You remember this, don't you?
Quite possibly the softest of the three red cards the US earned in its five match stay in South Africa, this tackle has led to a four game suspension for young Mr. Bradley. His daddy must be so proud.
Of course, his daddy is the coach, so this transgression will probably be forgotten as soon as the suspension is over.
The full weight of the four games was brought down on Bradley, not solely because of the tackle itself, but because Bradley allegedly had words with referee Jorge Larrionda in the tunnel after the match. Spanish paper AS (possibly making shit up because the US team vanquished their unbeatable heroes) even went so far as to claim Bradley physically assaulted Larrionda, though FIFA found no merit in that particular claim. FIFA did rule that Bradley violated article 49 of their Disciplinary Code, which means that he showed unsporting conduct toward a match official. Considering the reaction above probably did not merit such a censure, the idea that there was a post-match face-to-face between the two seems to be the ebst available answer. Occam's Razor and all that.
Here's the good-ish news--Bradley's suspension will effectively be over at about 11PM EDT on Wednesday. Even though he is not on the Gold Cup roster, Bradley will get credit for the Brazil final, the walkover against Grenada and Wednesday's upcoming match against Honduras. The fourth match will itself be suspended, provided that Bradley keeps his nose clean for six months. Here at UF, we put the odds at about 75-25 that Bradley will eventually have to serve his fourth match of the suspension. I mean, it's almost a given that he picks up a red at the Azteca on August 12th, right?
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Michael Bradley is a hot head, but you knew that
Friday, August 29, 2008
Euro '08 Pick 'Em Winner finally cashes in: Eredivisie Season Preview
Anyone remember this? Well, our winner was obvious a couple of months ago, and UF reader Joep Smeets managed to hang on top and win the whole thing. As our "prize", we offered him a post on anything he wanted, and when offered to him, he told me he wanted to wait until late August to claim his reward.
Why? Because the Dutch Eredivisie kicks off this weekend, and he's just the man to handicap it and break it down for us ignoramuseseses.
This makes me happy, because I had no idea where to begin. I know Ajax, they're good, PSV, and that's about it. Feyenoord? Is that one?
Anyway, Joep has all the answers for us, so educate yourselves after the jump.
One of the leagues kicking off this weekend is the Dutch league. The first though this may conjure in some of you is probably “do the Dutch still have a league?” and the answer to that question is “more or less”. The Eredivisie, as it is called, has spent the last decade slipping gradually but steadily into irrelevancy, to the point where Arsenal can comfortably field their Carling Cup starting eleven and still brush off the second best team our country had to offer with ridiculous ease.
But yes, even mediocre leagues have to start at some point, and Friday night is the Eredivisie’s turn. And because the nice gentlemen at Unprofessional Foul know all of you are dying for an in-depth analysis of Europe’s seventh best league - or because they owe me a guest post because I crushed all of you in the European Cup Pick’em - here is a preview.
The Contenders
The Dutch league has been dominated for years by a traditional top three, consisting of Ajax (remember them?), PSV and Feyenoord, however, in the past decade, Feyenoord has been managed more poorly than Enron and as a result, hardly makes any more pretensions on the Dutch title than you or me.
That leaves us with Ajax and PSV, the latter of which have been champions four years straight. During this period, PSV has been hollowed out each and every year, losing quality players to quality teams and to Spurs. Despite of their knack for bringing in proper replacements, losing Gomes and Farfan means they have now lost the last two players who played for the team that made CL semi’s a few years ago. 
PSV’s player to watch: Ibrahim Affelay. This will be the year he finally outgrows the Dutch league. Honorable mention to Dirk Marcellis, who played his heart out at Anfield last year and got a standing ovation for his effort when he was sent off. A young central defender who played very well at the Olympics and is getting considered for the senior national side.
Even with PSV losing a little bit of quality every year, Ajax has not been able to catch up. The past four seasons have seen more turmoil in Amsterdam than in your average war zone, and about as many heads have rolled. Each season starts with the same high expectations (PSV has got to be the only team that has won four championships in a row while not being considered favorites for any of those seasons), merited by an influx of new players that are considered a lock to get the job done. So far, none of them have, but there’s no question Ajax can field more attacking firepower than any other team in the league.
Ajax’s player to watch: Klaas Jan Huntelaar, obviously. He’s the centerpiece of an attack that features three quick and goal-oriented players around him in Luis Suarez, Miralem Suljemani and Civantich. Ajax’s defense might not be very stable but this lot could outscore any team in the league.
The Hopefuls
Behind PSV and Ajax there is a sizeable group of pretenders to the Dutch crown, led by SC Heerenveen and FC Twente, who will both feature in the UEFA Cup this season. The only two teams in Holland with a foreign coach are slowly but steadily attempting to structurally fill the hole in the top three that Feyenoord left behind.
Heerenveen, especially, has a very capable scouting team. You only have to look at the strikers they have fielded over the past year, which include Huntelaar, Afonso Alves, Samaras and van Nistelrooy. Twente has taken a big gamble by hiring Second Choice Steve, who is about as familiar with the Dutch league as any of you are.
Others in this group include Feyenoord and AZ, the latter of which made a very strong attempt at the title two years ago, only to fail miserably in the last season.
Players to watch 
Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen) Bradley is no unknown to most of you, probably, and was one of the better midfielders of the league last season. From what I gather, he gets forward more for Heerenveen than he does for the US, which is his strong point. [Ed. Note: there are rumours brewing of him moving to Middlesbrough]
Douglas (FC Twente) a strong Brazilian defender that messed up against Arsenal. Young, though, and he has the top teams in Holland taking looks at him, which means the Premier League will most likely not be far behind. He shut down Huntelaar in the playoffs for the Champions League qualification ticket, which is no small feat. 
Jonathan de Guzman (Feyenoord) Canadian by birth, Dutch by footballing passport, he has been one of the few bright spots for Feyenoord. He is a very complete young midfielder that has been attracting interest from England.
Stijn Schaars (AZ) is a very solid young midfielder who captained the European Cup winning u-21 sides. He has been out injured for a long time and AZ hurt without him. If he regains his pre-injury form, he will be considered for the national team and difficult for AZ to keep in Alkmaar for much longer.
European Competitions
After Arsenal’s drubbing of Twente, PSV will be the only Dutch team in the Champions League. They’re grouped with Liverpool, Marseille and Atletico Madrid, which means it will take a small miracle for them to go through.
In the UEFA Cup, there is a sizeable Dutch contingent, spearheaded by an improved Ajax-side, Heerenveen, Twente, Feyenoord and NEC, a small team who played an out of this world second season half and subsequently lost its three best players and hasn’t found any decent replacements so far. Ajax, with Huntelaar up front and Stekelenburg in goal could make a deep run, while the rest would be lucky to survive the group stage except for maybe Heerenveen.
We’ll, there you have it. Another season full of poor defending and bright young talents is upon us. The football might be poor, but the Dutch league guarantees at least a few players each year who will make the step to the big times at the end of the season, so I suggest you all keep an eye on it!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Things Americans Are Good At
This is actually pretty cool (even if it's ultimately an ad for a company that is currently exploiting workers across the Pacific Rim).
And nice job to Bradley for his pwnage of Adu, but if there is one thing that Americans probably don't need to practice it's hitting the post. Seems we've got that one mastered already.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Michael Bradley bored with scoring in Holland
SC Heerenveen midfielder Michael Bradley has found Dutch defense Charmin-soft this season, to the tune of 15 goals. He has long been rumored to be headed to a bigger club this summer, in what will likely be the largest transfer fee ever for an American (until Jozy shatters it moving to Real Madrid). Young Michael at least appears to be laying the groundwork for a move.
He gave an interview to Ajax Life magazine where he said:"I strive to reach the highest level. It's time to make the next step.
"I don't think the Dutch way of playing football suits me. I see myself as a box-to-box midfielder - I attack and score goals, but I also defend and I win many balls. In Holland it's often one but not the other."Now far be it for me to question the bonafides of sportinglife.com, but these quotes seem ridiculous to the point where they were either fabricated or mistranslated. When he plays for Heerenveen, he is given the freedom to come forward and play off the forwards. If you look at a highlight reel of his goals this year, they have mostly come off scraps (sloppy defending) in the box. So is he saying he would rather be a stay at home midfielder type, like his role for the US Men's National Team (suck it, Polska!)? I think he'd rather be up top in the attack scoring chicks goals.
Hopefully when AC Milan comes calling they will play him in his rightful spot in the midfield next to Kaka.
/deluded fanboy
Monday, January 28, 2008
Yank Abroad: Michael Bradley not Moving to the EPL (yet)
Over the weekend, word trickled out (well, how would you describe a blurb in the Mirror?) that Everton is perhaps making a last-minute move for Michael Bradley. Sunderland was also said to be interested. It looks like those rumors have since been scuttled, with Bradley electing to stay at Heereneveen for the time being. However, for those who follow the U.S. Men’s National Team, the 20-year-old Bradley is a big reason to be optimistic about the future of American footy.
[Warning: This post is nothing but fawning over an American player. There is no sarcasm or jokes herein.]
Photo: Andy Mead/Icon SMI
Michael Bradley is a sturdy, poised, playmaking central midfielder with plenty of talent. Best of all, he also seems to be full of ambition, focus and drive. This is somewhat to be expected because Bradley’s father is, after all, Bob Bradley, coach of the national team. (Say what you want about Bob Bradley, but he has instilled a sense of professionalism to the U.S. team that was sorely missing under Bruce Arena.)
As noted, Michael Bradley is currently playing for Heerenveen in the Dutch League, where he's been since moving from the then-Metro Stars in 2005. He missed his first season abroad with a foot injury, but he’s made up for lost time recently. It is only halfway through the current season, and with 11 league goals, Bradley has already beaten Eric(a) Wynalda and Brian McBride’s record for most goals in a season by an American in a top-flight European team.
Bradley v. Kaka
It therefore comes as no surprise that EPL teams have shown an interest in signing Bradley. I would expect a move in the summer, especially if Bradley has a strong showing in the World Cup Qualifiers (shouldn't be too hard when the U.S. has to play either Barbados or Dominica in the first round). For my money, Everton would be an excellent destination for Bradley. David Moyes has shown the ability to get his players to raise their game to another level. Blackburn and Sunderland are also said to be tracking Bradley.
Photo: Sky Sports
There is a debate among us UF-sters about whether American players are better off playing at lower-level English teams or at top-flight European squads (we all seem to agree that staying in the MLS is the worst option). For me, all that matters is that the player is getting good experience and growing in confidence and ability. This seems to have happened with Bradley's move to the Dutch League, and it may soon be time for him to move to fresh challenges. As his current club coach said:
"He is ready though for the step to a top club. Bradley has a great mentality; he will always make it. Just as I was convinced that Klaas-Jan (Huntelaar) would make it at Ajax, I am almost certain that he will make it elsewhere."
Indeed, Bradley is one of the few American players who seems ready to rise to such lofty expectations.
More on the Interwebs:
SI feature
US Soccer Global Blog (including podcast interview)
Yanks Abroad obvious ht for the title of this post
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