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American Player Rankings: Michael Bradley continues his fine form in Italy
Chievo midfielder Michael Bradley moves into the top five of Goal.com's rankings for the first time in 2012.
Jan 17, 2012 10:30:00 PM
By Allen Ramsey
Michael Bradley is back.
Since moving to Chievo in the summer the midfielder has found his groove, and Sunday against Palermo was a fine example of what Bradley can be when he's on top of his game. While his style of play may still irk more than a few fans, Bradley was both efficient and disruptive as he put in a man-of-the-match performance in a 1-0 win.
His long drive that forced a save was nice, but goals are not what anybody should be looking for out of Bradley at this point in his career. He's settled into a spot where he can sit deep, distribute, and make late runs into the box, all of which he's more than capable of doing well.
There shouldn't be much of an argument against Bradley being back in with the USA the next time the first group is called up, and his new place on this list shows a measure of the respect he's earning from his form in one of the world's top leagues.
Since moving to Chievo in the summer the midfielder has found his groove, and Sunday against Palermo was a fine example of what Bradley can be when he's on top of his game. While his style of play may still irk more than a few fans, Bradley was both efficient and disruptive as he put in a man-of-the-match performance in a 1-0 win.
His long drive that forced a save was nice, but goals are not what anybody should be looking for out of Bradley at this point in his career. He's settled into a spot where he can sit deep, distribute, and make late runs into the box, all of which he's more than capable of doing well.
There shouldn't be much of an argument against Bradley being back in with the USA the next time the first group is called up, and his new place on this list shows a measure of the respect he's earning from his form in one of the world's top leagues.
| 1. Clint Dempsey |
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Comment: Dempsey's Fulham side continues to be a mystery. This weekend's loss against a Blackburn team with just 10-men on the pitch was painful to watch. Dempsey had a goal called back for being offside in the game, and his squad continues to struggle in most matches where he doesn't find the net. |
| 2. Brad Friedel |
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Comments: Friedel and Spurs dropped points over the weekend as well. A 1-1 draw with Wolves is not the way to the EPL title, and it was Friedel's inability to punch a corner clear that led to Wolves finding the net. |
| 3. Landon Donovan |
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Comments: Donovan put in a very nice shift for Everton over the weekend and his defense-splitting pass was enough to pull his club back to a 1-1 draw. |
| 4. Tim Howard |
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Comments: Howard drops one place simply because of Donovan's latest showing. |
| 5. Michael Bradley |
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Comments: Bradley is playing in a top league and playing well. At this point in the year that's enough to move him into the top five. |
| 6. Carlos Bocanegra |
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Comment: Bocanegra is still playing well and his side continues to be one of only two contenders for the SPL crown. Right now though, with Bradley playing well in Italy, the quality of that league is enough to drop the defender down a spot. |
| 7. Jozy Altidore |
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Comments: Altidore is still waiting to get on the pitch in 2012. The season will get back underway with a Dutch Cup match this week. |
| 8. Timmy Chandler |
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Comments: Chandler and Nurnberg come back from the winter break with a match against Hertha on Jan. 21. |
| 9. Brek Shea |
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Comments: Shea will be in action this weekend with the USA. |
| 10. Oguchi Onyewu |
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Comments: Onyewu has played well at the start of 2012, but was at least partly at fault for his team's 2-1 loss to Braga over the weekend. |
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