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What a move that would be.

Go Maryland!

Good for him. Good for the league's profile. Bad for TFC's future results.

Sigh. I always figured Edu would leave for Europe, I just didn't think it would be this soon.

Edu is much better than Bradley at the defensive midfielder slot. (Not what he played in the Olympics.) If Bradley can be a success in Europe (although he plays in a more offensive position in Holland), then of course Edu will be successful in Europe.

Well done son.

Great if it happens. Our future cornerstones have to keep getting these experiences.

Napoleon- Bradley doesnt play defensive mid, so yes Mo would be a better def. mid....

This would be a good move for him and for the national team.

Great news for rangers fan, although I am celtic man and would prefer him be at Parkhead. He will get great experience and join forces with beasley.

go bhoys

OTERGOD- "Napoleon- Bradley doesnt play defensive mid, so yes Mo would be a better def. mid...."


He does with the US Nats. He's a "co-destroyer" thanks to his daddy. In Holland he plays much more forward, but for the US, he runs around all game, gets tired, draws yellow cards, and commits stupid fouls... every game.

But if you're saying that his father shouldn't play him in the Defensive Midfield position, then I totally agree with you.

Been to Scotland....cool place. He may not enjoy it though.

good for Edu to escape the MLS....Any news on Bradley or will he be with Heerenveen another season?

napoleon- no, BB has MB playing a center mid position with the nats....

the real problem with the USMN is that they are playing a too direct game to get MB involved... MB goes back to cover his defensive roles, but when the US defenders get the ball we tend to try the 50 yrd pass to the forwards that either gets intercepted or fumbled around by the front line.... then the other team gets the ball and MB is back on the defense again... if the US held possession like Mexico, MB would get more time with the ball and you'd see him push up more.... you see it more with the youth teams.... as the fresh batch of players get introduced into the team, our possession will improve and so will MB's chance of pushing up... until that time, he spends most his time filling the center playing defense...

Napoleon- forgot to point out, that whomever MB is partnered up with is considered more of a D-Mid (clark, Mastro, edu...)... the US needs to slow the ball and wait for the rest of the team to catch up... we simply dont have the right type of players to play that direct.... may have worked in the past when we were more blue-collared players then talented, but now we have more skill and cant keep playing this direct ball game.....

OK, it's quite possible that I'm wrong. But it just seems like MB is ALWAYS in the back and that Coach Bradley never plays Edu with his son. It seems like it is always one or the other. Of maybe both, but only for a few minutes at the end of the game.

1) I'm an Edu fan. I think he should start at DM all the time.
2) I'm sick of seeing Michael B making tired lunges at the end of games and drawing yellow cards and giving up free kicks.

Napoleon,

You're not wrong. Whether Bradley is classified as a "holding" mid, or a "defensive" mid is really just a question of semantics. He's there to break up what he can of US opponents offensive surges before they advance to the backline. He is for all intents and purposes a def mid with the USMNT. You'll also notice that when he's in the lineup with whomever else, there's always a "playmaking/attacking" mid whether it's Adu or Donovan. I also prefer Feilhaber in that slot when Benny's on his game. He offers much more by way of technical ability, and he seems to possess some idea about how to control the tempo of the game, as a true "holding" mid should.

I completely agree with your take on Edu. He offers just as much in defense, with more speed, and less liability as far as cards go.

i cant recall a game where it hasnt been MB paired in the center with one of these players: Clark, Edu, Mastro..... now Feilhaber played before his move to Derby....

LD has been playing out right for some time.... Adu plays center as well, but he hasnt started all that many games

i agree it looks as tho he's constantly on defense, and ive pointed out the reasoning for that... the US lacks possession and prevents any buildup...BB plays MB as a box to box center mid, very much similar to how he plays in europe.... again, the problem is we dont have enough buildup... its always a long pass to a checking back forward and MB is typically stuck playing defensively b/c we lose the ball....

billy gun boats- outside of the gold cup and flashes in Copa, i still need to be impressed by Feilhaber.... has the potential and shows ability, but the kid needs PT.... hopefully he can get it in the danish league... personally i enjoyed Feilhaber and MB pairing.... but with lack of playing and injuries, i say he needs to get back to his former self before he's even an option....

Oter,

I guess my only point would be that if Bradley showed the skill or aptitude to provide consistent link play, or hold the ball and dictate the tempo, or provide creative distribution, the rest of the squad would look to him to do just that, In the past, the USMNT has played through the midfield both in transition, and other times just to mainntain possession. You need look no further than Reyna, who pretty much epitomized what function a holding mid should carry out. I realize Reyna was also charged with a playmaking role, which while maybe not his natural strength, he carried out well enough. But that's the nature of the game. You work with what you've got.

I think you give Bradley more credit than he deserves. Whether it's youth or lack of ability, he hasn't proved himself on the USMNT to be other than what Napoleon has already pointed out: he's a defensive mid, and not even a necessarily effective one at that. You can't blame the rest of the squad if they don't look to him for any other duties.

Yeah and I've read interviews where Bradley refers to himself as a "box-to-box" mid. Maybe that's a conceit that gets more credibility in the Ersedivise, but for the USMNT, he really hasn't backed up that kind of talk. You'll also note that quite of few of the big league teams that were said to be interested have reached the same conclusion as well. Most have decided to pass on him.

I'm not saying Bradley can't or won't develop into a "box-to-box" type of mid. I'm just saying that I have yet to see it on his USMNT duty. As things stand, I think he's ridiculously over-rated.

Otergod-
Please don't say that we need to be more like Mexico ever again...we will never lower ourselves to their unsportsmanlike level.