Bruce Arena Era 2: Electric Boogaloo. USMNT Super Thread

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verreauxi said:
Alexi Lalas:

“It’s dark days, indeed, but this is a time for leaders to step up,” he said. “And so to the supposed leaders, I will say this: Tim Howard. Tim, the Belgium game ended three years ago. We need you to save the ball now. Geoff Cameron. Clean it up, or let’s get someone who will.

“Clint Dempsey. Yeah, you’re a national team legend; now we need you to be a national team leader. Michael Bradley. The US does not need you to be zen, the US needs you to play better. Jozy Altidore. Is this really as good as it gets? Because it’s still not good enough.”

And, oh, by the way, to all the guys that I didn’t mention, it’s because you don’t even warrant a mention,” he added. “That includes you too, Wonder Boy.”

“So, what are you guys going to do?” Lalas said. “Are you going to continue to be a bunch of soft, underperforming, tattooed millionaires? You are a soccer generation that has been given everything; you are a soccer generation who’s on the verge of squandering everything.”

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Thoughts?
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Spot on really.
 
Not a fan of the messenger, but agree with most of what he said. Bruce really wears on me, so I'm slanted in that I'll agree with most criticism
 
Rook said:
Arena was totally clueless against Hounduras. However more than manager the biggest problem is just a plain lack of talent. The USMNT of 8 years ago would have toyed with this current team. Now there are some good prospects, Pulisic, maybe Wood and Yedlin as well. Also a few solid pros (Cameron, Dempsey, Johnson?) However that's it and there is no depth either (watch that Honduras match again). Zusi/Beasley should not be starting at RB/LB for anyone in the hex. A semi-decent midfield distrubutor could start for the USMNT unchallenged for the next decade but we have nothing resembling that kind of player. Our best keeper is still Tim Howard! I mean really we can't produce a keeper anymore?


Bradley has regressed somewhat since he's moved to Toronto (still one of the better players in MLS) but he's sadly the best CM we got. Also he's going to be in that position for another 4-5 years because there isn't anyone out there that could challenge him at his position.

He's a good defender when he can get set and play a more cerebral game. So he does well against teams that play tiki-taka and Italian style of footie. He's also a good goal scorer for a DM. When he gets forward I think his passing in the attacking 1/3rd is decent.

His weaknesses are if you play prem style football and go right at him with pace, he trips over his own 2 feet. Also his passing in middle of the pitch is putrid.

Bradley needs to be partnered with someone like *ack* Joe Allen, i.e. someone who can settle things down and distribute a safe boring pass without turning it over. We don't even have anything resembling a poor man's Joe Allen on the USMNT.

I watched the match from about the 35th minute. And yes Bradley was terrible but so was everybody. We sent a bunch of guys forward (I like this!) but none of them worked together and just tried to play 1v1 or 1v2. Also every time they got dispossesed they all were caught upfield and Honduras had a free run of the midfield. Really the only player entire middle 1/3 of the pitch when Honduras had the ball was Bradley.

Also please no more Nagbe. Bradley-Jones is better than Bradley-Nagbe. Yes keep him on the USMNT because he has a skill set that no one has (dribbling) but for the love of god he should only be used when its like you have nothing to lose.
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is it a lack of talent development or a lack of scouting? are there no talented players in the US system, or too many that are similar enough that our scouts and coaches can't figure out who to play?
 
verreauxi said:
Alexi Lalas:

“It’s dark days, indeed, but this is a time for leaders to step up,” he said. “And so to the supposed leaders, I will say this: Tim Howard. Tim, the Belgium game ended three years ago. We need you to save the ball now. Geoff Cameron. Clean it up, or let’s get someone who will.

“Clint Dempsey. Yeah, you’re a national team legend; now we need you to be a national team leader. Michael Bradley. The US does not need you to be zen, the US needs you to play better. Jozy Altidore. Is this really as good as it gets? Because it’s still not good enough.”

And, oh, by the way, to all the guys that I didn’t mention, it’s because you don’t even warrant a mention,” he added. “That includes you too, Wonder Boy.”

“So, what are you guys going to do?” Lalas said. “Are you going to continue to be a bunch of soft, underperforming, tattooed millionaires? You are a soccer generation that has been given everything; you are a soccer generation who’s on the verge of squandering everything.”

***
Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Someone had to say it. Big boys should take criticism the right way. If these can't time for them to move on.
 
SerenityNigh said:
is it a lack of talent development or a lack of scouting? are there no talented players in the US system, or too many that are similar enough that our scouts and coaches can't figure out who to play?
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Wynalda who has occasionally helps up with coaching the U-19s and U-21s said that the next gen coming up are all robots who have no creativity a few years back. I also think Holden and Davies would have been the side's best 2 players in 2017 (Holden is only 32 and doesn't really need pace). Unfortunately those are probably the 2 biggest positions that we are lacking in. We literally don't have anyone who can distrubute like Holden could anywhere from U-21s to the SR squad. Wood can score arguably as well as Davies could but can't pass and doesn't make everyone around him better. Davies was also excellent at dragging defenders out wide which is something Wood can't do.

If you put those 2 on the squad and suddenly the squad is quite decent. You are 4 deep at striker/forward with Altidore, Davies, Wood and Dempsey. Plus you have Pulisic. Also Bradley is a much better player because he doesn't have to pass.

The USMNT for at least the next 5 years is just going to have to play Pulis-ball and bully sides physically. We are still a handful when we have free kicks. Having Yeldin stay healthy and having Pulisic to develop to the point where he's a reasonable imitation of Bale will help.
 
Mikey_Fitzgerald said:
Not wishing to alarm anyone, but I've been looking into this and a lot of the critical comments seem to mirror the same things being said when England were trying to qualify for USA 94...
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The difference being that after this WC (which will still take a ton of effort to not qualify for) we could get a lot worse and still never fail to qualify.
 
Rook said:
Wynalda who has occasionally helps up with coaching the U-19s and U-21s said that the next gen coming up are all robots who have no creativity a few years back. I also think Holden and Davies would have been the side's best 2 players in 2017 (Holden is only 32 and doesn't really need pace). Unfortunately those are probably the 2 biggest positions that we are lacking in. We literally don't have anyone who can distrubute like Holden could anywhere from U-21s to the SR squad. Wood can score arguably as well as Davies could but can't pass and doesn't make everyone around him better. Davies was also excellent at dragging defenders out wide which is something Wood can't do.

If you put those 2 on the squad and suddenly the squad is quite decent. You are 4 deep at striker/forward with Altidore, Davies, Wood and Dempsey. Plus you have Pulisic. Also Bradley is a much better player because he doesn't have to pass.

The USMNT for at least the next 5 years is just going to have to play Pulis-ball and bully sides physically. We are still a handful when we have free kicks. Having Yeldin stay healthy and having Pulisic to develop to the point where he's a reasonable imitation of Bale will help.
Click to expand...
still sad about Davies and Holden
 
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