1. The "can him" sentiment was primarily due to it being a new cycle, not some "Bob sucks!!!!!!!1111!one" mentality. 2. The part of that sentiment that did NOT come from it being a new cycle, I believe, wondered why the ******** Robbie ********ing Findley started every game he was eligible for, and why Rico started against Ghana. Bob did alot of terrific things. But those were two clear mistakes, and it's fair to ask if we could have brought someone in who could do 95% as well as Bob at every other part of the job, but be astute enough not to play those guys.
I certainly don't think the job is high risk. 2 of the last 3 coaches have been hired for 2 world cup cycles. There is a fair amount of failure that is allowed. That being said, I don't think the job is high reward either. You have a country that is apathetic towards soccer, yet the soccer fans in the country expect a lot/too much. With the former, you are unlikely to impress them with anything short of winning the WC. With the latter, you are unlikely to make them happy unless you get the USMNT to the semis of the WC. Finally, you are given lower than average pay (from what i gather from those on BS) and have relatively no control over the soccer program in the US (based on the fact that the USSF wouldn't give Klinsi control).
This post perfectly sums up the delusional fanbase that inhabits most of BS. The point is that if the federation is looking to maximize their talent (which is what it is and won't change anytime soon), and make a deep run in the WC, they need to get a better coach. And unlike this article, I would argue that it is indeed a job that could attract a high profile coach, but alas, as of right now there aren't many options. There's a difference between the availability of high profile managers, and their willingness to take the job. The latter is perfectly feasible.
I won't resort to name calling like you. Even though that is typically my thing, and I really really want to. Explain why not one single coach outside of Jurgen has ever been linked in any way shape or form to the US coaching job, when US Soccer has openly and actively looked for a new coach twice in the last 5 years? Answer that one question and only that question. If your sincere answer is that no coach other than Jurgen has been available, then you really need to take a long look in the mirror at yourself.
How about the payscale for one? But those are two separate points. Just because it is a low-risk job doesn't mean that you're automatically entitled to a high profile manager. It's an oversimplistic and narrow-minded argument. There are many factors at play in attracting a head coach, but that is another debate.
I think some people are confusing the difference between fan desires and professional expectations. No coach would tarnish his reputation by not making it out of the quarter finals in 2014. Even a strong showing in the round of 16 against a top side is reasonable. It's the glaring errors along the way that can hurt ones reputation. Such is the case with Bob, too many "jaw meet floor" errors. The fans want to shed these errors while having a competitive side. We don't expect semi-final runs, yet!
I don't understand how this is evidence that coaches aren't interested in the job. They aren't going to want to be seen chasing after a job that they don't get. I'm sure they would be fairly discreet in their inquiries. Perhaps the fed just didn't cast their net very wide, and said thanks but no thanks. Or maybe you're right, because you have more inside knowledge than I do, but I don't think the lack of rumors in and of itself is significant.
Stuff gets leaked in these types of situations. It always does. Only one name has ever been linked to the US job. That speaks volumes.
For me its not about overrating players. Its expecting improvement from the team overall. Better players and better results than the previous years. This has not happened since I started watching in 2002. I am starting to think I need to change my expectations.
I could say the same about you. Your over-inflated expectations for the USA team are quite comical. I happen to think it's a good job. You think it's a shit job. Whatever.
Bears re-posting. Just because someone makes a point regarding the difficulty in getting the "big name" managers that so many people around here demand, doesn't mean they're arguing that no change should be made, or that landing an elite manager would be impossible. It just makes it difficult. That's just the reality of the situation. Of course, reality has a well-known pro-Bradley bias....
Its not the national team coach's job to create better players. That would be the entire system's job. I've never actually stated what my expectations of the national team are. I've only stated what the expectations of the general US soccer fan are, as typically expressed on these very forums. Reading comprehension clearly isn't a strong suit for you.
I don't recall this, but if they are anything like yours, then they are delusional as well. The whole "woe is me, no one wants to coach us" mantra on these boards is so tired. Quality of life in this country is great, the WC is easy to qualify for, and it doesn't come with a lot of pressure.
I never said it was. That post was in response to overrating players. It had nothing to do with the coach.
What are my expectations? Because I haven't actually expressed any personal expectations that I hold for the US national team in this thread. So either you are a mind reader, or you failed to progress beyond elementary school reading comprehension. So please, enlighten me as to what my expectations are.
Um...no? My expectations are win the 2009 Gold Cup, qualify for the world cup as at least 2nd in the hex, and get at least 4 points in the group stage. Making a deep run in the World Cup? Do you really think most fans expect us to make the quater finals (and thus be a "top 8" soccer nation)? That's completely untrue and unreasonable.
You are correct, my bad. I thought you were implying that the US should be making deep runs into the WC. You simply said that's what USMNT fans expect. But I also disagree with that. I think by and large most fans are reasonable, but to say that the over-inflated expectations of a few BS posters are affecting the USSF's ability to find a coach, well.....yah no.
One point: the USSF made a lot more money from home friendlies (a lot more) in the past year than was budgeted. Yes, my life is boring enough that I've read through their budget. And yes, I understand you pay higher fees to teams like Brazil, Argentina and Spain. I did some back of the envelope calculations and concluded that the money made from friendlies in the past year (above what was budgeted) would allow us to basically finance the hiring of a high profile coach for a four year period. For the entire four year period.
I swear that I don't mean this as snarky, and perhaps you will be able to back this up..... But are you an accountant, or work in finance in some capacity? You might be completely correct, but I'd feel more comfortable swallowing this if you could back it up with some sort of credentials.
It's fair to say the US hasn't advanced further in the world cup since 2002, though in 2010 the US did win their group and advance through their own results, not those of their group-mates. The record in qualifying has also been better. So I don't know if you can say the results haven't improved. More importantly, though, it's almost impossible for any team to improve consistently on a a year-to-year basis. Teams will go through ups and downs as generations of players cycle through. France was the best team in the world, now they're a mess. Spain were chokers, now they're the standard-bearers for the beautiful game. Mexico went through a low period, now it looks like they'll be carried by their youngsters, just like we were the last decade ever since Landon and Beasley showed up at Bradenton. This doesn't mean that the head coach doesn't bear the responsibility to do as much as possible to reach the long term goals of the federation. But it does mean that growing pains are often part of the process (take a look at Klinsi's record with Germany prior to the 2006 WC, for example). For the record, I'd love to have an upgrade at manager but I'm not a change-for-change's sake person.
Its not a few people. The vast majority of people think that we should be manhandling teams like Ghana. The vast majority of people think that we should be advancing out of the group stages each and every time. The vast majority of people think that a round of 16 exit is a step backwards, unless of course we are losing to a team like Brazil or Spain in the round of 16. The vast majority of people think that we should be going on the road in qualifying and trouncing everyone except for Mexico. The vast majority of people think that we are capable of playing a possession game against everyone except the very best teams in the world. The expectations are anything by reasonable. And I'm not even citing those as direct reasons why we might have a hard time finding a coach. I'm citing those as reason's why this is a high risk/low reward coaching position. Lets not forget that Mexico went out and got a high profile coach and almost didn't qualify for the final hex. Had either of two Canadian shots found net rather than the crossbar or post in the game up in Canada, Mexico doesn't even make the final 6. High risk Low reward. Such is the nature of being a "dominant" team in a crappy region. There is no other way to spin it.
You spend too much time on BS if you think all USA soccer fans are like this. And anyway, why a manager with credentials would care about what a bunch of loser USA fans with unrealistic expectations think is beyond me.