Bob Bradley to resign as head coach, Jurgen Klinsmann to replace him

After watching the United States get destroyed by Brazil at the New Meadowlands Stadium, all I can say is it was torture for me to watch the full 90 minutes of the game. Seeing Findley come on the pitch gave me nightmares from the 2010 World Cup.  The only positive out of that game was probably the right post (that prevented about 10 goals for Brazil) and Brad Guzan (who somehow, along with the woodwork kept a clean sheet in the second half). I guess this means we have depth at GK (which has always been a positive for the U.S.) but we need a new coaching staff as this game proves that all the players of 2010 won't work in 2014. Besides, just watching Brazil's youth from this game, does any country have a chance to win it in four years IN Brazil? Let's just gave them the 6th golden star now unless Uruguay shocks the World again (see 1950 World Cup).

I do have some good news which I can confidently report. Sources from the BigSoccer forum and World Soccer Reader have reported that Coach Bob Bradley told his players at the end of the game vs Brazil, he is on his way out the door, and that was the last game he would manage for the Stars and Stripes. I do want to say that Bob Bradley did take US Soccer to places it has never gone before, (finals in the Confederations Cup anyone?) however, he sometimes got stuck with lineups that made even the casual fan go insane, (Robbie Findley, Ricardo Clark? when we practically all begged to see Gomez and Buddle get a shot considering the streaks they were on.) The USA-Brazil game proved that Bradley took the team as far as he could go, and if the United States did the same with Bradley as they did with Arena (another World Cup) it would end disastrous for the yanks in 2014 just like it was in 2006.

The other news from Big Soccer is that Jurgen Klinsmann will replace Bob Bradley. While it is not official yet, they are still "in the talks" and it should be announced he will be the coach within the next few weeks. This is a positive move for US Soccer. While he is not the perfect pick (my dream pick would be David Moyes or Jose Mourinho) we all have to be realistic in that US soccer can't afford a "dream manager" besides, how's Capello working out for England? While the USSF wants an "American Coach" (no nation has won the World Cup with a foreign coach), the manager has lived in the United States for over 12 years, fluent in English, knows soccer here, and he lead Germany to third place in 2006, which his then assistant coach, Joachim Low, did the same as head coach in 2010. I think the United States needs a European Coach for the next cycle. We need the European style of play (just watch German passing), with the never give up, never dive, American attitude.

Do I think Klinsmann wins us the World Cup? Realistically no, (until I'm back on the roller coaster everyone was on watching them play in South Africa) but I expect him to build the team into a Top 10 soccer country, and a superpower for the future. Right now, we are about 16th place in the World, which the 2010 World Cup proved that.

Just watch this segment on what Klinsmann thinks is wrong with US Soccer. He is exactly right:


Bob Bradley showed the World we can compete with the best. Now we need a manager who can show the World we can beat the best every time were on the pitch. He can build us into a World Soccer Powerhouse, which will allow us to possibly win the 2022 World Cup, if we are the host nation.

Jurgen Klinsmann, the next US Soccer Head Coach, hopefully taking the yanks to Brazil in 2014 and making the United States a better soccer nation.

Christian N.


Christian is a Philadelphia Native, and is a political & sports columnist for several Newspapers across North America. He is also a season ticket holder of the Philadelphia Union and can be followed on Twitter along with his Website.

Sources: 

1. http://www.thefinalthird.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/jurgen-klinsmann.jpg
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07O6qsZT7lc
3. http://worldsoccerreader.com/2010/08/bob-bradley-set-to-depart-as-us-manager/

The Donovan Experiment

Back in 2007, Major League Soccer would sign soccer star David Beckham for a 5 year deal to the Los Angles Galaxy. The league would create new rules as to how players of Beckham's caliber could be signed by any team, and not greatly impact the team's salary cap. Some would say the " Beckham Experiment" has failed because the club has failed to win a championship, and even missed the playoffs in Beckham's first season with the Galaxy.

There would also be a ton of controversy when Beckham said he would like to remain with AC Milan after being loaned to them. Landon Donovon even questioned Beckham's commitment to the Galaxy, MLS, and even soccer in America.

Flash-forward in winter of 2009/2010. Donovan signs a $1,000,000+ contract with the LA Galaxy. Everton FC, one of the most successful clubs in England, suffers many injuries to its roster, and at one point, some feared, the club that has played the most top-flight soccer games in the country, could be relegated. Manager David Moyes would turn to the American Star to help his club in the January transfer window, where they would agree to a loan until mid March.

The "Donovan Experiment" at Everton has been incredibly successful. Since joining the club, the team has won 6 games, lost 3, and tied 1. The club, fans, manager, Donovan, even Americans want to see him stay at Everton, but it appears he will return to Los Angeles unless there is a work stoppage in MLS.

If you were able to watch the match vs Hull City, Landon would come on at about the 70th minute with a 3-1 lead and the entire stadium chanting USA USA USA!. Landon would make a cross to Yakubu, only to see Yakubu's shot go into the stands. Landon would then score a beautiful goal with teammate Phil Neville saying USA USA USA meanwhile the fans chanting "Sign him up!"

Donovan's work in under 20 minutes was not done. What could have been his second goal, Landon would instead pass it to his teammate Rodwell, where the ball would go in the back of the net. Rodwell then picked Landon and carried him to the stands.

I never would have guessed England should be the place the USA team should play its home games because you don't here that passion in the states.

While Beckham must be thinking "what goes around, comes around" everyone is on Donovan's side. Either way, The Beckham-Donovan feud and experiments will be continued in the very near future either in MLS, or the USA/England World Cup Match on June 12.

Either way, expect Donovan to return to Everton, even if he should play in Los Angeles this season, because the Donovan Experiment has worked for the toffees.

Bob Bradley and the Yanks

After watching the United States take on the Netherlands, Bob Bradley has some  issues with the Yanks. There were some positive moments in the game, but I don't know if Bradley is willing to change his coaching philosophy because of them.

The negatives are that if we do not have our A-team healthy and match fit, the United States is probably not going to make it past the group stage. We just don't have the depth on the roster that can comfortably fill some spots in the top 11. The good news is most should be ready with the big question mark on Charlie Davies return. If Charlie cannot make it back, it could be very hard for us to score. My solution would be to place Clint Dempsey up top along with Jozy Altidore, and have Brian Ching on the bench. The yanks (and Bob Bradley) like to play a 4-5-1, which I cannot stand. I fear this is what Bradley will use unless Davies can return, because it fits right into Bob Bradley's bunker mentality. Don't let them score, and pray the one good chance we get in 90 minutes will go in the back of the net. Unfortunately, while our defense isn't horrible, it can't stop many teams outside of CONCACAF for the entire match.

There were some positives coming from the game vs the Dutch. When the U.S. was down 0-2, with about 15 minutes left to play, we actually started to go on the offensive. When we did, we had the #3 team in the World playing on their heels and backpedaling. We would score one goal, and had two other fantastic opportunities. The U.S. could have won the game in the last 15 minutes. If we played like that for the entire 90 minutes, winning would have been within our grasp. We can play good offensive soccer against ANY team in the world, and the Confederations Cup proved that against Egypt and Brazil.

Unfortunately, attacking is not in Bob Bradley's philosophy, and he probably wants to use the 4-5-1, the exact formation Bruce Arena used in 2006, and it did not get us into the round of 16. If Charlie Davies can play, we will use the 4-4-2, which gives me much more hope this team will play with some offense in their mind. The United States is very dangerous on the attack, and if they can play like that before and during the World Cup, I like our chances making the quarter-finals, which is not an easy task.

Christian N.
Christian is a Philadelphia native, and political and sports columnist for several newspapers across North America. He is also a Philadelphia Union Season Ticket Holder and can be followed on Twitter and his Website.