Posted by

Michele Tossani ,

April 6, 2014 Twitter:

@MicheleTossani

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Can Bradley be an

effective trequartista for

TFC & USMNT?

This past week, MLSsoccer.com’s analyst Matthew Doyle wrote a good article highlighting Michael Bradley's new role with the USMNT. Jurgen Klinsmann’s starting XI against Mexico last Wednesday was a 4-4-2 diamond with Bradley lined up as a trequartista. Although Bradley isn’t the most creative player on the team, he can be good enough to make nice, clean passes in the final third, providing smart balls through the channels. Playing in an advanced role also allows Bradley to get into the box and exploit his finishing ability.



Lining up workhorses as trequartista isn’t completely a new. You have seen Max Allegri’s Milan utilizing Kevin-Prince Boateng at the top of the diamond. Boateng provided the physical attributes that was lacking in a classic No. 10. Boateng, like Bradley, is better described as a box-to-box midfielder rather than an offensive playmaker. Utilizing this kind of player between the midfield and attack allows a team to bring on more energy to press the deep-lying playmaker or to break the build-up when a team is out of possession. When his side doesn't control the ball, this player can drop back adding a midfielder in the defensive phase. Inter's Fredy Guarin is a physical midfielder who has been utilized like a false ten last season. He is another fine example of a box-to-box prototype player fielded into a No. 10 spot. During Rafa Benitez’s regime as Liverpool manager Steven Gerrard was employed as "the man in the hole" just behind Fernando Torres and he produced some of his best soccer. Earlier this season, we've seen Pep Guardiola employing Javi Martinez, a former central defender - holding midfielder, as a classic No. 10. TFC doesn't have a defined attacking midfielder so the idea to line up a midfielder more focused on attacking the channels rather than on being creative could warrant a serious look. Toronto could switch to a 4-3-1-2 keeping Jonathan Osorio or Jeremy Hall at the bottom of the diamond. It could also allow for Bradley to reduce the distance he has to cover in the way to chase the opponent’s deep-lying playmaker. See also: A lack of dept hurts TFC's chances with 4-4-2

However, as this formation could leave TFC vulnerable out wide or force them to give up a capable winger such as Jackson, they could use a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Bradley as trequartista between the lines. It will allow TFC to stay more compact defensively and more capable of picking up the ball in the final third and at the same time providing a huge amount of pressing. Bradley would link midfield and attack but also drop deep creating spaces for upcoming midfielders. He could create a lot of space in between opponents' defensive line and midfield for, for example, Dwayne De Rosario to exploit. Both Bradley and De Rosario could constantly switch their positions making TFC tougher to defend against.



Perhaps playing behind the forwards isn’t the best position for Bradley, or that in which he is best suited, but it’s an interesting option that Ryan Nelsen could try as Plan B when the opportunity arises. Michele Tossani is a football tactician with a Ph.D. in History. Michele resides in Florence, Italy and is a tactical analyst for Futbol-Tactico.com