This is good news for the Americans, because Bradley can only continue to improve in Serie A. He played well for Chievo last season. And with Dempsey rumored as a target for Liverpool, this will give the Americans two players at major clubs, paving the way for others to be considered. We can only hope that one day we will produce a homegrown player who will get to a big club, and open the doors for other Jamaicans. We have gotten to smaller clubs in the BPL, but La Liga and Serie A still seem a long way off.
Bradley delight at Roma switch
July 16, 2012
by ESPN staff
US international midfielder Michael Bradley has expressed his delight at moving to Italian giants Roma, describing the move as a "once in a lifetime'' opportunity.
Bradley, 24, completed a €3.75million transfer from Chievo on Sunday, signing a four-year contract at the club.
"I am very happy to be able to play at Roma,'' Bradley told asromanews.it. "This chance only comes once in a lifetime. This club believes in me and I have proved that I am worthy of wearing this shirt.
"Now I want to show that I can earn a starting place at Roma, that I'm a player who can help the team to do well and give my best. I am really enthusiastic and looking forward to working with (Roma coach Zdenek) Zeman, who is one of the best coaches in Italy.''
The American, who has won 69 caps for his country, had only joined Chievo last summer, but after impressing in Serie A, found himself a major target for several sides.
"This year has been very important to me,'' Bradley added. "I must thank Chievo because they gave me the opportunity to play in Italy and they believed in me when no one else did. When I heard that Roma wanted me, I only had the Giallorossi club on my mind.''
Roma are looking to rebuild from an inconsistent 2011-12 season under Luis Enrique, when the side finished a disappointing seventh in the Serie A.
Great ambition for Jamaica, Distrib...if you don't think, big, you don't achieve big.
This yute Mattocks, if all they say about him is true, could be the one but I haven't seen enough of him to judge for myself.
If a homegrown Jamaican player is going to make the big leagues, he will probably have to come through the USA...college and MLS, just like the best of the Americans...if they can do it, so can the Jamaican players.
Right now, the JFF is acting in a very selfish, self-serving manner; if the JFF were really interested in getting more Jamaican players into England, they would be making more contacts with the English football clubs.
Why does one think that Geoff Cameron gets transferred to Stoke City...because MLS and the USSF maintain open lines of contact and communication constantly.
Jamaica, on the other hand, is living in its own little bubble of a football world.
Ric you are right on point with your assesment of the situation, JFF is living a lie they are acting like every thing is all good, Mattoxs will eventualy be a hotly persued player in Europe, the question remains will Jamaica's niggardly aproach in dealing with the English Premere League and the potential it offers change?
AS Roma, is American Owned. Before the inked had even dried on the sales contract, the american owners were talking about adding american players. Bradley, Dempsey and Donavon were the most mentioned.
Anyway, you guys are correct is asserting that the americans success can open more doors for other countries in the region, especially if we can play these better teeams(USA and Mexico) more competitively.It is almost impossible for the gates to bigger and more name brand leagues to open to us if the region we play is is viewed as weak. We'll have our ones and twoes, but not large scale success. That's why i have always argued for the success of MLS
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Ric, while I agree with the majority of your post, I think you may be a bit harsh on the JFF by blaming them for our lack of success with transferring our ballas to the English leagues. The "Geoff Cameron" example you chose does not help your point either, since one of our own, Rudolph Austin, was actually signed by that same club, Stoke City, only to have his work permit turned down.
AS Roma, is American Owned. Before the inked had even dried on the sales contract, the american owners were talking about adding american players. Bradley, Dempsey and Donavon were the most mentioned.
Anyway, you guys are correct is asserting that the americans success can open more doors for other countries in the region, especially if we can play these better teeams(USA and Mexico) more competitively.It is almost impossible for the gates to bigger and more name brand leagues to open to us if the region we play is is viewed as weak. We'll have our ones and twoes, but not large scale success. That's why i have always argued for the success of MLS
Bradley was not signed only because of Roma's American ownership. Zdenek Zeman, one of the most respected managers in European football, wanted him, and was willing to let Fernando Gago, who would have been in Bradley's position, go back off his loan from Real Madrid. Bradley was also being touted highly by the Italian media as on of last season's Serie A success stories. Yes, having American ownership helps put the focus on American players --Liverpool can be regarded in this way as well -- but the players will have to be worthy of the contracts.
I am no big fan of American soccer, but I will give credit where it is due and acknowledge that Bradley is a highly skilled and intelligent player. But well-nurtured Jamaican talent, which probably means talent that leaves the island at a younger age, might one day step up to this club level.
AS Roma, is American Owned. Before the inked had even dried on the sales contract, the american owners were talking about adding american players. Bradley, Dempsey and Donavon were the most mentioned.
Anyway, you guys are correct is asserting that the americans success can open more doors for other countries in the region, especially if we can play these better teeams(USA and Mexico) more competitively.It is almost impossible for the gates to bigger and more name brand leagues to open to us if the region we play is is viewed as weak. We'll have our ones and twoes, but not large scale success. That's why i have always argued for the success of MLS
Bradley was not signed only because of Roma's American ownership. Zdenek Zeman, one of the most respected managers in European football, wanted him, and was willing to let Fernando Gago, who would have been in Bradley's position, go back off his loan from Real Madrid. Bradley was also being touted highly by the Italian media as on of last season's Serie A success stories. Yes, having American ownership helps put the focus on American players --Liverpool can be regarded in this way as well -- but the players will have to be worthy of the contracts.
I am no big fan of American soccer, but I will give credit where it is due and acknowledge that Bradley is a highly skilled and intelligent player. But well-nurtured Jamaican talent, which probably means talent that leaves the island at a younger age, might one day step up to this club level.
This was not meant to dis Bradley or the Roma coach. The owners stated clearly on ESPN, CBS Sport and NY Times article that ONE of their many initial move is to bring in an American player.I am almost sure they were on The Today Show late last year, saying the same thing. As they put it, they are looking for the Jackie Robinson type. Someone talented, that can play in the Seria A, and potential deal with the media and any possible negative media. They narrowed their list to 3-4 Americans and Bradley was always the odds on favorite. They did their homework as to who this american player would be and as i stated, it's not a dis at Bradley. I for one isn't a shame to say the US has a few players light years a head of ours from a technical, tactical and mental approach to the game.
AMSTERDAM — Speaking exclusively to MLSsoccer.com, incoming AS Roma club president Thomas DiBenedetto has confirmed the club's summer intention to acquire a top American player in the transfer market.
The Boston native's takeover won't formally be approved until the end of the month, but he's already hatched a plan to add a US star to the roster with both performance and marketing attributes.
"We are obviously scouting players everywhere and we are obviously interested in the American products, both in MLS and abroad," DiBenedetto told MLSsoccer.com from Rome. "I obviously can't tell you any names, but we want only the best for our team."
The businessman, who is chairman of the takeover group and will become Roma president on June 10, is set to head the first American-owned club in Italy's honor division. Understanding the Eternal City's pressure to succeed, he wants to do the job right.
"We know that this is something unique in Italy, a first time," said DiBenedetto. "For this reason, we chose the best managers available, starting by the new sporting director, Mr. Walter Sabatini, a former SS Lazio and US Palermo director and an AS Roma player in the '70s."
Though he's unable to deal in the transfer market until the takeover is officially completed, MLSsoccer.com has learned that Sabatini started early homework for his new job by browsing American players.
Though things may change before any offer could be made, Roma's lead crushes are currently Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Michael Bradley (now on loan to Aston Villa) and LA Galaxy star Landon Donovan. Sabatini has also sized up the likes of New York Red Bulls forward Juan Agudelo, FC Nürnberg right-sider Timothy Chandler, Aston Villa 'keeper Brad Guzan and Anderlecht midfielder Sacha Kljestan.
Aside from this particular interest in shopping American talent, DiBenedetto also has an admiration for the league that helped produce most of the above products.
"We observe with a lot of interest the MLS business model," stated DiBenedetto, a friend of New England Revolution owner Robert Kraft. "Especially with regard to marketing in the local communities, the new soccer-specific stadiums and the league structure with a commissioner with real powers. And anyway, in MLS, there are some of the best businessmen in the world of sport."
