Fansided

Is Michael Bradley Toronto FC’s Messiah? Yes, He Is

By Jo-Ryan Salazar

Sep 5, 2013; San Jose, COSTA RICA; United States forward Michael Bradley at a press conference at the Costa Rica Marriott San Jose in advance of the FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Costa Rica. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2013; San Jose, COSTA RICA; United States forward Michael Bradley at a press conference at the Costa Rica Marriott San Jose in advance of the FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Costa Rica. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 5, 2013; San Jose, COSTA RICA; United States forward Michael Bradley at a press conference at the Costa Rica Marriott San Jose in advance of the FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Costa Rica. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2013; San Jose, COSTA RICA; United States forward Michael Bradley at a press conference at the Costa Rica Marriott San Jose in advance of the FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Costa Rica. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

You all know the news by now. If you haven’t, here’s what’s up. Toronto FC — yes, lowly Toronto FC — are on the verge of signing what some people in local circles, if not all, are calling the Reds’ Messiah: Michael Bradley. Chalk this up as another MLS success story that is returning to the league that gave him his big break.

I mean, the media, of which the FanSided Network is a mighty fine proud part of, are spinning this as the biggest signing since David Beckham elected to spend a few years with the Los Angeles Galaxy. We’re talking 57 league appearances with Heerenveen, 76 league appearances with Borussia Monchengladbach, 35 appearences with Chievo and 41 league appearances with AS Romas as of this article date.

Never mind the fact that Bradley has made 82 appearances with the USA Men’s National Team and is expected to be on the squad for Brazil this summer. At the age of 26, Bradley is in the prime of his career, and Toronto is under the stewardship of that wonderful, brash, former AEG bigwig known as Tim Leiweke, the head of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.

Bradley would be the next landmark signing for MLS, after Clint Dempsey made a similar return to the league last year from Tottenham Hotspur to join the Seattle Sounders. Bradley has the type of passing and austere play that won the hearts of fans in Serie A, and he’s bring it to North America once again.

And when you combine this with the signing of Jermain Defoe this week (press conference coming Monday),  the rest of the league has to now be sweating. The bar may be still be low on Toronto FC this year, but this is the time in the calendar when you get designated players that are ready to raise the bar and put the rest of Major League Soccer on notice.

From my standpoint, I expect Toronto to contend for a spot in the playoffs. And with Michael Bradley set to join the Reds, this struggling club will be on their way to relevancy once again.

Just walk away, Montreal and Vancouver. That Voyageurs Cup is coming back to Toronto…if all goes right according to the new Messiah’s plans. Stay tuned.

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