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Here's Everton's manager breaking down the goal:

http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/4/video/1904957/breaking-down-varelas-goal

He might know a few things about soccer.

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He might but his assertion that was a 50/50 ball is ludicrous. Bradly had possession and lost it.

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So a player who was generally ranked as the best young player/prospect for a country and was part of their countries best success in years makes one really really bad play and now he's considered god awful and deserves pity?

...Oh I've seen the error of my ways now and admit the subtle way you compared Akinfeev and Bradley has blown my mind and set me on the course of redemption. Thank you!

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Wow...just...wow...

2011, the point I'm making is that Bradley had a GREAT game against a respected team, except for 2 plays. The goal he should have scored was not a mistake. He got unlucky and the defender made a great hustle play. It happens. Hell, Neymar peppered Ochoa in the chest when he had almost the same situation as Bradley. He would say he should have scored, just as Bradley would say he should have scored.

That play, though, should be forgotten. We got the 2-1 lead anyway. Harken back to the Ghana game. We defended a 1-0 lead for 80 minutes. We were never going to go ahead 3-1, barring some freak play or penalty. Hell, they had 15 minutes and didnt even come close.

And as I keep saying, Bradley was a major part of the second goal. He made up for not scoring. Then he had a brainfart at the end and paid the ultimate price for it. I imagine he will kill himself trying to get a result against Germany.

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2011, the point I'm making is that Bradley had a GREAT game against a respected team, except for 2 plays. The goal he should have scored was not a mistake. He got unlucky and the defender made a great hustle play. It happens. Hell, Neymar peppered Ochoa in the chest when he had almost the same situation as Bradley. He would say he should have scored, just as Bradley would say he should have scored.

That play, though, should be forgotten. We got the 2-1 lead anyway. Harken back to the Ghana game. We defended a 1-0 lead for 80 minutes. We were never going to go ahead 3-1, barring some freak play or penalty. Hell, they had 15 minutes and didnt even come close.

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Absolutely disagree. You can't evaluate players that way, guys don't get passes because someone else made a play.

Let's take a somewhat extreme, but very real example- Fred and the criticism he was receiving by the Brazilian (and foreign) media. He was **** for two games, but you would seriously sit there and say "forget about it, other guys managed to score some goals so Fred's performances were OK"?

I'm glad Fred scored today, maybe he'll find his Confed Cup form, but dear god, the guy couldn't keep the ball, he couldn't get on the end of any through balls, he couldn't keep his few shots on goal. But that's OK, right, that's forgettable because The Wunderkind Neymar scored 4 goals, right?

Part of the disconnect may be that I don't think Bradley played a great game outside the mistakes, but that's a little irrelevant. The margins are little, and its a few moments each game that decide a tournament like this. He missed his big chance, and he made a mistake that related to the 2nd Portugal goal.

As for the Ghana game, we defended for over 90 minutes. We were on the defensive virtually from the get go- even after the game was tied and we "were going for the win again." Yet, one moment- one bounce in the right direction gives us a corner- and when we're just hoping to hold off a re-invigorated Ghana, we take the match.

But I repeat- You can't evaluate players [your] way, guys don't get passes because someone else made a play.

Frankly I don't think the play was that negative and it's worthless on a player evaluation basis. If you set it up again, pause life, and ask me to bet on it, I'd bet he puts it away. I'd rather the ball fall to him there than any player that was on the field except Dempsey.

It's absolutely idiotic to watch that play and say "aha! Scouting report, Bradley is awful finishing in front of the goal! He'll probably never score again,"

[This message has been edited by JJxvi (edited 6/23/2014 10:58p).]

Agreed with just about all of that. Thankfully, I myself at least haven't said any of that.

can we seriously quit with this thread already

As soon as the other people admit they are wrong!

2011, I'm not saying give Bradley a pass, I'm saying that play didn't matter in the end. I'm not saying give him a pass bacause Dempsey scored, I'm saying Bradley contributed greatly to that goal, basically making amends for the goal he could have scored.

I was screaming obscenities at Bradley and Cameron when the tying goal was scored. He screwed up. His game against Ghana was the worst I've ever seen him play. If he had repeated that performance, I'd be all for benching him, but he was really good against Portugal overall. To judge him based on a goalline clearance and a giveaway at midfield is short-sighted.

And your analogy to Fred is a bad one. Fred is there to finish, and almost nothing else. If he's not scoring goals or creating chances, he's useless. Bradley does everything, and did well Sunday, and worked his butt off. Some people (not you) are saying he should be benched. Those people don't know what they're talking about.

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Bradley ran 2/3 mile more than any other player in the USA-Portugal game and is 2nd in the tournament among players who have played only 2 games.

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I hate parents that yell 'hustle'.

Bradley never hustles. that gif proved it.

I just watched the entire first half. Michael Bradley was excellent. He was never dispossessed, he completed every single pass except for two attacking balls over the top to Dempsey, and two attacking passes that would have turned Fabian Johnson loose behind but once the defender barely got a toe to it and another was a more hopeful ball that the defender cut out. An excellent ball over the top freed Dempsey and led to a shot on goal. Two long passes sprung Beasley overlaps on the left, and a he had long ball from deep to the head of Jones who nicely headed to Fabian.

Jones was dispossessed in a very dangerous spot in our half early in the game, but otherwise was good. Zusi was dispossessed 3 times, once in our half. Beckerman made a bad touch on a ball coming back from their box while we had them pinned back in the attacking end and that allowed a Portuguese counter.

Please, no facts in this thread.

Portugal put Carvalho in the game in the 2nd and moved Veloso out of the middle and Carvalho really kind of kept Bradley off the ball more to keep him from influencing the game. Bradley also played the second half deeper. I dunno if Portugal specifically altered their lineup to counter Bradley but it worked out that way. It also led to a decline in Dempsey's influence as Bradley was a huge part of Dempsey's very good first half.

His only real incomplete pass came on the US counter he led, he passed it slightly behind Dempsey and he might have had better options on the left. Every other incomplete pass is an attacking ball attempting to unlock the defense and there was one bad trap by Zusi that he should have had that was another in completed pass. Excellent run from deep on the bad fail shot cleared off the line. He was dispossessed for the first time in the game in the 95th minute.

Dempsey was dispossessed while it was still 1-0 in almost the exact spot that led to an almost identical counter attack to the final goal, except Ronaldo had no help and had to drive into the box and his shot missed.

Jones and Zusi each had another bad turnover in our half. Johnson had a brain fart pass that led to Jones getting a card.

Also noticed this time, there were a ****load of giant moths or some kind of other jungle bugs flying around. Also 5 minutes still seems ridiculous for one injury to Besler and a few moments for Beasley plus just subs.

I can't say Bradley had a great game, but I think it would have been considered that if it werent for the final play. He was excellent the first 94 despite the unlucky/bad finish in front of the goal.

[This message has been edited by JJxvi (edited 6/25/2014 12:45a).]

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I just watched the entire first half. Michael Bradley was excellent. He was never dispossessed, he completed every single pass except for two attacking balls over the top to Dempsey, and two attacking passes that would have turned Fabian Johnson loose behind but once the defender barely got a toe to it and another was a more hopeful ball that the defender cut out. An excellent ball over the top freed Dempsey and led to a shot on goal. Two long passes sprung Beasley overlaps on the left, and a he had long ball from deep to the head of Jones who nicely headed to Fabian.

Jones was dispossessed in a very dangerous spot in our half early in the game, but otherwise was good. Zusi was dispossessed 3 times, once in our half. Beckerman made a bad touch on a ball coming back from their box while we had them pinned back in the attacking end and that allowed a Portuguese counter.

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And two good shots from outside the box

[This message has been edited by gordo14 (edited 6/25/2014 6:36a).]

Bradley had a good game against Portugal. There is no doubting that. The people that say otherwise didn't watch the game.

With that said, he did made two inexcusable, colossal mistakes that cost us the game. Yes, other players gave the ball away, or made bad passes many times throughout the course of the match, however, none of those players are considered our best or did so in the 95th minute with the game on the line. You simply cannot do that, and MB knows that.

Yes, or back line was doing the kind of ball-watching that you see going on in a U12 game. Yes, Omar was nowhere to be found even though he came in to solidify the defense. But that doesn't excuse the cheap possession that Bradley gave away.

If I would have done that during my time playing club soccer, my coach, as well as the other players on my team would have chewed me out (and rightfully so).

And the missed goal was just a joke. Not even worth talking about. One man on the line to beat. He should have done so. Period.

I think Bradley is a great player. Here's to hoping he uses these mistakes as inspiration against Germany.

Sorry, but you can't have a good game when you make two mistakes that cost your team the game.

I agree that Cameron had a bad game.

The US guy (Cameron) who assisted the Portuguese player on their first goal made the colossal mistake of the game. Bradley has not played up to expectations, but overall think he quarterbacks this team well.

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I agree that Cameron had a bad game.

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I felt like he made two huge mistakes, that tarnished an otherwise solid performance. It's not like Portugal was picking on him all game

[This message has been edited by gordo14 (edited 6/25/2014 11:39a).]

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I agree that Cameron had a bad game.

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I felt like he made two huge mistakes, that tarnished an otherwise solid performance.

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Agreed but the problem is that one of those was just a 10/10 out of bad. His huge mistake literally gifted Portugal a goal. Directly. No one else had to screw up. It wasn't a collection of errors. His error = Portugal goal.

To the poster's saying Bradley's mistake was 'colossal' I disagree vehemently. It was a mistake but it did NOT directly lead to a goal. All of the other aforementioned mistakes played an equal share (Beasley, Cameron, Johnson, etc.)

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I felt like he made two huge mistakes, that tarnished an otherwise solid performance.

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Agreed but the problem is that one of those was just a 10/10 out of bad. His huge mistake literally gifted Portugal a goal. Directly. No one else had to screw up. It wasn't a collection of errors. His error = Portugal goal.

To the poster's saying Bradley's mistake was 'colossal' I disagree vehemently. It was a mistake but it did NOT directly lead to a goal. All of the other aforementioned mistakes played an equal share (Beasley, Cameron, Johnson, etc.)

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Definitely. That mistake was unacceptable. But at least you can say they weren't breaking him down. I don't see him making a mistake like that again this world cup. Happens to all defenders every now and then. He has defended well and I hate to see people overlook that I guess. IMO our "weak defense" has performed very well this world cup.

[This message has been edited by gordo14 (edited 6/25/2014 12:22p).]

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And the missed goal was just a joke. Not even worth talking about. One man on the line to beat. He should have done so. Period.

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I have a hard time calling that a mistake. A mistake is if he blasts it over the goal.

Keeper got pulled out, the ball gets put across the face of the goal and your job is to put it on frame first time. He struck it with pace and 9 times out of 10 that ball goes in.

Their defender happened to catch just enough of the ball to keep it out, if it's literally inches to the right it deflects into the net.

Could it have been a better finish? Obviously, but it wasn't a terrible one and certainly not a mistake. We've seen attempts just like that blasted into the cheap seats at even the highest levels.


[This message has been edited by fig96 (edited 6/25/2014 12:31p).]

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but overall think he quarterbacks this team well.

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Like Tony Romo well or Matt Schaub well?

those are your two options?

this thread ****ing blows

BD is a troll. Ignore him.

As far as Bradley's shot that was cleared off the line, there is such a thing as being unlucky in sports. Not every deflection or goal is a result of an amazing play by an attacker or a colossal failure by a defender and vice versa for missed opportunities.

I've been harsh on mb the whole lead up and first two games of the tourney. however, he palyed fine vs Portugal. the only thing bothering me is his first touch of many balls hasn't been great
I think his mind is in front of his body. his play certainly didn't hinder our teams performance

Jeffk, I've been saying the same thing for 4 pages. Bradley knew he had the whole goal, he was making sure to hit it solid and on target, which he did. Unluckily, there was a defender in the perfect spot. Just unlucky. NOT A MISTAKE, as anyone who played the game for years would know.

He's not the first great player to do this, and he won't be the last.

MB's play was better against Portugal. But you can't give the anointed best player on the team a pass for his two mistakes. He is judged on a different level. He makes those plays, particularly the last one, we win the game. Or we can just pat him on the back and give him his orange slice.

thread needs to be locked


every single argument on every side has been repeated 11ty billion times

I was exasperated with Bradley when I watched the game, but the video breakdowns at this ESPN piece do a nice job of explaining all the mistakes made on that goal.

summary for those who won't click through:
- yes he gave it away, but that's not uncommon in that situation
- losing the ball in the opponent's half of the field with 5 defenders back against 3 attackers is not sufficient to explain the goal.
- the two guys who should have been marking the scorer better were watching Ronaldo with the ball. I was surprised how obvious that is in the breakdown videos.

I think the headline says it: Bradley at fault but not to blame.

All of a sudden can't trap a ball.