USMNT: What Is the Ideal Role for Michael Bradley?

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at Internationaled.org

Published: November 18, 2015

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Michael Bradley has been one of the most polarizing American players since the 2014 World Cup. When the U.S. men's national team struggles in a game, like on Tuesday against Trinidad and Tobago, Bradley has been the scapegoat.



He occasionally has poor performances for the U.S. because of his role, which is always a controversial topic in the American soccer community.

Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has primarily used Bradley as a No. 10, because his vision and passing are two of his best attributes. However, this is not his best role for club or country.

Bradley's tendency to roam forward also means that he's not an ideal No. 6 who can operate in the heart of midfield.



The 28-year-old's best role is somewhere in between. He's a No. 8 who can operate as a box-to-box midfielder.

Box-to-box players need to have incredible stamina, defensive qualities and top vision. Bradley has all three of these attributes.

Even the man himself believes he's "a complete midfielder," something he told Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl in October:

I think I’m a complete midfielder. I can attack. I can defend. I can score goals. I can set up goals. I can tackle. I can intercept balls. I can play a more disciplined role a little deeper. I can be more mobile. I can cover ground. I think I’m somebody who in the midfield can do anything that’s asked. Depending on the team, depending on the game, depending on what’s needed, I’m ready to take whatever is asked of me and spill my heart and soul and blood and sweat and tears into that, trying to be the best and trying to help the team be successful.

Since arriving in Toronto, he has made 50 appearances for his club. He played the full 90 minutes in all but two of those games.

Bradley has participated in 18 matches for the USMNT in 2015. The September 8 friendly versus Brazil was the only...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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