Comparing Bruce Arena to other "Dynasty" Coaches

[sljohn]

No worries, russ, there's plenty else to post about. Besides, Bajoro only said for the "next year or so."

If we go with "or so" part that's only one or two call-ups to give him the benefit of the doubt on. By the time we reach the important tournies of next summer we'll all be well rested and back to "normal."

[Bajoro]

You guys are funny.
:)

[Captain10]

Originally posted by Cweedchop
Welcome back Captain..

Damn.. This could almost be considered a compliment coming from you....

Who are YOU and what have YOU done with Captain10? :p

:p It's good to be back!

Originally posted by Cweedchop
Arena lovers unite!!!!!!

C'mon Captain and Ghosty, jump on board the bandwagon, there's plenty of room.....

Sorry ... I've never been much of one to jump on and off of the bandwagon. But for now, at least, Arena does get the benefit of the doubt ... at least for a little while (time undetermined) ... that's the best I can do!

[Martin Fischer]

Originally posted by Captain10


Sorry ... I've never been much of one to jump on and off of the bandwagon. But for now, at least, Arena does get the benefit of the doubt ... at least for a little while (time undetermined) ... that's the best I can do!

It will be fun to see how much of the lunatic fringe calls for Arena's head when he fails to call in Mike Petke for that critical friendly with Austraila.

World Cup sucess versus how Arena does in the next few friendlies or tournaments? What is more important? Intelligent minds say ...

[Captain10]

Originally posted by Martin Fischer
It will be fun to see how much of the lunatic fringe calls for Arena's head when he fails to call in Mike Petke for that critical friendly with Austraila.

World Cup sucess versus how Arena does in the next few friendlies or tournaments? What is more important? Intelligent minds say ...
Well ... there you go again ...

Nowhere did I equate the World Cup to friendlies or other tournaments 4 years before the next cup or state that they were just as important.

So ... once again you try to put words in someone's mouth just so you can shoot them down -- typical. :rolleyes:

The reason I'm interested in the next few friendlies and tournaments is to see whether/how Arena decides to put together his team. It's a logical time to turn over the team and start rebuilding for the future.

Does he start rebuilding his defense with young players like Suarez and Bocanegra, or does he just muddle along with the *old guard*. Does he get creative in trying out some new combinations in defense and midfield? Does he call in some new players and give them a shot -- either to get them ready for the Olympics -- or get them some International experience?

That's why I think the next 6 months or so are important -- to see what direction we're going in...

(And please get off your name calling kick for anyone that doesn't agree with you all the time -- it really hurts your credibility.)

[Martin Fischer]

Sensitive, eh? I would be too if I had posted some of the stuff you did about Arena's decisions.

Anyway, I never referred to you and certainly did not call you names.

My post was meant to mock the "lunatic fringe" who think that Arena should be fired if he doesn't call up their favorite or loses a friendly. In my opinion, those that believe this are lunatic and fortunately on the fringe. If you say that is not your viewpoint, fine.

[Maximum Optimal]

Another golden oldie! Makes one nostalgic doesn't it. Time to put on that old Doors CD.

[Karl K]

Another golden oldie! Makes one nostalgic doesn't it. Time to put on that old Doors CD.

Break on through to the other side! Break on thorugh...

Ah, this was a good thread! Nutmeg's list was very good.

Despite what happened in '06, Bruce will go down in history as one of the great American soccer coaches, and, generally, one of the great Amercian coaches in any sport.

That's not to say he is not without his flaws -- heck, the kind of arrogant crankiness and bitterness was evident as early as 1998, when disciple Bradley beat him in the MLS Cup. Bruce clearly doesn't like to lose on the big stage.

The problem with the '06 cup was the first game, where the players made stupid gaffes that led to the early 1st goal. Then the great game against Italy, and the goofy PK against Ghana. And then we had LD -- who was more or less AWOL, when he had to be THE man. Was that Arena's fault? Maybe..then again maybe not.

It will be very interesting to see how Arena does in NYC. If he wins an MLS Cup in the next couple of years...well, that will certainly cement his reputation.

[bradley31]

Living in North Carolina and being a lifelong Duke fan, I am quite familiar with Coach K.

Living in North Carolina and being a lifelong Duke fan... huh? Would that make you born in New Jersey maybe?

No one who is FROM, grew up, bred, in North Carolina is a Duke fan. Some are N.C. State fans, others like East Carolina or Appalachian State, however most are Tar Heel fans (as they should be), but it's rare for anyone who is FROM North Carolina to be a Duke fan.

There is a rare breed, an odd species, who hate the Tar Heels so much they have adopted Duke as their favorite team... (they're known as ABC'ers.... Anybody But Carolina). A reclusive bunch of misfits and vagabonds... many were abused or dropped repeatedly on their heads at a very young age.

I'm responding to a VERY old post here, but I think this is information that everyone needs to know.

I do know one woman who is a Duke fan who is from North Carolina.... but she has serious issues. I also know a guy from South Carolina who is a Duke fan, but that's so weird I didn't want to investigate, scared it might destroy my own psyche.

[bltleo]

Another golden oldie! Makes one nostalgic doesn't it. Time to put on that old Doors CD.

oh, that´s grandpamusic old Doors?:)

[russ]

Hey,hey,hey!Grandpa?

The classics never get old,dear...

[bltleo]

Hey,hey,hey!Grandpa?

The classics never get old,dear...

hops..I´m in trouble...another "oldies":)...

my father also liked The Doors and I also always teased him:)....


regarding coach..maybe we can compare Arena with Klinsi (he is currently in Germany, he got big prize from Angela Merkel, Federal Cross of Merit - Bundesverdienstkreuz, visited his family in Stuttgart, met his friends Löw, Bierhoff, Köpke and had an "unexpected" appoitment with Zwanziger, Kaiser, Klinsi is flying tomorrow home, he is alone in Germany without his wife)....

the biggest difference between Klinsi and Arena is that Klinsi is excellent motivator, is not afriad of changes and is pretty innovativ...

[swedust]

I wasn't on BigSoccer in 2002 so I didn't realize this thread was that old until I finished reading the first post.

Despite the results in Germany, the analysis still stands up fairly well. What leapt off the screen to me was the section about building the team around the stars, not a team of stars. With the benefit of hindsight, it seems this principle (attribute, characteristic, whatever) was more the undoing of that WC06 squad than any of the other traits Nutmeg listed.

Again acknowledging the benefit of hindsight, I must say I've always been more of a system guy -- hopefully Bradley or whoever guides us to/through WC2010 can put together a system that does not rely so heavily on attributes only 1 or 2 players possess (Reyna's ability to hold, McBride's target skills, etc.) and more on a system in which players can be plugged in should a regular XI kind of guy for whatever reason go cold, get injured, etc.

This season's RBNY team really will be make-or-brake on how Bruce's legacy is viewed, at least until the team performs in South Africa.

[NoRightFoot]

Living in North Carolina and being a lifelong Duke fan... huh? Would that make you born in New Jersey maybe?

No one who is FROM, grew up, bred, in North Carolina is a Duke fan. Some are N.C. State fans, others like East Carolina or Appalachian State, however most are Tar Heel fans (as they should be), but it's rare for anyone who is FROM North Carolina to be a Duke fan.

There is a rare breed, an odd species, who hate the Tar Heels so much they have adopted Duke as their favorite team... (they're known as ABC'ers.... Anybody But Carolina). A reclusive bunch of misfits and vagabonds... many were abused or dropped repeatedly on their heads at a very young age.

I'm responding to a VERY old post here, but I think this is information that everyone needs to know.

I do know one woman who is a Duke fan who is from North Carolina.... but she has serious issues. I also know a guy from South Carolina who is a Duke fan, but that's so weird I didn't want to investigate, scared it might destroy my own psyche.

There was only one Duke, and that was Duke Ellington. The same as there was only one Duane Allman, only one Luke (Steve Lukather), only one Miles, only one Larry Carlton, only one James Douglas and only one NoRightfoot. Hope you'll keep all that in mind. :)

[Adam Zebrowski]

and some acid to go with the doors....who needs viagra then!!

[Elninho]

I wasn't on BigSoccer in 2002 so I didn't realize this thread was that old until I finished reading the first post.

Despite the results in Germany, the analysis still stands up fairly well. What leapt off the screen to me was the section about building the team around the stars, not a team of stars. With the benefit of hindsight, it seems this principle (attribute, characteristic, whatever) was more the undoing of that WC06 squad than any of the other traits Nutmeg listed.

Again acknowledging the benefit of hindsight, I must say I've always been more of a system guy -- hopefully Bradley or whoever guides us to/through WC2010 can put together a system that does not rely so heavily on attributes only 1 or 2 players possess (Reyna's ability to hold, McBride's target skills, etc.) and more on a system in which players can be plugged in should a regular XI kind of guy for whatever reason go cold, get injured, etc.

This season's RBNY team really will be make-or-brake on how Bruce's legacy is viewed, at least until the team performs in South Africa.

In hindsight, the biggest mistake that Bruce made in 2006 was relying on players who couldn't be expected to be at full health. Specifically, John O'Brien. I got the distinct impression that even the box midfield being used in 2004 was mostly being worked on in anticipation of O'Brien's return... it seems now like the 4-5-1 we used in the World Cup was a hasty reaction to a combination of factors including Eddie Johnson's injury and O'Brien clearly not being ready.

Then again, I think most coaches would have assumed our talent fit a 4-2-3-1 really well. We just happen to have so many "tweeners" who aren't quite forwards and aren't quite midfielders...

[Karl K]

Then again, I think most coaches would have assumed our talent fit a 4-2-3-1 really well. We just happen to have so many "tweeners" who aren't quite forwards and aren't quite midfielders...

And, unfortunately, that's not going to change in this cycle.

We will likely not have anyone quite like Brian McBride in this cycle. We will have to win via good defense, goalkeeping, ball winning, set pieces, and counters. We will not have the players to unlock a team through dynamic and extended attacking play.

[MarioKempes]

No one who is FROM, grew up, bred, in North Carolina is a Duke fan. Some are N.C. State fans, others like East Carolina or Appalachian State, however most are Tar Heel fans (as they should be), but it's rare for anyone who is FROM North Carolina to be a Duke fan.


Many Tarhole fans were created in Walmart.

[bradley31]

Many Tarhole fans were created in Walmart.

And most Dukie fans were created in East Rutherford.

[bryanocho]

Living in North Carolina and being a lifelong Duke fan... huh? Would that make you born in New Jersey maybe?

No one who is FROM, grew up, bred, in North Carolina is a Duke fan. Some are N.C. State fans, others like East Carolina or Appalachian State, however most are Tar Heel fans (as they should be), but it's rare for anyone who is FROM North Carolina to be a Duke fan.

There is a rare breed, an odd species, who hate the Tar Heels so much they have adopted Duke as their favorite team... (they're known as ABC'ers.... Anybody But Carolina). A reclusive bunch of misfits and vagabonds... many were abused or dropped repeatedly on their heads at a very young age.

I'm responding to a VERY old post here, but I think this is information that everyone needs to know.

I do know one woman who is a Duke fan who is from North Carolina.... but she has serious issues. I also know a guy from South Carolina who is a Duke fan, but that's so weird I didn't want to investigate, scared it might destroy my own psyche.

So bogus. I'm at Duke right now and one of my good friends was born and raised in NC.... and is a lifelong Duke fan. And his whole family. He even went to ECU as an undergrad and was a Duke fan the whole time.

Is he a traitor to his state? God forbid he should be a fan of a university that has a bunch of awful Northerners at it.