When I started I only intended to write up a paragraph or two, but you're right. I hit a weird zone where I couldn't stop until I was hungry and went to lunch. Then came back and didn't stop until I finished. I didn't get a lot of work done yesterday between this and the big thread in Social.TimeForGuinness wrote:I picture thrill going into zoned state of mind where he rattles off the most intelligent soccer analysis ever...and then snaps out of it, not knowing what he said.
Here's a profile on Michael Bradley.
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/worl ... next-level
He's the kind of guy that casual fans may not see what he brings to the table right away. Does the dirty work in the midfield playing behind the attackers and above the defenders. His specialty is running around like a mad man breaking up the opponents passes, tackling and sparking counter attacks with passes after the turnovers he causes. It's no coincidence that in last summer's Confederation's Cup final that we were not able to hold onto our 2-0 lead without Michael on the field. Brazil's midfield and right back absolute overran our midfield. Someone like Michael putting some steel in the middle and being disruptive could have made the difference.
Here's an example of the formation I'm guessing you'll see vs. England in the opener:
-----------------------------------Tim Howard----------------------------------
--Jonathan Spector--Oguchi Onyewu--Jay DeMerit--Carlos Bocanegra----
--------------------------Peter Crouch-----Wayne Rooney---------------------
---Landon Donovan-------Rico Clark--------Michael Bradley--DaMarcus Beasley-
--Joe Cole-------Steven Gerrard---------Frank Lampard----Aaron Lennon---
-----------------------Jozy Altidore--------Clint Dempsey-----------------------
--Ashley Cole---------Rio Ferdinand------John Terry----------Glen Johnson--
-----------------------------------David James----------------------------------
With box-to-box playmakers and goalscorers in the midfield like Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, Michael Bradley and Ricardo Clark will be key in trying to shut those guys down. In our best lineup I think you have Landon on the left wing and Stu Holden on the right, but in this game I think Beasley gets the call on the left because of his experience and ability to track back and help defend the dangerous Lennon. More significantly, I think it's because Holden isn't as strong on the left, so if he starts you have to put Donovan on that side. In the case of playing England, Ashley Cole is their left back and has fantastic speed and ability to run up the flank into the attack. Holden wouldn't be able to hang with him as well as Donovan so we need him on the right. Landon absolutely abused Cole when Everton played Chelsea last Feb. Not only running him ragged and setting up both Everton goals, but he actually broke his leg in a clean, fair tackle which can't hurt the intimidation factor for Cole leading up to the game. It was funny because Ashley Cole ended up rehabbing the fracture at a facility in France where Charlie Davies was rehabbing. They became close, but it must have been funny to work out with an American who is good friends with the dude who just ended your club season.
