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FIRE BOB BRADLEY

   

The US beat Honduras 2-1, but the only role Bob Bradley played in that victory was as a handicap.

When the US lost to Costa Rica on Wednesday in part because of Bob Bradley poor tactics, in part because of poor preparation, and in part because Costa Rica were simply the better team that night, I thought the anti-Bradley backlash was a bit too much too quick. Now? Not so much.

To start Mastroeni after his horrible HORRIBLE display on Wednesday. To start Ricardo Clark — a second defensive midfielder. To start Conor Casey, who has clearly proven by now that he should not be starting World Cup Qualifiers, over Charlie Davies, who was clearly the man of the match for the US on Wednesday in the few minutes he played as a sub. To not play Torres at all after he was our best player on the pitch in the first half (the only half he played for reasons I still can’t fathom) on Wednesday. To not even have Freddy Adu active. To come off that atrocious display in Costa Rica and allow a goal in the first five minutes at home. All of these things, regardless of the final score, add up to incompetence on the part of Bob Bradley. The level of incompetence that requires he be relieved of his duties.

Again, regardless of the final score, regardless of their likelihood of qualification, this team clearly isn’t at its full potential and that is largely due to the fact that they’re not being set up to be. Even before they go out on the pitch, they’re being handicapped by poor tactics and the exclusion of players vital to reaching that attainable level of potential.

And to those who say “but we won, where do you get off complaining?” I say that that’s a testament to how talented our talented players are and the fact that we play in CONCACAF. Think of the World Cup.

Alright, I said my piece. Marlon will post a full review of the Honduras match later.


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  • elle

    Hire Juergen!

  • Brooks Peck

    Seconded.

  • SP

    i don’t know about jurgen either. he got lucky that he was coach of one of the best nations in the world and that that country was hosting the world cup or otherwise he really isn’t that great of a coach. if anything, i think jurgen should have gotten germany to the final considering (a) germany made the semifinal in 2002, (b) germany became more talented between 2002 and 2006, and (c) germany were the hosts in 2006 (to put it into perspective, south korea(!) made it into the semis in 2002 purely due to the crowd).

    so no, i don’t think jurgen is our answer. i think we need a british coach who has international experience, like a glenn hoddle-type figure, because our team plays a very british style game.

  • Peter B

    The only change I would have made is to start Torres instead of Mastroeni. Other than that, the lineup was far better than Wednesday’s against Costa Rica. Especially on the back line. Conner Casey played with heart, was very active and is in form. It made sense to start him. Rico did great tonight. Landon looked very comfortable playing on the outside. The substitution of Feilhaber was a good one. He brought more energy into the game and from that point on it was all US. That was the coaches decision. All in all, I think it was a good game for the US. The first goal was a very good strike and unfortunate for us, but that happens. If anyone is to blame for that goal, it’s Dempsey who had an average game tonight.

    I don’t think any of the coaches decisions tonight are cause for his firing. What don’t need to react like Mexico and hire a new coach every 3 months. I think with Honduras beating Mexico tonight shows the tie with them was not a bad away game. At this point, I would think the US are favorites in Mexico in August. What more could you ask?

  • SP

    yeah true, peter. what i forgot to put in my original post is that we should keep bob until after the world cup and then look for a big name. i really don’t think he’s doing that bad (not perfect, but not bad). don’t you guys remember that 3 game stretch against england, spain, and argentina where we played pretty comfortably? that was only a year ago. yeah bobs made some shit decisions over the last few months but even SAF, arsene wenger, and jose mourinho make mistakes. getting a new coach at this point will be a step backward not forward. after WC2010 though, i really think we need someone high-profile and give them the full 4 yrs leading up to 2014 bc that’s when our young talents will really start taking over and we can’t waste that.

  • Peter B

    I agree that would be the time to make a change, if necessary. But we need to consider that BB is tinkering with the lineups to understand how players work together, what works and what doesn’t. Once we get to the World Cup, we should expect all tinkering to end. If there are tactical mistakes there, then call for his head. Until then, it’s the coaches job to figure out the best combination for the big dance.

  • OhYes

    I thought he did well to recover after the halftime break. A bit of luck was involved, though. Honduras had dominated a large portion of the first half, and should have scored more goals to really take control of the game. Donovan had given up possession multiple times and the rest of the team seemed completely disjointed. There was no organization whatsoever.

    Also, they played at home?

    Apart from the Sam’s Army section, it looked like a good 80% of the stadium was occupied by Honduras fans. I was in a tiny little section (148) of U.S. fans but to our left and right was a sea of blue, most of the 2nd level was blue, and on the other side of the stadium there was a large crowd of Honduras fans with blue and white balloons.

  • Brooks Peck

    Peter: Playing with heart is a lot of fun in youth leagues, but that’s not good enough on the national team. Casey looked bad tonight and should not have been on the pitch instead of Davies, who actually has a future with the MNT.

    Rico did do great and he proved he deserved his spot, but starting two defensive mids was still a stupid decision.

    Landon did look uncomfortable playing on the left, so instead of praising Bob for subbing in Benny, why not question why he played Landon on the left in the first place?

    And I’m not asking for a new coach every three months like Mexico. Bob has had three years, a change now wouldn’t be a sign of rash decisions and excessive change. And you can’t cite our position in CONCACAF and say “what more could you ask?” We have outgrown CONCACAF. If you we want to develop our game and actually be a World Cup contender, we should be doing well in CONCACAF. We should be dominating CONCACAF and not just at home. Don’t look at us in relation to Caribbean teams. Look at us in relation to European or South American teams. We need to hold our team to a higher standard to avoid complacency and disappointment.

    SP: You can’t cite the England, Spain, and Argintina matches as defense for Bob. They were two losses and one draw. We didn’t score any goals in those matches, the draw was at home and the 1-0 loss to Spain was only in front of 14,000 people — hardly an intimidating crowd. Now, I wouldn’t hold those games against Bob, but you can’t point to them as marks in his favor, either.

    Peter B (part 2): Tinkering? That’s the problem, he’s not tinkering. We’re still seeing mediocre old players like Ching and Pablo whenever they’re healthy. If he really were tinkering we would be seeing more Adu, Torres, Davies, and Spector before tonight.

  • Brian

    Casey should not have played and should not have been called up at all. If he wasn’t good enough to be a sub against CR then he shouldn’t be a starter against Honduras.

    I’m tired of watching Beasely try to play soccer. His speed cannot make up for his lack of skill anymore at the international level.

    Does anyone know who we direct emails to to get Bradley fired? I feel like we need to start a movement to actually get something done before next summer. I’d like to have someone come in who has no favorites like Bradley. You can tell he has his own set of players that he will play regardless of who is actually better. Let the new guys come in and prove themselves, get some experience so that when we have to play them in the World Cup they know how to play together.

    Cut Beasely, Cut Casey, Cut Mastroeni, Cut Bradley

  • DAinLA

    Bradley needs to go. Now. He’s completely in over his head.

    The Confederations Cup will be nothing short of embarrassing.

  • Ramiro

    I could not agree more with the OP. I was really hoping the win would not overshadow the poor job Bob Bradley is doing. I mean, Ricardo Clark and Masteroeni? Seriously? We need (and deserve, considering our resources) a coach that can implement some creativity and not play this boring, scared shitless brand of soccer. We will never be a world power in soccer playing this style of ball.

  • SP

    ok yeah obviously the box score results of those 3 friendlies weren’t great but that’s like pointing to this honduras match and saying it was a success bc we won. but at the time and looking back now, i think those 3 friendlies were really a measure of how far we had come since 2006 bc the team played like there was a purpose. sure our attacking still sucked but our defense had gotten a whole lot better (holding messi/tevez/etc. to a clean sheet at home is still an impressive clean sheet). now with this confed cup i think we will see more progress from last year. i mean, we drew in a hostile environment in el salvador, we lost (admittedly lost badly) in a hostile environment away to a WC-caliber team, and then we scraped out a victory against another good team that we should have done better against: that’s only 3 bad results (and then too, only the costa rica match was really the only one that was embarassing).

    coaching changes at this stage in qualifying should only be done by teams that have no shot at qualifying and so are looking at a change in direction or teams that are really in a desperate spot (such as mexico, portugal, or sweden).

    national team managers always get the most heat for selection but that doesnt always make it wrong i.e. heskey playing for england (really similar to our ching situation) and spain being criticized for not playing torres AND villa during euros (which obviously worked out for them). after all look at our attack these last 2 matches and tell me we didn’t miss brian ching out there.

  • Nicholas

    On a more positive note, I think Feilhaber is the long term solution to who should be paired with Bradley. Great combo of technical skill and creativity. We just need to get him right for the Confed Cup.

    Carter nailed it here….

    http://usa.worldcupblog.org/thoughts/usa-needs-feilhaber.html

    Spector and Bornstein played well. Spector definitely enough to solidify his spot….Bornstein enough to get another look. I wasn’t as impressed with the work that Conor Casey did….some nervous touches, but he did settle in eventually.

  • Eric

    Spector looks to be the solution at the back (for now). I thought Clark played well throughout the game and is more than capable of filling in now that Edu looks to be sidelined until September. After a terrible start by Dempsey (yeah, he’s at fault for that goal), I thought he made up for his mistake and played decently well. I hope Feilhaber gets a call to go to SA, although having him play in the Gold Cup for extended minutes might be better for him and his confidence.

    That being said, Torres and Adu should have at least been on the Subs bench. I was wondering out loud last night if Torres picked up an injury or something down in Costa Rica. I also don’t remember how many times I yelled “Conor Casey” at my TV at his play. I never thought I would say this but I miss Brian Ching…or even Eddie Johnson.

  • http://usa.worldcupblog.org/ Marlon

    The reason the US National team misses Brian Ching is because when he is out Bob Bradley doesn’t know how to use his team’s skill players he just throws them out there with the same tactics. If our team fielded Adu, Torres, and Feilharber at the same time I guarantee Ching would not be missed.

  • Unbelievable

    Brooks, Genius. Pure Genius!!! Just plain Genius! You must hold the US to higher standards. CONCACAF?!?!? Who cares?

    Casey should not be allowed to wear the uniform. Pablo. For Christa’s sake!?!?! What in the hell is BB doing?

    Where in the heck is Adu? I don’t understand. We should be dominating the CONCACAF with the exception of Mexico. My short-term values are happy that Mexico is struggling, but long-term I realize that we (The US) need Mexico to play well. When they are in top form they are a World Class team, more so than the US b.c they can control the ball.

    Spector finally got the nod. What is BB thinking? And his son didn’t play. I am shocked Adu didn’t see any time.

    Crazy…

  • Peter B

    Brooks: Playing with heart is required at every level, especially at the highest level. Skill gets you only so far. The great players work harder than the rest all the time. This is one reason we sucked at Costa Rica (besides the funky lineup). They didn’t bring their game, they didn’t work hard. I think the team would admit that they played without heart on that one night. But come on, if we’re that much better than everyone in CONCACAF, we should be able to play out of position from time to time. Maybe we’re just not that much better and your expectations are a little out of whack. Which US players overseas are legitimate stars?

    I said Landon looked “comfortable” not “uncomfortable” on the left. He played a good game in my opinion. In fact, probably MoM good. He factored into the penalty call (was behind the defense when the hand ball occurred), finished the PK nicely, and delivered a nice corner on the second goal. He was also very active throughout the game.

    I understand your point about wanting to replace BB. But I disagree with the timing. The US team is ON THE RISE, but there’s a long way to go. There are going to be bad streaks and games. Look at Argentina’s 6-1 loss to Bolivia? Also, BB IS tinkering, but not with all the youth at one time and we don’t have all the information available to us that he has. He has played younger players in and out, and he’s giving some of the good MLS players a chance which is great for the league. Give BB a chance to coach the World Cup. If he sucks there, which I doubt there will be a repeat of 2006, then we make the change for the next one. The last thing we need is a complete change in staff one year before the World Cup. That’s a step backwards.

  • GS

    I would like to add one thing to this discussion as, to me, it seems very important and not often talked about. Bob Bradley has major ties to MLS…the soccer federation wants the MLS to succeed…every old school player/coach who has ties to the national team wants the MLS to succeed. Because of this we bring in VERY mediocre players who only get the nod because they are succeeding in the MLS. It blows my mind that nobody else notices this. There is a reason players like Pablo, Ching, Hejduk, Clark, Casey etc. are getting call-ups and also starting over players who are much more talented and have much more potential.

    Also, it’s not hard to see which posters on this blog are in that same “old school” group. As of right now the MLS is no where near as talented as upwards of 10-15 other leagues out there…more if you include lower divisions. It’s no wonder that the players that are succeeding in the MLS aren’t that great on the national team level. I’m so sick and tired of our soccer federation/coaches etc. needing to showcase MLS players on the national team just to try and boost the reputation. Realistically, they’re making the MLS look worse because these players they are attempting to showcase often fall flat on their faces on the big stage.

    If you watch any of the WCQ matches and listen just to the announcers they rave about every MLS player on the roster. There are also comments made every game about the number of MLS players on the USMNT roster.

    NEWS FLASH!! The MLS is as mediocre as it gets and until it gets better we need to stop making a point of bringing MLS players in just to try and get the league more publicity…makes me sick.

  • Brooks Peck

    Peter: Obviously you need to play with heart at every level. My point was that when that’s the first and only thing you can commend a player on, then there’s a problem. And you’re right, we’re not that much better than the rest of CONCACAF and that’s where the problem lies, because as I said before, we should be. We have the potential to be better at our disposal. Yes, none of our players are legit stars in Europe, but that’s because all of our players will potential to be legit stars are young and aren’t even being given a chance on their national team. We certainly have more talent than the rest of CONCACAF. We just don’t use it as it should be used(or at all).

    I agree Landon worked hard, did great on the PK, and had a couple other flashes, but I don’t think he should have been playing where he was. But that’s also very low on my list of problems with Bob.

    And now is not too late to make a change before the World Cup. We still have a year to go. A year. If it were three months out I would probably agree with you. But a year a plenty of time. As for your point on giving MLS players a chance,that brings us to…

    GS: I totally agree. And yes, I do want to see MLS succeed, but I think you really hit the nail on the head here. Marlon and I were actually this discussing this earlier.

  • SP

    can we all just agree though that bob bradley looks like lord voldemort in the above picture?

  • CK

    I have come to the conclusion that Torres and Adu play too flashy, and that Bob Bradley hates flashiness. Their moves out there make him cringe, but this makes me wonder if Messi was an American would he play him?
    We should make Nowak the head coach he is already talking about adapting Barcelonas style in Philly.

  • elle

    SP, he always looks like that!

    I’m pretty sure Papa Bradley wants the team’s style of play to match his personality: boring and unemotional. It’s working.

  • MoMONEY

    Im pretty sure a lot of people here are overestimating this team… Do you expect them to come out and play fast paced Argentina/ Brazil style? It unrealistic with the talent being produced. I can see this team being successful in a German type game- efficient and hard working. Whether its Bradley Klinsmann or someone else leading IDN but thats my 2 cents…

  • Juan

    I just want to add that I don’t think we can blame the early goal on Bradley. The US has a problem with letting in early goals. Think of Wednesday, and also think of the Czech Rep. in WC 06.

    I will say though that the players always look nervous in the first few minutes, and Bradley putting in a strange lineup probably didn’t do much to quell those nerves.

  • Vic

    Might I add that this was a horrible game for both teams? Honduras was unrecognizable from previous games, even if they did score early in the match.

  • Del

    WE NEED A CHANGE! Bob Bradley has done an “okay” job. But we need someone who can take the U.S. National Team to the next level. Right now, the team is only doing just enough. USA needs a coach with international experience who the players will look up to and be afraid of. This team is not afraid of losing their starting places.

    I had expected great things from these past two games due to the fact that the players on the team were doing so well in Europe.

    I would prefer a European coach who is ready for a challenge. A coach like Gus Hiddink who has been around and doesn’t take crap from his players.

    Please give us a new coach before the World Cup comes along and we are all disappointed again…

  • Applesauce

    Someone above noted that BB was tinkering with the starting XI. By definition, I agree:

    v.intr. To make unskilled or experimental efforts at repair; fiddle.

    At this point, we should be beyond juggling multiple players each game.

    World Cup qualifying (for the US) should be about building confidence as a team and solidifying tactics that will eventually be used during the ‘real thing’. As mentioned previously, we should have outgrown CONCACAF in class by now. The way Bradley is running this team, even if we have the players that outclass the other CONCACAF teams on paper, it will not translate on the pitch.

    I also agree that some of his selections have been questionable, to say the least. Charlie Davies did look to be the only glimmer of hope in the CR match. So obviously he starts an unimpressive Casey instead? To be fair, Bradley does not have much to work with in defense, but he better fix that line fast because it’s currently leaking like a sieve.

  • Dilhan

    To say that bob bradley is a bad concacaf coach is wrong. however, to say that he is a coach who can get us out of the group stages of the world cup is a very far reach. to stay with mastroeni in costa rica and then have the gall to start him against honduras is just one of many mistakes bradley has made. and coming back to costa rica, 4-3-3? why did we come out so arrogant when we knew they were going to come at us out of the gates. and then to not switch tactics until half time was criminal. the US old boy coaching system where the same old names (nowak, bradley, arena, etc.) do the US soccer system more harm than good. they don’t recognize talent and play favorites despite form. two words: kenny cooper. 4 caps, 2 goals, not a bad tally. lets give him a trot out. and why on earth casey? what did he possibly do on wednesday to warrant a place on the confed team. i feel we need an outsider to the US system who will take a fair assessment of the players while bringing in tactical awareness to the squad.

  • cp

    Bradley is insane! starting his son over ricardo clark…not smart. also puttting conor casey on the confederations cup roster after missing countless chances against Honduras…it wasnt obvious hes not doing well with the current national line-up? Anyone can score a goal in the MLS. its much dif. against national squads…where the back lines are full of real defenders. 2005 was the last time they called him up and i wonder why they didnt call him up again after that?!? hes a disgrace to the american national team. Brian ching can finish ten times better and has no fear at all when it comes to challenges. Michael Bradley might be the worst national player…he has no creativity at all. when hes on the pitch all that you will see him do is take up room in the middle of the field! In my opinion bob bradley is terrible and should be fired….dominique kinnear could turn the team around for the better! Bradleys TERRIBLE!!

  • CB

    Agreed. Get rid of him. US Soccer needs to stop hiring Americans for the men’s national team job. The American style of play does not work. We need to get a European coach. Should have opened the wallets for Klinsman along time ago.

  • ArsenalRedondo

    TWO MAIN Problems with the US NATIONAL TEAM:

    1) This year’s team looks out of shape. Bob, don’t you train in Colorado anymore. Our boys looked like they were jogging around the last 3 games in a row. AND YOU GOT BEAT.

    You didn’t put enough fast guys on the team — where are the likes of Wolfe, Twelman, Stewart…pure team speed. We looked like a poor-man’s Farell Island’s team.

    2) Your formation — 4-3-3. Who do you thing we are? Chelsea!!! You need world-class midfielders for that. Arsenal did the same thing — abandoned their 4-4-2 for the fashionable 4-3-3.

    The problem is, Arsenal like the USA team don’t have a Lampard,Ballack and Maluda. We, the USA, have nothing in that class…We can’t even do a simple give-n-go.

    Ditch this stupid 4-3-3 formation. We as a country do not have those players in the middle. We do have a ton of tiny-scrappy midfielder and possible two (2) forwards that can head the ball in. Altedore is a joke. Can we entice McBride back…even for 45 minutes.

    Bob, let the Confederation’s Cup be a lesson. Retool the team for the world cup and get in shape. You look like a testimony team.

    GO USA

  • Ryan

    FInally, I’ve found a home! Bradley has to go. The best reason for us to get a foreign coach with world class experience is because the American players don’t want one. That’s right – I said it. A world class coach might actually hold them accountable for wasting free kicks (Donovan), not shooting with authority on breakaways (Altidore, Bradley), jogging around trying to look cool (Dempsey). I actually prefer the older generation of scrappy players who run their a**es off to this current lot who think they play beautifully because they shut out T&T in Nashville. Germany doesn’t tie Liechtenstein just because the game is not in Germany. They close the deal. Bradley and USSF have settled for qualifying for the World Cup in arguably the world’s weakest region. We will never progress until a higher standard is set.

  • Jeremy

    @ArsenalRedondo: Wolff, Twellman, and Stewart? Are you freaking kidding? Wolff got waived from a second-tier Bundesliga team last year after scoring two goals. Twellman was a reserve player for that same second-tier Bundesliga team. Earnie Stewart hasn’t played since 2005. How are they going to help? Should we start Ben Olson too? And I think you mean “Faroe Islands” not Farrell’s Island.

    Also, the 4-3-3 was used once. Say what you want about the 4-4-2 with the current makeup of the team, but to suggest the 4-3-3 was anything but a one-time gimmick is ignorant. Frankly I think a 4-5-1 would work better.

  • Man Unt Fan 11

    FIRE BOB BRADLEY!!!!!
    In the Confed Cup the team is playing long balls and have no ball control. Their tactics are flawed and effort and discipline few and far between. This team is way too talented to be playing long balls and making poor pass after poor pass when wide open guys and give and goes are wide open. The guys are playing like this because they are allowed to play like this in practice. This the sign of a very bad coach. Its time….New Coach Now!!!! (Qualifiying in the weakest region of the world is no longer just enough)

  • Man Unt Fan 11

    Not too mention….6 goals scored on us!! 2 red cards !!! in just two games!!!!!!! WTF…These red cards show just how poorly and undisciplined are defense is.

  • Matt Gabriele

    I’m with you now. Confeds cup is just embarrasing, plain and simple.

  • eli

    At this point the U.S. should be able to compete, we beat Brazil over ten years ago. Look at countries that demand better coaches, Dunga has been under so much criticism and Brazil is winning. I don’t think we should be arguing if Bob Bradley should be fired, I think the argument should be who is going to replace him. I just watched the U.S. get embarrassed by Italy and Brazil. Why are the U.S. fans so content with mediocre. I have played soccer all my life and watched soccer, other countries would not put up with this. I live in San Diego and have played against better players than we have out there. Instead of getting better we are getting worse. Look at countries like Iraq or Egypt in this conf cup great coaches equal great play.
    We need to demand better in this country.

  • David. B.

    U.S went 10 yeas back in all aspects of the game,
    what is the most difficult to accept is the lost of the fighting spirit
    whitch use to be teams trademark.
    Bradley need to go and coach with more international experiance step in
    and raise the bar of the play.
    This Confed.cup is just pain to whatch if you love team usa.

  • Ed

    The more skilled our players get, the worse they play, and that’s the coaches fault! Take Dempsey. Hodgson has him working hard and playing a simple and effective game. When he joins the Nats, his head swells and he is crap. A decent coach (just decent , not special) should be able to take the talent available in the States and make a very nice team from it that doesn’t get embarassed by any side AND occasionally beats the better sides. Bradley needs to go NOW.

  • Brandon

    I am not sure if I should cry after watching the US play or smile that at least we did not look like NZ yesterday. That being said, we just suck…I am not sure why, but for some reason our teams when it comes to playing countries that are not called Mexico go down faster than Jenna Jamison. We for some reason can’t perform at all on the big stage. Furthermore, why do we have people playing on our team that give up on plays or their entire claim to fame is that they played on the 2nd team of a 3rd tier soccer club in Europe?

  • PaulieVegas

    It’s now officially time for Bradley to go. I didn’t expect to beat Brazil or Italy, but losing by a combined 6-1? That’s not acceptable. If this was a tune-up for the World Cup (assuming we qualify…another reason he should go, when was the last time we had to debate whether the USA would qualify?), then we are sooooo not ready for anything but a butt-whoopin. We are making a lot of stupid mistakes, the kind that the 2006 and 2002 teams wouldn’t have made. And Bradley is making a lot of them with his bad lineup decisions, bad tactics, and bad substitutions. Klinsmann is out there and his market value will never be lower than it is right now. I bet Gulati the cheapskate can get him at a good price.

  • Adam

    After todays horrible loss to Brazil, I think the topic of firing Bob Bradley needs to be brought up again.

  • David W

    Watching the US play in the Confederations Cup is painful. Bradley’s tactical style of a high pressure midfield has been suspect even against CONCACAF opponents, but against the likes of Brazil and Italy it is clear that we do not possess the talent to use these tactics against the best teams in the world. That coupled with his player selections and inability to motivate the group he puts on the field do not bode well for the U.S.’s chances to advance at next summer’s World Cup.

    I think the U.S. would still qualify under Bradley, but too much money and time have been invested in US soccer over the last 12 years for Bob to continue on as head coach. We have taken a step back and lost even the ability to defend collectively.

    I hope I’m wrong, but the team looks uninspired and over matched and at this point in U.S. soccer a lot of that burden has to be placed on the coach.

    David

  • SC Bayern Dad

    My sons just formed U11 team can string together better passes then the Nat’s did today. We are going to get spanked at the World Cup. The team in it’s current state will never get anywhere. Let’s free up any talent that is under 21 from the mess Bradley has created and start over with someone new.

  • Golstriker

    Bradley never played anywhere. He has not credibility as a World Cup coach. The U.S. has enough money to hire a real coach, but they are afraid that the coach they hire will know more than they (the Federation) do. Bradley is an amateur coach who rode the coat tails of another lucky coach, Bruce Arena, a lacrosse player who somehow became a soccer coach. Bradley’s hiring was a joke. His continuation as coach with how horrible this team looks right now is a travesty. He needs to go!

  • TomWondra

    England and Ireland have Italian coaches who are result oriented and its working for both countries. And with the US practically having a bye getting into the World Cup, they wouldnt even have to sweat that out like Trap does for Ireland. HIRE AN ITALIAN COACH!!

  • David. B. U.S.A

    Coach Luiz Scolari will be what team USA need it is not too late
    there is 1 year left till WC2010.

  • tbone

    the US play the game like a bunch of kids who have never seen soccer before. there is no flow to their game and for some reason they can’t string 3 passes together. they are over rated in the rankings because they never play any teams that have indoor plumbing. the only reason we have good goal keepers is that they are getting shelled so often. i know lets play long ball to our forwards and have them take on 4 defenders. I love that our head coach was a temp and is going to lead our team to the World Cup all I have to say is COME ON

  • Golstriker

    Bob Bradley, like Bruce Arena before him, is a poser. We need coaches with pedigree. People who have played and coached the game at a high level. Enough of this taking a coach out of the U.S. ranks who has moderate success and thinking he can take the Americans to the World Cup. Different ball game. Different culture. Different tactics. Different environment. Unless you have been there before, you have no clue. Just where has Bradley coached before? The Chicago Fire? Are you kidding me? This qualifies him to lead the U.S. against the best in the world? Someone better wise up and wise up soon. The way it’s going America will get its clock cleaned in South Africa–that is IF the team is able to qualify.

  • http://www.facebook.com/thegoz Goz

    June 19, 2009

    President Sunil Gulati
    US Soccer Association
    1801 S. Prairie Avenue
    Chicago, IL 60616

    Dear Mr. President,

    I wish to express my unconditional support for soccer in the United States. I have been a dedicated fan, player, coach and referee since 1990 and will continue to support US Soccer for as long as I am able.

    I wish also to express my lack of confidence in Mr. Bob Bradley’s ability to coach the United States Men’s National Team in international competition. He has demonstrated a failure to field a team that can consistently manage the ball, avoid reckless mistakes, or avoid making unforced turnovers, all of which are skills basic to competitive soccer at even the most elementary levels. I believe that under Mr. Bradley’s leadership the United States will not compete to the best of our ability in the FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010, as evidenced by our poor representation in the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009. I wish also to express my confidence that the United States is able to produce a team that can represent these basic skills, if managed by a more capable coach who emphasizes personal commitment to excellence and team commitment to a stated strategy that best fits our strengths and disposition. I am in support of your previous efforts to recruit Mr. Jurgen Klinnsmann and would be very pleased if you would continue your efforts to recruit this talented, capable leader.

    You are well-regarded and much appreciated for your commitment to and accomplishments with US Soccer. I wish you continued success. Please consider my measured comments and proceed as you and our Board of Directors judge best to give the United States fans our very best representation on the international stage next summer.

    Kind regards,

    Maurice D. Gosby

  • BP

    I have been a soccer fan all my life and i can not stand BOB BRADLEY!!!! who is he??? If you have seen all the games that the US has played ever since Bradley has become coach he has changed everyone in the line up at least ONCE WHEN HAVE YOU SEEN HIM TAKE OUT MICHEAL BRADLEY???? Why is it that MICHEAL BRADLEY is the only one in the US team that has played every single minute. Does BOB have no sense of embarrassment that he is the only one that has called up MICHEAL and has never taken him out of a single game!!! ladies and gentlemen he is the next US captain and the next big STAR!!! ATLEAST ACCORDING TO HIS FATHER.
    LOSERS

  • http://www.zacparsons.com Zac Parsons

    It’s time for a change. We are not showing heart. If Bradley doesn’t step down, what does he have to be proud of for the last several performances?

  • Ryan

    undisciplined teem with too many yellow and red cards. Too many penalties and teams take advantage of our reckelss plays and score on their set plays of indirect or direct kicks. Too much space given to teams, poor defense, transition horrible and our middle fielder who keeps getting beat and cannot get back into plays needs to go, I believe he is not playing today because of a red card. Now we are up 1-0. Fire Bradley on Monday, have an interm until Kilinsman signs, which would have to be in the next three weeks. If not, hire an expereinced coach, love dutch coaches, maybe even Bora, ouch never thought I would say that, now we are up 2-0.

  • yonderTheGreat

    So, how does the proverbial crow taste? Yes, USA got to the semis by luck, but beating Spain was completely straight-up skill. That was amazing.

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