USMNT

[Garrick]

Wasn't Bedoya subbed off by that point?

Bradley was poo.

The Bradley hate comes from January, when many US fans were saying that Bradley is fantastic and Everton should have bought him.

From these two games he is never Everton quality.

Neither are Jags and Baines then. We should probably sell them off.

People have bad games. They may even have multiple bad games! Two is a small sample size. Real small.

 

[Garrick]

I think the problem arose when a few said he was world class mate.

Go ahead and vault if you choose, but I don't recall anybody saying he's WOOOOORLD CLASS. I remember saying he's very good, the new best player the US have, and that he'd probably walk into the starting XI's of most Prem clubs.

Which, I still think is true, for the record.

 

[ijjysmith]

Go ahead and vault if you choose, but I don't recall anybody saying he's WOOOOORLD CLASS. I remember saying he's very good, the new best player the US have, and that he'd probably walk into the starting XI's of most Prem clubs.

Which, I still think is true, for the record.

Someone defo did mate. Can't remember who though, and i'm not one for the vaulting.

Thing is, this is pretty much the only time most of us will get to see him. He was gash at Villa, then moved away and now is in the MLS. How else are we to form an opinion? I've not seen anything to suggest you're right, or wrong really.

 

[RaleighBlue]

Neither are Jags and Baines then. We should probably sell them off.

People have bad games. They may even have multiple bad games! Two is a small sample size. Real small.

Bradley has been miles worse than Baines or Jags.

Miles. I get what you're saying, but I have never seen Baines or Jags play as poorly as Bradley has these past two games (Lukaku/Naismith would be a much better comparison).

I'm only going off what I've seen, and it's only been two games, but he's been very very poor on the ball, very slow to make a decision or pass. It's not the fact things aren't coming off for him, it's that he seems to be thinking more slowly than others on the pitch.

 

[pfim]

I think that objectively Bradley was very poor in the Ghana game and was the biggest reason why we were overrun. He then coughed up a ball 70 yards from goal that led to the Varela header in the Portugal game. I haven't seen much, if any, mention about his play in the other 96 minutes.

I have no reason to be a Bradley fanboy or paint the picture any rosier than it is. Even if I did think he is good enough for Everton, it's not happening so there's not point in discussing it.

 

[ilikecheese]

Bradley is terrible.

Really, really poor.

No mate. The correct assessment is that Bradley has been terrible for these two games...he is not as you suggest a terrible player.

 

[RaleighBlue]

No mate. The correct assessment is that Bradley has been terrible for these two games...he is not as you suggest a terrible player.

Fair enough. I'm happy enough to admit that he may not be terrible.

Think he's too slow on the ball to make it in the Prem. Just don't think he sees the pass quickly enough.

Maybe it's just the heat.

 

[Garrick]

Someone defo did mate. Can't remember who though, and i'm not one for the vaulting.

Thing is, this is pretty much the only time most of us will get to see him. He was gash at Villa, then moved away and now is in the MLS. How else are we to form an opinion? I've not seen anything to suggest you're right, or wrong really.

That's fair. For what it's worth, his supporters think he's had a disappointing tournament so far too. And I fear that on Thursday, even if he plays well he's going to look like crap, because, well, Germany. Hopefully he'll be back in form for Belgium (knock on wood), otherwise we'll all be waiting for the Copa America Centenario.

Bradley has been miles worse than Baines or Jags.

Miles. I get what you're saying, but I have never seen Baines or Jags play as poorly as Bradley has these past two games (Lukaku/Naismith would be a much better comparison).

I'm only going off what I've seen, and it's only been two games, but he's been very very poor on the ball, very slow to make a decision or pass. It's not the fact things aren't coming off for him, it's that he seems to be thinking more slowly than others on the pitch.

There's no question about the Ghana game, but... I don't think he was really that bad against Portugal? Pedestrian, sure, but he had 35 completed passes in the first half alone. Yes, he should have got that sitter. Yes, he shouldn't have given away that ball at the end. But that ball was given away 70 yards away from the US goal... There were many people at fault for that one, Bradley included. Blaming him for that goal is like blaming Jags for that second Suarez goal. Yeah, he contributed, but both of those f***ups were team efforts.

I think that objectively Bradley was very poor in the Ghana game and was the biggest reason why we were overrun. He then coughed up a ball 70 yards from goal that led to the Varela header in the Portugal game. I haven't seen much, if any, mention about his play in the other 96 minutes.

I have no reason to be a Bradley fanboy or paint the picture any rosier than it is. Even if I did think he is good enough for Everton, it's not happening so there's not point in discussing it.

Yeah. That ship has sailed at this point. Toronto are paying him real good money. If we want to talk about the next Yank Everton player, I think we're on to loaning Julian Green and/or buying DeAndre Yedlin as the new deputy RB.

 

[ilikecheese]

Fair enough. I'm happy enough to admit that he may not be terrible.

Think he's too slow on the ball to make it in the Prem. Just don't think he sees the pass quickly enough.

Maybe it's just the heat.

If I had never watched a football match before, but only heard who were supposed to be good, I'd think that Ronaldo was bang average, if not poor...I'd probably be asking about that Nani and Moutinho.

 

[Garrick]

If I had never watched a football match before, but only heard who were supposed to be good, I'd think that Ronaldo was bang average, if not poor...I'd probably be asking about that Nani and Moutinho.

Or, if you're @MoutsGoat, you watch a lot of football and then ask all about him anyway!

(Goat, for the record I thought your lad a good match and I would be happy to have him in an Everton shirt.)

 

[Bigloco]

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/statistics/players/distance.html

You may all think he sucks, but he's got a good work rate!

 

[RaleighBlue]

If I had never watched a football match before, but only heard who were supposed to be good, I'd think that Ronaldo was bang average, if not poor...I'd probably be asking about that Nani and Moutinho.

If I can't make 100% decrees on players after watching 180' of World Cup action, then what the hell am I doing here?

I demand the right to jump to conclusions as much as anyone else. Just because I'm a neutral international supporter doesn't take away my rights to be opinionated and biased, dammit!

Nah. Ronaldo looked pooish as well. My jaw dropped when he sent his shot into the crowd when he was one on one with Timmy.

Still think Bradley has looked...it's not just poor...he looks slow. Like he needs extra time on the ball to survey the field, and he panicks a bit when not afforded that time. I agree that he looked better against Portugal, but Portugal weren't pressing him like Ghana were either.

I'm perfectly happy to be wrong, because I don't care, just giving my kneejerk reaction. Many, many players don't do well in internationals and are brilliant otherwise, and an awful lot of the time it simply comes down to team chemistry. He may not feel like he knows where his teammates are going, so he hesitates, and that ends up making him look terrible.

 

[Goat]

Or, if you're @MoutsGoat, you watch a lot of football and then ask all about him anyway!

(Goat, for the record I thought your lad a good match and I would be happy to have him in an Everton shirt.)

He would have been a much better player if he had signed for us.

Goodison would have loved him and he plays better when he cares.

 

[Garrick]

BOOM.

 

[Gerbs]

I was going to come on here last night to spew my frustrations, but wisely i decided to sleep on it. So here are my thoughts on the USMNT thusfar:

Postives
- Jermaine Jones. I dont know what happened, but this is not the same player that has ever pulled on the US jersey. I was a huge hater of Jones, but he has been the MOTM last two matches.
- 4 points. While last night was a punch in the gut, if before the tourney you would tell me we would have 4 points after the first two matches i'd be ecstatic.
- Fitness. We could be the most fit team in the WC. That should come up big if we advance
- Fabian Johnson attacking. Looks like Seamus running up and down the right side of the pitch. Has been one of our most creative players and has created a significant mismatch against Ghana and Portugal.
-Besler. Has been solid all tournament.
- Dempsey. Has certainly lived up expectations this tournament. Two key goals
- United States Supporters - The buzz has been amazing in the US for these games. I havent seen any figures, but i would bet yesterday was the most viewed USA game ever. I have multiple friends who have never given soccer a chance who texted me last night and i have guys in the office who i know have never watched soccer talking about the games. The scenes in Chicago & KC are fun to see.

Negatives
- Michael Bradley. USA's best (agruably) player is not living up to his potential. In fact he has been crap. He is too smart of a player not to understand the situation last night. No way you can lose the ball in the center of the pitch with no time left.
-Fabian Johnson defending. If i have to see Fabian jogging behind his man who eventually scores one more time i'm going to lose it. One minute left in extra time there is no excuse not to be goalside of your mark.
- Geoff Cameron. Was solid in the Ghana game but had a howler vs Portugal. Gotta feel a bit for the disaster that led to the first, but again it is unforgiveable not to know where Varela is on the goal. He is a center back and has to be aware of him coming across. He had no idea Varela was there which cannot happen.