It's simple: He would have looked much better had he not been missing 3 key defenders, which includes the Captain of his team who plays in the center. If you thought our defense—and the way an organized and effective defense can help the midfield and attack—was a complete non-issue in this tournament, then I suppose there is nothing left to argue about. I think he and Sunil should be canned. But, I think we would have looked a good bit better in this tournament if we weren't missing most of our defense.
Do you mean the captain of his team that he plays out of position in the center? Bocanegra plays left back for his club, and is quite good at it. We've had problems finding players at left back for as long as I care to remember. The fact that Bob refuses to put Bocanegra anywhere but central defense when we need serious help at left back is another reason he should not be coaching the team. I do agree with your last sentence. But if we get rid of Sunil, we need to replace him with someone who actually understands what the US needs to do in order to succeed. His replacement also has to be committed to the long term.
OK. Cherundolo, Bocanegra, and Hejduk count for 2 defensive positions between them. Edu has barely played for the Nats since moving to Scotland. Flaws in logic really don't support an argument well.
Here's a great quote apropos of the US situation: ''I've only ever treated everyone equally,'' Pearce said. ''People get in and out of the team on merit and that has happened this time." This is in regards to leaving Theo Walcott on the bench one game after a lackluster performance. Robo Bob could never even think of sitting his team. Bob thinks he's coaching an AYSO select team - my son, plus the kids I like. Go Get Um!!! PS Bob looked downright nervous from the outset. He had the look of someone who has finally realized how deep in over his head he really is.
You do realize of course that you say we missed having three regulars: Dolo, Heydude and Boca, two of which PLAY THE SAME POSITION, and then point to poor performances by two players, DMB and Bornstein, who don't even play the same positions. Your argument that having these players would have some how made BB look better is specious and without merit. Spector is an upgrade over both dolo and heydude. Boca is not very good, and for the life of me don't know why he's the captain. He's slow, gets beat 1v1 all the time and gets caught out of position often. IF BB had a brain he'd have put Jimmy Conrad in that spot.
I am not one who is jumping up and down yelling 'fire Bradley' - mainly because, he won't be fired. But if you are going to use this as an excuse, this doesn't help. First only 3 of them are 'regular' starters. Hedjuk and Edu are not starters. Next, four of them are age 30 or over. If 2006 hasn't taught us anything, it is you can't go to a summer tournament and lean on older players - they don't hold up or more likely to come in with knocks. You had better have younger players trained and ready to step in. That is on Bradley to do.
When has he not looked like that? Old Stoneface has always projected the appearance of a guy desparately in need of a laxative and has been drinking too much prune juice to accomplish the task. Has anyone EVER seen this guy smile? I'm not saying we need David Letterman running the team, but visually conveying a sense of animation and purpose might be useful in motivating a bunch of guys in their 20s. Not to mention appropriate tactics, lineups, substitutions, etc.
My full-throated defense of Bradley: "Well, at least he's learned not to play Heath Pearce any more."
OP, the problem isn't the players missing. It's how he's using the players he's got. Wow, you packed a shitload of wrong into one paragraph. Pretty amazing, actually.
What does players missing have to do with the coach being completely outclassed and piss-poor tactically?