By FRANCO PANIZO
The U.S. men's national team opened up their pre-World Cup camp in Princeton, New Jersey, and head coach Bob Bradley discussed a variety of topics following Monday's training session.
From the injury statuses of several players, to his plan for the camp, to Charlie Davies' lashing at FC Sochaux president, Bradley touched on a wide array of things concerning the U.S. national team. Here are just some of the things Bradley said:
On the current status of Carlos Bocanegra, who is recovering from a lower abdominal strain:
"Carlos (Bocanegra) did the warm up with the team today, a little bit of ballwork, individual work and so he is making good progress. We had four guys that we kept inside in the training room, and Carlos had a little bit of his own program today."
On how concerned he is by the current injuries:
"Obviously, we will assess as we go through this week whether the issues are already on their way to being better and guy are back to training or whether that becomes more of a concern."
On if he plans to select his final 23 prior to the Turkey friendly in Philadelphia:
"It's like anything else, you have a plan in your head, but then you have to be able to adjust at some point. But the idea would be that by the time we get to Philadelphia and we have made our decisions and have our 23."
On if there are conflicting interests between getting the core group ready and judging the fringe players:
"We do our best to size up where different guys are. We trust that we've had experience in games together so I don't think that automatically you have to put what you think as your potential starting eleven out there right away in the first training session. You have time to assess where different guys are, we work on different things as we go through. I've mentioned a number of times that the fitness early on is a priority."
On Oguchi Onyewu:
"He was named in the 23 last week in Milan that they then picked the 18 from. So I mean he's put himself in contention at the end of the year there. He's been feeling good coming out of regular training sessions so I think we're confident about that."
On tracking Charlie Davies' recovery:
"We talked about the process with our coaches. We knew exactly what it looked like in training. [U.S. national team trainer] Ivan Perrera was there at one point. I saw video of it at training. So we put it all together and we recognized that Charlie has put, up until now, and will need to continue to put, a tremendous amount of work into his rehab, and we're all there supporting him."
On Davies' lashing out at FC Sochaux president:
"There's a lot of emotion. From right after the accident until now, he put all his energy and emotion into his rehab and he did with an obvious timetable. We talked about that along the way.
"Look, I'll share one conversation I had with Charlie. This was in February, and again sometimes that conversation is because you're a little older, whether it's a father conversation or a big brother conversation. I told him that I felt that if he could keep his attitude, his mentality, his work ethic, that that was going to be very important.
"But I also said 'If you could find a way to work and put everything into it and maybe not have so much to say, I think it would work for you because you don't want to put yourself in a position where you're making all this progress and yet somehow it seems like a failure because the timing just doesn't coincide with the World Cup. What's also important is that you can still get yourself back to the level that you were playing before the accident.' We still talk about that with him and hopefully he got his emotion out, but that he can continue to move forward and the guys on the team, his friends, are right there behind him."
On the forwards in camp:
"Herculez (Gomez) comes off the season and Edson (Buddle) has started the season very well, so certainly you take notice of that. It's good to see now how they'll fit in and play in this stretch.
We have worked in the past year with Robbie Findley at times and we still feel that he's got some good qualities; good to see him get a goal the other night.
Brian Ching has been out injured, but still, if you look at his impact over the last few years, a guy that still as a forward brings the kind of qualities - holding balls under pressure, drawing fouls, bringing guys into the game – so we recognize that part of his game.
(Eddie) Johnson would be a similar case to Edson and Herculez. His last stretch in Greece in the play-offs has been good. We've seen him play live, (assistant coaches have been in Greece), so we watch the games and we keep track of things and his play was good."
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What do you think of Bradley's comments?
Share your thoughts below.
“But Buddle works well with Landon which may prove beneficial internationally. ”
I see this a lot but the truth is Donovan has a good working relationship with all the forward candidates, except for Findley. He and Ching had great chemistry at San Jose, he played with Gomez at the Galaxy when Gomez had his best year before this one, and he certainly knows EJ well enough and obviously he’s spent lots of time with Jozy and Clint.
It’s an advantage but not as big as everyone makes it out to be.
Unlike you a lot of people in Europe were impressed when the US beat Spain.
If you watched Inter beating Barca it was very similar to that game, so maybe there is something to the idea that Bob showed everyone how to beat Spain ( who function a lot like Barca i.e shut down Xavi).
If we can beat England or even do well against them, people will notice.
I don’t think Ching has to score to be a solid contributor. If he can maintain possesion and distribute, he’s done his job. Especially with Donovan and Dempsey on the wings b/c they are going to be making runs towards the middle.
I think if Ching stays healthy he goes to SA. I would like to see Gomez and Buddle in an international game before I totaly dismiss them but I think they are long shots to make the squad.
this is just not accurate, sorry Josh D
I think we should all cut Bradley some slack.
The truth is we don’t have the players and talent level to compete at this level across the starting 11. Getting out of the first round would be a major achievement. Too many key injuries and too little depth is our main problems and those problems are still 4 to 8 years from being solved.
That being said a little more inspirational figure as a coach certainly would not hurt our chances of getting to round 2. Everything feels so stale going in and that falls on the coaches back and that only.
I doubt he will. Look at BBs comments. He said we have worked with him for the last year and we still believe he has good qualities. And then he ended it by saying it was good he got that goal. Sounds like Findley’s lack of output in the forward position is hurting him this year. He won’t end up in SA.
If we have 22 I’d honestly rather take Davies as a cheerleader than Robbie Findley. What’s with Bradleys obsession with a guy who is the 3rd striker for his MLS team?!?!All he has is speed.
Herculez is going to Cruz Azul. He was asking for way too much money so Puebla is selling him.
Excellent!
Please don’t use American Football references, it’s demeaning to the sport we love.
I think FIFA requires you to bring 23 players
ching is garbage
did he answer questions about what kind of new super sweat pants he is going to wear on the sidelines at the world cup?
Can’t read Spanish, what does it say?
Because Bob uses so many new and different strategies depending on his opponents? Or that we have a wild card up our sleeve that neither of those countries have heard of?
We play the same style with the same core group of players – nothing new to tell the world.
“Not impressed with Bradley’s candor. He continues to dodge the Sochaux case, and as far as I could tell never flat out says, we the USA think Charlie isn’t ready. ”
Here is Bob’s statement on the matter:
“Given that status and our own evaluation of his progress, we feel it is Charlie’s best interest to continue his rehabilitation and focus on getting fully prepared to resume his professional and international career.”
What about that statement makes you think Bob is waffling on whether he thinks Charlie is ready for the World Cup? Do you want a break down on how the vote went?
Why in the hell should Bob publicly air what is in house USMNT dirty laundry. The decision was made and Bob is taking the heat for it. That is how CEO’s work and Bob is the CEO of this team.
You want him to pile it on Charlie? You want him to tell Charlie who voted against him so Charlie can blast them on twitter as well?
All this so you can feel better about his candor? Charlie is very hurt and upset now. I think Bob realises the less he says and the faster he moves on the better for Bob and for Charlie.
The man has a team to worry about.
What evidence do you have for saying: “Perhaps the USA can perform well in spite of B. Bradley like in the Confed Cup.”
other than you dislike Bradley.
That kind of statement presupposes they could have performed well with you coaching the team. Even if they played well to spite Bob because they hate him it still comes down to Bob being the reason they did well. You have no evidence the players dislike Bob. All the players are very positive about him including the star players who have absolutely no need to fear for their places.
Right.
Like they were lurking around waiting for Rongen to screw it up so they could snap up Subotic.
Max and Wily,
You guys hate Ching, Johnson and Findley so unless Bob said “Yo, Ching and Johson and Findley are here to make up numbers, no way they get to SA! ” anything he says about them will be interpreted by you as a positive for those guys.
This says a lot more about you guys than it does about Bob or those guys.
Agreed it would be a huge step if a US-born coach took over a 1st division Euro club.
But Arena looked for Euro opportunities 4 years ago and found no takers.
The rep of US coaches hasn’t changed significantly since then.
+1
exatcly I like the level of discreteness BB has, he chooses his words right
Heculez Gomez will be wearing a new shirt when he returns from the world cup. Two players from Puebla for five from Cruz Azul.
http://www.camoteros.com/news/2010/mayo/12.html
i think BB should wear a kilt.
phil brown makes a terrible coach.
when i read i was thinking he was talking about final 23 selection, and thinking that bob should bring bedoya over beas, buddle over ching, and questioning the sacha inclusion. all reasonable and debatable opinions.
I guess the reader really does read between the lines more than words. to each his own perception!
i am guessing he will take one of the MLS expansion teams
He’s a strategist, pure and simple. The enemy is watching and he changes as we change. Read Carl von Clausewitz “On War.”
He’s a strategist, pure and simple. The enemy is watching and he changes as we change. Read Carl von Clausewitz “On War”
You agree with what? Were you at the press conference? No? Then, you have no idea how much he spoke about any of the players.
You’re agreeing with someone who literally doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
he is a players’ coach. I dig. A man leading our boys through the trenches, swallowing his own medicine.
Someone the players can follow for sure.
I remember bruce having some issues with the players in his media talks, and getting flak from and losing respect of players…not really ideal.
+1 to Bob
Future left back?
http://theoriginalwinger.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/x6106-239×300.jpg
lol lol lol
-1
No, he wouldn’t sound like an idiot.
why? whats the point?
I like BB, but I get bored reading his quotes because he says very bland things. I’m not saying he should be reveling his stradigies or anything, but a little more energetic would be nice.
You gotta admit it would be a significant step forward for an American to coach a European club team (provided its a first-division team).
Ching. Do I want him to start? No. But he is a rock. He adds character and stability. Do I want him as a sub with the US nursing a one goal lead? Absolutely.
He’ll take a pounding, draw fouls and has the composure to lead his teammates to a victory. Imagine Brian holding the ball near the end line in the waning minutes.
I think it was more like an off day for the U.S. when they (“U.S.”) lost to Poland. And the first two games, the U.S. just played well. One way or another, the U.S. will make the second round in 2010.
I liked what he said about it not being a failure too. It probably seems like it to Charlie right now, but he needs to know that what he’s been able to do is still incredible and that everyone still cares about him a lot.
hopefully he wins some games but a job in Europe? Doubt it.
How ‘Could he have known’ ???
Yeah it was such a mystery only the German, Serb, and Bosnian national teams were watching the guy.
Ever heard of this coach Mourinho? : )
Jose and Phil Jackson/Lakers are masters of psyching out opponents; that’s not BB’;s style but hey I won’t criticize him for that.
In-game strategy, subs, and Sacha are all fair game but Bob’s staying pc while coaching is ok by me.
Bruce Arena was hardly a fountain of information in his two terms at the helm, and for good reason.
Why don’t you all just give our playbooks to each and every one of our opponents while we’re at it?
I want to play Ghana. I WANT REVENGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What in form players did we not invite to camp are you referring to. I get kind of annoyed when people say certain selections don’t belong and don’t name a solution or a better option. You could say Freddy Adu should be on there over Kljestan, Rogers, or Findley, but none of the aforementioned are likely to go to South Africa anyways, so why interupt Adu’s progress in Greece for a camp before a tournament he may not go to, let alone PLAY in…
Of course, that’s assuming that YOU specifically want Adu on the roster.
His referral to players who, in all good conscience, should not have even been invited to camp, are a bit scary.
His selection of players shows that he is has a preference of pedigree over performance. I know managers have a “comfort level” with certain players; their predictability, skill sets, work rate and abilities, you know what you’ll get (and won’t get). That said, you must improve the odds for your team by taking players who are in-form and can obvious contribute.
We will see if he stays the course and takes the predictable, those players who have, for good or bad, the experience or pedigree to keep his comfort level up. OR takes the jump and goes with the less predictable, the revelations, the HOT players who could, IF given a chance, make a real difference.
We’ll know soon!
He actually said quite a bit with the “I told Charlie to be quiet and not foster unreal expectations about your recovery.” (okay, I paraphrased)
It also depends on where the other teams in the group are when the US plays them. E.g., 2002, Portugal’s, and especially team leader Figo’s, minds were out of it. Caught South Korea on what might have been their worst day of the tournament, were overwhelmed by Poland and had to count on South Korea to dominate the group. Luck helps.
Also, there was some quality on that US side, if not in every position. And Friedel having a once in a lifetime performance through that WC.
Off topic, but Bill is a good spokesman,
Former President Bill Clinton is the honorary chairman of the 2018/2022 USA World Cup bid. The announcement was made earlier today in a ceremony in New York.
“In my travels around the world – from the dirt fields of Lusaka, Zambia, to playgrounds in schools across America – I’ve seen the transformative power soccer has to bring people together and transform lives on and off the field,” President Clinton said. “I continue to be impressed with FIFA’s work to promote the game as an agent for positive social change, and I’m proud to represent the United States in our bid to bring the World Cup tournament back to American soil, allowing us to inspire action and cooperation on an even greater scale.”
I replied to sandtrout. Wierd…