USMNT Talk

Also, can we have a discussion as to why Michael Bradley is a lockdown starter every time we take the field?

Geoff Cameron is better in that position. If you want to say that he's settled as the top CB pairing with Brooks, fine. I can almost buy that, even if I think the drop off from Cam to the next CB is less than the drop off from Cam to MB90. But to move him to RB at this point, where he hasn't played in 2 years destroys that argument.

Bruce is really pissing me off. I'd rather have Desevio Payne at RB than pull this shit. At least it's not RJ, as one of the NYC pods was suggesting during the offseason. Talk about LMAO.
 
Midas Mulligan said:
Also, can we have a discussion as to why Michael Bradley is a lockdown starter every time we take the field?

Geoff Cameron is better in that position. If you want to say that he's settled as the top CB pairing with Brooks, fine. I can almost buy that, even if I think the drop off from Cam to the next CB is less than the drop off from Cam to MB90. But to move him to RB at this point, where he hasn't played in 2 years destroys that argument.

Bruce is really pissing me off. I'd rather have Desevio Payne at RB than pull this shit. At least it's not RJ, as one of the NYC pods was suggesting during the offseason. Talk about LMAO.
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The Michael Bradley situation is weird. I can't think of another player where the gulf between how he is seen by insiders and the general public is so vast, at least not in this direction. He seems to be loved by US and MLS coaches, sportswriters and announcers, yet the public almost universally disdains him. You see the opposite situation all the time, where some flash in the pan gets the public's love while insiders realistically know he isn't that good, but this situation is just really odd.
 
mgarbowski said:
The Michael Bradley situation is weird. I can't think of another player where the gulf between how he is seen by insiders and the general public is so vast, at least not in this direction. He seems to be loved by US and MLS coaches, sportswriters and announcers, yet the public almost universally disdains him. You see the opposite situation all the time, where some flash in the pan gets the public's love while insiders realistically know he isn't that good, but this situation is just really odd.
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Altidore is viewed the same way. Those are two peas in the same pod.

Edit: I'll add that Bradley was amazing when he was with Roma - very astute & decisive passes and positioning. Once he came to Toronto, his play has greatly suffered.
 
Ulrich said:
Altidore is viewed the same way. Those are two peas in the same pod.

Edit: I'll add that Bradley was amazing when he was with Roma - very astute & decisive passes and positioning. Once he came to Toronto, his play has greatly suffered.
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Mostly true, but I think Altidore has more fans than Bradley, not that there is any solid basis for that observation.
 
mgarbowski said:
Mostly true, but I think Altidore has more fans than Bradley, not that there is any solid basis for that observation.
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Its just really balant that we have a bunch CMs that deserve a shot. I think Jordan Morris needs to do more to prove that he deserves to play. He scores some great goals and has a great work rate for the sounders but then he goes a misses some very easy chances.
 
Hyndman scored again today for Rangers. I hope he gets a lot of minutes in the Gold Cup -- if not, then I'll definitely question Arena. So far I understand his safe approach to the WCQs, but the young guys have to feature this summer.
 
Midas Mulligan said:
Also, can we have a discussion as to why Michael Bradley is a lockdown starter every time we take the field?

Geoff Cameron is better in that position. If you want to say that he's settled as the top CB pairing with Brooks, fine. I can almost buy that, even if I think the drop off from Cam to the next CB is less than the drop off from Cam to MB90. But to move him to RB at this point, where he hasn't played in 2 years destroys that argument.

Bruce is really pissing me off. I'd rather have Desevio Payne at RB than pull this shit. At least it's not RJ, as one of the NYC pods was suggesting during the offseason. Talk about LMAO.
Click to expand...

Was it SITC? I remember they suggested Mikey was a candidate for the USMNT last season. Man if it was, I need some of whatever they're smoking.
 
adam said:
Was it SITC? I remember they suggested Mikey was a candidate for the USMNT last season. Man if it was, I need some of whatever they're smoking.
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I thought it was Mike on Blue City Radio. But I didn't want to claim it was him because I don't recall exactly.
 
Well shit. Bobby is out now. And we get kooch instead of Hyndman, anyway.

It's no secret kooch isn't good enough for international competitive fixtures. 3 us managers have decided the same thing, but Bruce wasting a roster spot because he's miraculously improved as 30something. Stupid.

We aren't going to make the 2018 WCF.
 
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Tons of injuries are fucking up what Arena wants to do. Let's get through these two games and see where we are.

I have a much higher opinion of Bradley than has been expressed by a couple of you. I am looking forward to seeing him play under a manager that will use him properly and provide clear directions. A Bradley that is not trying to do too much will be a much better Bradley.

Get ready for Cameron and Besler at the two FB spots. Don't think for a minute that those are the guys Arena wants at either spot.

Also possible he will just go with 3 at the back.

I wonder if Arena is considering playing Dempsey in a slightly more recessed role, as he has been doing for the Sounders. Maybe a 4-2-3-1 with Dempsey backing Altidore, Pulisic and someone else wide and Bradley and Jones sitting deep.
 
Gotham Gator said:
Tons of injuries are fucking up what Arena wants to do. Let's get through these two games and see where we are.

I have a much higher opinion of Bradley than has been expressed by a couple of you. I am looking forward to seeing him play under a manager that will use him properly and provide clear directions. A Bradley that is not trying to do too much will be a much better Bradley.

Get ready for Cameron and Besler at the two FB spots. Don't think for a minute that those are the guys Arena wants at either spot.

Also possible he will just go with 3 at the back.

I wonder if Arena is considering playing Dempsey in a slightly more recessed role, as he has been doing for the Sounders. Maybe a 4-2-3-1 with Dempsey backing Altidore, Pulisic and someone else wide and Bradley and Jones sitting deep.
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Won't be Jones. He's suspended. Get ready for "Dat Boi".
 
Midas Mulligan said:
Straightforward? Not a RB on the whole roster. Left off the most in-form CM in our pool.

So...yeah. I have some serious issues with it.
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Taurus said:
I don't have serious issues with it. I think we'll get better results then the games under Klinsmann so I'm fine with it.
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Now there is reason for concern. For me, not due to Arena and I'm not so negative on Jozy and Bradley as others (I think Bradley will play best under Arena sitting deep) but now not having Wood, Fabian, Yedlin and JJ does make qualifying that much more difficult. It's going to be a battle and you know the opposition are going to try to exploit our thinner roster.
 
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