Michael Bradley to Roma

This morning Associazione Sportiva Roma (A.S Roma) announced the signing of USMNT player Michael Bradley from Chievo Verona. Roma dealt €3.75M to Chievo to obtain the services of the American star. Bradley, who is 24 years old, has signed a contract extension which will keep him with the Giallorossi until 2016. After weeks of flirtation and courtship this transfer has finally come through. Bradley has been rumored to move to a bigger club since the season ended. Bradley had a phenomenal season in Verona, making 34 appearances and was arguably the team’s most effective player. He showed a  superb ability to manage a game, control the tempo and jump-start the attack. Bradley had been scouted by many teams throughout Europe.

Bradley has done much traveling since he left the New York Metrostars in ’06. He transferred from MLS to the Netherlands playing for SC Heerenveen. Shortly after the transfer, Bradley began making USMNT appearances under his father. After two years in the Netherlands he made the switch to Germany playing for Borussia Monchengladbach. During his stay at  Gladbach, Bradley became a fixture for the national team. After an unsuccessful loan spell in the EPL with Aston Villa, Bradley moved to Chievo Verona.

A.S. Roma finished 7th in the Serie A and are looking to make a run at the top four this year. This is a significant step up for Bradley whose Flying Donkey’s finished 10th in the same league. Lots of departures from the Serie A may make Roma’s goals more achievable. With AC Milan, Lazio, Napoli, all losing big name players and Inter getting older, Roma’s chances are greatly improved.

Roma have recently gained a very strong American presence. With American owners an American star, Roma are clearly America’s team in Italy. USMNT  fans will be able to see Bradley when Roma starts their preseason American tour. Roma take on Polish side Zaglebie Lubin in Chicago on July 22, then Liverpool in Boston on the 25th and El Salvador at Red Bull Arena on July 27.

Why The USMNT Should Consider A 4-6-0, Also Mo Edu Scores

Maurice Edu scored again for Rangers to help them to defeat Sporting Lisbon by tying the game and winning the round on away goals.

This US midfield is getting to a point where calling for something along the lines of a 4-6-0 isn’t half as ridiculous as it might seem. It has worked (for Roma) before, although we don’t exactly have anyone near the level of Francesco Totti. I’d guess that someone like Dempsey or Holden would have to end up in that false 9 hole, although neither of them exactly has much experience doing so. Maybe this could be a place to finally fit Jose  Torres in? Of course the last time an American outfit ran a six man midfield was the 1998 World Cup where Steve Samson fell in love with the 3-6-1 and brought the team home after 3 straight loses.

I’ve done a small bit of reading on the prospects of a 4-6-0 and the USMNT may not be the right team to squeeze into the formation, but I have always believed that before America finds its first great player they will find their first top level tactician; someone who will find a way to turn a group of overachieving players into a great team using a bit of creative strategy. Of course creative soccer strategy isn’t exactly something that US teams have been known for. We’ve mostly been known for some good moments of kick and run, and pretty ugly soccer, but I still believe that the biggest improvements the US can make is on the chalkboard even more than on the field. I’m not so much calling for a 4-6-0 as I am calling for Bob Bradley to take up the American spirit of creativity and try something absolutely. I’ll throw out an imaginary lineup, simply because it’s what the people want.

Onyewu     Goodson

Bocanegra                                 Cherundolo

Jones    Bradley       Edu

Donovan           Holden           Dempsey

Empty space for not Jozy Altidore, Robbie Findley, Juan Agudelo, or Teal Bunbury

 

I can’t say Stuart Holden is exactly the optimal character for this kind of thing (really I don’t think any one on the team is, I just saw someone mention it in concept and wanted to see how it might work) but I think he’s the closest we’ve got. Maybe someone like Mixx, although I haven’t seen him play nearly enough to know how he might fit in this kind of position. A few other players come to mind as potentials for the spot, in particular this might be a way to find a spot for Jose Torres. Of course as I’ve said before Jozy is a good young player, he hasn’t been getting the playing team he needs to show it, but there is not an absolute need to get him off the field. The kid can play, the only question is if it is more valuable to put another midfielder in to fill his spot on the field.

Of course this is the absolute definition of a pipe-dream, but these are the kinds of things that keep me up at night writing 3am USMNT blog posts. Obviously the odds of Bob Bradley signing off on a 4-6-0 are quite low, and the odds of a 4-6-0 being a good idea are almost even lower. All I’m really trying to say is that these kinds of discussions should be had. We should not be set in a 4-4-2, as we had been for quite some time before Bob’s recent change to a version of a 4-5-1. Tactical innovation is something that can be done much faster than talent growth, although they are both equally important. The USMNT and Bob Bradley have never been known as one to mess around with formations all that much, but nothing should be taken for granted. We’ve got four years to find the best team we can. Four years ago 4-4-2 was the formation du jour but now barely anyone who wants to be taken seriously uses the formation. Putting the team into a 4-5-1 still leaves us 4 years behind Spain, and behind many of the other footballing nations. Playing a 4-6-0 (or something else that hasn’t even been thought of yet) could put us 4 years ahead of everyone else in the world.

AS Roma Negotiating With American Di Benedetto

Image via Wikipedia

Thomas Di Benedetto is a part owner of the New England Sports Ventures group which currently runs both the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool, and he is looking to go out on his own and add AS Roma to his list. AS Roma has had management in the United States recently looking for interested buyers. They found Di Benedetto and it seems to be moving along well.

http://blog.soccerts.com/roma-ready-to-sell-to-us-businessman-di-benedetto-ap-yahoo-sports-world/