Life after Bob, or This Sure as Hell Beats Promoing the Seattle Game
by Martek on Jul 28, 2011 2:40 PM CDT
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OK, here's the official release from U.S. Soccer:
CHICAGO (July 28, 2011) — U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati announced today that Bob Bradley has been relieved of his duties as the head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team.
"We want to thank Bob Bradley for his service and dedication to U.S. Soccer during the past five years," said Gulati. "During his time as the head coach of our Men’s National Team he led the team to a number of accomplishments, but we felt now was the right time for us to make a change. It is always hard to make these decisions, especially when it involves someone we respect as much as Bob. We wish him the best in his future endeavors."
This announcement comes after a meeting at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., between Gulati, Bradley and U.S. Soccer CEO Dan Flynn.
Bradley was named the head coach of the U.S. MNT in January of 2007 and during his five-year tenure compiled a 43-25-12 record. He led the team to a number of accomplishments, including winning the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup, finishing second in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, winning their World Cup qualifying group and advancing to the Round of 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
U.S. Soccer will have a further announcement on Friday.
So now the question is simple, what will be announced tomorrow, and in the wake of this happening so quickly, have they already hired someone?
I have heard the name Jason Kreis bandied about, also Dominic Kinnear and Sigi Schmid, not to mention, of course, Juergen Klinsman, Guus Hiddink and Marcelo Bielsa.
So get your prediction in now before we get the announcement, whatever it is tomorrow. Whomever guesses correctly gets tagged forevermore on Dynamo Theory as as the Orange Nostradamus.
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Ortiz' take
http://blog.chron.com/soccer/2011/07/bradleys-firing-a-year-too-late-or-three-years-too-early/
I agree completely about the year too late thing. But it is what it is. The value of this firing depends on who replaces him and what he brings that’s substantially different. Any sideways moves and we’ll all know that the faults lie completely and totally with Sunil Gulati.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
we haven't even started qualifying yet
A new coach has a couple of friendlies to work with before anything important. I’m surprised they did it, but I’m fine with the timing.
"If my hips had pockets, I wouldn't wear pants at all." @NotBurtReynolds
Yeah
It still is a bit of a surprise/shock, but then again its not all that surprising. And I agree, there is rarely a good time to fire a head coach considering how international calendars are now but better now to start the hiring process (and all that goes in to changing up the team philosophy going forward)
I'm a bielsa fan
…but didn’t just sign on with a club?
"If my hips had pockets, I wouldn't wear pants at all." @NotBurtReynolds
Yup...
Just hired by Athletic Bilbao in La Liga.
Rumors on twitter are saying Marcelo Lippi or Klinnsman.
Klinnsman
wouldn’t shock me and to be fair its a good choice. I just don’t see him winning head-to-head battles with Gulati and to maximize what Klinnsman can offer you have to give him a pretty free hand
Klinsmann won't take the job unless he has the power to do what he wants
That’s the reason Bradley was hired in the first place. If Klinsmann takes the reigns away from Gulati et al I will be happy.
"If my hips had pockets, I wouldn't wear pants at all." @NotBurtReynolds
I'm hearing a lot of fuss that it's Klinsmann
And if it is, this is the best thing to happen to US Soccer since Alex Morgan…lol.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
The US Women's National Team Coach disagrees
And I think her proving an international can make US Soccer on some level entertaining was the piece that Gulati needed to finally move in that direction.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
I somehow suspect
Gulati feels about Women’s NT football the same way Uncle Sepp does:
Good football, good looking, GREAT RATING$$$
To him and to FIFA it seems to be treated as a niche and as such, doesn’t have the interest (read: money) to make too many waves or cause any NT directors too much hassle. Live and let live, as long as it brings in sponsorship money and ratings. To them, men’s football is where the action is and thus the greater interest
Which is sad
Because the draw on the Women’s World Cup was insane. Yes, our girls look good, but damn, they are also VERY talented. Especially Alex Morgan. She’s the future!
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
Yep
And Pia Sundhage has done a good job with them thus far, and has proven she understands how to create an internationally relevant team which relies on more than just being physically dominant. Possession football for the win, and with a good solid punch when needed!
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
Not to take anything away from her
…but the US had a HUGE head start on women’s sports compared to South America and even Europe. consdering the women struggled to even qualify shows that gap has been closed, but we probably had a 10-15 year start on ANY kind of development system for women.
"If my hips had pockets, I wouldn't wear pants at all." @NotBurtReynolds
Absolutely
But the gameplan prior to her coming in was to just physically dominate the other team. When Germany, France, and the others began to match that physicality it was going to take someone who understood the game to actually make the right positional and matchup changes to compete. Intro Sundhage. She did a good job, yes with a lot of talent, but it’s still a good job nonetheless.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
Oh I think she did a great job
She definitely brought some organization and style to how the team played, but tactical decisions tend to have a way of working out when you have a lot of talent. A baseball manager with a great bullpen always seems to make just the right move, but a manger with a terrible bullpen always seems to have his moves blow up in his face.
"If my hips had pockets, I wouldn't wear pants at all." @NotBurtReynolds
Tend to, but not always
What I think sold me on Sundhage is the team-play style of the USWNT. It’s very team oriented, and everyone is involved on some level. Whereas you look at the USMNT and it’s much more feed it to Donovan and let him make the play. It’s a big difference, and I am all about team play. You play as a team, and you are no longer individuals with talent, you’re a team of talented individuals. That is what I think it will take for the USMNT to progress any further than they have as well.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
If that's true
I don’t think it will be Klinsman
"If my hips had pockets, I wouldn't wear pants at all." @NotBurtReynolds
NOOOOOO
Klinsmann only success was a short stint with Germany- @ home- where he didn;t take them any further than they always went. Now many wonder if his asst coach deserves credit for the success.
We don’t need to take another risk, another crap 4 yrs. Need someone very successful @ International lvl.
Lippi, Hiddink, Bielsa, or even Trappattoni (we’d have to convince his wife who doesn’t even want him in Ireland with the Bhoys). I’m with Papa, Bielsa or Hiddink, though the others listed would be fine choices.
What is ridiculous- sending players abroad where they reach higher levls, then having them play under managers who have none of the same higher level experience.
Hiddink
FTW, in my opinion. If he can make Russia & Turkey look like threats (which granted, they have good footballers) then I think he can make some noise with the USMNT
Yes
I’m also looking beyond this World Cup cycle (look @ North Korea now- post Hiddink). I like Bielsa because of what he says to our maybe not so legal community.
Some of the best youth soccer is played secretly, far away from the flashy YSO’s with their concession stands. These are rich veins of talent, full of soccer support and tradition. And these are folks deathly afraid of La Migra. The kids are probably legal, but the parents aren’t…
whoo boy
did you ever speak the name that shall never be spake.
there are teams in a colonia near where I live and these kids can play their a$$es off, and they’re all U-10. I mean like, they could play against Academy U-14’ers and probably hand them their lunch. But yes, once you start elevating them to more scrutiny its clear that they (and likely because of their family) start to get very uncomfortable. It’s a shame because there are scores of them that could really shine for the US (and despite all the hoo-ha over the Gold Cup final they would happily represent the US). I play with a kid who’s mom is from Monterrey and he said if he would love to represent the US
Yessssssssss
But if we truly want to find our #10, we might want to look @ the hidden gems where creativity isn’t stifled.
Don’t wanna go all Paul Gardner on ya, but YSO can stauch creative soccer growth. We have had millions of kids playing soccer for the past 20-30 yrs, but we plateau or progress very slowly further up the ladder. It’s not that we are worse athletes, something stifles their development or the very valid argument- our great athletes gravitate to other sports.
The great athletes in the colonia/barrio, whatever, they stay playing soccer. Muy muy importante!
Should be...
Guus Hiddink.
Will be: Caleb Porter
Though for giggles, could you imagine if they did pick Kinnear?? That would throw us for a curve that no one can predict where it would go. Let’s hope (for our sake) they pass over him this time
Then again this is Gulati, who makes Mayor Quimby look like Abe Lincoln
On Twitter
SoccerByIves Ives Galarcep
Setting line now: Klinsmann 1/1, Lippi 4/1, Ancelotti 10/1, MLS coach 99/1 (and no, the math doesn’t add up, didn’t bother closet bookies)
SoccerByIves Ives Galarcep
While Lippi rumor gathers steam I’m hearing now that Klinsmann’s the guy, which makes more sense since Gulati has chased him for 5 years
GrantWahl Grant Wahl
USA hasn’t had a foreign men’s soccer coach since 1995. Wouldn’t be surprised to see one now. Got e-mail out to Jürgen Klinsmann.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
I think this is a funny quote, at least it made me laugh when I read it
brianching Brian Ching
Some days just put a smile on your face.
That’s from Chinger’s twitter.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
I've never understood the Klinsman fascination
I would be perfectly happy with him as the coach, but he is held in much higher regard here than he is in Germany.
"If my hips had pockets, I wouldn't wear pants at all." @NotBurtReynolds
Watch what you wish for
I think is what Gulati is in for…Klinnsman started (or at least “popularized”) the youth movement that has been trending in German NT football. But the German establishment was no fan of his and ultimately it was some loggerheads with some of the senior members and press that made him decide it wasn’t worth the hassle. I imagine he’ll want a pretty free hand here if he signs on and while Gulati might offer that, we’ll see exactly how long a leash he’s given
If he's not given the length he wants
Gulati will ultimately find himself in even hotter pants than he is already.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
well that's why wasn't hired before
Gualti wouldn’t give him the control he wanted. I wouldn’t mind Gulati losing control over the direction of the program.
It just seems people are here are fascinated with Klinsman, but Germans (and the rest of my Euro co-workers) don’t seem to think nearly as highly of him
"If my hips had pockets, I wouldn't wear pants at all." @NotBurtReynolds
Germans think highly of people?
When did this take place? Aren’t they kinda frumpy most of the time? (P.S. I’m part German, I can rag on my part-brethren and sister-en?
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
I think that's the point.
Hopefully, Gulati realizes that we need a unifying vision for all levels of US Soccer. It doesn’t help us when U-17 teams promote a fluid possession style and Bradley wants to chuck and duck. Torres couldn’t make the team because Bob wanted him to one touch every time. I thought BB was a good coach, but it’s time for a change.
You know
I was thinking about that and want to post something about that later that we SERIOUSLY need to get our NT program together and develop a unified curriculum a la France and Spain. It seems to be a disconnect between MLS, youth teams, universities and then the USMNT
My opinion...
Is that he’s a good option for us because he has much more of an understanding of the US and it’s soccer culture than most foreign coaches would. I don’t know that he’s the best X’s and O’s guy out there, but he may the best foreign coach who can make the smoothest transition to be the USMNT coach.
Fair assessment
But again its up to Gulati…I do think he could probably do a great job with the talent we currently have plus what’s waiting in the wings, but he works a little, er, “different” :)
Zygo weighs in
Yes, that’s Houston’s own Brian Zygo. Let’s all give him a hand:
bzygo Brian Zygo
Just saw someone suggest Bill Cowher for #USMNT coach. I could live with that. ;-)
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
Wait a second
Bill Cowher isn’t Bob Bradley? WHAT?!
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
Funny suggestions that have me horrified/smiling/no, just horrified
Maradona
Sven
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
Maybe a Seattle co-owner but he's right
On Twitter;
DrewFromTV Drew Carey
Remember, Bradley Haters, that the problems the #USMNT is facing go deeper than just who’s the head coach.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
I saw that
He knows what’s up. And let’s be honest, Drew Carey because of Seattle’s success on an immediate level, actually has a pretty darn good football brain. He has a good following on Twitter, too. I’ve always been a fan.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
I think everybody here agrees with it.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
More hilarious USMNT Quotes
shinguardian The Shin Guardian
If you’re in Mexico. Help us out. Look up at all the tall buildings. If you can see Jonathan Bornstein, please call 911. #couldntresist
TSG is pretty funny sometimes.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
From Megan Rapinoe
RT @mpinoe: @GrantWahl uh yeah someone at ussocer best be graveling and offering up a one of their own kids to get him.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
Lol! Wow, that's awesome.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
Good point
TIAS Adam Spangler
credit to USSF. NO ONE had this story.
So, from this we learn that Sunil can keep a secret. Either that, or he’s just really good at Simon Says
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
Or he's really good at spontaneous last second decisions
I think I choose this one.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
Especially when you add in it was what, 3-4 months ago, they offered Bob a
4 year contract?
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
And I'd throw out there that if Klinsmann is the one
Then Klinsmann basically told Gulati “yeah, I’ll do it”, and Gulati had a moment of “let’s get this thing done, now.” Hence the sudden and speedy nature of proceedings.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
Lots of practice keeping all those bribes secret
"If my hips had pockets, I wouldn't wear pants at all." @NotBurtReynolds
Absolutely agree
briansciaretta Brian Sciaretta
A JK hire would show tunnel vision. Why is he still the top choice since 2006? He had only one coaching job in 5 yrs and it wasn’t good
Apparently, Brian has been talking to playtherapy
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
Duece is a class act
Clint Dempsey reacts to Bob Bradley being released as USA boss – Goal.com http://t.co/ck48OkP
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
Yep
As much as I liked Ching little jab, I don’t have any hate for Bradley. He did some good things for us. He had his flaws sure, but he got a lot of hate simply because some people thought his son got special treatment. Maybe he did but MB is a good player who will likely be a big part of the team even with his Dad gone (assuming he doesn’t become a trouble maker because his Dad got fired.
"If my hips had pockets, I wouldn't wear pants at all." @NotBurtReynolds
well said
I mean look, we’re never going to be perfectly happy with a NT coach, his selections or tactics. Players will be left off, people will say wrong formation, etc. But all in all he did a solid job and I think Jr is a good midfielder, so long as he acts like he’s got hair down there.
Martin Rogers from Yahoo has interesting Tweet series
Maybe this is already a done deal
Martin Rogers
mrogersyahoo Martin Rogers
Lippi – close to Italian media, no real buzz there. Hiddink – zero action in Turkey. Van Basten – poor fit. Bielsa – just joined Bilbao
7 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply
Martin Rogers
mrogersyahoo Martin Rogers
Can’t reply to all – but a few general points. It won’t be an American…as @soccerbyives says they didn’t fire Bradley now just to go local
9 minutes ago
Martin Rogers
mrogersyahoo Martin Rogers
Process of elimination leading closer and closer to Klinsmann….
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
As long
No matter the results @ top level (I’ll reread this and shoot myself later, I know), if we build infrastructure to get to top levels and stay there (so games in the finals group against powerhouses like Algeria and Slovenia don;‘t become so damn difficult), I’ll write off the next few yrs (there’s a Dynamo analogy in there somewhere).
Yea no kidding
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
From Steve Davis
On the money, as usual
SteveDavis90 Steve Davis
Sunil Gulati’s reputation at stake here, and he MUST make a hire with proven record of taking programs the right direction. Otherwise … .When smoke clears from bombshell, serious ?s will be asked about giving a four-year contract, then firing same guy less than a year later
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
11% for Dom
Are they part of the 20% or so that want him out?
Dom is a fine MLS manager. Seemingly good at what he’s good at, seemingly not so good at what he doesn’t seem good at.
But definitely not an international manager, especially for the level that the US is trying to achieve. We’re not shooting for Bob Gansler type progress are we?
Nightmare
Watch this whole thing keep going. Sunil announces Claudio Reyna as interim coach for the Mexico game pending a wider search.
If this happens, maybe we can get Chuck Blazer to “discover” photos of Sunil getting brown envelopes from Mo Bin Hamman.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
Hellfire, I tell you
Everytime I see a pic of Blazer, I see him surrounded by this hellfire aura.
What Faustian bargain did he get to bring Sepp Bin Hamman’s head?" What did he get in return??? Nope, Martek, don’t think the fall of Jack was all that was about.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones? I’m seeing more MacBeth here.
Fair is foul, and foul is fair.
or
Stars, hide your fires!
Let not light see my black and deep desires.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
Or perhaps this one
Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee;
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable
As this which now I draw.
—Macbeth, Act II, scene i
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
Or as I posted in your last FIFA update
Faust: "E’en hell hath its peculiar laws. "
Pure Seppy-ism
this made today exciting
First of all, great title
second, I dont see any way we hire an MLS coach. We would make a lateral move at this point in the program. People are down on US Soccer and Sunil needs to make a big move.
The fact that we waited a year to do this has to mean we have someone waiting right?? I mean Sunil could have gotten rid of bradley twice in the past year or so but didnt. Thank shows he didnt want to make a move without a secure backup. Let me know what yall think
We'll see after tomorrow's announcement
If Klinsmann, is that an upgrade?
Hard at this moment for me to see Klinsy as an upgrade, unless that is Sunil gives him the keys to the kingdom, as apparently he has been demanding over the last two times he was offered the job and turned it down.
If that happens, then this really will be the dawn of a new day with meaning far beyond this fire/hire.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
From the Land of Pure Nerdom
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
As the Lady herself said
Look like the innocent flower,
But be the serpent under it.
—Lady Macbeth, Act I, scene v
Thus might be the “vision” that Sunil has in mind. What has he done up to now to make us think otherwise?
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
This has been one of those weeks that I'll look back in sheer astonishment over what all happened
NFL signs CBA, NFL FA begins and who knows who the Texans sign in the end, I got a promotion with work to making an additional $4.50/hr, The USMNT fire Bob Bradley…what else? I can’t even think straight at this point it’s all so overwhelming.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
Yeah.
It sucks a bit because I’ll be working overnights between 10p and 6a mostly, but that does free me up for stuff like this when things happen daytime wise, which is nice.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
Not to mention there's been one or two other fairly large life-altering type things this week
On personal levels, which have all been fairly good.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
So if Dynamo play midweek games, you’ll have a choice, right? So, which one will it be, Sophie?
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
I choose to watch it live on MatchDay Live and comment WHILE I work
Because, I work from home after all. MUAHAHAHAHA!
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
Yeeeea
I’ve already done it a few times. It’s actually quite fun, even had to mute my mic when the Dynamo scored a goal late during a call one evening. I was freaking out.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
Jimmy Conrad never disappoints
On Twitter:
JimmyConrad_com JimmyConrad_com
This Just In! – No one thought it was possible but Johnny Bornstein’s summer just got a little worse.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
The arc of this is predictable
Now I’m starting to see more and more people pointing out Bradley’s accomplishments. And to be fair, there is a case for this. Six tournaments (GC 07, 09, 11; Confed 09; Copa America 09; WC 10), four finals (GCs and Confed), one title (GC 07). Also, won the Hex in 09, won Group C in 10.
Lots to like there.
But still, it was quite frustrating over the last year or so. Did the Confed Cup final go to his head, you think?
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
A tweet from Derek Rae
RT @RaeComm: My own view is that the USA under Bradley largely played above themselves rather than the other way round.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
More from Derek Rae
RaeComm Derek Rae
Interesting debate to be had about US national team’s scope to progress. Did Bradley not get the best out the talent available?
and this one
RaeComm Derek Rae
Interesting replies re Bradley. British replies along lines of ‘he was hard done by, did well.’ American responses -‘We need to progress.’
and this one
RaeComm Derek Rae
Following the Bob Bradley sorry with interest from afar. Will defer to those living in the US but hard to see what he has done wrong.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
If the Brits love him so much
Why didn’t they hire him @ Villa?
Bradley overachieves like Hiddink or Bielsa or Trappatoni?
HA!
And from Eric Wynalda
“The bottom line is that the national team job is usually a 4 year position. Unless you do something amazing which Bob really didn’t.”
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
That pretty much says it all right there
And the problem is, it honestly won’t matter who put in the position. It’s not the coaches responsibility to field the best team, it’s his responsibility to get the team he’s given to play up to or above their potential, and Bob did that. It’s the USSF’s responsibility to field a respectable team talent-wise, and right now, I don’t believe we’re close enough to level we need to be to expect our next HC to be anything dramatically better than Bradley.
Yea, I went there.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
And here's a great one
Here’s @honigstein on him after Bayern canned him. http://bit.ly/csQIEz
Bayern Munich call time on Jürgen Klinsmann’s failed revolution
With his reformist agenda dead, an embarrassing over-dependence on Frank Ribéry and a public falling-out with key players, Klinsmann leaves with his credibility irreparably damaged
Posted by Raphael Honigstein Monday 27 April 2009 19.10 BST guardian.co.uk
Read this piece and remember it if Sunil unveils him tomorrow. Here are my fave quotes from the piece:
To be fair, there are plenty of mitigating circumstances. He worked at a club that explicitly wanted change, but change on its own terms and without a pesky let-up in wins. Short-termism trumped the strategic repositioning of the team; Klinsmann was never allowed a free rein. Without power to add his preferred players to the squad, he was somehow supposed to paint an avant-garde masterpiece with the old brushes and fairly limited colour palette of his predecessors.
His list of mistakes and bad results on their own might not have been enough to warrant the sack but they were in painfully sharp contrast to his promises of a brave new Bavarian world (scientific methods, top-level tactics, personal and collective improvement).
Klinsmann seduced the board and many neutrals – including this column – with his reformist agenda. Sadly he did not have the means or a Jogi Löw by his side to put any of it into practice. “We need a sense of new beginning,” said Hoeness today. “There have been too many things holding us back recently.” Heynckes was exactly the right man now, he added. “He is a football teacher,” Hoeness said – as opposed to Klinsmann, he implied, who was sadly exposed as a pupil at this level.
Maybe he simply shared the fate of so many self-styled revolutionaries: once in power, their idealism soon descends into dictatorship, the dictatorship of the mediocre in Comrade Klinsi’s case.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
Just talked to German co-worker
“why would you fire a good coach to hire Klinsman?” Said he can be a good motivator, but he is not a good coach. Success with the German team was in spite of him not because of him.
He is a Bayern Munich fan, but that’t the general feeling I’ve gotten from all of my German co-workers over the years (I work for a German company).
"If my hips had pockets, I wouldn't wear pants at all." @NotBurtReynolds
I'm not sold on Klinsmann
He hasn’t proven much as a coach. He was a disaster at Bayern, and the World Cup run was done on home soil. I can just see him doing yoga in the locker room with Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard. Ha!
And here's Phil Schoen weighing in
http://www.goltv.tv/wordpress/?p=2827
Schoen is right on the money. Here are some takeaways
I’ve gone on record many times saying it was time for a new direction and that Bradley should go. However, I always took care to add that this was only if the US had a better coach already locked up. We’ll soon find if that’s the case.
Bradley’s critics need to beware. They’ve just been given what they’ve asked for. Now what?
Indeed. Over to you Sunil….
For me there are several groups of potential candidates to consider. The Best of MLS would consist of Sigi Schmid, Jason Kreis and Peter Nowak…..
Then there are the MLS coaches that would have been near the top of the list but for bad timing. Dominic Kinnear and Frank Yallop have had lots of success but are mired in a dry run. Preki’s glitter rubbed off in Toronto and Steve Nicol seems to be grasping at straws in New England.
Agreed.
Among the foreign legion, Juergen Klinsmann is once again the hot topic. Remember though, that Germany continued to progress after Klinsmann left while his magic touch turned to dust at Bayern Munich and so far at Toronto.
If this had happened a few weeks earlier perhaps a call to Marcelo Bielsa or Rafa Benitez might have hit paydirt. Former Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz is available, but it would likely take more than a reprint to make the author of Project 2010 attractive after the disaster in South Africa.
Some names I have not heard….
My short list, in addition to Kreis, includes Barcelona assistant Tito Villanova, former Brazil youth coach Marcos Paqueta, now in charge in Libya and former Argentina boss Jose Pekerman. All have shown an ability to mold young players into an attractive, attacking team. If not now, when?
My gut tells me Bradley’s replacement is either Nowak or Klinsmann. After a dozen years of Arena and Bradley, there are bound to be some dramatic changes no matter who takes over. Whether Thursday’s decision is a launching pad towards future success or just another pit stop won’t be certain for years. For now, US soccer fans just hope they’re not being taken for a ride.
Wouldn’t be the first time.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
Who do you want Marty?
I’m sure you said somewhere, but I’m too lazy to look :P
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
more on klinsman
Though its more of the same
http://theshinguardian.com/2011/07/28/repost-what%e2%80%99s-the-deal-with-jurgen/
"If my hips had pockets, I wouldn't wear pants at all." @NotBurtReynolds
by papabear on Jul 28, 2011 6:35 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Beefs about Bradley
The strange decisions- playing out of form players in key games- the weird formations, the not playing to strengths, all seemed to point towards the Peters Principle.
You don;t start a player who has been injured most of the year and has had very few 1st team matches @ the best in the world (WC 2010), teams who will make you pay for the slightest mistake (Clarke), especially in a position where you’re abundantly deep (DM). Bornstein (recent GC Final) was much the same- having a player play out of position after Cherundlo went off so you bring on- BORNSTEIN??? Who was not starting @ club level either?
Or Finley- the thinking, after the Confed success (AFTER the 1st rd, of course, the 1st rd we will never speak of again), we HAD to have Davies. But Davies was injured, so we HAD to have a speedster for WC 2010. So we took Finley, who had a poor year @ RSL, generally a very fast straight line runner. Now, we are rarely a countering team who can release a speedster like Finley.
Yet we started him. And again, and again. Doing the same thing, expecting different results.
Bradly, of course, did some good things. He’s not a bad coach. He could even have some future International success. Yet it’s my thought we want to get beyond where we’re at. Bradley’s not the guy to get us ready for that. We often play to a philosophy, rather than our best players strengths.
Some players abilities can mean 10 points or mopre to a team over the long haul of a season. Good tactical acumen can make the difference in a grueling tourney.
What is Bradley- a good motivator, a good strategist, what?
I’m hoping Bradley gets back to what he’s much better @- winning MLS Championships.
Great club coaches don’t always make great international coaches.
Anyone know?
What time will US Soccer press conference begin for “announcement?”
Any chance
so I’m seeing tweets this morning that Klinsman will get the nod but it brings me back to a comment that was brought up earlier: getting a good USMNT coach/manager is great and all, but I guess I don’t see the “identity” that other countries of quality have. Perhaps I’m just ignorant, which is a very likely possibility but it seems like we happen to just pick the best athletes/players available every 2-4 years to participate in tournaments. What I’m getting at is that we don’t seem to have a unified development program that is propagated to youth club teams so that everyone, from a young age, is taught technical fundamentals like ball acceptance, possession, and passing. It almost seems like we have good technical players as the exception rather than the rule. I’ll use the easy of examples of Spanish, Brazilian, German or French players. For the last 10 years or so, their respective NT Academies have set out to define a technical curriculum and disseminate that to clubs around their countries so that all youth involved in their programs know these certain skills…they don’t assume they know them, they teach them and expect players to master them before they can progress. I just don’t see that here and it will continue to put us as a mid-rank NT for another 5-10 years unless we change that now. And I think right now is the perfect opportunity to do so…but of course, will we? And will clubs around the country be willing to buy-in and endorse that?
Great points
Which mirror Carlos Queiroz’s Q Report and subsequently the blueprint for Project 2010.
How many of these were actually followed?
Don’t remember how many milllion we paid Quieroz to write this as a US Soccer “consultant”. Ironically, many of these could have been instituted under Sampson/Arena/Bradley.
If we make a new blueprint- Project 2022- will we actually follow its design or is this just another “looking as if” institutional procedure when the real culture is same-o same-o, don;t rock the boat? We’ve got to get beyond a bureacracy where the purpose of planning meetings is to make yet another plan, the meat of which is planning on when and where the next meeting will occur.
“We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question which divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct. My own feeling is that it is not crazy enough. " Niels Bohr
by playtherapy on Jul 29, 2011 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions
Well
and to be fair, perhaps we were still in the “overachieving” mentality at that point where we thought hey, lets see how far we can progress. But at this point its clear that we’re nearing our plateau and that without significant changes in the system and development we will be stuck here for another 5-10 years.
PS – I didn’t realize Queiroz created that blueprint but its just a real shame we never acted on it. Imagine where we could be now had that happened? Instead we’ll do another review, another solution and then hopefully actually implement it…I’m also hoping that this coincides with the appointment of the new USMNT coach. Because I think we can all agree that we are simply not good enough as a whole to challenge for a WC semi or final…we can sneak up like we have just on grit, determination and strong play but that will only take you so far. We have the base, the athletes and now a younger generation that has embraced the creative side of football; all the ingredients are there if we can cultivate that across the country and have a cohesive plan.
PPS – Love the quote from Bohr… :)
<**>
Sorry, that was me vomiting in my mouth. Seriously, we’ve wasted OVER 14 YEARS? SERIOUSLY?
Oh crap, fire the whole damn USSF and start over. Come on fellas, lets all face the music that we need a serious re-vamp of technical skills from U10 on up (though actually, you’ll find more U10-U14 talent nowadays with more technical skill & creativity…but still)
Agreed
BTW- NY daily footy pundit Micheal Lewis is quoted in International Business Weekly saying Klinsmann is the guy. @ least we’re changing the dynamic, time will tell if it’s a good fit.
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/189256/20110729/jurgen-klinsmann-us-soccer-coach-bob-bradley.htm
by playtherapy on Jul 29, 2011 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm hoping
that rather than seeing a huge upswing in play I’m more hopeful that Klinsmann will push to adopt the Q Report and begin focusing more on youth team and training/technique. I mean, we have what we have right now which isn’t bad at all and with some tweaks can be very good, but we’re just simply not going to be world-beaters or contenders to do so for a good 5-10 years, even if that plan is adopted. But I do look forward to seeing what he does with the current pieces and maybe even find some gems out there and utilize them well
But it wasn’t enough. It never was going to be enough. And that’s because for all his qualities, Bradley represented only where the U.S. has been as a soccer country, not where it hopes to be. He was a product of the college system so many now deride, and he built his coaching bona fides during the early days of a mostly mediocre MLS. Few with World Cup dreams will be moved by that resume.
by playtherapy on Jul 29, 2011 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions
Perhaps that will help lift Donovan's depression
Granted, Juergen isn’t as foxy as his wife, but will hopefully free up some of our more creative players and play to their strengths- such as creating a fast counter that will allow Landon to operate where he excels- @ high speed with ample space.
by playtherapy on Jul 29, 2011 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions
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