I think his early exposure to understanding positioning is the strongest reason that Michael Bradley seems to be in goal scoring position from a DM position more often than some of our strikers. And while he might sometimes look like a chicken with his head cut off, I attribute that to the fact that rarely will anyone cover the hole he leaves to make a charge up, requiring him often to stop runs at awkward looking times. If it were up to me, I would have the entire national team watch and dissect hours upon hours of Dutch “total football” just to see what well-timed runs and defensive cover looks like.

When I was playing on my grade school team, my dad was the assistant coach. He had never played the game, never really seen the game, but the head coach needed another set of eyes to watch 16 kids, so he volunteered. With the ability to follow the game now and a generation of parents that played the game growing up, I hope that the coaching disadvantage that the US had is disappearing.

Maybe if we got Hejduk to stop over-running the right wing and forcing Dempsey to hang back we could see more of his creativity through mid and up top. We lose most of what Dempsey brings when he’s forced to fall back and cover for these never-ending insane runs by Hejduk that end in a tired cross straight to the defender. Who new: it comes back to poor coaching.

If Charlie can get a transfer and start playing against some real competition with success I think we could definitely start talking about he and Jozy up top as I believe they compliment each other fairly well. However, if he stays in Sweden he won’t end up being much more than Matthew Taylor at TuS Koblenz.

Dempsey’s problem on the USMNT it not him, it is the technically skilled players around him. Dempsey, imo, is the first player with technical skill who was born in the US. Adu is obviously the best.

I want Adu in the middle with Dempsey. Put Altidore up front and put Donovan to right back. My formation is on another post.

You put the best technical skilled players around Dempsey, primarily Adu who is better imo, Altidore, Donovan, Torres or Bradley and I think you could create a very dangerous attacking team. If we only had one more technical strike who was smaller and faster and more dangerous with step overs, etc., then I think the US could be a true force.

The only problem is I think US coaches tell their players not to dribble and show-off. BS. When on the offensive side of the middle 3rd and always in the attacking third, take people on. Take them to school. Make them respect you. Even if you don’t get through, they will know you are willing to come after them. Lastly, you put the ball between a defenders legs in the attacking third, you own him for the entire game. All you have to do is fake like you are going there and the defender has to stay honest, which gives the offensive attack that much more space to make plays.

Someday…maybe Bradley will learn and not suffer the same fate in 2010.

I will guarantee that if Ching, Heijduk, Pearce, Beasley, or a few others I can’t think of off the top of my head are starting for the US in 2010. Better mail it in boyz!!!

GLT MNT

Point is his compatriots need to raise their level of play and then the USMNT will truly deserve that 15 ranking. Beginning with better passing and service to the only midfield/wing player on the USMNT starting in the EPL – namely, Clint.