Truth & Rumors > Soccer

Will Bradley make U.S. team moves?

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Is U.S. coach Bob Bradley the slightest bit interested in German-born midfielder Jermaine Jones, whose defensive midfield prowess could put in jeopardy the starting role of Bradley's son, Michael, not to mention the World Cup prospects of Ricardo Clark, Benny Feilhaber and Sacha Kljestan? Is the elder Bradley even going to consider defender Edgar Castillo, who first opted to play for Mexico and now, like Jones, wants to play for the U.S.?

Los Angeles Times

Bob Bradley, Getty Images Bob Bradley, Getty Images
July 5, 2009  09:55 AM ET

If he takes Sacha Kljestan over Jermaine Jones, he's a bigger fool than even I am ready to believe.

July 5, 2009  09:58 AM ET

I dont know anything bout these fellows, but I hope he gives them looks

Comment #3 has been removed
July 5, 2009  11:03 AM ET

I would love to see a Defensive Midfield pairing of MB and JJ - like you said, Keeper, it would free MB up to move forward without fear of being caught, giving him a chance to help the attack open up the opponent's defense and, more importantly, to pressure the opponent when they try to move forward out of their own half of the pitch. CD would be best utilized in a "Kaka-esque" (doesn't that sound odd?!?) role - playing forward freely out of midfield, arriving as a third attacker. That could really work well!

July 5, 2009  11:27 AM ET

First of all.....He has to be interested....the Confed Cup illustrated the need for depth at all positions. Secondly, pairing two of the following: Bradley, Jones, Clark and Edu will allow us to jettison Sasha K to the "we will call you when we play Bermuda" pool. Thus improving the squad. I do not know much about Jermaine Jones but I am hoping he can posses the ball well. We are in desperate need of players that can maintain possession. As opposed to lashing the ball up the field for an entire half while trying to hold on to a lead. As far as the Mexican-American player...He cant be much worse than our current list of "traffic cones" we have at left back.

July 5, 2009  11:31 AM ET
QUOTE(#1):

If he takes Sacha Kljestan over Jermaine Jones, he's a bigger fool than even I am ready to believe.

if he decides to keep him it is a total joke..he needs to stop playing favorites that he coached at chivas and start trying to coach the national team..Sacha does not deserve to be on the field and we need the depth

July 5, 2009  12:12 PM ET

I actually went and read the whole article after reading this blurb, and while judging if you are going to only play one DM, this may make sense, but Jones allows Bradley to move up, which he is entirely capable of doing. The people getting pushed out are people like Kljestan, who was in over his head.

Clark might miss his spot too if Edu comes back, but I would think you could actually bring Edu in for cover in the DM and CB role, because I think Edu could also be a really good CB.

Castillo is interesting. He's been playing in Mexico, but a lot of reports don't have him as playing as well as he had a few years ago. Maybe it's worth a look because of depth issues, but is he an upgrade over Bornstien, who for better or worse, has experience against some of the world's best now and may be better suited to play because of that?

July 5, 2009  12:56 PM ET

k... so we get 12 subs... two goalies, Edu, Clark, Dolo, Ching (or McBride if he comes back), Torres, Rogers, Wynne, Califf, Felihaber

July 5, 2009  01:07 PM ET
QUOTE(#1):

If he takes Sacha Kljestan over Jermaine Jones, he's a bigger fool than even I am ready to believe.

Even if Jones were not available, Bradley would be a fool to keep Kljestan.

July 5, 2009  01:08 PM ET

Sasha sucks, I'd take anybody over him. Hope Bradley gives these guys a look.

July 5, 2009  01:39 PM ET

Bradley needs to stop being a complete moron and give torres a chance over Kljestan..and does anyone know why Torres isnt on the gold cup team..he didnt get a chance to play in South Africa so why not get some time now

July 5, 2009  01:42 PM ET

Picking up Jones would not hinder Bradley's future with the national team. Bradley and Feilhaber (when he's in form) are the only two central midfielders we have that are competent against quality opposition anyway. (Though maybe Torres, if Bradley would ever give him a chance)

It's the Clarks, Kleijstans, Mastroenis, etc... that would suffer.

July 5, 2009  01:53 PM ET

Feilhaber needs to start if we go World Cup. He's the only person in that midfield who possesses any kind of ball control, dribbling skills.

July 5, 2009  02:11 PM ET
QUOTE(#3):

.GK- Tim HowardRB- Jonathan SpectorRCB- Jay DemeritLCB- Oguchi OnyewuLB- Carlos BocanegraRDM- Michael BradleyLDM- Jermaine JonesRAM- Clint DempseyLAM- Landon DonovanCF- Charlie Davies (until someone beats him out)ST- Jozy AltidoreThen we still have Feilhaber and Clark on the bench in case one of them (or both) go down to injury.

That seems realistic, though ideally Dempsey would start up top instead of Davies and put Feilhaber in that spot.

July 5, 2009  02:27 PM ET
QUOTE(#13):

Feilhaber needs to start if we go World Cup. He's the only person in that midfield who possesses any kind of ball control, dribbling skills.

Agreed. Feilhaber can dribble, has composure, and he has vision--long, searching passes. If he can get solid time with his club this season and grow more, he could make Bob Bradley's decision for him. Jones is simply another valuable piece--an important, hard-nosed DM for a big German club, though from what the press has said he is not great getting forward. Bradley is a two-way player, I would guess not as good yet on D as Jones, nor as special as Feilhaber on O. Depends if BB wants to play defensively or more attack-minded. Either way, some pairing of those 3 seems like a good bet

July 5, 2009  02:28 PM ET

Would like to see Dempsey start out wide, then bring on Torres in 2nd half and move CD up top

July 5, 2009  02:30 PM ET
QUOTE(#14):

That seems realistic, though ideally Dempsey would start up top instead of Davies and put Feilhaber in that spot.

I don't know about that...I would like to see dempseycome off the bench on the 50th for Davies. I thought Dempsey got bailed out of a poor performance in the Confed Cup by scoring a few goals. Although you can't discount being in the right place at the right time in multiple games he does play lazy at times.

Its sure tough to call between Edu and Jones...though I thought Clark played pretty darn well in the Confed

July 5, 2009  02:31 PM ET

I think the current state of the US team is cause for a lot of optimism. The guys who are already entrenched in the team, and the possible players (R. Rogers, Torres, Adu, Castillo) who could make late runs for playing time, are all young. They can only get better over the next year, *if they get playing time. None of our stars are veterans who are finished growing. A good problem to have

July 5, 2009  02:33 PM ET

Clark and Feilhaber have both shown they should be on the pitch with Bradley coming off the bench. MB can and does not distribute well nor retain posession. His long crosses are typically good thoughts that he truley can not make happen. He is the player that should be concerned about PT. Not to worry as long as PoPs is his Coach! Son first USA second.

 
July 5, 2009  02:35 PM ET

Btw what about maybemoving Ricardo Clark to RB if Bocs can keep the Left spot solid?

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