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Report: Bradley in talks with Norwegian club Stabaek

BobBradleyEgypt3 (Reuters)

By DAN KARELL

Former U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley isn’t ready to give up on his dream of coaching in Europe just yet.

According to a report in the Vancouver-based newspaper The Province, Bradley has turned down the vacant Vancouver Whitecaps head coaching position in order to keep his options open for a job in Europe. The report states that Bradley has been in discussions with a number of clubs and that Norweigian side Stabaek is currently the leading club for Bradley’s services.

“There’s discussions ongoing, a few things out there,” Bradley told The Province in regards to jobs in Europe. “None of them as far along as with Stabaek. I’m still waiting to see how things play out.”

Located about 10 miles outside of central Oslo, Stabaek is set to compete in Norway’s first division, the Tippeligaen, next season after a year in the second division. Recognizable names in Norweigian soccer include FK Molde head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, formerly of Manchester United, and former New York Red Bulls assistant coach Jan Halvor Halvorson, who coaches promoted side Bodø/Glimt.

Bradley recently completed a two-year run with the Egyptian national team, leading them to an impressive 7-1 record in World Cup qualifying, only to fall to Ghana in the final round of qualifying thanks to a debilitating 6-1 defeat in Kumasi, Ghana.

According to the report, Bradley was the Whitecaps’ top candidate for the head coaching job, which has been open since the Whitecaps parted ways with Martin Rennie at the end of October.

“At the end, I just felt that the next step needed to be Europe, but it was not easy,” Bradley said.

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What do you think of this report? Did you expect Bradley to take the Whitecaps job? See Bradley being hired by Stabaek? Think he should continue to wait for a job in a bigger European league?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Stabaek have one of the best junior development sections in Scandinavia. Acctually, they signed a co-operatian partnership with Italian giants AC Milan last year. The club have had some financially issues the last two years, but everything looks far more positive for the next season. It is only 3 years since they played against great teams in the Champions League. For example they played against Valencia. If Bradleys dream is to coah a great team in Europe, he should choose Stabaek, as successe in Norway will get more attention rather than successe in MLS.

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  2. There’s one thing that nobody’s talked about– money. I don’t really know what the situation is compared to MLS jobs, but I suspect that Staebek may pay better than most MLS clubs. To be sure, money is not Bradley’s only motivation, but it definitely is part of the mix.

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  3. Vancouver better than Staebek? MLS better than the Norwegian league?

    Maybe, but it is irrelevant. It is Apples to Oranges.

    Staebek would be a more useful to further BB’s ambition which is to manage a club in Europe at as high a level as possible.

    Look at him as a European owner might.

    To Europeans BB is primarily an international manager

    BB has proven he can handle players from a wide variety of backgrounds and tactics at a high level but that is not all he needs.

    His club experience is with MLS a pretty radically different league from most European leagues in many significant ways. BB did win a Championship with the Fire but that was a while ago and the league was different then. His MLS club experience does not count for that much.

    After all name me a manager (who did not previously go to MLS from Europe) who has gone to a good club in Europe and succeeded. It doesn’t mean it cannot be done but it does mean there is legitimate reason to be concerned. It’s not like you are moving from the National League to the American League and the main thing is the DH rule.

    The other thing is that, with a handful of exceptions like Hiddink for example, a great hired gun if ever there was one, in Europe quite a few people view international managers as part timers. JK has managed 43 games for the US in two years. Dempsey averaged that many appearances in all competitions for Fulham in one season, his last couple of seasons there. Mourinho has often spoken about how he wants to manage Portugal but that he is not old enough yet. In words once he is done with the real jobs.

    In Europe national managers are either new guys, either ex players or young coaches. looking to make a name for themselves and earn a good club gig .Or they are old guys doing a retirement job (see Del Bosque, V). There is also a third category, club managers recently fired looking to revive their careers (Blanc, Hodgson, who is also an old guy).

    Being a proven international manager does not carry the impact in Europe US fans think it might.

    Staebek would be an opportunity to learn and impress at the same time and I have little doubt Mikey’s dad would succeed, regardless of the anti American bias card.

    In fact in his case being an American is an advantage.

    The great job he did in Egypt made him much more noticeable because he is an American and it certainly polished up his image. If you are looking for a job, besides being good, it doesn’t hurt to be a great story and an tough, courageous, admirable, and much respected man.

    I for one would look forward to the speculation about bringing Boca, Gooch, Rico Clark, Robbie Findley, Freddy Adu , Charlie Davies, Bornstein, and Conor Casey to Norway.

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  4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhxEaADpwAM Stabæk 2009
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5S-QEYuL8o Stabæk 2013

    Stabæk is a club that went from winning the premier league in Norway in 2008, to be relegated in 2012 with just young players and no money. In 2013 we are back with a low budget and a lot of young talents. Everyone think we will be relegated again, so the new coach will have no pressure. With Bob Bradley we will probably get a couple of new quality players, and I think we will surprise everyone.

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  5. Remember it was not too long ago that the American player was not able to make it in Europe. Hopefully Bob with some European success can open those doors for other American coaches.

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  6. Just read that Gulati said the reason US Soccer broke tradition for this new Klinsmann contract was that Tottenham was already trying to enter pre-contract talks with him.

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  7. I think he is doing good by not coming to MLS but he will not get a top coaching job ib Europe. I think the mls parity keeps away a lot of talent from players to coaches frim MLS, just like bob Bradley.
    he would have to.join a big money team in MLS to succeed and then move on but they are all taken and teams wont open their wallets, besides we know who wil.
    This sounds crazy but if I was him, I would take the chivas usa coaching team and vergara wiuld actually support bob Bradley with money and players.
    I would make them champions and then move to Europe, since chivas has connections around the world.

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  8. You would think due to Europe’s low view of American players that many would see Bob as a genius for beating a team like Spain and getting a draw with England.

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    • That’s not how they think. To them, it’s more about if you were born into their club. Otherwise, you have start at the bottom and prove yourself over and over again.

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  9. Getting a coaching job is all about bias to begin with. If experience and stature is the most important thing how does Mike Petke, a coach with no head coaching experience have the best league record in his first year? All these other coaches from Europe couldn’t achieve this. I’m not saying you can take a crossing guard and make him a coach. However, many players who have spent that past 25 years playing and being coached everyday can figure it out. At that point it comes down to good judgement. You either have it or you don’t and some never will. Getting a coaching job is about connections and past experience.

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  10. Is Vancouver a better team than Stabaek? Yes. Is MLS more competitive and an overall better league than the Tippeligaen? Yes. Would coaching in Vancouver do anything to help Bob achieve his goal of coaching in Europe? Nope.

    Before you knock this, remember that Bob is nothing if not pragmatic. He’s stated before that he’d like to coach in Europe, and he’s likely finding out that even though he has high level international experience and has won titles in MLS, none of that really matters to European clubs. What matters (to them, seemingly) is that he has no experience managing a club without salary cap restrictions (remember the DP rule wasn’t even in effect when he managed in MLS), nor does he have experience in a league that does not go out of its way to create parity. He has no experience handling truly free market transfer windows. He’s never managed in a league with pro/rel. He’s never managed a club with a reserve squad. On top of that, he has no high level playing experience to lean on to cover those holes.

    All that said, he’s a quick study, obsessive about his work and he will most certainly figure things out. Bob can and will be successful in Europe if he’s given the opportunity to learn the ropes. And personally, I’d much rather see him figure things out in Norway and progressively move up the ladder than jump straight into a top league and get his butt handed to him. Just my two cents.

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  11. Hadn’t thought about that really in regards to Bradley and the requirements of a non-MLS coaching position. He’s never done so many things he’d be asked to do.

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  12. As I said on the last post about Bob, I don’t know why people are talking about what’s a “step up”, or “better”, or “a higher level” when Bradley himself clearly doesn’t think in these terms when it comes to his career. I’m sure he’s looking for a new challenge, and that sounds more like Stabaek than Vancouver to me. If this is what he chooses, I’m fairly confident he’ll do us proud.

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    • yep, he wants a job outside the American soccer league structure. The only question is how low he’s willing to go, both in terms of level of play and salary. For example, would he take a job in a tiny country or in a 3rd division? I think the reality of it is that where his aspirations meet demand for his services is a smaller club in a mid-level European league (top division).

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  13. Count me on the side that sees Bradley only able to get a job for a Norwegian side as an example of Anti-American bias. It’s true that there are things that Bradley has not done that he will need to do in top flight Euro soccer. But that can be said of lots of coaches who are hired in Europe all the time. What he does bring is a resume that includes making out of the Group state at a World Cup, and getting Egypt to the brink of the World Cup (something they haven’t done since 1990 with other coaches) in the midst of a multi-stage revolution and a domestic league shutdown. He’s also coached pros who have played in some of the biggest leagues in the world (both with the US and Egypt). Were I a club stuck in the Championship in England I’d hire him in a second. Ditto first division teams struggling against relegation. He’d be great in those situations.
    It’s pretty clear that his American background hurts him on the job market, and Stabaek is getting a real deal on this one.

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  14. Does anyone besides me not want our best coaches in Europe? If we want our best players to get better, they need to play under the best coaches. It doesn’t really help if we are exporting them

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  15. We may believe that Bradley is more qualified than coaching at a place like Stabaek, but the reality is Americans and American coaches have a hurdle to climb in regards to opportunities in Europe. I hope he takes the job moves up the ladder to European glory. Who knows maybe a relatively big club takes notice after he takes Stabaek to the Europa League.

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    • I don’t think this is a case of anti-Americanism.

      Bob Bradley has almost zero credentials that mean anything in Europe. Egypt was his big shot–and they flopped publicly and in embarrassing fashion. It takes several seasons sometimes to can bad coaches in MLS–of which there are objectively a lot. In Europe a string of 4 or 5 bad games can get you sent away.

      Bob Bradley has never coached an actual club without a salary cap or with reserve squads and academies. He has never coached in the most basic of non-MLS models.

      European teams look at him and think it’s a joke because he literally has NO experience coaching a “real” club.

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      • Money talks BS walks. Nothing is more “real” than half a billion dollars and that is what somebody is willing to invest in NYCFC.

      • It’s not an indictment of MLS as a league or entity, which is progressing remarkably fast for its age.

        But looking through the eyes of a European club President or Board–you see a coach that has never coached a club with…

        no salary cap
        scouting duties
        no player restrictions
        academy duties
        reserve squad duties
        going before the board
        going before the press (and actually having to speak)
        etc.

        I’m not saying Bradley isn’t capable of learning how to integrate everything here into a job–but as a European club I wouldn’t even have him on my list of people who are even allowed to be considered.

        Coaching in Europe is about soooooo much more than simply on the field. Can Coach Bradley do it? Probably. Will he get the chance at any place of note? Almost certainly not.

      • I agree with your last part. Can Bradley do it? Probably. But he won’t get the chance. Its really not about skill level MLS/Norway. Its about a different experience and proving yourself in Europe. He obviously won’t get another chance in Europe if he goes to MLS. So he might as well take a chance with a smaller Euro club and try to move up from there.

      • I have a few problems with your logic …

        (1) No salary cap – How is this an issue of concern to a European club owner? You seriously believe him incapable of adapting to this? It doesn’t change the fundamental fact that you want to put together a team of the best players possible that fit your style, just now he would have less restrictions in doing so.

        (2) Scouting duties – I’ll answer this with a question. What kind of scouting duties does a national team coach require? … Answer the typical structure you find at any club all over the world, including the MLS and EPL (one just has more resources). Scouts go to games and report to coaches. Coaches watch film on players and make educated decision with input from their scouts whether a player is worth it or not.

        (3) Academy Duties – This is a structure in place in the MLS. He will have many coaches consulting him, he will not be alone in managing the academy.

        (4) Going before the board – He went before the board of the USSF and Egypt Federation. He’ll be fine.

        (5) Reserve squad duties – MLS has reserve squads. The National Team had “reserve” squads. This is what a manager does at a very basic level no matter were they are in the world, manage players.

        (6) Going before the press – National team press doesn’t cut it in your eyes?

        Coaching anywhere is so much more than on the field. Bradley has the pedigree and resume to get a job at a place like Staebek (at the very least).

        I agree he won’t likely be getting much bigger gigs (does he deserve one -maybe, time will tell). Non the less his willingness to take on new challenges, become the first US coach in a foreign first division (to the best of my knowledge) is a very admirable trait.

      • Holy christ, you don’t know the first thing about what MLS coaches deal with.

        I wouldn’t even allow you to be on the list of people allowed to write the list of whom I’m allowed to consider.

      • I think that the salary cap, player restrictions and arcane rules of MLS make it more difficult to coach there than in Europe. The biggest difference is that in Europe the pressure is much greater. Still, look at all the non-American coaches who haven’t cut it in MLS because they can’t just go and buy the best players available like they are used to. I think that is why we see more and more MLS teams being coached by Americans, especially former MLS players, who understand the rules of MLS.

      • Mr Page,

        “Still, look at all the non-American coaches who haven’t cut it in MLS because they can’t just go and buy the best players available like they are used to. I think that is why we see more and more MLS teams being coached by Americans, especially former MLS players, who understand the rules of MLS.”

        Turn that around and you’ll see one big reason why European clubs prefer to hire managers familiar with their way of doing things.

      • Egypt did not “flop publicly and in an embarrassing fashion”. They were able to win their first 6 games despite a revolution and counter-revolution in their country, despite most of the players not having an active league to play in most of the time, and despite the offices of their FA being burned down. They didn’t qualify for the world cup only because of the stupid format in CAF that resulted in them being put in a home and home series against the 2nd best team in Africa, 24th ranked Ghana.

  16. Again; this is telling. A man with a wealth of experience, self-awareness, and ambition recognizes that the MLS does not offer him the opportunity he needs to continue moving forward with his career goals. Until we can examine, understand, and address both the perceived and real weaknesses in the landscape of American soccer, we will continue to spin our wheels when it comes to producing a product that meets the global standards of the game.

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    • Tis true.

      Coaching in soccer–more than anywhere else outside of American football because well, let’s be honest the players on the field outside of the QB require next to no brain power or thought process–is so key to everything on the field. Players have to execute of course–but systems and styles of play are so paramount.

      We are seeing the first real generation of US coaches emerging–the Jason Kreis’ and Caleb Porters of the league–bringing a faster, more technical, possession-oriented style to the game.

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      • They don’t. That’s why there are offensive coordinators. Players are literally told where to stand, where to run, and what to do.

        Football is a game of who has the best coordinator and who has the best physical attributes. It’s why the combine is entirely about who can run the fastest and jump the highest. What’s your vertical? What’s your 40?

        NFL players are athletic specimens that are fitted into spots. QBs however require intricate knowledge of the game pre-snap. It’s why a QB like a Peyton Manning or a Tom Brady are unathletic in relative comparison and yet easily the best players in the league.

        It’s why the NFL is so full of people who have the brain power of a gnat. They actively push out intelligent people.

        The Richie Incognito thing being a put case study for this. You’ve got a Stanford educated player being ostracized for his intelligence by a guy that’s been KICKED off a half dozen teams from college to the NFL for being a complete fool and committing felonies in his off time but is still picked up immediately because he’s a huge human being.

        They don’t care if you’re smart. They care what your 40 time is and how much you can lift. Period.

      • I don’t really feel like this is a point worth arguing about on a soccer site but I’ll just say this, there are multiple positions on a football team where players typically score higher than QBs in various problem solving and intelligence tests, offensive linemen (in particular centers) is one of them.

        Every position on a field requires field awareness and intelligence to some degree. Please bear in mind that education and intelligence are not the same thing.

      • With Nader on this one.

        There’s a reason you can control an entire team on Madden… by yourself. The QB is the only player that’s actually required to be game-aware and intelligent.

        Great O-coordinators and D-coordinators are worth their weight in gold. You aren’t playing against players–you’re playing against a scheme. And the match up becomes is my guy faster or not.

      • I couldn’t disagree more. I respect your opinion, but linebackers are not just told where to stand and run, they actively have to make decisions based on what the opposition is doing. The same thing is happening in the secondary, they have to try and read a receivers routes and make the decision whether to jam, or drop off coverage.

        I would agree that coaches can have a BIGGER impact in American football than in soccer, but to say that players aren’t making split second decisions is just silly.

        The real world doesn’t work like Madden, all of those guys are making decisions in real-time based on what their opponent is doing on any given play.

    • Nope not about that at all. He wants to do something that he has never done and something that no American coach, especially one who has never played there either, has done before. In that case go ahead and enjoy it!

      The only thing that Stabeek offers that that Vancouver doesnt is the chance at impressing someone in a couple UEFA games if they make it that someday..

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      • I think more importantly is that Stabek is a lot farther from Jurgen Klinsmann than Vancouver. I could well imagine that Bob has no desire to have to watch and listen to Jurgen patting himself on the back about how much better than USMNT is now doing.

        I think Bradley is going to end up with another national team–eastern Europe or Africa/Middle East or Asia. I would almost bet on it.

      • yup, more i think about it makes more sense.. could be a decent multiyear gig followed by other Scandinavian/UEFA/International offers..if he didn’t dominate right away in Vancouver his future options might be limited to other MLS jobs.

        i hope there are no harsh feelings towards the USMNT/Jurgen’s success, for 1 his son is a MAJOR part of it! and 2. he had an excellent 5 years in charge

    • Any weakness in comparison to the Norwegian league is perceived and not real. Vancouver is a better job than Stabaek and MLS is better than the Norwegian league.

      For example, teams from Norway lost to teams from Kazakhstan and Scotland in the Europa League and beat a team from Luxembourg on penalties. And Stabaek isn’t even as good as those teams. Maybe it’s cool to try living somewhere new etc. and if it makes Bob Bradley happy, I’m all for it, but this is a small club in a mediocre league. I think Bob can do better.

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    • Hahahaha I went to a Chivas game a few months ago because tickets were $12 and my friends and I had nothing better to do.

      We were the only ones tailgating, and when we finally went into the stadium (after running out of beer), there were about 700 people in attendance.

      My high school Alumni soccer game gets more fans in attendance than Chivas does.

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      • 700 people but in the sports section the next day they’ll say it was 4k. MLS goes by tickets sold (and given away)

    • +1 not impressed by this move. If an EPL or maybe a championship side was calling maybe…

      Bob wants to pioneer the trail for American coaches in UEFA but honestly when was the last time anyone player or coach excelled in Norway and made the move to a good European league?

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      • Admittedly, few have moved to bigger clubs on the continent. Mostly the good managers bang around Scandinavia. However, there have been a few notables. Trond Sollied comes to mind. He left Rosenborg and has gone onto decent success in Belgium, Greece and a few other leagues. Uwe Rosler, just named Wigan’s manager, managed several TIppeligaen sides before heading to Brentford and eventually Wigan. Former Blackburn player and manager, Henning Berg moved from Lillestrom to manage his former team in England. Most notable, of all the guys mentioned, is Roy Hodgson, England’s manager.. He’s spent a large portion of his managerial career in Scandinavia and managed VIking before getting his first job in the English leagues with Fulham.

      • good stuff. I’m sure after many many years of these leagues being around there are of course a few good examples. I forgot about Roy, I guess that is a decent example of what Bob could achieve going this route..

        as someone who sounds knowledgeable to the gap between continental and Scandinavian football could you inform us Yanks if people over there see Mix Diskerud as someone who could make that jump? What level player his he in the TIppeligaen?

      • I thought I was the only SBI poster who knew/cared about Norwegian football. But you, Norway Man, are clearly much more knowledgeable. Er du norsk?

      • I think there are a fair number of Norwegians who have made that jump, e.g., John Carew, John Arne Riise, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik Huseklepp. Not a long list, but there are some.

      • This one is even richer: Bradley is a traitor who should be “executed” in the press by his nephew (Jeff), MIchael B thinks he’s too good for the US, Beas is now a Mexican playing on a team bought and paid for by the cartel, Obama was indeed flirting with the Danish PM at Mandela’s funeral, and I like to wear women’s leggings. Who you got on the Arsenal v ManCity match? I got Arsenal.

  17. I like seeing American coaches try to make headway in Europe, eventually bringing along players with them. but this seems like a major step back. Their stadium only holds 7,000 people !! obviously this is just a stepping stone for Bradley as no major league soccer coach has gone directly from mls coach to europe, but will this move help bradley end up in the prem or even the dutch league? will this help bring future coaches to Europe like Kreiss?

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  18. Couldn’t he do any better than a just promoted Norwegian side? I feel that MLS is higher competition than this. The only clubs in Tippeligaen that would compete for a title regularly in MLS are Molde and Rosenborg, otherwise even Vancouver is probably a better team… interesting move. Hope it pans out for the guy.

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    • I don’t think he has accepted the job at Stabeek, it is just the one that is most real at the moment. It is unlikely there are any jobs open at the usual front-runners half-way into the european season, so unless Bradley wants to wait until the spring, he will almost certainly end up at a club that is underperforming at the moment. The upside of that is improvement is likely, downside is the worry that the club has lost some important players who were responsible for past successes.

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      • Dennis makes a good point that the timing isn’t right since it’s mid-season. Better for Bradley to wait out the season and fight for better openings in the spring.

    • Actually Rosenborg aren’t quite the power and dominator there with in the 90’s thru the early 2000’s. In the last 10 years Rosenborg, Molde, Stabaek, Brann, Valerenga, and now Stromsgodset have all won titles. Others like Viking, Tromso, and Haugesund have unsuccessfully made decent title runs. Molde has really struggled at times and were pretty lucky to end up 5th in the table this season. They sold most of their top players from their championship sides and once Solskjaer leaves from greener pastures Molde, will fall right back down to being a mid-table club. The Tippeligean can be hit or miss but it’s not really a bad league per se. It’s pointless to compare it to MLS as they don’t complete against each other but it’s a good start for Bradley. It could lead to bigger opportunities down the road. Stabaek fell on some hard times recently especially financially but they seem motivated and have some new found money. Stabaek aren’t your stereotypical promoted side. Bringing in Bradley could prove to a good move in solidifying themselves.

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      • Now there’s a well informed Tippeligaen fan. I completely agree that there’s alot more parity there than 10 years ago. Rosenborg will always be strong, but may other teams have challenged for and won titles. Expectations will be modest at Stabaek, which got relegated as a result of some amateurish financial mismanagement but which, if they get those problems straightened out, should not be the typlical promoted side that immediately has to stave off relegation. Bottom line: I think Bradley coild be considered a success there if they finish in the middle of the table.

    • Unfortunately, US coaches don’t get any respect in Europe. So, I don’t think Bradley could do any better than recently promoted Stabaek. Even though the overall level of play in Norway may or may not be better than MLS, Norweigian clubs compete in the UEFA Champions League, which is a step or two above MLS. Plus, if he lands this gig, his foot is in the door, and he has the potential to move around in Europe. If he came back to MLS, he would likely have to win an MLS Cup before European suitors began to ring his phone.

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    • Norway is more of a stepping stone to one of the better leagues in Europe than MLS is. You can win in MLS and its not seen as that much of an accomplishment. Heck, half the teams in the league make playoffs lol. So it’s not hard to have a “good” season in the MLS.

      If he does well at Stabaek it will be noticed more.

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    • Bob Bradley is quality and he is in it for the long haul… so going there could be a good stepping stone to one of the big 4 leagues. Going back to the MLS would not do that. Just look at the M.O. of the Bradley’s. They are all about challenging themselves and trying to take it to the next level. I for one hope his goals pan out, and I wouldn’t bet against any Bradley.

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    • You gotta get that foot in the door somehow. Show me a coach that would prefer to coach in MLS over Europe and I’ll club them upside the head. Seriously the noobs on this site…

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