In the run up to Saturday's qualifier against Cuba, I thought I'd do a poll. Here are the stats on coach Bob from an article on the us soccer website.
I think he's doing the right things to take the team to the next level. I perhaps have doubts that he's got the tactical expertise to be the coach once we get to that next level, but feel confident that he can at least get us there.
I had to go with 'other'. My one line choice would be "He's done fine, but has done nothing except keep the status quo". I didn't like the hire in the first place (underwhelmed would be a good adjective), and he's done nothing to inspire me to think that a WC qualification and a quick exit is all we're capable of. How about some attacking football? Seriously, who can tell me the last time we scored a goal against a quality team that didn't involve a set piece (Barbados doesn't qualify as a quality team). I might be in the minority, but he doesn't have my confidence whatsoever.
I voted early on in category #2. I think he's done a fine job so far. What I would REALLY like for him to do is, once we've secured WC qualification, forget about Ricardo Clark, Pablo, Frankie, Eddie Lewis, and Ching [among other older players], and concentrate on playing only those folks who have a solid opportunity to feature in South Africa. The club needs to continue to be built around Donovan, but Freddy and Deuce need to feature in MF along with Bradley and Edu. I think we'll be at our best with an attacking 4-5-1. Here's my best 11 for our first 2010 match: Howard; Cherundolo, Gooch, Boca, Pearce; Deuce, Adu, Edu, Bradley, Donovan; Altidore my squad candidates: Guzan, Hahnemann; Cheesehead, Spector, Wynne, Simek, Moor, Subotic, Califf, Parkhurst; Beasley, McCarty, Szetela, Zizzo; EJ, Cooper, Hill
"Forget Ching" . . . a dagger to my heart. He will show you guys, just wait. You'll be singing a different tune unless Cooper gets a call and actually starts adopting the strongman roll. Sorry but you need a guy like that on this US squad and so far I've yet to see any other forward consistently and effectively play that role. Also as far as your best 11, you have to have Beasley in there. I cant say I know how to do it, but he is needed. I know everyone loves Dempsey but Beasley for the US is more effective than him. So if it's one or ther other, I choose the Beas.
I've seen Kenny Cooper play a number of times and he is NOT a strong man or a target forward. He's big, but he doesn't use his size - he doesn't power forward for headers, he's not going to he's more of a finesse striker. He'll definitely improve and be worthy of future call-ups. But if you're expecting him in a McBride role, you're going to be disappointed. As he is right now, you might as well have Brian Ching, Eddie Johnson, and/or Taylor Twellman up front. I think a lot of US fans are over-reacting to the last two matches. The USMNT is on the road in CONCACAF against teams who, for them, this qualifying round may be the closest they'll get to the World Cup. These games are difficult, hostile, and nasty. There's no need for Jozy, Freddy, etc. to get in those games unless they are absolutely necessary. Once the US secures qualification to the Hex; then Bradley should trot out the younger/fringe players. The games will mostly be in the US and even if they falter miserably, it won't affect the final result. Bradley has been very successful so far. He won the Gold Cup, he's won some friendlies abroad, set up tougher friendlies, and he's on track in this set of WCQs. This notion that he has to win "with attacking soccer" or the US has to blow out any opponent in CONCACAF that isn't Mexico or call up the new hot flavor/mostly young players, is silly. His job is to get results and he's been getting them.
