While many of us expect USMNT and AS Roma midfielder Michael Bradley to be introduced as an MLS and Toronto FC player on Monday, as they also unveil Tottenham's English forward Jermaine Defoe, I would just like to point out that we are a long way from that happening. With the addition of Gilberto earlier in the off season, and Tottenham's Defoe on Monday, TFC will have 3 designated players. League rules only allow 3, so Michael Bradley can not be added to Toronto until they find a buyer, trade partner, or they out right release the talented Mattias Laba. And though AS Roma has already announced the departure of Bradley for a hefty fee to Toronto and MLS, MLS and Toronto itself have not confirmed anything.
Now that we have the minor details out of the way, Bradley is still expected to sign the papers and make the deal official over the next several days, once Laba has been dealt with. (Or MLS comes up with a Bradley rule) The reaction of fans in the US, in particular the euro snobs who support the USMNT but have no interest in supporting MLS, has been a combination of hilarious, vile, hypocritical, and down right ignorant.
One bombastic blowhard, sorry, former stateside soccer talking head, called the move a disaster because Bradley would be moving to a third rate club in a third tier league. Some fans have already predicted World Cup doom because of the move. Some fans have even started to question Bradley making the USMNT squad for the World Cup based on the move. Some have brought out the always fun mental masturbation circle jerk that is the cyclical argument... MLS won't be worth watching until top players in their prime start to play there. Michael Bradley is a top player in his prime, and therefore, too good to join a league like MLS. Some argue that the best American players playing in MLS hurts the USMNT, and attempt to prove this scenario by pointing to Brasil, where their top players rarely play in the Brasilian league past their teenage years. Some have claimed that Bradley is quitting on his career, or pussy-ing out by leaving a top European club for money and comfort in MLS.
While listening to and reading the reactions of American fans during the past few days, I have come to a realization that I believe I already knew... American fans are insecure about their fandom, but more importantly, they are completely dependent on validation from outside the country to make them feel worthy. They don't feel validated as being "real" without Americans abroad being validated as real. Not just in the big 4 european leagues, but with top clubs in the big four leagues. Not just in the Champions League, but in the Champions League with top clubs. Mentally, American fans are middle aged small dicked men driving around in expensive sports cars with a blonde half their age on their arm, hoping that something that will never happen becomes true if they project the right image. Fans in many countries respect you more than you think, but they will never respect you as much as you want, especially when you only want to be a copy of their fandom. And frankly, if you need validation from daddy to feel like a man, you aren't one. The projection of fans own quirks and insecurities onto the Michael Bradley situation has been troubling, and to relax some of those fears, I would like to break it down for you now in a way that may help you understand it, and that the move is actually a good one for Bradley, the USMNT, and MLS.
THE WORLD CUP
One of the major concerns for American fans over the Michael Bradley move has been the impending World Cup in Brasil. Apparently, over the next few months, MLS and Toronto are so bad, Michael Bradley will fall off a cliff and destroy every chance we have of competing at the World Cup. On its face, a completely farcical knee jerk reaction having nothing to do with reality. If you put together a highlight real of the past few World Cups for the Americans, the main star of such a clip would be MLS based Landon Donovan. While Americans have slated Donovan for years for not spending his career in Europe, instead being happy and comfortable in MLS, the truth is, spending his career in MLS hasn't hurt Donovan's career, form, World Cup performances, or life. It may have hurt his bank balance, but if he is fine with that, you should be too. And if reports are even remotely accurate, Michael Bradley will be making more money in Toronto than he ever was going to in Europe.
While bashing Donovan at every turn for his MLS choice, upon a 2 month spell at Everton in the English Premier League, fans reacted as if they never knew that Donovan was a good player, and seemed shocked by his sudden validation in their eyes. His return home seemed to provoke them even more, because he had proven himself in Europe. How could he not want to spend his career there, making their dreams come true, instead, selfishly fulfilling his own desires? The fact is, Landon Donovan has been the greatest American field player ever to walk the face of planet Earth, and he did it almost entirely while playing in MLS.
Should Michael Bradley or the US have a bad World Cup, we already know most American hate-MLS-first fans will blame MLS and the Toronto move for the failure. Completely ignoring that we are in the group-of-death. Ignoring that players have bad World Cups all the time. Ignoring that we got to the World Cup again thanks in part to the hard work of Bradley during qualifying. Should the US succeed at the Cup and Bradley play well, it will be because Jurgen Klinsmann is a genius and Bradley played so long in Europe, MLS didn't have the chance to taint him yet. These are not valid arguments, so get them out of your head now. MLS has done more for the USMNT over the past decade than Europe has.
WHY BRADLEY, WHY?
One thing the fans seem to be having a deep issue with is the "why" question. Why would an American leave a top club in Europe fighting for a spot in next years Champions League? Why would he not leave for another Italian or English club? Why would he choose MLS? If you think for a few moments, the answer are pretty obvious, but let me help you and spell them out for you, saving you from doing the thinking yourself...
Michael Bradley has been continually disrespected by Roma. If you asked managers and scouts all over Europe what a fair wage would be for Michael Bradley, I promise you that most would say he was underpaid at Roma. The club have also continuously brought in new players (with better wages) at his position. Strootman in the summer, Nainggolan this very winter. He lost his position due to an injury, and has been marginalized since. His future wasn't at Roma, even if he tried to stay and fight for a few games a year.
We are led to believe that Bradley had several European options open to him, from Bologna and Chievo in Italy, to Fulham, Sunderland, and Cardiff in England. Why would Bradley choose Toronto over bottom feeding clubs abroad?
In Toronto, Bradley will be a key player. At Roma he was a small piece in a rebuilt puzzle. At Sunderland he would be a cog in an already muddled situation where our starting striker is already caught in the mire, desperately seeking form. At Bologna or Chievo he would be a leader, but still a piece for hire, a stop on the road until a bigger club moves in and makes the club some money. A move he already made in Italy. At Fulham or Cardiff, like Sunderland, he would be caught up in a troubling and stressful situation, trying to settle with his back to the wall. And realistically, Bradley already made his EPL move, and during his loan move to Aston Villa, he again was completely disrespected, not being able to get a game. We all know he was good enough to improve that midfield, and yet he couldn't make it past the training pitch. Not wanting to risk a bad situation again in a World Cup year isn't that surprising.
Michael Bradley, though still 26, has spent a decade in Europe. He proved himself in Holland. He proved himself in Germany. He proved himself in Italy. After a decade away from home, proving himself abroad, what more does he need to do?
Money and comfort are two factors in his choice if reports are reliable. Some have suggested his wages will be 5-6 times that of his current Roma deal. I believe it is more 3-4 times his current wages, but either way, if someone asked you to leave your job for another, where you increased your pay 2 times, 3 times, 6 times over, for doing the same job, who says no?
While we see Bradley on the pitch for 90 minutes each week (when he plays), what do we know of his off pitch life? He is married and a new father. What is life like for his family in Rome? We do not know, and shouldn't make judgements based on our own desires without having walked in those shoes.
For me, the real "why" question is why should Michael Bradley care that you need validation and are insecure? Why should he care that you want a yank at a top club, and a top club in the Champions League? He shouldn't. Its your issue, not his. And why should we care about Americans flying the flag trying to prove something to foreigners? Do we not know when a player is "good enough"? Do we not know that Michael Bradley is good enough? Why must we always need someone else to tell us we are worthy? We shouldn't.
MLS
MLS isn't watchable because good players don't play here in their prime. Landon Donovan, Dwayne DeRosario, and others don't count because they are from here and never really "made it" in Europe. Then, when Clint Dempsey or Michael Bradley come home with years left in the tank, fans freak because they are too good to play in MLS and are throwing their careers away. Its not just an anti-MLS point of view, but again goes to the fans need to be validated, having nothing to do with the players happiness or comfort. Projecting your issues on another isn't healthy. Will Bradley, Dempsey, and any other proven European commodity improve MLS over the course of the next decade simply by their presence? Of course. And that should be a worthy goal of any real fan of the game in America.
One major complaint has been that returning to MLS is bad enough, but going to Toronto (a third rate team in a third tier league) is a kiss of death. These people clearly have little knowledge of MLS or Toronto beyond a surface view. The truth is that Toronto has made blunder after blunder in the past, but with the appointment of former AEG chief, (LA Galaxy President) and current head of MLSE Tim Leiweke, Toronto has made all of the right moves. At the end of the season, Ryan Nelsen's press conference saw a half filled press room and a lack of interest. Since then, Mr. Entertainment Tim Leiweke introduced DP Gilberto during half time of a Toronto Raptors game. He brought in Dwayne DeRosario for locker room leadership and to get fans excited, leading to a packed press room where not everyone could fit. He brought in England international Jermaine Defoe. And now, Michael Bradley. While Nelsen's credentials as manager are still in doubt, (a pre-Leiweke appointment) every move the showman who brought David Beckham to MLS has made has been spot on. Even with years of poor results and poor leadership, the fan base and facilities of Toronto have been near the top of MLS. Add Leiweke's bravado, desire for trophies, and a $26 million war chest heading into the off season, all signs point to a turn around for Toronto. Something we all know can happen in a flash in MLS.
Bradley is important to MLS and Toronto. He will instantly be under pressure to be the face of the franchise as well as the league, but he will also need to lift himself up to be "the man", and his mentality and character says he will be able to do it. Beyond his impact, he will impact the rest of the players in the league as well. Players step up their game and want to prove something against Henry, Donovan, Keane, Beckham, Dempsey, Bradley, etc. Playing against the stars gives the entire league a boost.
The most damning evidence against the MLS haters is that players like Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley see MLS as an option. Not a retirement option. A prime option. They don't see the league as harmful to their career. Their bank balance. Their lifestyle. Their USMNT hopes. Its time the fans catch up to the thoughts of the players. Giles Barnes, former EPL and Championship player who currently plays for Houston Dynamo has said several times that his friends in both of the top two divisions of English football constantly ask him about MLS, and see it as a real option. Money being the factor that holds established players back. Despite what the American fans think of the league, players see it as legitimate and an option. Why many fans can't follow is mind boggling, and harmful to the sport in this country. Including the National Team they claim to support.
For me, a dip in USMNT fortunes over the next decade would be worth it if it helps improve MLS, which in turn will eventually help the USMNT even more than it already has. Though evidence suggests, our best players coming home will not harm the USMNT in any way. Its easy to look at Brasil and claim that they have a great national team because their best players do not play in their domestic league, but against top talent week in and week out. Suggesting that a national team can only be successful with its players based at home, if the domestic league is a top league. (Spain, Germany, Italy, England.) Yet we only need to look south of our border to see the problem with such a view. Mexico has always had a strong base of domestic players. This year, their entire qualifying success was built upon domestic talent. Would anyone suggest they haven't had success in the World Cup? As much and more on all levels from kids to the first team than the US? Does France not have a great national team, with many of its best talents domestic based, even though it isn't in the "big 4" of leagues? Is MLS not one of the best 7 leagues in the world already anyway, based on attendance and quality of play? All with a salary cap that is going to increase with the new collective bargaining agreement, and one that has seen DP slots expand to 3 per team?
IN RETROSPECT
MLS is not a death kiss to your career. MLS is not a death kiss to your USMNT aspirations. MLS does not turn quality players into bad players. MLS is better than you think it is. You don't need validation from someone a world away who has their own issues. You don't need to feel insecure about your fandom or your national team players.
We may need to start daily affirmation to help get the point across. We are good enough. We are smart enough. And who gives a damn if people like us. Our players are good enough. Our league is good enough. And its time we put decade old lazy and ignorant cliches in the trash where they belong.
MLS is demanding your attention.
You're insecure and need validation, but don't take it out on Michael Bradley, or the rest of us who know what you have been missing.
Until next time, remember, MLS Matters.
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