Photo by ISIphotos.com
Tim Howard has never been afraid to call things how he sees them, so when I spent some time with him on his 31st birthday on Saturday he didn't hold back when discussing everything from the national team to his own potential return to MLS.
Here is my piece for FoxSoccer.com on Howard. Thethoughts should certainly spark some conversation among U.S. soccer fans.
Give the story a read and feel free to share your thoughts on it in the comments section below.
Brazil then and that’s about all.
The big difference with the USMNT job, at least in comparison to European jobs, is that it is on a 4 year World Cup cycle.
Europeans, Italy and France for example, are on a 2 year cycle because of the Euros or European Championship as it used to be called. Many people will tell you that competition is harder to win than the World Cup.
This gives those guys a comparatively sharp and competitive schedule compared to the relatively sedate pace of the USMNT.
Tactics? Tactics? We don’t need no stinking tacitcs!
Again, not to be pedantic about it but Donovan and Howard do not play the same game and cannot be compared to each other, except in one area, the ability to be replaced. And Timmy is far easier to replace. Frankly, I’d rather have Freidel going into the World Cup but that is neither here nor there.
You are absolutely right; it is the curse of goalkeepers.
One reason Buffon and Kahn get that respect is because they were/are on teams that win Championships. Howard has won what exactly? An FA Cup medal I believe with Man U.? Name me one really highly rated keeper whose team hasn’t won something significant.
Not to put down Timmy but Goalkeepers don’t win you championships; they help you not lose them and that is just a bit different.
If Everton wins the League or the European Cup or the US wins the World Cup then Timmy will get that same level of respect. It’s not Donovan’s fault if Timmy doesn’t score goals.
No one plays that kind of defense for 90 minutes. It is not sustainable.
You have to pick and choose your spots.
US defense at it’s best is about everyone maintaining positional discipline, also called retaining your shape and attacking the ball when the opportunity presents itself and then springing a counter. The US can be very disciplined, they tend to be in great shape relative to most teams, and they can score on the counter so this syle works well for them.
It’s not pretty but it works.
Actually, the 4-4-2 can be, and often is, a very forward attack-minded formation. Typically in a 4-4-2 the attack will move up the flanks and then back toward the middle. This means it is always shifting and the back line is really never a 4-man line, but a 3-man line. Both fullbacks can also press forward to stretch the width, and when this happens usually a CM holds creating a different 3-man back line. You never want to leave less than 3 at the back unless you are trailing, but a 4-4-2 even offers that option with the two CBs staying back and everyone else pressing forward.
If the decision is mine, I would go with a 3-1-3-1-2, which is 3 CB, 1 CDM, a LM, CAM, and RM, a CF, and then two strikers. This preserves the 3-man line, offers a 4th in the form of a defensive minded midfielder, and makes sure that the opposing team can’t commit too many men into their attack because of the presence of 3 opposing forwards. The lineup would be:
——-Howard———
Spector-Gooch-Bocanegra
——Edu/Jones——–
Beas—Bradley–Donovan
——-Dempsey———
–Altidore—Davies—-
Thinking about coming to MLS at 35 but wants to be sure he still feels the butterflies? Hmmm…sounds like Kasey Keller’s natural replacement at Qwest (altho we’d likely need to find someone serviceable for a couple years in between).
Just to be clear, I’m not an all-out Bradley hater. I think the man deserves some credit for certain things. For example, we have played a strong schedule under his reign–something I feel was missing at times during Arena’s stint–and I think that will pay off in the World Cup (I really don’t think we’re going to have a repeat of the Czech opener in ’06). I also think he’s given a lot of players shots, despite “playing favorites” at times. Arena, at times, would neglect players from the smaller European leagues, but Bradley has been willing to give anyone who’s in form a shot at the squad. And although I feel it took him a little too long to find it (he was set on playing Ching alone up top), I think Bradley has settled on a good formation and a pretty solid line-up that could potentially take us far in the World Cup.
My main problems with him have been things like disciplinary issues with the team (the number of cards we’ve received) and the trend of coming out flat in the second half of important games. I also think he holds off on subs a little too long sometimes and we sometimes sit back too far in games against weaker opponents.
My criticism of Bob Bradley has never been that we’ve had X result with him, but could have easily had Y result with a different coach. I’m just left scratching my head sometimes. That said, I think this team is capable of succeeding in the World Cup, and I certainly hope to see them do that.
A very relevent example of BB’s tactical sense is in the ConFed Cup final and this came from the mouth of none other than Kaka. He said in an interview after the game that they were very worried about the US in the first half. Relieved after the quick goal and then he knew they would win the game after the US dropped their forward (Davies) into a defensive role which allowed them add 2-3 players into the attack.
Timmay is the man. There’s nothing much to say there.
We can play a better style, but I think we need another cycle before we can really get a roster capable of possession (we’re starting to see those players come up such as Torres, Bedoya, Gil etc)
BB has done a good job so far. But I feel as though he needs to improve in many areas to get the team to play better, regardless of style.
My biggest problem with him is that he’s slow to sub tired players (I was screaming at the screen for a sub during the CC final… it was obvious we needed a fresh pair of legs to slow down the brazilians) and he keeps under performing players on the field too long (bornstein for 85 minutes? really?)
I don’t like that he gives certain players too many chances (sasha, bornstein, EJ, Casey) on the USMNT and others not enough. (Torres, Cooper, Castillo)
The last thing is tactical decisions. 4-4-2 works for a defensive, counter attacking game, but why not try other formations? 4-5-1 would seem a good candidate. Even a 3-5-2 (vs lower level teams) would be nice to see. Why doesn’t he try this during friendlies like vs. ES or Honduras? Why experiment with a 4-3-3 during a WC qualifier?
All in all, I like BB. But you have to admit he does some head scratching moves (or non moves).
Yes, Erik.
I admit that I think there are a few too many ill-informed, over-opinionated, douchebags among, “us,” the readers of this wonderful site.
Thank you, SBI, for taking the time to “address” them. If at some point I become one of them, I welcome being told so.
“We never play well against more technically sound ball moving teams”
Did we not beat Spain 2-0 in the Confederations Cup semi-final? Did we not have Brazil on the ropes after the first 45 minutes of the final? Are those not “technically sound, ball moving teams”?
I think we get out of the group with 4 points. 1-1 draw against England, 1-0 loss to Slovenia, 2-0 win against Algeria. England finishes first with 7 points, USA second with 4, Slovenia and Algeria each finish with 3.
As for Bradley’s tactical sense, I think this is a typical fan-xaggeration. Bradley switched up his formations several times. He tried the 4-5-1, he tried the 4-2-3-1, and he tried the 4-3-3 with Beasley at LB before finally settling on the 4-4-2 (which I think is the most balanced formation and gives us the best chance to win against any competition). My gripes with Bradley are mainly to do with his hesitancy to bring on substitutes early enough to make a real impact and his player selections in general. However, I realize his position is a very difficult one and that it is much easier to make these types of decisions when, as a fan, none of the risks/consequences are applicable to me.
“BUT, say it is smart to play counter-attacking against good teams, what about against bad teams? bradley clearly has shown his inability to think tactically and make necessary changes to take the game to lesser teams. this could easily hurt us in the world cup against slovenia…”
This quote totally sums up Bradley’s tenure as coach. Tactically we are crap. Which is why I don’t think we are getting out of the group.
England 2-0 to England
We will lose because of their power, size and technical skill.
Slovenia 1-0 to the USA
They will bunker and counter just like we will. However, we don’t really know how to “break” a bunker type defense. Could win on a set piece.
Algeria 1-0 to Algeria
They have skill and loads of heart, just look at the Egypt series. We never play well against more technically sound ball moving teams. Think Mexico the last couple of games.
Well I’ve said I like Bob and think he’s done a good job overall. And you are right, it is unfair to compare the US to the Brazil’s and Germany’s… Or is it?
We took it to Germany in ’02, we took it to Spaing and Brazil last summer (the second time)… I think we can be compared to these countries in one off games.
I just don’t see any identity besides “Yanks run fast and have great heart and our goalkeepers played basketball so they have good hands.”
Are you admitting something?
No way. He can’t hold onto anything.
Julio Cesar
Buffon
Van der Sar
Given
Cech
Friedel
Casillas
Lloris
Reina
Howard
McBride>Ching. He was playing in the Olympics, he might still have something left in the tank
Dempsey has one of the goals of the season too so far.
Maybe it’s because so many of us are absolute douchebags…
Just a thought.
bradley is definitely a good coach. his accomplishments are clear. is he a great coach? not in my mind. will he get us out of group play in WC 2010? maybe. is he setting the tone for the US to become an established soccer power? no.
with the weakness of our back 4 ( i mean come on, we are considering starting either bornstein or pearce) i’d debate the idea of using a counter-attacking strategy against any team in the world – our D can’t sustain pressure for that long because they just aren’t as good as the US defense in say 98, add to that bradley insists on playing 2 d mids who give up possession and then put us under more pressure.
BUT, say it is smart to play counter-attacking against good teams, what about against bad teams? bradley clearly has shown his inability to think tactically and make necessary changes to take the game to lesser teams. this could easily hurt us in the world cup against slovenia…
a better coach would have experimented more with positions and formations. we’ve never seen a 4-2-3-1, we’ve only seen a 4-3-3 once that wasn’t really a 4-3-3, we’ve never seen the 4-5-1, we’ve always been straight 4-4-2, and without davies that doesnt really work with the counter-attacking mentality.
bradley is good, but im sorry for thinking we could be better with a better coach. would we win the world cup? no. but we could be better. that’s all.
It’s unfair to compare world power houses like Germany and Brazil to average teams like the USA. Our FA has only been “dedicated” to making our national team better for 15 +/- years, compared to other countries that’s nothing. We have come so far in just the last 12 years, don’t forget how horrible we were in ’98.
There are more factors that go into the makeup of our team than just the manager. He has to work with what he has. Our “identity” would probably be teamwork, speed, and physical. I’m not 100% satisfied with Bradley either, but he is what we have right now, so let’s just deal with it until July.
Why is Ives so hostile to his own readers? I’ve noticed a trend lately. Must be the time difference.
(SBI-Call it hostility if you want, I call it addressing people who need addressing. There does seem to be more of a need to do that lately unfortunately.)
Yeah definetely. He’s been amazing this season.
You are so dead on in this post. Nobody mentions our 2-3 record at the Confederations Cup. Nobody mentions our lack of tactical know how when it comes to coaching in crucial situations.
Just look at the Final with Brazil. We are gassed, no subs coming… That has happened many times.
I wouldn’t expect anything else from Tim in this artciel and he probably does believe it. However, I also wouldn’t expect anything else from Ives. He puts out bad stories on the US, he gets no access… Just look at all of his recent ridiculous Bornstein comments.
(SBI-Erik, if you feel that way then why are you SBI so much?)
1. I can’t imagine a player–even a real straight-shooter–saying anything other than what Howard said in that interview about Bob Bradley. I’m not saying he’s wrong, but I’d be shocked if he said anything that wasn’t positive.
2. As well as the team has done, I think there have been plenty of valid concerns along the way. As easy as it is to write it off as being impossible to satisfy, a case of “grass is greener”, or anti-Americanism (American coaches can’t hack it), it’s not always the case. Sometimes the complaints are completely valid, and they’re too quickly written off.
3. I feel like the repetition of the point, “We won the Gold Cup, we finished second in the Confederations Cup, and we won our qualifying group,” (I’ve heard both you and Howard say it now) is deceptive. Winning the Gold Cup was great, but it’s not remarkable. Since 1989, we’ve finished outside the top three of the competition once. We’ve finished 3rd twice, 2nd four times, and 1st four times. And let’s not forget we were hosting. Runners-up in the Confed Cup? It’s absolutely true, but I feel pounding that point home is as deceptive as me walking around saying, “Our team finished 2-and-3 with a -1 goal differential”–it’s a fact, but it absolutely doesn’t tell the whole story. We won our qualifying group? Yep. Just like we did in 2006. We came really close in 1990, as well, when we finished second on goal differential.
Anyone who thinks this team has regressed (or not improved, for that matter) is out of his/her mind. I think it is clear that this team has more quality than any US team before it. And I’m absolutely not saying I wasn’t thrilled when we beat Spain, took the game to Brazil, won our qualifying group, or won the Gold Cup. As good as those accomplishments are, they aren’t so remarkable that they should make Bob Bradley (or any player who participated, for that matter) completely immune from criticism.
The article is good, but I find some of Timmy’s comments rather dubious.
He makes mention of Bob Bradley doing well (which I happen to believe he has) but says that changing the coach wouldn’t make the team better. Or more to the point, that our players wouldn’t have Ronaldo’s “feet.”
This is the problem with the US program. It’s not about having Ronaldo’s feet, it’s about a team concept and style that we actually stick to. So according to Timmy our style is “Defend and Counter.”
That’s great, but I don’t see that style every game. Every time you watch Brazil or Germany you know what you are going to get. That goes for all top national teams, but we don’t have an identity. A top class non MLS coach would help move us along.
That being said, Bob has done a good job for the most part. I do have a feeling we aren’t making it out of the group though…
I find BB very hard to judge. The two game run at the Confed Cup really made him look good… but some of the Concacaf qualifying didn’t look pretty (but I guess we should celebrate the achievement- we made it in the World cup and that’s the most important step). Maybe I’m a bit misguided, it is very dificult to win on the road in Concacaf still.
Brad Freidel belongs above Timmy though.
Yeah, only Ives didn’t get Tim Howard to call Holden “Stuie” 5 times in his piece like Grant did.
Shay Given is probably the best. Timmy certainly better than Cech, Van Der Sar at the moment, putting him near the top 5.
The loss of Peter Nowack didn’t help our national team. I wish he stayed on board. He’s a fantastic coach.
Good stuff as always Ives. Timmy sheds light on one factor of American soccer, and that’s high hopes. Too many fans have unrealistic expectations for our style of play and tactics. The MNT has progressed more in the last 4 years than any other World Cup cycle. With everyone 100% healthy, we are very deep at every position aside from LB. Credit is due to everyone involved the last 4 years, from the coaches down to the physios.
That has nothing to do with what we are talking about, but if it makes you feel better……..
I did not know that. Good to know. Funny name though. Sounds like they rank cars.
I see your “inconsistent” and raise you “streaky”… I think Confeds Cup went:
1 goal for
6 goals against
7 goals for
3 goals against
That’s some fun stuff!
I think Bradley has to go after the World Cup. Not because I think he is a bad manager(I am indifferent on the subject) but, I think it is best if you change managers every cycle(unless you win it)
thanks for writing this, ives. i really hope it can put bradley’s work in some sort of perspective for these “fans” who expect Holland ’74 or Brazil ’82.
Jammer,
I almost agree with you – definitely there is the inconsistency, but to be fair the whole player pool has been cycled through, between injuries and a reasonable desire to scour for fresh talent pre-WC.
Aside from the occasional strange obsession with favorites (Bornstein the latest), talent is winning out more or less.
What is worrisome is BB’s failure to make astute in-game adjustments and timing of subs – that can lead to early exit at WC. Maybe the new asst coach will whisper suggestions to BB, it’s obvious BB needs another cool head with tactical awareness to help him out on these in-game adjustments. With enough time to prep BB is OK.
Well, why not? We have seen players like Timmy, but how many Donovans have we had?
And Gigi or Kahn have players that made a difference in Totti or Klose.
Donovan can also not show up for a game at all a la Netherlands and still be considered the best ever! And if Howard did that? He’d be villified. There is much smaller room for error as a GK
No, not living under a rock but I hear a lot more talk about Donovan being the best American player or at least the best on the nats all the time. People just can’t make a GK a hero and I get that, but look at the respect a player like Olly Kahn had from Germans. Or Gigi from the Italians. I don’t feel like we have that same level of respect even though Tim Howard OR Brad Friedl could be considered the best American player. Donovan is great, and is in the running for best player with those 2 but with the biased view of a GK I’m sick of him [Donovan] automatically being called “the best American player” like they did in ESPN’s coverage of the Dutch friendly.
So yes, people acknowledge our GK are good, but you’re bullshitting me if you think Timmy gets the same amount of support as Landycakes or many other outfield players. Golden gloves at the CC isn’t too shabby. And i get what you mean, Timmy is probably not scoring goals anytime soon (although Freidl has scored in an EPL game) but I just wish he got the same amount of respect and adoration that outfield players get. because I don’t think we give ours the respect they deserve like the Italians do or Germany did with Kahn.
Alas, I feel this is just the curse of GK’s, no ones ever going to care about you as much as they do outfield players, but they really deserve it.
As soon as I read this I knew the Bob Bradley faithful would come to Ives side immediately.
Ives, I find it very soccer snobbish that you and your loyal followers shout down “Mike Litors” and others that disagree with Bob Sr. tactics. I find the argument of his player selection to be very valid. His tactics are also up in the air on if they are effective. For example, leaving Bornstein on the pitch to the 85th min last game (not to mention right before switching him to the center) after lets be honest most coaches would have yanked him when he essentially sent us into half down 2-0. (If hand ball was included) Counter attack argument aside, we couldn’t string together 3 solid passes against the Dutch. This comes down to coaching. Look at the brilliant play from Landon and Dempsey in the EPL. And both tend to sometimes disappear on the USMNT’s pitch. Coincidence? No. All Bob’s fault? No. Part of the blame. Most certainly.
As usual, you act like anyone that dislikes Bob’s tactics are fools. And the blind loyal on this site THAT NEVER criticize the team, act like we are crazy because we don’t follow in the “team speak”. I expect most to shout me down, as usual on here, but please let’s all take a step off our thrones and realize a conflicting idea isn’t foolish.
Finally! If you REALLY think that we are wrong to believe that any player would be commiting world cup suicide to talk down on his coach months before the kick off, I can’t see how any of you are sports fans in general.
(SBI-Jon, what are you smoking exactly? Nowhere do I say people can’t have their own opinions. If you want to think Bob Bradley is a terrible coach then that’s your choice and I’m not going to hold it against you, but people who don’t bring anything else to the table on the SBI comment boards but anti-Bradley rants need to either find more things to talk about or they need to go somewhere else to deliver their monotonous rants. It’s not like there are a bunch of these people, just a few.
Lastly, your last paragraph is a classic example if someone changing the question when they don’t like the answer. Tim Howard spoke his mind. He didn’t have to give a PC answer, or any answer at all. His defense of Bradley wasn’t some half-hearted defense, he came right out and defended him. And what does Howard have to fear exactly? Do you really think Bradley would drop him if he criticized him? Come up for some air my friend. I’m sure there are plenty of players who would go out of their way to avoid criticizing a coach, but Howard had no reason to and Howard has never been afraid to speak his mind, so for some anti-Bradley folks to spin his defense into “a player being PC” I can’t help but laugh at the absurdity and denial some of you find yourselves in.)
Heurelho Gomes* Tottenham Hotspurs.
And i pray that you never post on SBI with your misgiuded opinions. Face it, no other coach would have taken over the US and had any more success than Bradley had. Witha relatively thin
player pool. Realistically, I don’t understand what the Bradley haters have to complain about.
I agree that the US is more effective when they play aggressive defense. The problem is that because they’re a team that counters, they cede so much possession and more so against a quality side.
You simply can’t press on defense for 70 minutes during the course of a 90 minute match. It’s exhausting.
Judging a national team coach is difficult. How well “should” a team perform? Overall I think Bradley does pretty well. For one thing, I feel like he has gotten some control over the yellow and red cards.
However, I feel the performances are inconsistent. The Dutch game was OK. Denmark not so much. At the CC last year, there were 2 bad games, 2.5 good games, and a terrible last half. I felt the US was inconsistent in the WCQ games, and we won some games without playing well. It’s the really poor games which open BB to criticism, more than the Dutch friendly.
I’m optimistic the team will play well in the WC, with potential to do great. I just hope Mr. Hyde doesn’t show up.
You have got to be kidding me. Did you just compare the US pool of players to the English pool of players?
We don’t have the player pool or average skill level of English players yet. So I don’t know how Gus or Capello would change the team. And Capello has England playing better defense so your point is a wash at this point. England is scoring the same amount of goals, just they aren’t conceding as much.
“, but its about freakin’ time that people acknowledge how good our goalkeepers are.”
Have been living under a rock these 20 odd years. Nobody ever disputes that the US has great goalkeepers. Its just you can’t win a game with 3 world class goalies on the field.
Never ever has the world looked at the US goalies and thought “man they can surely improve in that area.”
When BB’s name is mentioned along with other current and former coaches as a noteworthy tactician or mentioned as a highly regarded coach outside of US circles, then I will bow down and grovel to all those who hold BB to such standards
(SBI-I don’t think anybody really cares one way or the other what will make you come around about Bradley (that probably sounds bad but listen to yourself. You come off as just a wee-bit self absorbed about this whole thing). What you need to do is find a new subject to discuss because having all your comments be about the same thing is getting a bit redundant and isn’t really bringing a heck of a lot to this conversation, or any other for that matter. Do that, and change your name from the rather childish one you’ve chosen, and I have a feeling you’ll start bringing a bit more to the table in terms of SBI discussions. As it stands, your whole Anti-Bradley act has grown pretty stale.)
SBI, you as much as anyone should acknowledge that every athlete has to, and rightfully so, hold up a pc card, to some extent in their interviews. I’m not saying Timmay is blowing smoke anywhere, and saying things he doesn’t believe. My point is he or nor anyone would rock the boat before such a big event, as Timmay says the ‘pinnacle’ and ‘holy grail’ of a players career whether his feelings are one way or another.
Do you think Messi would say anything derogatory about Maradona’s tactics, when clearly his form is drastically different for club and country?
I think your interview was very insightful with Howard and I hope we get to read from other USMNT players and staff in the future.
(SBI-Tell you what Mike, how’s about you change your author name and get back to me. Once you do we’ll be able to start having some serious discussions.)