The fact is that the US were drawn into arguably the toughest group with Italy, Czech Republic and Ghana (no slouches). Did the our US sports jouranists (glitterati) actually think we would win the group? Anyway, even second place would have been a death trap for our team since then they would then be forced to play Brazil. Would Arena have been fired if we made it to the second round only to loose to Brazil? I think not because our US sports writers and commentators couldn't possibly have expected our team to beat Brazil or even to beat Italy to win the group for that matter. Even Jamie conceded before the games began that Italy were unbeatable given certain circumstances beyond Arenas' control.
So let's face it, Arena got fired because of the US's inability to beat Ghana. And if you look at that game the difference came down to mainly a mental mistake by our player who forced a foul on the opposing team which forced a PK. Why should Arena be fired because of the actions of a dumb player? How would the outcome be different if say we had Hiddink from Austarlia who Jamie whole-heartedly reccomends? Hiddink had one of his players make an extremly stupid mental error as well by fouling Fabio Grosso in the 90th minute against Italy. That set up a PK as well and Italy as we all know won.
Coaches good or bad cannot make up for stupidity on the field. Let's face it, Arena got fired because of a very unfortunate group draw- and to me that's very unfair.
Last edited by gameboy_2006 on July 19th at 7:27 AM.
Actually: If you note, (and you haven't, which is why I mention it): I never said the USA would get out of the group. I'm taking Arena to task for the state he leaves the team in and his handling of the team, not the team's performance at the Cup.
With all due respect that doesn't make much sense.
We all should be judged on our performance, and the outcome of the World Cup games is the gold standard of meauring performance. But I am claiming that any coach good or bad would not have been able to change the outcome of the US performance because of the Group draw. Arena would have been a hero if the US swapped places with say Australia in which case Hiddink would have been the #### rather than Arena. But now you reccomend Hiddink? I need to constantly remind you that this world cup for the US came down to a combination of bad luck and the actions of a dumb player.
This other thing you say regarding the state of the team, etc. is an intagable and in my opinion silly talk since we wouldn't be having that conversation if the US beat Ghana.
Last edited by gameboy_2006 on July 19th at 7:42 AM.
So you claim that the USA was pre-destined to fail this year? Huh. OK, I'll give you a least points for novelty.
We are judged on our performance; coaches are judged on wins and losses, sure. Arena flopped here however, on other counts. Again, I didn't think the USA would get out of that group. But I DID think Arena would get the guys into some sort of coherent team shape. The kids that lined up in 06 looked just as scared as the guys did in 98 in that first game, and to me, that's a step back.
Frankly, the USA could have gone three-and-out in 06 and Arena could have come out looking great: The guys could have played hard, but lost. It happens. But they didn't, and prep is Arena's responsibility. You can call the players "stupid" all you like, but Arena is the guy who's suppposed to get that idiocy out of them. He failed.
Add in Arena's failure to (and at times, actual resistance towards) grow the game; his ransacking of the youth develpment program without replenishment, the burning out of guys, the dynamiting his team; and then having the colossal nerve to #### all over his players, the refs, the MLS, the media — anyone, in an effort to avoid blame — to me adds up to a garbage job.
Bruce Arena has always had his players play scared or as if they do not belong in the world stage. Americans, at the very least those who play abroad, have the necessary skills but require guidance and experience and that can only be done through actual coaching.
I have always felt that US soccer players get their knowledge of the game through "how to" videos and lack the necessary fire in the belly to play well. Fancy tricks with the ball do not win you championships but get you in showbiz.
Gameboy to a degree I agree with you on the basis that a team or circumstances can either make a coach look good or bad. There is nothing a great coach can do if his team doesn't come through.
In Arenas case it was the ending that was more of a revelation. We kind of saw what the team was about when the US didn't win. Nobody claimed responsibility. I believe Arena would have been judged differently if he came foward and said we didn't win, I accept all responsibility which is basically what a coach is supposed to do. A coach is supposed to lead by example, and if this is the example that Arena is going to display than it would be better that US soccer doesn't have a mentor like this. It is an awkward situation when a coach will call out a player and say your not mentally strong when in fact the coach himself cannot show any strength. Next in line please.
Jamie has a great idea though somewhat unrealistic in format and targeted management.
Fact remains that U.S. Soccer is a politically charged and self - debilitating organization which needs revamping from the ODP level through MLS, National Team and Chicago office. People that actually know and understand the USSF see this and outsiders find great humor (aka; the British FA and DFB) with it. The youth development system is a wreck if not non-existent. The only true domestic youth development organization stands with the Bradenton Academy and this does not spread a wide net and does not serve and develop the wide array of talent available domestically.
Few , if any MLS Clubs have a true youth development system which can find, develop and feed players up from the local youth ranks to MLS or beyond. This is the key to success for clubs in the major European leagues such as the Bundesliga, Premiership and La Liga. Here we see youth organizations by committee and "soccer moms" having little knowledge and / or stomach for what it takes to make true winning soccer players (especially in the men's ranks).
Playing the "Big Hand" would be revamping the USSF, hiring Juergen Klinsmann as Arena's successor and allowing him a free hand to force some of the "political darlings" like Landon Donovan to step up, go overseas and develop their game to the world standard or not be on the National Team (LD was a disgrace), instill better speed and tactical direction in MLS coaching and a slurry of other changes within the youth ranks.
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