World Cup and European leagues

[Mr.Right]

Sunil has been there 10 years and has the Krafts backing whoich is huge...Let's see what they do for the next Head Coach because if he bring in another retread like Arena it will be a joke...I would LOVE to see like a Sampaoli or Bielsa or a real taskmaster that loves to attack....They will not spend the money though

[jknezek]

Seeing Arena, Tab Ramos and Peter Vermes mentioned as head coach candidates. Out of that uninspiring slate, I'd take Arena for his experience. Ramos hasn't impressed anyone at the Olympic and U20 levels. Vermes just doesn't fire me up. Regardless, it looks like we're going to hire a bandage to get us through qualifying that will then be tough to peel off before Russia. Seems like a lost cycle to me.

[Mr.Right]

And it is official the bandage is Arena...I remember players like Greg Vanney expressing disappointment way back in 2006 at how unimpressed he was with Arena and his tactics. Practice he said was a joke and Arena himself was more a motivator than a tactician. I am disappointed to say the least but was not expecting much from the federation.

[jknezek]

Lost cycle.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Even if USSF had taken its time and hired the best available coach over the next two months or so (arguably no need to rush with the next qualifier in March), I wonder whom they could have enticed.

[Mr.Right]

Even if USSF had taken its time and hired the best available coach over the next two months or so (arguably no need to rush with the next qualifier in March), I wonder whom they could have enticed.

You are correct they could entice really no one of "name" recognition because they would be unwilling to pay them their asking price but I will still say that the US is in a big HOLE to qualify even if they do take the Top 3 an the 4th goes into a Play-off. They MUST win all of their remaining home games and try to snag a win or 2 on the road.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Even if USSF had taken its time and hired the best available coach over the next two months or so (arguably no need to rush with the next qualifier in March), I wonder whom they could have enticed.

You are correct they could entice really no one of "name" recognition because they would be unwilling to pay them their asking price but I will still say that the US is in a big HOLE to qualify even if they do take the Top 3 an the 4th goes into a Play-off. They MUST win all of their remaining home games and try to snag a win or 2 on the road.

Agree with you that qualification, contrary to what those wearing red, white and blue colored glasses proclaim, is not assured at this point . . .

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Other than the options mentioned, could they possibly have looked at the college level or would they not be good enough to lead a national team?

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Other than the options mentioned, could they possibly have looked at the college level or would they not be good enough to lead a national team?

Arena, Sampson and Bradley all had D-1 college coaching experience before moving on to the professional level, but it would be unprecedented (I think) to pluck someone straight out of the college ranks.  Is there some present college coach that you think is qualified to manage the USMNT?

[jknezek]

Other than the options mentioned, could they possibly have looked at the college level or would they not be good enough to lead a national team?

Arena, Sampson and Bradley all had D-1 college coaching experience before moving on to the professional level, but it would be unprecedented (I think) to pluck someone straight out of the college ranks.  Is there some present college coach that you think is qualified to manage the USMNT?

In this day and age, I can't imagine anyone making that leap. It's pretty difficult for college coaches to jump to MLS, though Caleb Porter has done OK. Most of the MLS coaches are MLS assistants first, though the recent preference for recently retired players is somewhat baffling to me.

I have to admit, I was tired of Klinsi, think the team was tired of him, and he needed to go. But I don't think there were any realistic and obvious replacements. Arena seems like the only logical stop gap while I'm sure Gulati will look for a bigger name after this cycle. I do think one thing is now absolutely obvious. One cycle is it for these guys. After that the message starts to get tuned out. Arena got 2 in a row and it wasn't pretty. Bradley couldn't get 2, neither could Klinsi. So no more of these stupid, money wasting, contract extensions. Hell, even the Spanish couldn't make it work.

[Mr.Right]

Other than the options mentioned, could they possibly have looked at the college level or would they not be good enough to lead a national team?

Arena, Sampson and Bradley all had D-1 college coaching experience before moving on to the professional level, but it would be unprecedented (I think) to pluck someone straight out of the college ranks.  Is there some present college coach that you think is qualified to manage the USMNT?

God....Steve Sampson..What an absolute disaster he was(anyone remember the 1998 World Cup fiasco)...To think Costa Rica actually hired that stiff in the early 2000's...He did not last long and the results showed why...I think he finally ended up back in D1 soccer at a school in California somewhere

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Other than the options mentioned, could they possibly have looked at the college level or would they not be good enough to lead a national team?

Arena, Sampson and Bradley all had D-1 college coaching experience before moving on to the professional level, but it would be unprecedented (I think) to pluck someone straight out of the college ranks.  Is there some present college coach that you think is qualified to manage the USMNT?

Mike Burns beaten at the post by a header from a corner?  You mean that disaster?


God....Steve Sampson..What an absolute disaster he was(anyone remember the 1998 World Cup fiasco)...To think Costa Rica actually hired that stiff in the early 2000's...He did not last long and the results showed why...I think he finally ended up back in D1 soccer at a school in California somewhere

[Mr.Right]

Yes Burns beaten but also in 1998 the team absolutely had tunes Sampson out by the time the World Cup came around. I believe they lost to Iran of all teams and players were bickering at each other. Lalas and Balboa were way past their primes and Harkes had slept with Wynalda's wife which certainly did not help team chemistry. Just a complete meltdown

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Yes Burns beaten but also in 1998 the team absolutely had tunes Sampson out by the time the World Cup came around. I believe they lost to Iran of all teams and players were bickering at each other. Lalas and Balboa were way past their primes and Harkes had slept with Wynalda's wife which certainly did not help team chemistry. Just a complete meltdown

+K

[firstplaceloser]

Yes Burns beaten but also in 1998 the team absolutely had tunes Sampson out by the time the World Cup came around. I believe they lost to Iran of all teams and players were bickering at each other. Lalas and Balboa were way past their primes and Harkes had slept with Wynalda's wife which certainly did not help team chemistry. Just a complete meltdown

sounds like a college team with all that drama