Photo by Rick Osentoski/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
WASHINGTON – One of the most intriguing subplots surrounding the U.S. national team's rocky Gold Cup road has been how coach Bob Bradley has balanced putting his team in position to win the regional crown while also catering to long-term goals.
With less than 24 hours remaining before the U.S.'s Gold Cup quarterfinal against Jamaica, Bradley discussed the matter prior to a training session at RFK Stadium.
"There's no doubt that after a World Cup there is transition," Bradley said. "We are fortunate there are a lot of parts that are the same. But nonetheless, you're starting to move forward, you're starting to think about how to improve and who are the new players who need to start to be introduced.
"And you do that with an eye on qualifying and an eye on the World Cup in 2014, but certainly the Gold Cup all along has been a goal."
Here are some more notes from Bradley and captain Carlos Bocanegra's press conference:
FACING THE REGGAE BOYZ
Although Bradley hasn't faced Jamaica as a coach, he noted that he has watched the Caribbean side play numerous times and pointed to their speed and organization as a daunting combination to face, specifically citing the danger players such as Dane Richards and Luton Shelton can present.
To Bocanegra, the U.S. back line operating as a unit and focusing on group defending will be key.
"If we put ourselves isolated a lot in one-on-one positions, it's going to make it more difficult because they're very athletic," Bocanegra said. "So I think organization and good team effort, team defending, is probably the first component."
LATE ARRIVALS
With key attacking midfielders Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey set to arrive in Washington late Saturday after each player attends his sister's wedding, Bradley said the coaching staff plans to go over film of Jamaica with the duo Sunday morning before the game, as per the team's usual routine.
"For all of our players, we start to show them different pieces of action, matchups, we start to show them a little bit how our opponent plays," the 53-year-old coach said. "That all is sort of finalized the day of the game as we go through some details, and we'll talk about everything with Clint and Landon tomorrow."
COMBINING UP TOP
Finding the right combination of forwards has been one of Bradley's most prominent challenges since striker Charlie Davies suffered major injuries in an October 2009 car accident. The constant up top has been Jozy Altidore, who has retained his spot in the starting 11 despite sporadic playing time on the club level and rewarded Bradley with two goals in the Gold Cup group stage.
"Since the last World Cup, Jozy has been frustrated with his club situation," Bradley said. "He hasn't had the game time and success that he wants, and we all want. But we always feel good that when we get him into the national team, there's a solid foundation for what we expect and how we do things, and we always try to build on those past experiences."
Altidore's partner at forward, however, has been another matter. After playing with Robbie Findley, Edson Buddle and Herculez Gomez at the World Cup, Altidore has shared the front line with Juan Agudelo and Chris Wondolowski thus far in the Gold Cup.
As Bradley noted, the veteran Wondolowski's timing and awareness to involve teammates "is a little further along than Juan," but Agudelo has "the ability to make a play out of nothing."
LEAD FROM THE BACK
The only change Bradley made in the U.S. back line throughout the group stage was the insertion of left back Eric Lichaj against Guadeloupe, a move that shifted Bocanegra from his post on the outside to the middle. The 32-year-old defender explained that playing centrally makes embracing his leadership role all the easier.
"I think if you're in the center of the field in pretty much any sport, you're right in the heart of the action," Bocanegra said. "So you have a bit more to do, a bit more responsibility. … Wherever I end up, I still try to speak and try to be a leader out there."
HIGHER STANDARDS
As Bocanegra put it, "We feel in the last four-year cycle, we raised the level of the national team. We raised the expectations of people in this country, we raised our own expectations."
Therefore, few would argue that anything short of advancing to the Gold Cup final would be seen as a tremendous failure for Bradley and the national team. After the Americans dropped a 2-1 loss to Panama in the group stage, the pressure and scrutiny is even more prevalent.
Bradley's hopes now hinge on the U.S. using that setback as a lesson that will help it succeed as the tournament goes on.
"That ability to come together as a group and during the tournament improve game by game, deal with different situations that arise, [like] a loss to Panama where we weren't satisfied with how we played — those are the things that need to happen when you get into a tournament, and you try to continue to grow and move on," Bradley said.
Are you serious? How old are you? As someone who is actually married and has gone through the process, I can say that the very last thing on my or my wife’s mind when picking a date or arrangements was what everyone else wanted. Maybe once you grow up and move out of your parents house you’ll realize that some things are more important than sports.
You have to have technical players to be able to play a technical game. Do you really think that a national team coach, who has players for at most a month (and that’s only in a Jan. camp, which itself is unusual for a national team program), will be able to significantly improve a player’s technique? Give me a break. NT coaches don’t have players nearly long enough to impart advanced skills.
I look at it from an ex- keeper point of view. Howard’s mentor, Milutin Soskic, was the former goalkeeping coach for the US. He is given credit for having a great impact on
Jurgen Sommer, Marcus Hahnemann, Kasey Keller and Tim Howard.
As he said in a recent SI article:
“for Soskic the most important thing is decision-making, about knowing the limits of what is possible. “A good goalkeeper,” he said “is a goalkeeper who saves what can be saved.”
Forget about Clark and Demerit and their crap defense on the play; the first Ghana goal could have been and should have been saved. Maybe you don’t think that means his performance can be called crap but if the save is made, it is a very different game. A pretty significant underperformance at a very bad time. And his performance in the other games was hardly in keeping with his hype.
Dude, you realize that Lichaj and Jones and Chandler, etc. are all new players to the NT setup post World Cup. Hence the term transition. Bradley may be a lot of things, but you can never say that he doesn’t give new talent a try. In fact, he has given somewhere close to 20 players a first cap in the last year. That’s called transition. Show me another National Team coach in the world who is so open to trying out new players.
I actually think some of you have UNREALISTIC standards… We’ve only made it to the WC knockout stages 3 times in recent history (one of which was on home soil). We are not not some soccer super power, and are barely a regional power because concacaf is so weak. It’s not like we have players oozing with class who are not being called into camp. Bradley has to work with what he has, which is a player pool that is seriously lacking in talent. Yes, he makes mistakes, as do all managers. And he is rightfully criticized for those mistakes. But to think that some “big name” coach will be able to wave a magic wand and turn our team into a dominant force in world soccer is just an absurd notion.
“You’re basically telling me, as a USMNT fan, that my expectations to beat Mexico are too high, despite the fact that it clearly can happen?”
I never said that. Mexico has better players and is, right now, playing better. They should beat the US. But that doesn’t mean they will. Panama beat us, right?
“Or that I shouldn’t expect a 1-0 win over Guadaloupe and a favorable result on the other side of the group to get out of the Gold Cup group stage?”
You got the 1-0 win. The US dominated and would have won 3,4-0 had Dempsey had not performed in an aberrant fashion. Did you think he would play like that?
The US did get out of the Group stage. IN 1982 Italy got out of its World Cup group with three ties, scoring two goals and giving up two. They went on to win the World Cup. All that matters right now is getting out of the Group and beating Jamaica.
“And that no other coach would do better than Bradley?”
That is a big maybe.
It is possible another manager would do better with this group going forward. Or worse.
It is also possible BB will do better since he doesn’t have Chandler and Holden right now and in another year or two the US player pool could get better, maybe even dramatically better.
A guy like ( insert big time Euro manager) might do a better job but all those guys expect a certain measure of power and control ( and maybe money) that the USSF would not give to Klinsmann. My interpretation of that is Klinsmann, or anyone like him, would threaten the various little empires in the USSF.
My conclusion, since nothing seems to have changed in the USSF power structure, is that any managerial change would be to a guy who cannot threaten the internal USSF status quo,probably a younger unproven guy. Now maybe a Ben Olsen or that Akron manager or the like would be better but I don’t think that is what USMNT fans believe they deserve.
USMNT better bring their A game. It’s now do or die. 1-0 Jamaica.
You mean like Findley or Bornstein right? Kljestan is playing better than he use to, but even than he hasn’t played long enough in a game to really be impressive or not. BB isn’t fit to steer this team. He cost us in the WC. We have look uninspired this whole tournament and in all warm up games before it.
Hardest thing for a manager to do is to mentally prepare his team and its one of the most important. If you can’t do that than get out.
Considering that Stuart Holden and Timmy Chandler are probably two of the top five American players, it sucks that we dont have them in this tournament.
No, not a crap World Cup, but poor positioning when it mattered most against Ghana. That said, Howard is a stud. Without the midfield giveaway (one goal) and a defensive lapse by our CBs (another goal), we might have advanced.
Edit: Or that I should be fine with a 1-0 win over Guadaloupe and a favorable result on the other side of the group to get out of the Gold Cup group stage?
Dude. Tired act.
And Buddle wasn’t “awful” in the World Cup. He played in what, one game? Against Algeria?
For like 10 minutes, and he still managed a ridiculous header on goal that the goalie stopped blindly?
He dominated Australia in the friendly beforehand and never got to play, and when Bradley decided to go all long-ball against Ghana in extra-time after the early goal, he had no target strikers in, since he subbed Jozy for Gomez, and the USA lost header after header, making the strategy pointless.
Also, as to points above, why is Mexico suddenly stocked with better players?
The USA dominated Mexico over the past 4 years.
You’re basically telling me, as a USMNT fan, that my expectations to beat Mexico are too high, despite the fact that it clearly can happen? Or that I shouldn’t expect a 1-0 win over Guadaloupe and a favorable result on the other side of the group to get out of the Gold Cup group stage? And that no other coach would do better than Bradley?
I just don’t get your point, if that’s the case.
Nice list of managers. Will never happen.
No money, No power, No incentive to come here.
Guess you didn’t watch it
I’m not making excuses for Bradley.
Why are you making excuses for the fact the US players are not very good?
“At his best with all these guys at their best, we bombed out of the first knockout stage again.”
If that is true and I think it is, then that tells me:
The manager did a good job getting their best out of them.
The players best isn’t good enough because the players aren’t good enough.
Howard had a crap world cup? wow…
We should have two completely separate teams that can beat Guadeloupe handily. That was embarrassing. The excuses for Bob have to stop. At his best, with all these guys at their best, we bombed out of the first knockout stage again. How about setting the bar a little higher?
Bob will lead us to another first knockout round failure, unless his team’s lack of preparation and inability to start well mean we fail to get out of the group stage.
Once again? Last I checked, bombing out in the first knockout stage at the World Cup, after having to rely on a late goal against Algeria, after having seen the U.S. once again have problems getting out of the blocks, is hardly evidence of having them ready. Don’t you have higher standards?
and again
Praying is a good idea because Davies is not a talented striker anymore.
He may never be one again.
Buddle subbed in the World Cup and was awful.
I’d rather have Gomez than Wondo
Easy for you to say
Michele Pruedhomme could not get more out of Onyewu.
Moyes had a superior cast of players around Donovan; ditto for Howard who plays much more consistently for Everton.
Players are guaranteed their spots because without them the team sucks. Look at the Spain game.
Who are your sure fire replacements for Donovan, Dempsey, Onyewu and Boca?
People look at Klinsmann like he’s some kind of proven coach.
He got to third place with Germany in the World Cup with Germany as host country (minimum goal!), but was pretty much a disaster with Bayern Munich.
They got HUMILIATED against Barca. And when I say humiliated I mean it was a disgrace for anyone who remotely follows German soccer.
I will give him credit for ushering in a completely different type of soccer for the German national team.
But would he really have been as successful without Joachim Loew as his number 2?
He was highly lauded for his success in that tournament. But he was hated by many. Luca Toni refused to play for him. He completely lied to Christian Woerns when he told him that defenders getting playing time would have preference. He spent tons of money on revamping a few things at the training facility, but did not see that he was badly in need of new players. He talked a lot of rubbish but could not deliver.
I do, however, think he could improve a few things for the national team. Quite frankly, I think the team needs a serious kick in the butt. But I don’t think Klinsmann is committed to anything but himself and his family. People forget he left Tottenham after ONE YEAR!
My list:
1. Roberto Mancini (just wait til he gets fired. Should be soon.)
2. Ralf Ragnick (also needs to get fired first)
3. Louis Van Gaal (unemployed as far as I know)
4. Otmar Hitzfeld
5. Huub Stevens
6. Roy Hodgson
The fact that Mexico has better players means LaVolpe has more options than Bradley.
Neither Bradley nor La Volpe is responsible for the fact that Mexico has better players.
Given that LaVolpe is probably as good a manager as Bradley chances are he can put together a better team with better players.
nvmd, mexico scored
also, shud this result hold (Guatemala 1 – 0 mexico) there will be no excuse not to win
i have been pretty disappointed during this tourny so far but i was looking at the stats for the usa games and according to that we have done ridiculously good. we outshot Guad 19(10) – 4(0); panama 15(5) – 9(2); and canada 14(9) – 7(3). Overall, that is 48(24) – 20(5). We allowed 5 shots on goal over 3 games, less than 2 per game. Overall, i would say that we actually have played quite well as a team with just one truly bad half(1st vs panama) out of 6 halves. basically it just comes down to finishing, and our players esp. donovan, demps, and probably wondo are professional enough to bounce back from their finishing mistakes. all im saying is maybe weve all been a little hard on the boys. long as they finish a tad better the rest of the tourny they should do well in the final.
Come on. Imagine this happen in the middle of Copa America or the Euros. No player would even consider it. They would get completely destroyed in the media. And by the teammates.
The Gold Cup schedule hasn’t been out that long. Give these guys a break. Frankly, they both looked tired and could use the days off of training.
sick of hearing about Klinnsman. The dude doesn’t have a good resume. Great player, mediocre only because he is able to get decent assistants. Klinnsman sucks and we should stop talking about him like he has really accomplished something.
I think the US could get more out of the players they have for one, if they had a different coach. Also too many players are guarenteed their starting spots. Even guys like Donovan should not be assured a starting spot on the team if they are not performing.
Re; PetedeLA… Exactly. Who cares what BB has to say anymore. What does Klinsmann think… you know Gulati’s 1st choice the last two contract neg sessions.
They do have better players, but why is that? They have also given a lot of their younger talent opportunities. Plus they play aggressive, ball pressuring soccer, not counter attack like Bob has the US playing.
Uno a Cero Guatemala!!!
Mexico has better players
Donovan is not the player he was in 2010. He may never be that player again.
Onyewu was vital before the World Cup and seems now to be finished.
Boca is clearly winding down.
Howard had a crap world Cup and is still up and down
Tell me the US has ready to plug in replacements for those guys?
Jones is only now figuring out how to play with these guys and has yet to have a signature game in a US shirt.
Lichaj did okay against Guadelope but lets not go overboard.
That is what you call transition.
I say we play Dempsey up top with Altidore followed up by Bradley/Edu in the middle with Bedoya and Donovan on the wings. Our 3 subs should be Agudelo for Altidore, Spector for Edu and Kljestan for Donovan
I actually agree with this. A sister should be close enough to check with her brother on potential conflicts before setting a date. I find it surprising that neither player communicated a potential problem with this date early in the planning process.
Altidore is our best striker and he’d mediocre at times. Agudelo needs more time to develop. Let him take his time with the u-20 and u-23.
I pray Davies returns as the talented striker we all need. Buddle is good as a sub same as Gomez who is a streaky striker.
dude’s got alot on his mind, cant you see that big-as$ vein running across his head?
+1 That is all there is ever talk of, the slow transition, and learning experiences. And if you watch carefully the wording slowly changes. Initially it was that we would “win the Gold Cup”, now it is “advancing to the final”.
Mexico is currently a good example of what improving is. They are winning handely, and playing well. No BS excuses.
Bradley will only lead us to the toilet!
I keep on hearing talks about a “player transition.” What players have retired after the World Cup that we are now suddenly “transitioning” to other players.
Last time I checked, this is essentially the same team that we saw at the World Cup – Bocanegra, Howard, Onyewu, Cherundolo, Bradley, Donovan, Altidore.
Throw in the IMPROVEMENTS of Lichaj and Jones and this whole “transition” thing sounds even more ridiculous.
Just STFU and admit that the coaching has been mediocre at best and that our team is falling short.
Maybe some of the stars aren’t 100% motivated about this tournament? I wanna see them leave the World Cup camp for a wedding right before a quarter final. Or just be allowed to.
Rule # 76 Bob
Bob is a million times better than Bruce Arena with half the talent available. Bob will lead us proudly through 2014, and then Piotr Nowak will take over.
Over the tenure of Bradley’s regime, I have noted (and I’m sure most of you have) the things that I believe have defined our current squad.
1. Slow starting
2. Lack of communicative focus on the back line
3. A scrappy identity that counters against better teams
4. A confused team without a style against minnows
5. High athleticism and good tackling
If we are only good with our backs against the wall, that does speak to a management problem. I am not a mere hater of BB, as I think he improved us from Bruce Arena’s days. However, I think a more technically minded manager with a clear vision for the style of US soccer going forward is needed.
Bob Bradley is definitely the man to steer USA through this player transition. He has proven how good he is at man management. Once again, he will get the right players and have them prepared for 2014.
I’m not a Bob-basher, but I’m getting sick of this.
The last 3 games have been so pathetic I wanted my 90+ minutes back.
Looks like we can only do “scrappy”.
1-0 against Guadeloupe. Seriously?
Maybe it’s time for a change.
Dear USMNT-
Please get a good result against Jamaica. I have tickets to the semis and the final.
Sincerely,
A Fan