TROPHY IN HAND, BRADLEY SILENCES HIS MANY CRITICS
Midfielder didn’t come cheap, but who can put a price on a MLS championship?
Google “Michael Bradley overpaid,” then have a laugh.
Prominent pundits were like parakeets when Toronto FC inked Bradley for a multimilliondollar sum in early 2014. They couldn’t see beyond the many dollar signs.
The signing didn’t make sense, they said. Not at that price. Not for what Bradley had to offer.
Former ESPN pundit Alexi Lalas — known to trade barbs with Bradley from time to time — used his national TV platform to claim Bradley wasn’t worth the price.
Others whispered it behind the scenes amid pondering if The General could accomplish what he said he’d do three years ago: Turn TFC into a “winning team.”
Funny how fast chirping ceases when wins and records and trophies speak for themselves, isn’t it?
Bradley let results do most, but not all, of the talking. It’s why he was handed a Brinks truck full of dough for his play and commitment and mentality and, most of all, his laser focus.
The club’s top brass knew it needed a leader in a dressing room they spent three seasons overhauling.
Justin Morrow was there from the start, as was Jonathan Osorio. Both started Saturday’s 2-0 MLS Cup win over the Seattle Sounders. Both were immense.
Asked earlier this season what Bradley meant to Toronto FC’s locker-room, Morrow laughed while struggling to find words to describe his captain’s contributions.
“It’s Michael Bradley,” he repeated.
Morrow continued by saying Bradley’s detractors just “don’t know” what they’re talking about.
Few players, if any, in MLS history have been able to do what Bradley’s done for his team. He’s part of the reason why guys like Jozy Altidore and Drew Moor are in Toronto.
He helped make Toronto FC a destination for Altidore, the MLS Cup MVP, and Moor, a veteran Bradley singled out post-game as playing a huge role in the team’s transformation.
“The group we had was so committed, so focused,” Bradley said. “I think I’m a pretty driven person. At times I have to make sure I don’t wear guys out.
“For me, there’s no problem to go 24 hours a day, every single day, but I understand everybody is different. I know I have to pick and choose moments to say things.
“With this team, it was incredible. There was never one moment where I looked around and felt like guys were losing focus or forgetting about what we wanted to do.”
Bradley wouldn’t let them. The other big players on the team wouldn’t let them. The result: The fans will remember them.
The fans will remember Alex Bono for coming up big in backto-back series against the Red Bulls and Columbus, Justin Morrow for his tireless work rate and the Best XI quality he’s shown over multiple seasons and Chris Mavinga for his athleticism and the last-ditch tackles.
They’ll remember Moor as the free agent signing who finally provided TFC with a consistent, rock solid centre back and defensive leader.
They’ll remember Eriq Zavaleta as the who-cares signing who turned into a 27-game starter in a record-setting season.
They’ll remember Steven Beitashour for being the reliable, right-sided defensive stalwart who recovered from a pancreas injury in time for the playoffs.
They’ll remember Marky Delgado as the youngster that coach Greg Vanney unearthed out of nowhere — the perfect ballmover in a midfield that included Bradley and Victor Vazquez.
And they’ll remember Vazquez as the league’s best off-season addition, a player who passes and reads the game like few others in North America.
They’ll remember Sebastian Giovinco for being the best player in MLS history after he showed up in TFC’s biggest moment.
They’ll remember Altidore for what he’s done in these playoffs, scoring seven times in 10 postseason starts.
And they’ll remember Vanney for moulding this TFC side into a tactically fluid MLS juggernaut, and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko and president Bill Manning for building the scouting network that targeted the aforementioned players.
With the blessing of his board, ex-Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke will be remembered for being the patriarch of what took place on the weekend.
Where would Toronto FC be if Bradley, Altidore, Giovinco and Vazquez had chosen Europe over Canada?
“We built from Michael. He’s one of four guys who were a part of our team three years ago,” Vanney said. “We went through adding the right people.
“The second part is creating an environment where everyone is bought in and they feel they’re a part of something special.”
While most of the questions and conversation Saturday night centered around MLS Cup, Vanney did hint Toronto FC isn’t done.
The bench boss offered a brief reminder that Toronto FC is hunting down MLS’s first Champions League title in a few months.
Win that and some of those same pundits might argue Bradley isn’t paid enough. You’d get no argument from supporters in Toronto.
Bradley let results do most, but not all, of the talking. It’s why he was handed a Brinks truck full of dough for his play and commitment and mentality and, most of all, his laser focus.