So now we know, that was Bradley's last home game pre free agency. Unless we win MLS Cup.
So now we know, that was Bradley's last home game pre free agency. Unless we win MLS Cup.
"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff
he sure didn't sound like someone who is leaving, in his post game comments .
Bradley has made $36M over the last 6 years. He is not going to go for top dollar.
Respect, long term opportunity, and the long term interest and happiness of his family, are going to be amongst the biggest factors here.
By long term opportunity I mean “where he can make progress on setting up his post playing day’s management career...”
"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff
TFC should resign Michael Bradley!
Two year max TAM deal would be more than fine by me.
"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff
From his interview with the athletic, it seems it's going to be TAM. When it was brought up to him, he said he would "Absolutely" sign a TAM deal. I think the only reason it's not done yet is because he has an automatic clause that gets triggered if we win MLS Cup
I think we need him to stay but we also need a replacement for him at CDM. He is the key to the system of play. If goes we will likely have to bring another DP to fill the role.
Fraser currently requires support as a CM. He's no destroyer. (And, yes, I was at the Canada / US game - he was surrounded by defensively sound mids)
Fraser is 100% ready to share CM duties with Bradley, or Delgado, or whoever. 100%.
We need to give him 17 starts next year - half the season - at a bare minimum.
But that also depends on the guy this thread is about. If he leaves then all open for Fraser depending on CBA.
He's really no slower than Bradley these days. And he actually plays faster on the ball - he favours playing progressive passes, forward seam passes, more often than Bradley does. If we're trying to attack quickly after recovering the ball, that's his strength.
Look, you don't improve by sitting on the bench. We're all living in a fantasy if we think he can keep getting like 8 starts a year and then in 2 or 3 years he'll magically be ready to be our #1 DM.
Fraser definitely has to play somewhere, Toronto or elsewhere. I think he has really improved his defensive side as well. He's ready to share the load and even to get stints in a bigger role.
I have no idea how Vanney and Co will orchestrate this. It's tied to Bradley's contract; question of captaincy; and much more. Plus I feel that our defensive midfield play has rarely been strong enough in 2018 and 2019 to adequately shield our defense in games where that was needed.
It doesn’t have to be Bradley that makes room for Fraser. It could be Delgado. Lots of formations work with 2 DMs, the 3-5-2 obviously for one.
"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff
I don't see Vanney going back to the 3-5-2 - even less of a chance doing so just to give Fraser somewhere to play.
The 4-3-3 midfield Vanney really wants to play is a DM with 2 attack minded mids - that's Bradley with Oso & Poz. I think that's coming next season when Poz has had a few months rest & can refocus on his defensive capabilities (he can play defensively - he's just so knackered, asking him to track back is wasting his valuable energy reserves)
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The bigger question for me is if we free up a DP slot, what's the next DP focus? I suspect its outside attack, probably on the right, with somebody willing to put in the dirty work defensively. Suks to be Gallardo, Endoh & DeLeon but that's the logical place.
I'm not sure a Bradley-Fraser partnership works since neither of them can cover much ground. It's too bad because I like Fraser's game a lot and he deserves to be playing more
TFC brass isn't as dumb as people think. They know what they have with Fraser and they know how to develop a player like him. They will find a space on the Roster for him and give him the minutes he needs to progress to a full time starter.
With that being said - it ain't happening next year. He may find his way into more starting minutes towards the end of the year, but he won't be a full time starter until at least 2021 when he will be an over the hill 23 YEAR OLD!! <---- SARCASM He's not fucking old so stop worry about him not getting minutes and moving to Real Madrid (Over exaggeration) to find playing time...