Slovenia and Algeria are so weak, England only managed to score once against the both of them. We scored 5, if reffing was anything close to competent. Was it easier than other possible draws? Yes. Did we win the group? Yes, and we played in convincing fashion. The table doesn't reflect that but for a ref and a sideline official.
I said that in the heat of the moment so why bring it up now? Are you trolling? And I am a US fan but still not a BB fan. Are you saying if we crash out in the round of 16, this will be a successful WC?
Truth be told, right up until the friendlies I was penciling Spector into the first XI. The final three friendlies changed my mind. Spector seems to still be in a funk over his poor Prem season and Cherundolo was looking like an assured vet who still has his wheels and got his fitness back.
Marko, you make an excellent point about Bradley's qualities: "He's an intelligent, hard-working guy who instills a gutsy mentality in our guys..." It's often said that a team takes on the personality of the coach. Think about young children who go on to become successful in the work world. They often have terrific role models in parents who work hard. It's not enough that the parents tell the kids to be successful. The kids connect to the living example of parents doing all the things needed to be effective in their own right, and that example gets internalized. Granted, the USMNT players are not Bradley's children (well, one is!), but his drive and dedication to the nuts and bolts of the game, being prepared every day, etc, has surely had a positive effect.
The Yanks' ability to perform when everything is on the line, and their backs are against the wall, is truly impressive. You don't see it very often in the sport of soccer. Certainly some of the credit has to go to Bradley. Makes me proud to be an American.
Especially when you see other squads like France absolutely melt down. It's become clear that there's a subset of US fans (getting smaller and smaller) that will NEVER give Bob Bradley any props or credit. If Bob makes it to the quarters, then they'll say......"if we had a foreign coach then just imagine what we could have done!" Maybe next time we'll get a foreign coach like Domenech, Sven, Rehhagel, or one of these other yahoos. And they can teach us how to bunker and be completely disfunctional. Our coach understands how to get the best out of his players. He just flat out understands how to motivate them. He may not be the world's best X's and O's guy. But he's the best USMNT coach in the world right now Just let go people!! Sit back and enjoy the ride, instead of criticizing everything!!
Of course it's a ******* successful World Cup. Who the hell do you think we are? We started Bornstein today (and he played very well), do you think we should expect to make the quarterfinals every time? You're a buffoon.
But if Adu had been on the field for the group stages, we would've scored one hundred and eleventy-one goals and pwned the world so bad they would've given us the Cup just so we'd stop hurting them and making sweet love to their women during our goal celebrations.
I've always like BB, but generally am of the opinion that a coach should not stick around for more than a cycle. But Bob is clearly growing as a manager. He was not the finished product when he was hired, like a Capello or a Hiddink. His tactical acumen and understanding of the abilities of his players is always improving. His in-game subs and tactics have made a quantum leap this World Cup. I'm starting to think he may be the right guy for the next cycle as well. The players seem to respect and, more importantly, respond to him.
My only complaints against him so far are starting a too offensive of a lineup against Slovenia and not starting Buddle against Algeria. MHO
Or even more run-of-the-mill situations like Slovenia failing to hold on to essentially six points at half against the US, crashing out of the tournament against England. That type of thing doesn't happen to the USMNT right now.
The other side of the bracket so far is Argentina-Mexico and England-Germany. Finishing first was huge. I am so proud of these boys and the coach that got them here.
Sense bigsoccer loves ridiculous "where will he go next" speculation... If Bradley declines a contract extension, where does he go next? Would he get a work permit to manage in the UK? Would Holland or Germany be a better fit? Belguim has easier citizenship requirements so he'd get an EU passport and be able to coach anywhere....
This point needs to be repeated, for all those who still have doubts about Bob Bradley. Both today and against Slovenia, we had numerous chances to score (not even including the goals called back) and we just didn't finish. For people to hold Bradley accountable for this, for "squeaking by" out of this "easy" group, when we could have easily ran away with it if we had finished a couple of our gilt edged chances, is in my opinion, an exercise in alternate reality.
My guess is he's found his dream-job. I don't think Michael's potential leadership necessarily puts Bradley in a bad position - certainly not in 4 years, when presumably Donovan remains around and remains captain. It'd be unusual, but it could be managed. In particular, unless you're assuming we win the Cup ... I'd guess he'll see this as unfinished business, and want to stick with the team and his son for another run. And I'm not at all one to count any chickens before they die in the nest ... but we do have a genuine shot at the Cup. By no means favorites. But far stranger things have happened. 4 games.
I started the first ever Fire Bob Bradley thread (after the US semifinal game in the Gold Cup against Canada). As a fan, I have generally been flabbergasted at times by some of the decisions Bob makes (Ching cut, Findley's inclusion, various lineup decisions/substitution decisions, not giving some players enough caps while capping other players too much). While I am likely not the hater that some are as over the last year (since the Confed Cup) I believe I have said that he earned the right to take this team to the World Cup, I was still not his biggest fan. I still think this is the most talented US team ever and that some of the improved results comes from that fact, but as a coach he deserves credit for his contributions. Regardless, he has likely just become the most successful US coach in history. Props to him for being a huge part of getting this team top of the Group and into the next round. Thanks for doing such a great job!
I think Bob's great. I've never understood the Haters. There is only so much a U.S. team can do with the talent available. That being said, I think he should resign after this cycle in order to allow Junior to grow and become an even bigger force on this team without having Dad around. It sounds like the Bradley's have handled the situation as professionally as possible, but with Junior's possibly becoming Captian material, I think it would be asking a little too much of the team to ignore this relationship.
OT: I've been on these boards since 2002 so I can't believe I've never needed this before ... but I can't seem to find the "ignore poster" option. Isn't there an option to put people on an ignore list? If so, where do I find it?
I said this too in that thread I hope Bob moves on to a new challenge after this cycle. I've always felt that he was doing a decent job, but my feeling is that often a team really benefits from fresh energy and a new look at the big picture. I wouldn't be unhappy for Bradley to hang around, but I think everyone could potentially benefit if he moves on.
You know, I found myself wondering today watching the post game commentary - with Jurgen there.....you think he might regret turning down the US coaching slot? Not that I really care, I believe Bob's doing a fine job bringing the team together and bringing the most out of them..... It was just a thought.... Dave
I think we are better than Slovenia and Algeria by long shot. Ok, go right on kidding yourself, you know if we lose to Ghana this WC will be very disappointing, we were expected to advance, we are not the 1994 losers we used to be, stop acting like we still have college players on our team. You guys are acting like we've actually accomplished something already, getting out of this group was considered by many on this board as a bare minimum, even by Bradley supporters. Tying today would have been tragic and an abject failure, (and unjust as the US was clearly superior) losing to Ghana would be, I don't know actually, you guys are acting like, because we made it out of the "easy" group Bradley is now a genius. I don't really know what the legacy will be if we lose to Ghana. Today's game was the only game where I thought we were clearly the better team. Against Slovenia, we played better in the last 10 minutes but most of the game we were ineffective. We looked terrible against England. I'm waiting until after the WC to call BB the second coming of Vince Lombardi, making it to the round of 16 and losing would be like Mexico last WC, where they had a cherry group phase. At least they had a tough round of 16 match, we have one we can actually win and we will be favored, or should be. ( I haven't seen the line)
So, let's say that the miracle run occurs and we find ourselves facing Brasil for the Champeens do Mundo. Win or lose, let's say that magnificent day sees Bradley brought over to the EPL as "The New Mourinho". Face it, wouldn't it be a sight for the ages to see RoboBob and Arsene Wenger staring into each other's blues across the field of combat?