed when the ball is placed over the head of everyone in the far corner or the entire box.

That happened 3 times. The first time Dempsey was there by some chance. The other two no one was there.

There were two balls that were placed on the 6, where the goalie punched it out.

One ball that was kicked at shoulder level to begin with that was kicked out before it got to the near post.

Another time, Zusi streaked down the side and crossed the ball... again, over the head of everyone and eventually out of bounds.

I don't know how you can argue that Zusi's pass to Dempsey was a "cross"... It was on the edge of the 6 yard box and was at such a close proximity that any professional player should be able to make that. Beautiful pass, but elementary, nonetheless.

As for Bradley on the 2nd US goal, who is the subject of the matter... He gets the ball in that position... turns right towards Zusi who is actually about 2-3 yards separated from the nearest guy, and shoots. Honestly, the heads up play there was to pass to the open guy... He's looking DIRECTLY at him before he looks down at the ball and shoots.

In fact, the only good thing he does on the play is to remain a part of it after he shoots. I'll give him good positioning in case Zusi decided to go back to him... Not that I have confidence that he wouldn't have shot it directly at the goaltender, though.

https://vine.co/v/MTlOxFKTDlW that's the 2nd goal
 
AHB said:
What are you talking about? Where did i defend that play? I agree, it was disastrous and he will shoulder much of the blame. But people talking about benching him? Starting Zusi in his spot LOLOL.

It's one thing to bench Donovan, this is benching McDonagh in Game 7, after playing bad in Game 5 and making a horrid giveaway in Game 6.

Sorry, Bradley should not be related to Donovan in anyway. He's in the prime of his career and is arguably the best all around USA player.

YOu don't bench your best players because they have bad moments. The only reason this is a discussion is because people don't watch team USA or Bradley on a regular basis. This is probably the first two games that most people have ever seen him play (or at least since 4 years ago).

I've watched team USA with and without Bradley. I've watched Bradley play for Roma. Sorry, if you think Zusi is a better option then him, that's laughable. Zusi can't hold the ball if his life depended on it.

Bradley is a top 3 player on team USA. He has been for 4 years with Dempsey and Howard as the only other two in his league.

I don't care how he's played or what play he has. YOu go with your best. Fact is, most of this USA team hasn't played with the best, Bradley has and he's been successful.
Click to expand...

Bradley has played about 20 decent minutes this world cup. Awful in the ghana game and pretty awful in the Portugal game save about 20 minutes. On top of that he made the big blunder which could cost the US going through. I'm not saying he should be replaced, but he's done nothing to warrant the start versus Germany, and may have singlehandedly blown the US chance at going through.


At this point I'm just as comfortable with him on the bench.
 
AHB said:
What are you talking about? Where did i defend that play? I agree, it was disastrous and he will shoulder much of the blame. But people talking about benching him? Starting Zusi in his spot LOLOL.

It's one thing to bench Donovan, this is benching McDonagh in Game 7, after playing bad in Game 5 and making a horrid giveaway in Game 6.

Sorry, Bradley should not be related to Donovan in anyway. He's in the prime of his career and is arguably the best all around USA player.

YOu don't bench your best players because they have bad moments. The only reason this is a discussion is because people don't watch team USA or Bradley on a regular basis. This is probably the first two games that most people have ever seen him play (or at least since 4 years ago).

I've watched team USA with and without Bradley. I've watched Bradley play for Roma. Sorry, if you think Zusi is a better option then him, that's laughable. Zusi can't hold the ball if his life depended on it.

Bradley is a top 3 player on team USA. He has been for 4 years with Dempsey and Howard as the only other two in his league.

I don't care how he's played or what play he has. YOu go with your best. Fact is, most of this USA team hasn't played with the best, Bradley has and he's been successful.
Click to expand...

I stopped reading after you compared McDonagh to Bradley.

Laughable. Bradley is playing like Tomas Vanek.
 
Dr. Ogrodnick said:
Bradley has played about 20 decent minutes this world cup. Awful in the ghana game and pretty awful in the Portugal game save about 20 minutes. On top of that he made the big blunder which could cost the US going through. I'm not saying he should be replaced, but he's done nothing to warrant the start versus Germany, and may have singlehandedly blown the US chance at going through.


At this point I'm just as comfortable with him on the bench.
Click to expand...

I completely agree. It seems this guy just floats / jogs around and does nothing. Should of had that goal against Portugal. It seems as if he doesn't even try. Bench him and let someone on the bench who will hustle play.
 
To everyone who thinks Michael Bradley should be benched: http://americansoccernow.com/asn_100

That website complies the 100 best American soccer players currently. It's organized by experts and not fans. You can go back as far as October 2012 and see how the rankings changed.

One thing you'll notice is Michael Bradley is always 1st or 2nd.
 
LittleKev6D9 said:
To everyone who thinks Michael Bradley should be benched: http://americansoccernow.com/asn_100

That website complies the 100 best American soccer players currently. It's organized by experts and not fans. You can go back as far as October 2012 and see how the rankings changed.

One thing you'll notice is Michael Bradley is always 1st or 2nd.
Click to expand...

Benching Bradley would be stupid. He's had two subpar games so far, but you have to put faith in him that he will turn it around. He's one of the top players on this team.
 
LittleKev6D9 said:
To everyone who thinks Michael Bradley should be benched: http://americansoccernow.com/asn_100

That website complies the 100 best American soccer players currently. It's organized by experts and not fans. You can go back as far as October 2012 and see how the rankings changed.

One thing you'll notice is Michael Bradley is always 1st or 2nd.
Click to expand...

Lol.

Because I'll totally trust a website that projects our two current worst players in the top 4: Bradley and Cameron.

Cameron has consistently looked like our worst defender. Surprisingly... he actually drastically improved his final product after that gaf in the 5th minute... although I'm uncertain if that was Beasler or Cameron who dropped the ball on the final cross.

And Bradley, who was one of those most impressive players to witness in the last world cup, who's attributes on that very website are "intensity and leadership" and he's shown neither in this world cup.

Michael Bradley could be ranked above Pele in his prime for all that I care. His play has left A LOT to be desired.

It's like looking at Nash post a 100 pt season and then score 2 goals in 28 games in the playoffs. What does a ranking matter if that player doesn't come up when you need him the most?
 
Rust Heisenberg said:
Lol.

Because I'll totally trust a website that projects our two current worst players in the top 4: Bradley and Cameron.

Cameron has consistently looked like our worst defender. Surprisingly... he actually drastically improved his final product after that gaf in the 5th minute... although I'm uncertain if that was Beasler or Cameron who dropped the ball on the final cross.

And Bradley, who was one of those most impressive players to witness in the last world cup, who's attributes on that very website are "intensity and leadership" and he's shown neither in this world cup.

Michael Bradley could be ranked above Pele in his prime for all that I care. His play has left A LOT to be desired.

It's like looking at Nash post a 100 pt season and then score 2 goals in 28 games in the playoffs. What does a ranking matter if that player doesn't come up when you need him the most?
Click to expand...

So what do you recommend? We bench Bradley and Cameron. Move Zusi to center midfield. You wanna start Omar Gonzalez? Leave Kyle Beckerman to man the entire midfield?

You're ****ing clown shoes.
 
It's astonishing to me that USA wins CONCACAF and gets put into the worse group of the tournament, while Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras getting better draws. Makes no sense.
 
LittleKev6D9 said:
So what do you recommend? We bench Bradley and Cameron. Move Zusi to center midfield. You wanna start Omar Gonzalez? Leave Kyle Beckerman to man the entire midfield?

You're ****ing clown shoes.
Click to expand...

Kyle Beckerman, another guy that i'm not a huge fan of.
 
NYR89 said:
It's astonishing to me that USA wins CONCACAF and gets put into the worse group of the tournament, while Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras getting better draws. Makes no sense.
Click to expand...

Meh, those teams are just taking care of business. We could be talked about just as highly as they are right now but we still need to take care of Germany.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom