Photo by ISI Photos
Michael Bradley is a goal-scoring machine.
The U.S. national team midfielder scored in his third straight league match and upped his goal total in all competitions to 13 as he notched a goal and assist in Heerenveen’s 5-1 thrashing of VVV Venlo on Wednesday.
The goal was Bradley’s ninth in league play, moving him within three goals of tying Brian McBride for most league goals scored in a season by an American in a European first division (McBride netted 12 for Fulham in 2006/2007). Bradley’s 13 goals in all competitions is believed to be a record for an American in a season.
As for the 4-3-3 talk. It’s hard to use that formation with a small forward pool. Unless, of course, it lines up more like a 4-3-2-1 or a 4-3-1-2.
I love the 4-3-3 formation in general. The ball movement you can have with that lineup is phenomenal, given you have the kind of players to play it.
Posted by: Dominghosa | January 24, 2008 at 01:22 AM
Dominghosa-
I agree that maybe we don’t have as much depth if we use that formation, but as far as the starting 11 goes, I think a 4-3-3 makes the best use of our talent. If we push Donovan and Dempsey up to play as wing-strikers fluidly switching sides around Altidore in the middle, then you can use Bradley as your box-to-box midfielder, Adu as your creative mid, and Edu/Clark/Spector as your holding mid.
btw it should be interesting to see how much the transfer fee is going to be. it’ll definitely be a us record…
I don’t know if anyone has mentioned this in deciding if he should stay or shouldn’t, but Herenveen tried to renew Michael’s contract, which expires at the end of the next season, and he declined negotiations, i assume because he’d want to leave on a free-transfer so he can get himself a higher salary. So, one poster mentioned this already, but Herenveen will most likely sell him at the end of this season given his rising stock and the fact that they will want to get something for him, so it is in their hands as well. I would love for him to stay in the dutch league, maybe get some of that high-class dutch training at Ajax, or PSV even, so he can see some CL time too, but it will come down to what he and Herenveen want to do.
The Dutch girls must love MB.
redbull fan: I think Wegerle’s big year was prior to his naturalization as a US citizen, when he scored in the double digits at QPR.
Wynalda’s big year came in the Bundesliga 2.
I wish Feilhaber chose Heerenveen instead of Derby. Not to say Heerenveen is some magic club thats going to help any young player make the strides Bradley is, but it just would’ve such a better situation for Feilhaber than Derby is. Hed have a much better shot at playing time on a team that actually wins games, in a league known for developing young players. Not to mention how great it would be for the US nats to have the potential CM pairing of the future playing together for year round.
Kpugs, interesting points about what everyone thinks Mike SHOULD do. Some say he should stay where he is. The problem with that conclusion is that I don’t think that HV will keep him. The club wants to make money on its asset while it can. Yes, of course, they could negotiate a new short-term deal. However, i think (not saying he should or shouldn’t) Mike will be moving on this summer, if not sooner.
I think my scond favorite thing about Michael Bradley is that he always looks like he just woke up.
Ives
Roy Wergle scored 18 goals in prem. in the 90’s dont remember what year, but he played for QPR and was third in league! also Wynalda had a big year in Germany, but I don’t remember his total.
GO USA!!!
mb’s development shows how much better leagues like the eredivise are for young players. how many players go over to england and continue to develop there game? i like the epl but it is overrated. i only enjoy watching the top 6 or 7 teams play and other than that its like watching high speed kick ball. germany wouldn’t be a bad move for mb. neither would staying in the eredivise for another season or two.
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I’d love to see us play a 4-3-3 as well… What position has Bradley been playing for Heerenveen (I assume they’re putting him in more of an attacking position than the USMNT)? What formation do they play?
Posted by: jrnail23 | January 23, 2008 at 09:55 PM
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He is basically the Micha Ballack/Gerrard of Heerenveen.
Of course, he his dad will realize that and stop playing him as a D-mid for the NATS. We need more attacking class on the senior team.
“Bradley was–and this is being very kind–at the very least ineffective at that age. Invisible would be a better word to choose.”
I would like to know what you’ve been drinking before posting this sort of stuff.
Bradley was rather solid to outstanding for what he was asked to do in central midfield for the Metros, and that at 17 years old. If he was “invisible,” that’s because he was doing his job to a tee. Such “nice, but he wasn’t really good here” revisionism is the last resort of the clutch of numbskull Metro fans who shouted “nepotism” at every turn, and the rest of us couldn’t be happier that he’s taking the chance to show off on a higher stage, while they’re left to watch a soda commercial.
He wants to go to Italy. He’s a huge AC Milan fan ever since his dad took him to a game when he was a boy.
kpugs:
I like how you brought Benny up. He basically had a choice before he signed for Hamburg: Should I be Kyle Beckerman (the MLS option) or try to be Claudio Reyna (the Europe option)?
Luckily, he is a good player with time on his hands, but it is ticking away. Holland would be a good fit for him as well (linked with Heerenveen last summer).
I disagree that Bradley is our Ballack. Ballack is a very one-dimensional player. Germany got away with it because Torsten Frings is the best midfielder nobody cares about and constantly covers for Ballacks mistakes.
kpugs:
Bradley would fit into HSV and German football right away. A lot of the things he does in the attack, his runs on the ball, hitting rebounds, ect, won’t be affected by the change in leagues. His defensive abilities will have to adapt to the unique German style as well, but given his size tackling ability, the adjustment wouldn’t be too big.
The problem is that he wouldn’t be starting. HSV sits at third in the table and in a Champions League spot. They are playing good football, and slotting in a new midfielder doesn’t make much sense. He would get playing time for sure, and probably appear in every game, but he would not start. Jarolim and de Jong have those places locked down, and unless Bradley can suddenly play winger or striker, he will be a bench player. That isn’t a knock on his ability, it’s just that you don’t fix what isn’t broken, especially when it comes to a 20 year old player.
Don’t even get me started on him moving to England. It’s basically a coin flip whether or not you get lost when you moved there, and you never have a guaranteed spot, even with Bradley’s ability. I think he could hack it, but he can develop just as well where he is now.
I agree that he should stay in Holland. Heerenveen will most likely be playing European football in the UEFA cup, and they could have a chance at the Champions League. The Dutch league plays at a very high level, and he is a marquee player for a quality team.
Like you said, things are going well for him, he is playing well, and has a starting spot locked down for both club and country. He needs to bide his time, develop, and not get lost in European football. Clubs will come calling as soon as this summer, and unless the move makes sense, he shouldn’t take it.
Mike Ruze…I agree except Ballack can’t defend. He can only push people around. Bradley can actually defend, and well at that.
He should stay where he is. I’m no genius (as we all know), but why has no one agreed with me that he should spend 1-2 more seasons where he is?
No competition whatsoever at his position…competition is healthy (normally) but when you’re 20 you just need to get games. He IS getting games and winning them. Let’s leave well enough alone. He’s 20, playing in a top league and an automatic starter. Why will no one address that part of it?
Everyone will say where they want to go, but no one seems to have the balls to analyze what he SHOULD do. I’m not pointing fingers but it annoys me when someone reads a stat sheet once a month and then decides to post what a guy should do with his career when all they see is NUMBERS on a web site.
Proof? See the old SBI, when everyone was saying how Clint Dempsey made his career-ending mistake by going to Fulham, since these guys could read a 100 word match summary and see that it included zero goals for Clint.
Depends on how you define “generation” Adam. Altidore is 17. Bradley was–and this is being very kind–at the very least ineffective at that age. Invisible would be a better word to choose.
Not sure I need to re-describe Altidore’s accomplishments. He’s 17 and any American soccer fan knows what he’s done thus far.
You have to be careful how you lump players together.
Hes our Ballack. Id hate to see him go to England, fight for playing timea and get hacked and injured. How about Ajax open up them purse strings.
He is definitely one of the first American players of the new generation to be “the real deal” and in my opinion he is the most talented player out of the bunch that includes Altidore, A- and E- du, and Feilhaber. He is especially noteworthy since he is a midfielder, of what ever iteration the US is not know for exporting. He still however needs more time to develop, and his next destination should be Hamburg.
Thanks for the thorough explanation Ted.
I really have a problem with Bradley moving this soon, I don’t want to see him lost in the shuffel. These days not many teams have a spot for a true center midfielder, akin to what Claudio Reyna was before he decided “no more offense.”
What do you think, would he fit in at HSV? Right now? As a fan I would really be interested in knowing.
He’s just so young, enjoying the best football of his LIFE, by far. I just can’t justify a 20-year-old moving when there are no guarantees (i.e. impatience in England, new coach in Germany, etc.). But at his club now he is in form, speaks the language, guaranteed starter, etc.
It’s only my opinion I know…but I’d like to see him stay at Heerenveen through at least next season, all the better to mature his game there rather than risk the Benny Feilhaber syndrome. I mean Benny is a solid player in my eyes, but since he moved to Europe he has yet to be a first team player in Germany or England. Why risk it?
I agree with my girlfriend kpugs (kidding), MB should be in no hurry to move. He’s a sure-fire starter on a good Euro team and is still developing at age 20 in a good Euro league.
That said, I wouldn’t be opposed to see him move to a bigger club. Heerneveen has already said it will sell MB in the next transfer window.
I’d be happy to see his father play him in a similar role with the USMNT. Make him roam the midfield and push forward without mercy.
As for the 4-3-3 talk. It’s hard to use that formation with a small forward pool. Unless, of course, it lines up more like a 4-3-2-1 or a 4-3-1-2.
I love the 4-3-3 formation in general. The ball movement you can have with that lineup is phenomenal, given you have the kind of players to play it.
“Anybody follow Hamburg? What kind of talent do they have in the midfield? Assuming Bradley makes this move this summer hows the PT situation gonna look?”
You are talking to a huge Hamburg fan here. *looks up to the flag on his wall*
I wouldn’t say it is a done deal. Huub Stevens, the manager, is leaving at the end of the season, so any new manager will be making transfer decisions. Rafael Van der Vaart, the Dutch playmaker, will most likely leave this summer as well. It’s gonna be a busy summer so we will see.
HSV plays a 4-2-3-1, with David Jarolim and Nigel de Jong in midfield. They are a rock solid tandem, and both are capable of getting forward.
That said, with a new manager and the club’s playmaker possibly leaving, there could be some shakeups at the club and in their tatics. Jarolim has been tipped for a move, and Van der Vaart might just be the first of the Dutch contingent (including de Jong) to move away in the summer. We’ll see what happens. Hamburg is a big club with a storied history and they could use a player like Bradley, but too much is up in the air.
I also want to see the MNT play a 4-3-3. Braldey coupled with an attacking midfielder and a defensive midfielder would be nice to see.
The boy can play. Let’s see him in Champion’s league.
Football365 says Paul Dalglish is on trial with Wigan.
So what do those of you have to say now that were saying he was on USMT due to nepostism? His play has earned him his spot and the accolades he’s received!
P.S. He’s 20…young enough to waste away in the reserves of a Premiership team. We all know how impatient managers in England are.
He is not an attacking or defending midfielder. He is a true box-to-box center mid exactly as Joe said. They are very rare these days.
Having said that, his own father had no clue how to coach him! He got nothing close to this out of his son in a lesser league, albeit at a younger age.
Also I don’t think he should think about moving yet. He’s extremely young, on a good team in a good league in Europe. He speaks Dutch. He’s an automatic starter. Why does everyone immediately start figuring out what team he should move to? The Eredivisie is a great place to develop…Stay there Mikey, until you’re a little older. I don’t want to see him pull a Benny Feilhaber, who he is three years younger than.
according to the heerenveen website, he’s wanted by portsmouth (aka pompey), hsv and koln:
Michael Bradley sluit een vertrek voor 31 januari niet uit. De Amerikaanse middenvelder gaf onlangs aan zijn contract niet te verlengen. Inmiddels hebben enkele Engelse (Portsmouth) en Duitse (Köln, HSV) clubs al interesse getoond in Bradley.
“Ik hou me er zelf niet mee bezig, maar als er op korte termijn een mooie club komt, gaan we het zeker overwegen”, zegt de twintigjarige Bradley in de Leeuwarder Courant. “Heerenveen heeft me altijd perfect behandeld, maar elke voetballer, ook ik, heeft maar één leven en één carrière.”
I think Bradley is a box-to-box midfielder if I am not mistaken.
He should move to the Premiership, hopefully not to a team that is going to get relegated. Someone like Tottenham, Everton, Man City, Pompey, or Newcastle could surely use him. But I think we might see him transfer to a bigger dutch/german team and then move to England (hopefully), Spain (okay), or Italy (God, I hope not).
Second coming of another talented American at a young age….???…….John O’Brien.
So… is he a Steven Gerrard type midfielder? Or a Hargreaves type who is just lucky to be in the right positions?
And if you watch the highlights, he could have easily had another assist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJXLjwL2EEg
Anybody follow Hamburg? What kind of talent do they have in the midfield? Assuming Bradley makes this move this summer hows the PT situation gonna look?
YankatOxford thanks for the info, great to hear from someone whos been able to see Bradley play all year. Keep us posted!
Had me laughing with that nepotism comment Tony good stuff. Maybe now all those Bradley (father and son) haters who were screaming nepotism anytime they got the chance will shut their mouths and come around. Gotta say Bradley is pretty quickly becoming my favorite player. Ive loved his tough, hardworking mentality since he first started getting caps and his current play in the Eredivise is making me root for him that much more. 15th best player in the Eredivise! That is very impressive, at 20 years old no less. Hope to see this guy tear it up against Mexico.
As many readers of the blog know, my Dutch flatmate is ridiculous Heerenveen supporter from Friesland. We watch ALL of Veen’s matches whether I want to or not (I’ve learned to love it) over the last two years. For those of you with an interest in his performance over the year-
Bradley has been playing in central, box to box midfield almost all season. He is given license to support with runs into the box behind wingers and strikers if necc.
However, recently (last four matches) he has been given even more room to get forward with the absence of Brazilian striker Afonso Alves.
At the halfway point of the season he has been rated as the 15th best player in the entire Eredivisie based on cumulative player of the season newspaper ratings (Sportweek). That was prior to this match. He is regularly rated 6 or 7 by the following three Dutch publications:
Voetball International
Telegraaf
Sportweek
His ball winning and positioning have been very good in the engine room, control excellent, and passing above average. His finishes are calm, cool, and generally uncomplicated. Often off pull backs in the 6 yard area or rebounds.
Mike’s most impressive trait may well be the timing of his runs into the box, he always seems to be in intelligent positions. Bradley recently buzzed his hair.
Nepotism, pure and simple…
Not only is he scoring, but he’s improved his overall skill tremendously this season. We already know that he’s a capable ball winner, but his passing has steadily been improving. He played two excellent games in a row, and H’veen trounced their last two opponents.
This has to be the best YA season ever… When you play midfield, you know that all your stats don’t always tell the story. The best part about it is that… well, um HES 20 YEARS OLD!
I watched him in all the Metrostars games, and I’m not saying he was bad for them, but I am stunned (and ecstatic) by his success. The improvement has been tremendous. Imagine if he can continue improving?
He has that psyche and mental toughness that appears to be lacking in the all-time scorer for the MNT, eh?
I’d love to see us play a 4-3-3 as well… What position has Bradley been playing for Heerenveen (I assume they’re putting him in more of an attacking position than the USMNT)? What formation do they play?
When will the Old Man adjust the Nats tactics/formation to take advantage of his boy’s composure in the final third? Given the continued emergence of players like Bradley, Dempsey, Adu, Donovan, etc. isn’t it worth considering a 4-3-3?
I’d love to see him move to England, even though it was previously mentioned that Hamburg are looking more and more like a likely destination for him. I wish he could start doing this type of stuff for that National Team on a regular basis. Let’s start with Mexico, huh? Lol.
He keeps on scoring! Good for him and it’ll be interesting to see where he’ll play next.
It’s only >> if you throw in Messi.
Bradley >>> Fabregas + Kaka + Gattusso + Pirlo + Essien
Go Michael go!!!
Cohen said on FFF last night that Bradley to Hamburg at the end of the season is like a done deal or something for 9 million(i dont know if he meant euros or dollars.)
Bradley is quietly having one of, if not the best seasons an American has ever had in a legit European league.
Is it too late for Metro to get a mullgan?
Any chance we can put him at striker for the national team?
This is starting to get ridiculous.
So where are the Bradley transfer rumors?