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"It will be a little more direct" - Premier League veteran Brad Friedel sheds light on Bob Bradley's style of play

Premier League veteran Brad Friedel says compatriot Bob Bradley will introduce a more "...



"It will be a little more...
Soccer

"It will be a little more direct" - Premier League veteran Brad Friedel sheds light on Bob Bradley's style of play

Premier League veteran Brad Friedel says compatriot Bob Bradley will introduce a more "direct" and "efficient" style at Swansea.

Friedel, who holds the record for most consecutive appearances in the Premier League with 310, admitted the Welsh side will revert to a more straightforward approach.

"The style of play will be different from than what it was under Brendan Rodgers and [Roberto] Martinez, so I hope the fans will be prepared for that," the former USA goalkeeper told the BBC.

"It will be a little more direct - when you used to play the Swansea teams when it was Martinez and Rodgers it was total possession, and I'm not saying he [Bradley]'s a long-ball coach but it will be a bit more pragmatic.

"I'm not saying it will be difficult on the eye, but it will be efficient, and I mean that in a positive way, I don't mean that in a negative way, but it will be a little bit different."

Friedel praised Bradley for turning down offers in the MLS, instead opting to hone his craft farther afield and says this has helped develop his character in a managerial sense.

"There is absolutely a steel to Bob Bradley," he continued. "Bob will also be a communicator with the players - that won't be an issue but if he has to make a hard decision he will have no problem making that hard decision.

"I think there'll be two different Bob Bradleys - the one that speaks to his players and the one who speaks to the media and rightly so.

"He's been around a lot and I give a lot of credit to Bob - he has had a lot of opportunities to take big jobs in the United States since he left but he chose to go and ply his trade in Norway to try to get a bigger name in Europe, he went to France and narrowly missed out on promotion last year. He's put a lot of work into this and I really hope it goes well for him."

Swansea parted company yesterday with the Italian manager, taking full advantage of the international break and wasted no time in installing a replacement.

Bradley, who has also managed the Egyptian national team and Norwegian side Stabaek, joins from French second-tier team Le Havre to succeed Guidolin, who was appointed in January.

Le Harve missed out on promotion to the French top flight last season by just one goal. 

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