Top ten takeaways from the Bruce Arena interview
To think, many were ready to let him ride off into the sunset without another caustic word. When Bruce Arena’s contract was not renewed, I stupidly assumed that he would act with class, slide comfortably into his new job, and spend the rest of his career basking in the Red Bull-flavored limelight of New York.
Instead, in an interview with Grant Wahl, Bruce reaffirms his classlessness, pretends not to obsess about his old job, and basks only in his own filthy self-aggrandizement.
I thought about quoting the piece but others have done a nice job with that and you really should read the whole thing yourself. But just in case you can’t handle the truth according to Bruce in an unabridged format, below are the top ten takeaways from Grant Wahl’s interview with Bruce Arena.
- Bruce is self-loathing and utterly delusional.
- Bruce has never made a mistake.
- Everyone else is at fault for anything that went wrong. Ever.
- The U.S. Men’s National Team will fail without Bruce at the helm.
- Big Energy Drink money seduced Bruce.
- Bruce has set low expectations for RBNY to stave off talk of failure.
- Bruce can rationalize and make excuses with the best.
- God has graciously given Bruce to the MLS, to New York, and, possibly, to the entire soccer world.
- Bruce has zero pride and will do or say anything to get attention.
- Bruce probably doesn’t have many real friends.
20 comments
I actually agreed with alot of what Bruce said. Sure it was said in a very sarcastic and biting manner but thats not really new coming from Bruce. But he’s right in his statement about the over hype the national team has gotten. The big push by us soccer and MLS to build up 06’s national team went from modest and hopeful to simply ridiculous. He’s right that US soccer is in bed with way too many people and isn’t running things in the best interest of the game. He’s right that the HDC is used for way too many other events for it to be a true national team home.
zzI was hoping for takeaway food…
zzI was hoping for takeaway food
Sorry about that!
matthew: I don’t disagree that the USMNT was over-hyped. An objective observer could see the WC debacle coming during the run-up to the tournament.
I don’t know enough to comment on US Soccer being in bed with anyone nor do I know enough about the HDC (though I’m sure the field is available when the team needs it)
For me, those aren’t the issues. The issue is Bruce Arena’s character. He’s been told how wonderful he is for the past eight years and he bought into it. He shirks responsibility any chance he gets and loves to blame others, including his “friends.” That’s my problem with Bruce.
Bruce’s character? You’ve got be kidding. If you’re questioning his character than you have to question all those ‘fans’ that turned on him after all that he has done for US soccer. That’s pathetic. I didn’t see much ‘character’ from the ‘fans’ when the media turned on Bruce either.
He blames his friends? Where do you get that? The only thing he blamed for his so-called ‘failure’ to bring the US to world football respectability was the lack of talent. Americans are so delusional about their shortcomings.
As for this blog, what trash. Bruce Arena is the BEST coach in the HISTORY of US Soccer. That is a FACT. The record doesn’t lie, so why don’t you have some ‘character’ and respect the man.
Bruce’s character? You’ve got be kidding.
Nope. Thanks for checking, though.
If you’re questioning his character than you have to question all those ‘fans’ that turned on him after all that he has done for US soccer.
Why do I have to question the fans? This post was about Bruce Arena, not the fans.
That’s pathetic. I didn’t see much ‘character’ from the ‘fans’ when the media turned on Bruce either.
First, since Bruce was always a jerk to the media, I’m surprised they didn’t turn on him earlier. Frankly, most of the things I’ve seen continue to fawn over him.
Also, I’m amused by your use of the quotes around the word “fans.” Just to be clear, those quotation marks indicate that the only way to be a ‘fan’ of U.S. Soccer is by taking a vow to die for Bruce Arena, right?
He blames his friends? Where do you get that?
Well, for one thing, I read it in the interview referenced above. He blames micromanagement for the shortcomings of US Soccer and says that his “good friend” and “great guy” Sunil Gulati is the micromanager-in-chief. Bruce goes on to say that Gulati “wants to be important” which is a euphemism for “ass-kisser.”
The only thing he blamed for his so-called ‘failure’ to bring the US to world football respectability was the lack of talent.
There is a definite dearth of talent, especially when you can’t see past Klöckner Stadium and your own pre-conceived notions.
Americans are so delusional about their shortcomings.
I’ve got news for you: Bruce Arena is an American and, I’m guessing, so are you. I’ve already said Bruce is delusional and I think we know all we need to know about you.
As for this blog, what trash.
Awww, did the little blog hurt your feelings?
Bruce Arena is the BEST coach in the HISTORY of US Soccer. That is a FACT.
It is a fact (sorry, I meant “FACT”) mostly because his predecessors were atrocious. He is a good coach. He’s not a good guy.
The record doesn’t lie, so why don’t you have some ‘character’ and respect the man.
I know this is hard, but try to pay close attention: it isn’t about the record.
However, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll respect the man if you will dry those tears, put your pants back on, and take down all of the topless Bruce Arena posters in your bathroom.
As appealing as a Topless Brucey poster is, I’d have to agree with Josh. Coaches fizzle out. He may have been ok at first but the US National team outgrew Bruce a while ago. For which he is quite bitter. I love this blog. If you’re going to call something “trash” aim it over here at me. I am the “white trash” usually making sarcastic comments with my real message deep within the layers of dickishness. At least be creative when being a tool (see Bruce Arena).
PS. Again I make the suggestion that the US team ad Joel Erkkinen to their roster. He’s the spark that would make coaching irrelevant.
Comment #6 was delightfully entertaining.
Loved this post. Although I think Bruce actually returns phone calls and e-mails, even when they are from his friends.
“However, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll respect the man if you will dry those tears, put your pants back on, and take down all of the topless Bruce Arena posters in your bathroom.”
Ooooh! Touche my friend. Touche.
I am just to middle of the road and am a see both sides of the picture sort of guy. I agree with Matt but I also agree with you Josh that it was time for him to go. And there is no hiding the fact that Arena can just be an arrogant prick sometimes. I guess that is also what often makes good coaches. They believe in themselves. It is also often true of athletes musicians and artists. Even successful businessmen can often have an air about them that is nauseating but it is an uncompromising believe in their abilities that radiates off and gives others around them that same believe. Just look at Jose the man at Chelsea. That and a lot of money in his case. Still, it was time for Bruce to go. There is no doubt about that and Bruce got his feeling (note: only one) hurt. I don’t think he is an overly sensitive man except when one questions his ability. Hey, sounds like we are talking about Brian who wrote in.
Wait a minute. That’s also my name, but I think most of you know me by “bq” so we will stick with that. By the way, I don’t mean anything by those quotation marks unlike the other Brian.
OMG - That made my day, HAHAHAHA Cept now I have to permanently block the mental image it formed in my brain. Ow.
Look, nobody can argue that Bruce Arena did a hell of a lot for US Soccer. When he says the USMNT suffers from a lack of talent, he’s right and we’ve all said the same at one time or another.
But, the bottom line is, Bruce is an ass. His interactions with the media are always confrontational and he’ll fit right in in NYC I think. But he never takes responsibility for anything. There is plenty of blame to go around with all this, but Bruc esure as hell needed to take some himself (which when he tried to make the fine print SO small you could hardly read it). US Soccer may have micromanaged him (though I thought his whole setup with the USMNT was to have pretty much free reign), but US Soccer had nothign to do with the conservative formations and matches the USMNT played. Period.
Suck it up Bruce - you had a great career, but it ended in a train wreck. No fans were so delusional to think we’d win the World Cup, but damn - when you spend years building up a team and expectations, what do you expect when the team implodes on soccer’s biggest stage? We expected to make it to the knockout rounds and that was not unreasonable. We lost to frigging Ghana and only tied Italy because they scored for us. Yes, we played our hearts out against Italy, but 1 out of 3 doesn’t cut it.
Ah Bruce fanboys - don’t ya love em? Their so cute when they get agitated.
“‘fans’ that turned on him after all that he has done for US soccer. That’s pathetic.”
Screw Arena. He was thoroughly outclassed in Germany, and like every other coach that led their country to failure there, he was canned. Did he want to have his hand and groin held as he was gently showed the door? Take some personal responsibility for god’s sake and show a tad bit of class.
He’s where he should be: a coach in 8th or 9th best soccer league in the world. And I doubt he’ll last too long there.
–WKW
Take some personal responsibility for god’s sake and show a tad bit of class.
That was aimed at Arena, BTW, not Brian, the poster
“Bruce Arena is the BEST coach in the HISTORY of US Soccer.”
That’s like being the best curling coach in Saudi Arabia. No one cares. Hooray, he beat Mexico in 2002 and took the U.S. as far as Ukraine went this year. The U.S. needs a world-class type coach and leader if they want to field a world-class team. Not some overaggrandized college coach.
–WKW
/me rolls
I guess it’s all about your perspective. HAHAHAHA.
I’ve been holding in my disappointment with the U.S. team for awhile, I guess. lol. It felt good to rant.
But really, with the new generation coming in adding to the best of the previous generation for the U.S., the truly need someone like Klinnsman to come in and instill the confidence they’d need to reach their potential in Africa.
–WKW
It’s All About The Perspective…
Josh over at Throughball had some key things to take away from Bruce Arena’s now infamous SI interview with Grant Wahl. Lets just say with Bruce’s well known ‘way’ with the media, they weren’t positive. But the real fun st…
I think it was probably time for Bruce to go. I also think he did a good job with our team, and to say that anyone could’ve done it is unfair in my book. He did it. Not anyone else. That said, his decisions at the world cup were insanity. Brian Mcbride can’t play up front alone, Eddie Pope is a questionable inclusion at this point in his career (a la Agoos in 02), among other things.
I had mixed feelings when he was gone. I was sad, but I knew it was time. But I think a lot of people are delusional to think that we’re going to get some amazing coach now. I think the last thing this team needs is someone who’s here for 4 years or less and then bails, which is certainly what we’re going to get with a big name coach. I just don’t think there’s someone out there who’s going to come in, stick around for awhile and help this team create its own identity, and lead us to success.
I really expect the next coach of the national team to be a downgrade from Bruce. But we’ll see.
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