How long does Bradley have left.

[gallden]

Let me preface this by saying I personally don't watch too much of US footy or do I know too much about the team. But I feel it's time for the US to move on from Bradley and go with a young proven international coach. A la Klinsmin or someone of that ilk. I'm not expecting us to go and beat teams like Spain or Brazil but our game on the international level needs to be upped. Discuss.

[Birds of B'more]

I know little to nothing about soccer, but I do find it curious with the increasing popularity of the sport here why the US doesn't do better in international competition. Is it because the sport still does not get enough of our best athletes? Are young players not taught well enough, and thus are lest skilled when they should be at their peak? Or do we have poor coaching at the higher levels, and as the OP suggests it's time to hire someone from overseas?

[gallden]

We need more competent people running the USSF also, can't have people who really know nothing about the sport picking coaches and the lot.

[Scrat1]

Not that I'm any huge Bradley fan, but I'd be really surprised if he was replaced after this tournament. Losing to Mexico in the final isn't exactly any sort of upset. And most of the moves Bradley was directly responsible for, such as starting Adu, worked out well. It's not his fault that Cherundolo got injured (though it is his fault for having Bornstein even on the roster).

Like I said, I'm not a huge Bradley fan, but even if it wasn't the Gold Cup result we wanted, it certainly wasn't England 2010 World Cup either. Because the club is in transition and they're bringing a number of younger players into the fold, I'm guessing USSF will keep Bradley around to provide continuity.

[Remember The Alomar]

In a vacuum the result in the Gold Cup is no reason to fire anyone. It was the final and Mexico is a very good side. We we're simply outplayed. Tactics only go so far.

However, I've wanted Bradley gone since the Ghana loss. I can't describe my disappointment when he was resigned. He was a step up from Arena and did a solid job at times, but he's not the man to move the team forward. The USMNT is at an interesting point. We need to begin structural transition and follow a more European model. It sucked that we couldn't get Marcelo Bielsa as our youth development head--that would have been big.

I don't think Bradley will get fired for this--one can hope--but I'll be shocked if he's managing this team by the 2014 WC. I will say this: as much as I want Bradley gone, we could definitely do worse. I'm pretty sure that Klinsman was very close to signing a contract, but there was a bit of a dust up with Gulati. Gulati doesn't want to cede the control that a coach like Klinsman wants, thus we stuck with Bradley. If Gulati still has the same mindset we could easily end up with another MLS retread.

[Scrat1]

Yeah I think that's all fair, Alomar.

I read an article a few weeks ago, though I can't remember where, talking about the Klinsman/Gulati thing. Sounds as if the job isn't as appealing as you'd think, largely due to Gulati. Could be another MacPhail/Angelos situation. Bradley gets the blame, but Gulati could be the real problem.

[Remember The Alomar]

Yeah I think that's all fair, Alomar.

I read an article a few weeks ago, though I can't remember where, talking about the Klinsman/Gulati thing. Sounds as if the job isn't as appealing as you'd think, largely due to Gulati. Could be another MacPhail/Angelos situation. Bradley gets the blame, but Gulati could be the real problem.

Yeah, that's a really good comparison. If there's reason to be hopeful it's that Gulati did try to get Bielsa on board. To me that shows the Gulati is making at least some effort toward change. Bielsa did turn us down, but then again he's been turning down everyone. Pretty sure he turned down the Milan job as well so god knows what he's holding out for. Maybe he smells blood in the water surrounding the USMNT head gig? One can hope.

Sadly, I have an awful feeling that we're not going to get a major overhaul until we miss a WC. To me, that could definitely happen in 2018 unless the young talent begins to take big leaps forward.

[atom_25]

I seriously doubt that they first Bradley. I think this is all going to end similar to how it ended for Arena, out in the groups at the next World Cup and being embarrassed in the process. And honestly, the coach can only do so much.....not that I like Bradley (I don't) but what coach is going to take over this team with this defense and do much better?

Opps meant fire Bradley

[Remember The Alomar]

I seriously doubt that they first Bradley. I think this is all going to end similar to how it ended for Arena, out in the groups at the next World Cup and being embarrassed in the process. And honestly, the coach can only do so much.....not that I like Bradley (I don't) but what coach is going to take over this team with this defense and do much better?

For me it's not so much about the senior team results but the youth development system. We are what we are for the 2014 WC. I'm more worried about the 2018 and 2022 competitions. I just feel like we're stagnating at mediocrity.

[atom_25]

Youth development is not really Bradley's job though. I totally agree that more effort needs to go into this area but I think that with time (decade or so) you are going to see the MLS academies putting out some good young Americans. Maybe we will finally see that class striker. I read a really interesting article last Summer about the youth set up in Holland in the New York Times. It is really long but is well worth the time as it is thought provoking and highlight how short the USA (at both club and international level) is from doing what they need to do to get the senior team to that next level.

I had no idea until 5 minutes ago that Brede Hangeland was born in Texas, so instead of starting Saturday night with Bocanegra and Goodsen the USMNT could have easily had Hangeland and Subotic holding things down at the back. That made my day.

[Remember The Alomar]

Youth development is not really Bradley's job though. I totally agree that more effort needs to go into this area but I think that with time (decade or so) you are going to see the MLS academies putting out some good young Americans. Maybe we will finally see that class striker. I read a really interesting article last Summer about the youth set up in Holland in the New York Times. It is really long but is well worth the time as it is thought provoking and highlight how short the USA (at both club and international level) is from doing what they need to do to get the senior team to that next level.

I had no idea until 5 minutes ago that Brede Hangeland was born in Texas, so instead of starting Saturday night with Bocanegra and Goodsen the USMNT could have easily had Hangeland and Subotic holding things down at the back. That made my day.

That's true that Bradley isn't to blame for that. I guess I was just trying to say that Klinsman wanted control of that aspect and Gulati didn't want to cede that power. Wee need a manager with complete power IMO.

If you took every player that was eligible to play for the US squad and put them in a starting 11 together we'd be a great, great side. Christ, can you imagine Rossi playing for us? Depressing.

[gallden]

We need a playing philosophy that starts at youngest age groups and is implemented throughout the entire national team structure. Not sure why we're not looking at other successful countries and trying to imitate them. Like Spain and even ze Germans.

[atom_25]

We need a playing philosophy that starts at youngest age groups and is implemented throughout the entire national team structure. Not sure why we're not looking at other successful countries and trying to imitate them. Like Spain and even ze Germans.

Could not agree more. Compared to where it was in the 90's, I think youth footy is lightyears ahead of where it was. They still do not have it right, but I do think it is on the right track. Having someone like Klinnsman involved who wanted to implement certain youth programs similar to other European countries is going to help or it would help.