[jeff_adams]

Since it looks likely that Coach Arena will stay on, I thought we could discuss his future decisions for the National Team.

All great coaches must coach in three distinct areas of preperation simultanously.

Present

Near future

Distant future

If a coach doesn't keep all these areas in mind, then the team will struggle at some point. Being able to juggle all three is the hallmark of a championship quality coach.

Present:

After such a "uplifting" result, you have to agree that the current squad has a nice blend of veterans and youth. Size is an issue, and the outside wingbacks need to be upgraded. Arena is blessed with good speed in some key positions. What I suspect he'll focus on now is sharpening our counter attacking skills and work on breaking down bunker defenses.

Near future:

Younger defenders are a high priority. It has become clear that the USA is developing exciting offensive talent, but the defenders are a concern at the international level. Arena needs to have a system in place to prepare those defenders he has identified as future candidates for National duty. They need to be added to the mix of veterans at some point and trusted to develop. A playmaker is also needed. Donovan might be that player, but his style doesn't fit with the "traditional" tactics that Arena employs.

Distant future:

Arena needs to develop a consistant "standard" by which all players joining the national team will understand and be prepared for. Youth coaches need to use the same "methods" of preperation in order to insure easy "adjustment" to the next level. Ajax youth programs do this with great success. By having standardized fitness tests, it's easy to bring players in and see if they are "up to the standard". Using simular vocabulary and structure with allow easier transitition for players to make the jump to the senior level.

Arena needs to develop a younger true "target forward", but at the same time look into using "slashers" for certain teams. Wedding yourself to absolute tactics can be disasterous....

[Go2NY]

Phase 1

Beat a team like Poland - Poland in 02 was composed of nothing more than a decent middle table Bundeslige 1 team - we should have beaten them at least 1-0

Phase 2

Korea gave us a free pass by beating Portugal, who had beaten Holland and tied Ireland in the qualifyers. We didn't create our own advance.

We need to beat a team like Portugal again, and we won't have the element of surprise, and they wont have been ground down by a hellishly long season.

Phase 3

We'll be up against a team like Italy, Germany or Argentina to advance into quarters, or semis.

We need serious development - per jeff adams plan - and much , much more...

Right now we have six players who can develop into these requirments. of course -

We have a deserved 750k coach however, who can actually pull it off....

Go USA

[The Wanderer]

I think we would have beaten Poland had we not got that first goal by Donovan called back so to me the Poland game doesn't really mean much to me. We were basically the only team to not lose to Korea other than Germany, the WC finalists.

Jeff, I'm with you on this one. All three areas have to be balanced but I think now that the USSF realizes that friendlies are just experimentation games. The only thing that really matters is that we qualify and then do well at the WC.

If you look at who Arena called up for the Australia friendly in '99, you can see that he basically evaluated players at that point and decided which ones had a very high likelihood of helping the team in 2001 etc. I'd watch this friendly in the late fall with a careful eye--as many as 6-8 players are likely to make it to 2006.

[Elninho]

I would also dismiss the Poland match. First - on Poland's second goal, three of our players were upfield arguing with the ref. Admittedly unprofessional behavior, but our goal shouldn't have been called off! Second Poland was already close to folding, and had the goal not been called back, I suspect that, instead of us down 2-0 and reeling, we would have just poured cold water on Poland's early momentum and proceeded to rout them.

(As it was, the loss was not a bad thing - it put us in a good matchup vs. Mexico, who we had beaten in four of five matches, as opposed to a difficult match against Italy.)

[Minnman]

In a lot of ways, this mimics Bruce's oft-stated approach during the past 3.5 year cycle:

- Get through the first round of Quals.
- Finish in the top 3 in the second round of Quals.
- Have the team peaking for thre World Cup.

Call them short, medium and long-term goals.

Only this time Bruce starts with a solid foundation and a great track record on which to build. Back in '98 he needed to re-build everything from the ground up.

[Go2NY]

Not so fast on minimizing the Poland loss

I believe, I have no evidence, Bruce was 'seriously annoyed'

Having goals removed by referees is not uncommon - It has happened before - you fight back.

Having a quick goal scored against you, knowing you have at least one defended who isn't up to international speed - i spart of the plan - you fight back

Being intimidated by a team basically no more than a decent mid table Bundesliga team - is in my view not acceptable.

Elninho and Wanderer you are very generous and have many sound insights - but you can't dismiss our dismall performance v. Poland.

To coach my team, you'll have to 'tighten-up'

[nobody]

I particularly agree with the need to develop young defensive players, and fully expect Bruce to use any upcomming friendlies to start getting guys into the mix back there. Up front and in midfield, we are in better shape for the long haul, although guys like Twellman who are performing will absolutely get shots to make an impact.

However, I do have to disagree with one point, specifically:

"Arena needs to develop a consistant "standard" by which all players joining the national team will understand and be prepared for. Youth coaches need to use the same "methods" of preperation in order to insure easy "adjustment" to the next level. Ajax youth programs do this with great success. By having standardized fitness tests, it's easy to bring players in and see if they are "up to the standard". Using simular vocabulary and structure with allow easier transitition for players to make the jump to the senior level."

I just don't see how this is possible, or even desirable. We are a big country. One of our potential strengths is in our diversity as a nation. We can draw upon a wide variety of backgrounds to select players who have vastly differing skills. If we try to set up some sort of assembly-line, we limit this potential. Also, we make it increasingly difficult for players outside the mandated youth sides that use the prescribed methodology to get into the program regardless of talent.

For better or worse, players will be primarily developed by their pro clubs, all of which will play different styles. It is important to allow access to players who have developed under a variety of coaches since this will be the reality of selecting the team. This will only become a bigger issue in the future as US players gain standing and play larger roles in more teams around the world.

In short, if through nothing but necessity, we need to continue to drift away from our old national team as club and player development organization to the new reality of our national team which increasingly relies on players and their professional clubs to ensure each player's personal development.

[cjaldrich]

Originally posted by jeff_adams
Distant future:

Arena needs to develop a consistant "standard" by which all players joining the national team will understand and be prepared for. Youth coaches need to use the same "methods" of preperation in order to insure easy "adjustment" to the next level. Ajax youth programs do this with great success. By having standardized fitness tests, it's easy to bring players in and see if they are "up to the standard". Using simular vocabulary and structure with allow easier transitition for players to make the jump to the senior level.

This will be the toughest to pull off given (1) the lack of professional developmental in the US, a la Ajax; and (2) the bredth and diversity of youth soccer.

It sounds as if MLS is working to make in-roads; see Garber's State of League. A solid youth developmental system benefits everyone (MLS, Nats, kids), but it'll be difficult to pull off. The US is a big country, with a variety of youth programs. It'll be hard to find the gems in the rough. European nations, with their smaller size have a practical advantage here.

The key will be a developmental system rooted at the club level. A national program cannot cover everything without breaking the bank. A club-based system, motivated by the profit to be made in finding and developing youth talent, is the best hope. Single Entity will make this interesting for a while; clubs must not fear losing home-grown talent to the league player pool.

A solid domestic, club-based developmental program added to the increased opportunities among established European clubs is the only way for Phase III to happen.

[DAKCrew]

Originally posted by Elninho
I would also dismiss the Poland match. First - on Poland's second goal, three of our players were upfield arguing with the ref. Admittedly unprofessional behavior, but our goal shouldn't have been called off! Second Poland was already close to folding, and had the goal not been called back, I suspect that, instead of us down 2-0 and reeling, we would have just poured cold water on Poland's early momentum and proceeded to rout them.

(As it was, the loss was not a bad thing - it put us in a good matchup vs. Mexico, who we had beaten in four of five matches, as opposed to a difficult match against Italy.)

I dont think we should dismiss the Poland game. Even the best teams in the world know they are gonna win some and lose some. The Nats should study the Poland game learn how not to self destruct when you are down early

[Red Card]

You forgot to mention Arena's best preparation method: Making deals with the devil to be lucky at the right time. From the almost own goal by Llamosa vs Barbados in the last match of the semi-final qualifiers that hit the crossbar and fell into Meola's arms, to subs coming through against Mexico in Columbus, to Mathis and JOB's hand balls, to the grouping in Korea, to the missed goal that 9 man Portugal bounced off the post vs Korea in the closing minutes, Arena has been lucky enough to balance off the unlucky incidents.