Bruce Arena must go
It’s official; the U.S. Men’s National Team is out of the World Cup and Bruce Arena should be fired.
In a stroke of bad luck, the U.S. team was victimized by awful refereeing during the 2006 World Cup. Conversely, Arena’s side experienced a good deal of fantastic luck in the 2002 World Cup. During that tournament, opponents took the U.S. side for granted and the U.S. advanced to the quarterfinals. Bruce Arena successfully exploited that good fortune and rode it all the way into the 2006 tournament, all the while giving the impression that he belonged.
The end of the United States’ 2006 run ought to finally prove that Bruce Arena is a fraud.
For Arena, it starts with attitude. His cocksure, belligerent attitude (just listen to how he deals with the media) is at the root of his inability to manage a game tactically or inspire his players.
Tactically, Arena could not have managed his World Cup side more recklessly. It started in May, when he picked his 23-man roster. He allowed John O’Brien to ride on the planes and buses with the team, knowing that he was unfit. He chose Brian Ching and left other, more talented attackers behind.
During qualifying, every fan saw that the U.S. was not scoring goals. Arena’s response for the World Cup, where goals are priceless? A defensively-oriented 4-5-1 formation.
Going into the Ghana match, Arena knew that a win was the only way to advance. It was a seemingly simple equation: more goals than Ghana equals a win. Arena’s response? A defensively-oriented 4-5-1 formation that included a spotty-at-best Eddie Lewis and left Bobby Convey on the bench.
When the U.S. fell behind 2-1 just before the half and they needed to put up at least two to win, what formation did Bruce Arena use coming out of the locker room? A defensively-oriented 4-5-1 formation that left Bobby Convey and Eddie Johnson—two of the most creative players for the U.S.—on the bench. By the time Johnson and Convey entered the game, it was much too late to rally.
As for inspiring his side, Arena is incapable. He exudes a cool, calm persona that covers for an utter lack of personality. Arena admitted that he did not personally address his under-performing players after the Czech match. Instead, he blasted them in the media thereby proving himself a coward by not dealing with the issues head-on. For much of the Ghana game, his players also looked like cowards. Coincidence?
Many will argue—and Arena would probably agree—that Bruce Arena saved U.S. soccer. In light of it’s abysmal standing in 1998, anyone could’ve “saved” U.S. soccer. To think otherwise confuses fortunate mediocrity with intentional success.
18 comments
Even if the US had shown well in this WC, I think it was time for a change anyway. At some point the players need to hear it from a different mouthpiece.
What the US needs to do is go out and find a Dick Advocaat or Guus Hiddink type of coach, pay him well so he doesn’t leave for awhile, and get a seasoned tactician in control. Someone who truly understands what it takes to win at the global, international level and has proven that.
Maybe someday Juergen Klinsmann will become available. What the heck, he already lives here…
Can we trade Bruce for Hiddink? Think Russia wants him?
I agree, and think Arena is much better as an administrator for US Soccer. The USMNT did not show up, but they were hindered by poor managing. This result sets US Soccer back a decade or so and has made us the biggest failure in this World Cup.
PS
We need to keep a US Coach in that role. Schmidt might be the man.
Chris Albright should have seen some playing time along with Convey and Johnson. Is Eddie Gavin Ready?
I would disagree that it sets us back a full decade. 4 years maybe…
And as for being the biggest failure of the ‘06 WC – the Czechs might be one up on us in that department. And there’s Serbia. And France is teetering on the edge of embarrassment…again.
Not making it out of the group stages might have been just as good as winning the world cup for US soccer. They were so hyped this year and so many people were interested in this so called “greatest US team ever” that it infuriated non soccer fans when they saw how poorly the US team preformed against nations like Ghana they were told not to worry about (not worrying about a team with Michael Essien on it, in Chelsea form or not, is just stupid) It will be interesting how much money and effort is put into improving conditions of professional and amature soccer players to get our country up to par with the rest of the world. It might be 20 years before the US can actually compete on the international level, but today might have been the most important loss the US ever took…who knows.
Not to bash on his character but Bruce is a complete tool. Send him to Argentina so that he can mess up that soccer program. Not making a change AT THE HALF was absolutely horrendous. He did nothing to help “his” team win. Can him like my grandma cans pickled eggs and get us someone who cares.
Survey Says … Off With His Head!…
It all started with ESPN commentators and ex USMNT members Wynalda and Balboa calling for Arena’s firing flat out. Julie Foudy tried to stick up for him but it was halfhearted at best. A quick look around the Soccersphere and there is no question…
Josh — I posted this also in the comments at Dcenters, but I wanted to make clear that I think I read your piece and conflated your views with some other people’s. You weren’t the people I was thinking of when I used your words to describe them. My bad (which I hear is how the kids today say “I’m sorry”)
D-
No prob (which is what no one should say when they mean “no problem.”)
I’m assuming that any day we will be reading about his firing/sacking/”stepping down”/etc. I’m hoping that the day is very soon.
Dan
Alrbright getting playing time? hahaha He shouldn’t have even been in Germany. I’m glad someone else went instead of the completely overrated Hejduk, but Albright? He only went because because of Arena’s blatant favoritism to the Univ. of Virginia.
i couldnt have said it any better! Get him out of here. bad coach, bad sportmanship, bad manager. pathetic, pathetic, pathetic. demote bruce arena to ball-boy!!
Can Arena! It’s time for him to move on. US soccer needs a new vision and a different strategy. We have so much untapped talent in this country, it’s a shame that the USSF is not better organized. Bruce should go, but let’s clean house at the top too!
[...] Grant Wahl interviewed U.S. Soccer Federation President, Sunil Gulati. It sounds to me like we’ll know about the coaching situation sometime next week, but I’ll let you read between the lines for yourself. [...]
[...] I’ll admit it; when Ghana sent the U.S. packing, I was angry. I directed the bulk of my anger at Bruce Arena. Since that time (I posted my article approximately 15 minutes after the full time whistle) there has been a tide of counterspin trying desparately to exonerate Bruce Arena. Typically, the Arena defenders follow the same talking points: [...]
Arena has always been inadequate. From a soccer perspective, he is a pretender. The last thing we need is another soccer ignorant American coach. We need a European coach who will make player selections based solely on playing ability. The politics/arrogance of the American soccer establishment is stifling team development. Donovan needs a swift kick in his soft and spoiled ass. Reyna, Pope, O’Brien and Berhalter should not have been on the roster let alone the field. And why was Wolfe, Ching and Olson there instead of Twellman, Eskandarian and Gaven? We need someone from outside of the American soccer to be given free rein to develop an exemplary team. We’ve got the horses. We just don’t have a coach who knows soccer talent and how to organize and drive players to their full individual and team poltential. We need to accept the reality that compared to the rest of the world, American coaches lack the experience, knowledge and gravitas to complete successfully as soccer’s highest level.
[...] 1) Nike, Clint Dempsey, and cliché rapper names 2) Henry joins Reebok 3) A national anthem for soccer? 4) Gatorade, baseball and the American culture wars 5) Joga feo 6) Jorge Larrionda’s fifteen minutes 7) What Materazzi said
Anthony LaPaglia and the Champion’s League final 9) Bruce Arena must go 10) Nike, Adidas, and the World Cup [...]
Leave a Comment