The Soccer Thread

[jersey cubs fan]

Sounds like Mike Bradley is looking for a move.

Taylor Twellman ‏@TaylorTwellman 20m

Ready for a blockbuster? I'm hearing @torontofc on the verge of signing Michael Bradley. Would be a huge coup for @MLS and @torontofc #USMNT

 

Ryan Rosenblatt ‏@RyanRosenblatt 5m

With the quality in MLS up, Klinsmann respecting it & teams willing to pay, the lifestyle choice is viable for American players now.

[USSoccer]

Taylor's either trolling, or the concussions have gotten to him, because that would be the single worst career move that a core NT player would ever make. Toronto FC is where careers go to die.

[wolf stansson]

Alexi Lalas ‏@AlexiLalas 42s

Just confirmed with a source, M. Bradley move to @torontofc that @TaylorTwellman reported is for real.

 

I would lose all faith in everything if Michael [expletive] Bradley moves to [expletive] TFC. Everything except Tim Leiweke's baller status.

[USSoccer]

Alexi Lalas ‏@AlexiLalas 42s

Just confirmed with a source, M. Bradley move to @torontofc that @TaylorTwellman reported is for real.

 

I would lose all faith in everything if Michael [expletive] Bradley moves to [expletive] TFC. Everything except Tim Leiweke's baller status.

 

No kidding. That's the last guy in the pool I'd think of when it comes to chasing a check.

[wolf stansson]

Alexi Lalas ‏@AlexiLalas 42s

Just confirmed with a source, M. Bradley move to @torontofc that @TaylorTwellman reported is for real.

 

I would lose all faith in everything if Michael [expletive] Bradley moves to [expletive] TFC. Everything except Tim Leiweke's baller status.

 

No kidding. That's the last guy in the pool I'd think of when it comes to chasing a check.

The only reason that I'd even give it consideration is because Deuce would be the second to last guy you'd expect it from and we all know how that played out.

 

Even then though, there is a WORLD of difference between playing in Seattle and in Toronto.

[USSoccer]

Alexi Lalas ‏@AlexiLalas 42s

Just confirmed with a source, M. Bradley move to @torontofc that @TaylorTwellman reported is for real.

 

I would lose all faith in everything if Michael [expletive] Bradley moves to [expletive] TFC. Everything except Tim Leiweke's baller status.

 

No kidding. That's the last guy in the pool I'd think of when it comes to chasing a check.

The only reason that I'd even give it consideration is because Deuce would be the second to last guy you'd expect it from and we all know how that played out.

 

Even then though, there is a WORLD of difference between playing in Seattle and in Toronto.

 

Not only the immense gulf in the quality of the organizations, but Clint and Mikey are at really different points in their careers. Clint's 31 and SSFC drove a dump truck of money up to him, and his wife chimed in and wanted to move back home. I ultimately understood it after the shock wore off.

 

I know MB's married and has a baby, but at his age, he should have at least 4 more years overseas before considering this move. I find it impossible to believe that Roma is being so obstinate about his sale price that the only suitor is TFC.

[USSoccer]

Plus, TFC don't start until March. What's he going to do until then? How is 2.5 months at TFC better than 4.5 months with Roma?

[Guest]

How much of the objection is MLS and how much is that it's TFC?

[jersey cubs fan]

Plus, TFC don't start until March. What's he going to do until then? How is 2.5 months at TFC better than 4.5 months with Roma?

 

I thought the issue was he wasn't playing at Roma.

[wolf stansson]

For me, it's leaving a top 10 club in Europe for MLS, regardless of team.

This is happening btw, judging by twitter. Could be a 6 month loan.

[USSoccer]

How much of the objection is MLS and how much is that it's TFC?

 

It would be bewildering either way, but if it was KC, or LA or SSFC, it would be a heck of a lot more tolerable than TFC, where he's going to play with a bunch of mediocre to bad players, and maybe Jermaine Defoe.

 

From the perspective of a fan of the league, though, it's very cool that MLS is acting like a big boy league and willing to pay money to get these guys in their primes. I'm just concerned for the NT. He's such an important piece; maybe the best player right now.

[USSoccer]

Plus, TFC don't start until March. What's he going to do until then? How is 2.5 months at TFC better than 4.5 months with Roma?

 

I thought the issue was he wasn't playing at Roma.

 

He's playing pretty regularly as a sub, and Coppa Italia hasn't really started yet (I think) which is more potential time. But Roma are rumored to be bringing in another CM, which would cut his time down quite a bit.

[Guest]

From the perspective of a fan of the league, though, it's very cool that MLS is acting like a big boy league and willing to pay money to get these guys in their primes. I'm just concerned for the NT. He's such an important piece; maybe the best player right now.

 

Yeah, I'm uneasy about the news, but part of me wonders how material the difference will be in the quality of MLS and another Euro club that will play Bradley 90 mins regularly by 2016-17.

[USSoccer]

From the perspective of a fan of the league, though, it's very cool that MLS is acting like a big boy league and willing to pay money to get these guys in their primes. I'm just concerned for the NT. He's such an important piece; maybe the best player right now.

 

Yeah, I'm uneasy about the news, but part of me wonders how material the difference will be in the quality of MLS and another Euro club that will play Bradley 90 mins regularly by 2016-17.

 

By then, hopefully the difference will be akin to the gap between Ligue 1 and the EPL. The next MLS CBA is going to be huge in terms of how much progress can really be made.

[shnsajax]

So TFC have signed Defoe? A 6 month loan is interesting for Bradley, as it would only really be about 3-4 months due to the WC. I guess he would be fresher having 2 months off before the season starts. Still he would start for over half of the EPL teams, he has no business playing in MLS, hell his Dad is in Norway now.

[wolf stansson]

It's not a loan and the numbers being thrown around answer the question as to why he'd want the move completely.

[USSoccer]

It's not a loan and the numbers being thrown around answer the question as to why he'd want the move completely.

 

 

Yeah, I just saw that. Jesus.

 

This kind of money is going to make it hard to cry 'Not Profitable' come CBA time.

[wolf stansson]

This kind of money is going to make it hard to cry 'Not Profitable' come CBA time.

No kidding. Geez.

 

What's crazy is that Mike was only making 1.5 mil wages. This move will probably net him $1,000,000 on the transfer and an annual salary north of $7,000,000. Ambition, shmambition, that's impossible to ignore.

[wolf stansson]

So it's apparently a done deal.

 

I'm struggling to parse my emotions. I love MLS, I watch more MLS than any other league and I'm excited to watch Michael Bradley. I'm also disappointed on some level because it's yet another ambitious American reach a new level in the club game, lose PT and come back to MLS. Just like Dempsey, he broke new ground and just like Dempsey, he left leaving his club wanting more despite not being exactly first 11. I wanted to see Michael Bradley play at a club like Manchester United, not TFC. I believe he could have, even though I might be biased and wrong. Why did I want to see him at a club like that? Because it's the highest level and I want to believe that the players I love the most can make it at the highest level. I'm sure somewhere in there is my American soccer fan inferiority complex, but I'm pretty sure it's not a huge factor for me.

 

It's complicated. I believe American players playing at the highest level will be the path to American winning a World Cup. I also believe that Michael Bradley playing at TFC won't limit his effectiveness at the World Cup. I could be wrong about both of those things.

[wolf stansson]

Transfer - $10,000,000+

Salray - 6 years, $39,000,000

 

Hard to argue with that.

[USSoccer]

So it's apparently a done deal.

 

I'm struggling to parse my emotions. I love MLS, I watch more MLS than any other league and I'm excited to watch Michael Bradley. I'm also disappointed on some level because it's yet another ambitious American reach a new level in the club game, lose PT and come back to MLS. Just like Dempsey, he broke new ground and just like Dempsey, he left leaving his club wanting more despite not being exactly first 11. I wanted to see Michael Bradley play at a club like Manchester United, not TFC. I believe he could have, even though I might be biased and wrong. Why did I want to see him at a club like that? Because it's the highest level and I want to believe that the players I love the most can make it at the highest level. I'm sure somewhere in there is my American soccer fan inferiority complex, but I'm pretty sure it's not a huge factor for me.

 

It's complicated. I believe American players playing at the highest level will be the path to American winning a World Cup. I also believe that Michael Bradley playing at TFC won't limit his effectiveness at the World Cup. I could be wrong about both of those things.

 

I'm with you.

 

I wonder how JK feels with 3 of his best players now in MLS. He must feel like he's getting trolled.

[bukie]

Psh, just wait until Jozy transfers to Chivas.

[wolf stansson]

So it's apparently a done deal.

 

I'm struggling to parse my emotions. I love MLS, I watch more MLS than any other league and I'm excited to watch Michael Bradley. I'm also disappointed on some level because it's yet another ambitious American reach a new level in the club game, lose PT and come back to MLS. Just like Dempsey, he broke new ground and just like Dempsey, he left leaving his club wanting more despite not being exactly first 11. I wanted to see Michael Bradley play at a club like Manchester United, not TFC. I believe he could have, even though I might be biased and wrong. Why did I want to see him at a club like that? Because it's the highest level and I want to believe that the players I love the most can make it at the highest level. I'm sure somewhere in there is my American soccer fan inferiority complex, but I'm pretty sure it's not a huge factor for me.

 

It's complicated. I believe American players playing at the highest level will be the path to American winning a World Cup. I also believe that Michael Bradley playing at TFC won't limit his effectiveness at the World Cup. I could be wrong about both of those things.

 

I'm with you.

 

I wonder how JK feels with 3 of his best players now in MLS. He must feel like he's getting trolled.

You know what it is? We've been trained to see the American career arc play out one way. Come up in the US (MLS/college/Bradenton) and work your way to Europe. Play in Europe as long as you can. Try to move to the biggest club you can. Come back to MLS to get your last pay day. The huge amounts of money being thrown around are throwing a wrench in that and it keeps us from being able to contextualize a player's development and the American player, as a whole's progress. Mike and Deuce were the avatars of this generation doing it "right" (I guess making Landon the poster boy for doing it wrong) and even though on paper, they climbed higher than anyone before them and probably higher than we could have expected when they left MLS, we still don't know how to process them coming back this early. Especially in Bradley's case. For completely understandable personal reasons, they moved the goal posts on us. We need to adjust our expectations going forward as long as this kind of cash is getting thrown around in our league.

[shnsajax]

Transfer - $10,000,000+

Salray - 6 years, $39,000,000

 

Hard to argue with that.

 

Is that Canadian or American, not that I even know what the exchange rate is anyway. I can't disagree with him ever taking that, but disappointing still. Is MLS throwing this money around to try to start to entice some European players to start looking at coming over here at a younger age in the next couple of years?

 

Now if Aron goes to Celtic or Stoke I'm going to be really pissed.

[USSoccer]

So it's apparently a done deal.

 

I'm struggling to parse my emotions. I love MLS, I watch more MLS than any other league and I'm excited to watch Michael Bradley. I'm also disappointed on some level because it's yet another ambitious American reach a new level in the club game, lose PT and come back to MLS. Just like Dempsey, he broke new ground and just like Dempsey, he left leaving his club wanting more despite not being exactly first 11. I wanted to see Michael Bradley play at a club like Manchester United, not TFC. I believe he could have, even though I might be biased and wrong. Why did I want to see him at a club like that? Because it's the highest level and I want to believe that the players I love the most can make it at the highest level. I'm sure somewhere in there is my American soccer fan inferiority complex, but I'm pretty sure it's not a huge factor for me.

 

It's complicated. I believe American players playing at the highest level will be the path to American winning a World Cup. I also believe that Michael Bradley playing at TFC won't limit his effectiveness at the World Cup. I could be wrong about both of those things.

 

I'm with you.

 

I wonder how JK feels with 3 of his best players now in MLS. He must feel like he's getting trolled.

You know what it is? We've been trained to see the American career arc play out one way. Come up in the US (MLS/college/Bradenton) and work your way to Europe. Play in Europe as long as you can. Try to move to the biggest club you can. Come back to MLS to get your last pay day. The huge amounts of money being thrown around are throwing a wrench in that and it keeps us from being able to contextualize a player's development and the American player, as a whole's progress. Mike and Deuce were the avatars of this generation doing it "right" (I guess making Landon the poster boy for doing it wrong) and even though on paper, they climbed higher than anyone before them and probably higher than we could have expected when they left MLS, we still don't know how to process them coming back this early. Especially in Bradley's case. For completely understandable personal reasons, they moved the goal posts on us. We need to adjust our expectations going forward as long as this kind of cash is getting thrown around in our league.

 

Yeah, I'd agree with that. It just seems odd that this player of all players choose to do that, but I suppose we're projecting what we'd ideally like to see from a developmental point of view on these guys, when they are making decisions that are ultimately about what's best for them personally. Those two points of view aren't always compatible, hence the disbelief. I can't honestly say that I wouldn't turn that money down; that's setting you and your family and your children up for multiple generations.

 

It's also weird because we should be accustomed to athletes following the money, because that's what MLB and NFL free agents do; it's not like they always choose the best destination based on their game, or development, or whatever. So yeah, we're certainly accustomed to/trained to see it a different way when it comes to soccer and our NT players.

 

The concerning thing, from a league perspective, is that MLS needs to do something about the low and middle-end salaries, because ultimately that's what's going to raise the level of play.