Bob Bradley’s coaching debut with Le Havre didn’t pan out as expected, but he is hoping his side can turn things around quickly as he prepares for his first Ligue 2 battle on Monday.
In Bradley’s first game in charge, Le Havre disappointingly bowed out of the Coupe de France to sixth-flight minnow St. Omer on Nov. 14. The loss was not the start he or wanted, but the former U.S. Men’s National Team head coach expects his side to recover well against Brest on Monday (2:30 p.m.).
“For sure, everybody was disappointed with the way we played,” Bradley told the club’s website. “We know that the Cup’s important and we hate to drop out at this point, but now the most important thing is the response of the team. I think training this week has been good and we look forward to Brest.”
Monday’s contest, which will be Bradley’s second game in charge but first in league play, could see Le Havre climb to within just three points of first place. A first-or-second-place finish is required in order to be promoted to Ligue 1.
“It’s a little early, but I certainly feel like the work in the last week has been very good,” he said when asked if he knows his new group well enough after recently moving over from coaching Stabaek in the Tippeligaen. “Every day you get to know players a little bit better.
“I think that our emphasis has been on just improving in some basic areas without losing, I think, some of the positives of the last five games.”
Le Havre currently sits in fourth place on the Ligue 2 table with 23 points after 14 games. Bradley’s club has has a game in hand on those above it, and it has won its last four league games while remaining unbeaten in its previous five.
What do you think of Bradley’s comments? How do you think he and Le Havre will fare in Ligue 2? See his side gaining promotion by season’s end?
Share your thoughts below.
He is a much better coach than he was four years ago. The guy creates hope wherever he goes
Makes me wonder what he could do with the shipwreck we have going on now at US Soccer.
Hold your horses Sepp. Wait and see how he does in France first. I think this will be his most difficult job yet.
Disappointing 0-0 at the end, but Le Havre totally dominated. Very promising, really. Bob has them play high pressing, and it worked very well, let to tons of turnovers by Brest. They played Red Bulls-like but without the ability to finish – not sure if that’s due to a lack of quality or due to the fact that they’ve had so little time under a new coach.
+1 They are definitely the side walking away from this draw unhappiest, even though Brest is a good team in this league.
It was hard to watch Le Havre squander so many chances, but at least they were getting plenty of them and not allowing darn near any on the other side.
Played good, got a result. I think Le Havre fans should be satisfied with that and hopeful about getting a result against the league leaders next week.
I watched the whole game… a little frustrating. They were doing a lot of running, they weren’t playing very compact (French games have a tendency to get stretched out), and I got the impression that, despite being the better team, their pressing tired them out when it came to finishing off their numerous chances in front of goal. In the moment of poaching, their forwards weren’t lucid enough. Just my opinion. A promising start for Bob nonetheless. Next week they play the league leaders.
Bob, I hear ya, I always look forward to Brest myself, but you really should concentrate on coaching right now.
Lest we forget about the unrest and instead focus on the Brest because its the best for the rest of all mankind. Boobies.
When you are trying to get promoted a cup is a distraction, can’t imagine it wasn’t the strategy to lose. Here’s to hoping he can help get them promoted.
Wish I could watch!
I’ll let you know how they play.