CSNbbs

Have any decisions been made on the future of USA Mens Soccer in terms of who will coach the program?

Brazil friendly is only a month away

So bein a soccer newbie...what is Brazil friendly?

(07-17-2010 07:15 PM)ACESFULL Wrote: [ -> ]So bein a soccer newbie...what is Brazil friendly?

There's a friendly match (as in non-competitive, an exhibition, if you will) against Brazil on August 10th.

As for your original question, Bob Bradley is still the coach. No one really knows what's going to happen now though. He was strongly linked with the Fulham job, but that doesn't appear to be going forward. There were reports that the USSF had said they were going to extend his contract, but they came out and said those reports were false.

Basically, he's our coach until we're told otherwise. I wouldn't be surprised to see him stay, but if he is replaced, it'll probably be Jürgen Klinsmann (a legendary German coach and player who lives in the US and really understands the US soccer system).

A friendly is a soccer game between two teams where there is nothing at stake besides pride. You usually play them to get your team ready for a tournament or to raise money. The US National team is playing the Brazilian national team mostly for money.

Thanks everyone.....is it played state side or in Brazil adn I gues the players under contract to the MLS have an clause that will allow them to play in this game?

It'll be played at the new Giants stadium. MLS has nothing to do with the national team, so BB will select the best players available. Some European based players might not play though, considering how close it is to the start of the season.

I don't follow soccer that much...except to know that we're doing better than we have in decades...
No reason to replace our current coach...every coach makes a few mistakes. I think he has brought us farther than our last coach from the 1990's did....

(07-18-2010 01:41 PM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote: [ -> ]I don't follow soccer that much...except to know that we're doing better than we have in decades...
No reason to replace our current coach...every coach makes a few mistakes. I think he has brought us farther than our last coach from the 1990's did....

A little tidbit of info for you:

This was Bradley's first World Cup. Previous coach Bruce Arena brought the team to the quarters in Korea/Japan 2002, but the disappointment of 2006 showed it was time to move on to another coach. Bob Bradley was not our first choice, but due to certain issues involving the structure of soccer in this country, he was what we had to "settle" for.

Over Bradley's tenure with the team, if you look at personnel decisions and strategic plans from game to game, he has made more than just "a few mistakes." While we did shock the world by beating Spain in the Confederations Cup semifinals in 2009, it should be mentioned that we almost didn't get out of the group stage (we only got out by beating Egypt and Brazil beating Italy 3-0...Italy, by the way, beat us 3-1 in group play, due to strategic mistakes by Bradley).

Our team was a veteran side at this WC and most people who follow soccer know that 2014 is probably not going to be pretty, as we will have to go with a more inexperienced squad. 2018, however, should be a great tournament if we do these things right. It's not very often that a coach will serve with a national team for more than two world cups, so I would like to get the coach we want for 2018 in here right away.

Bradley made some costly mistakes that probably ended up in our losing to Ghana. Starting ricardo clark over edu was indefensible and made no sense. Contuing to put findley up top when he'd produced nothing over 3 games instead of starting feilhaber was also a horrendous choice. He also probably should've stuck with onyewu in the center who, though not fully fit, wouldn't have let gyan get off that first shot like demerit and bocanegra did. Of course, if he hadn't started clark we never would've given up the first goal anyway, as clark started the breakaway by trying to go 1 on 1 with somebody in the middle of the field with nothing to gain

i was not impressed with his match to match adjustments.

Of course, the real thing the US needs is a finisher like a Klose, who picks up garbage goals and finishes chances. We create a lot but nobody knows what to do when they're one on one with the keeper

(07-18-2010 02:31 PM)jgardne Wrote: [ -> ]Bradley made some costly mistakes that probably ended up in our losing to Ghana. Starting ricardo clark over edu was indefensible and made no sense. Contuing to put findley up top when he'd produced nothing over 3 games instead of starting feilhaber was also a horrendous choice. He also probably should've stuck with onyewu in the center who, though not fully fit, wouldn't have let gyan get off that first shot like demerit and bocanegra did. Of course, if he hadn't started clark we never would've given up the first goal anyway, as clark started the breakaway by trying to go 1 on 1 with somebody in the middle of the field with nothing to gain

i was not impressed with his match to match adjustments.

Of course, the real thing the US needs is a finisher like a Klose, who picks up garbage goals and finishes chances. We create a lot but nobody knows what to do when they're one on one with the keeper

The last thing you hit the nail on the head jgardne. The issue that haunts the US MNT has for the team, is the definite lack of quality goal scoring striker. Having Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey scored most of the goals just does not cut it against any of the better teams in the recently completed World Cup.

(07-18-2010 02:31 PM)jgardne Wrote: [ -> ]Bradley made some costly mistakes that probably ended up in our losing to Ghana. Starting ricardo clark over edu was indefensible and made no sense. Contuing to put findley up top when he'd produced nothing over 3 games instead of starting feilhaber was also a horrendous choice. He also probably should've stuck with onyewu in the center who, though not fully fit, wouldn't have let gyan get off that first shot like demerit and bocanegra did. Of course, if he hadn't started clark we never would've given up the first goal anyway, as clark started the breakaway by trying to go 1 on 1 with somebody in the middle of the field with nothing to gain

i was not impressed with his match to match adjustments.

Of course, the real thing the US needs is a finisher like a Klose, who picks up garbage goals and finishes chances. We create a lot but nobody knows what to do when they're one on one with the keeper

I'd agree that a world class closer is the biggest need of this team, but I was frankly disappointed with Onyewu during the cup. I thought he was a shining star out of the confederations cup last year, but I don't think the problem was entirely fitness. I believe one of the biggest problems that the US had was allowing the opposition to set up shots with the ball free from about 25 yards. No-one - including Onyewu - was closing space with them to prevent their shots. At least one of the preliminary round goals went right past Onyewu who stood to block the ball rather than closing in to the forward. For that reason, I guess I'm more sympathetic to Bradley ... but, I frankly haven't kept tabs on the strength and weaknesses of individual defenders. I was very very disappointed when Onyewu went down last year.

(07-18-2010 11:38 PM)I45owl Wrote: [ -> ]

(07-18-2010 02:31 PM)jgardne Wrote: [ -> ]Bradley made some costly mistakes that probably ended up in our losing to Ghana. Starting ricardo clark over edu was indefensible and made no sense. Contuing to put findley up top when he'd produced nothing over 3 games instead of starting feilhaber was also a horrendous choice. He also probably should've stuck with onyewu in the center who, though not fully fit, wouldn't have let gyan get off that first shot like demerit and bocanegra did. Of course, if he hadn't started clark we never would've given up the first goal anyway, as clark started the breakaway by trying to go 1 on 1 with somebody in the middle of the field with nothing to gain

i was not impressed with his match to match adjustments.

Of course, the real thing the US needs is a finisher like a Klose, who picks up garbage goals and finishes chances. We create a lot but nobody knows what to do when they're one on one with the keeper

I'd agree that a world class closer is the biggest need of this team, but I was frankly disappointed with Onyewu during the cup. I thought he was a shining star out of the confederations cup last year, but I don't think the problem was entirely fitness. I believe one of the biggest problems that the US had was allowing the opposition to set up shots with the ball free from about 25 yards. No-one - including Onyewu - was closing space with them to prevent their shots. At least one of the preliminary round goals went right past Onyewu who stood to block the ball rather than closing in to the forward. For that reason, I guess I'm more sympathetic to Bradley ... but, I frankly haven't kept tabs on the strength and weaknesses of individual defenders. I was very very disappointed when Onyewu went down last year.

You can't really blame Onyewu. Usually it takes, at least 1.5 times the length of a serious injury to get where you were before. If Onyewu is ever as good as he was before his injury it won't be until at least the 2011 Gold Cup. That's if he gets any playing time this year at the club level. Gooch better be praying for AC Milan to loan him out.

2014 is a transition period anyways for us. Change coaches and give the new guy an 8 year plan.

(07-19-2010 08:51 AM)fsquid Wrote: [ -> ]2014 is a transition period anyways for us. Change coaches and give the new guy an 8 year plan.

This!

I find it hard to disagree, but we should expect better than 8 years of rebuilding. We may as well scour the high school ranks now and field a team averaging 20 years old in the next cup if that's what it's going to be. How many folks would accept an Athletic Director's plan to lose at football for the next 4 years, show promise for another 2 and look to contend in 7-8 years? Likewise an NFL franchise?

Shouldn't we expect the US to produce a world class striker at least once every couple of years?

You don't have to lose. I still expect to win the Gold Cup next year and qualify for 2014. However, the talent will be in transition (old guys are over the hill, young guys aren't fully ready for the international stage) when Brazil comes around. Italy was the same position this past year.

(07-19-2010 12:21 PM)I45owl Wrote: [ -> ]Shouldn't we expect the US to produce a world class striker at least once every couple of years?

We've never really had one, so I'm not sure how often we should produce one.

(07-19-2010 12:28 PM)GrayBeard Wrote: [ -> ]

(07-19-2010 12:21 PM)I45owl Wrote: [ -> ]Shouldn't we expect the US to produce a world class striker at least once every couple of years?

We've never really had one, so I'm not sure how often we should produce one.

I typed that but erased it. That's why I said should. I just have a hard time accepting that over a four year period, we can't expect someone to emerge. If the US can't do that, then it should really spend the time to tear down the entire youth system and rebuild it more sensibly.

too much money and beuracracy in the youth system to tear it down.