The Official Bruce Arena thread

F$ck el-lay!!

 

Shame on you @Goodsport!

Never post the evil, cheating, smog-breathing, water-stealing galactofilth having a good time. Even if it includes il Bruce!

I’m disappointed, goodsie.

Go Quakesfans!!

 

I have got to admit it's going to be difficult to learn to cheer FOR a Bruce-coached team...

 

Thanks for the link! Decent interview. Sounds like il Bruce thinks that Romney and maybe Lima will be starting on defense. Romney in for Rodrigues sounds good to me. Not sure about Nick, but maybe. And, Bruce said that we need to sign another guy or two on offense. If we play Benji at left wing (Pelle as sub), then we need another striker or two. Might not be too bad, but we'll have to count on Bruce having the guys better organized and better motivated.

I still think that we're going to suck in '25, just not as badly as in '24.

Go Quakesfans!!

 

Do we have any news regarding Arena's staff?

61 days from team's first game, the Fire announce 3 front office moves as Berhalter builds out front office https://t.co/H69XW3Uu0e#cf97 #VamosFire

— MIR97 Media (@meninred97) December 23, 2024

 

Since we’re stockpiling CBs I wonder if Bruce is gonna go 3 in the back. But then what to do with the armada of outside backs? Who would the wingers be? Espinoza? Takes him further from goal though you could play him at forward. Lima would work. Who else! Marie? Meh. Costa? Meh. I’d try Ricketts on the left. Pelligrino is not suited to that role. I like the idea of played Hernán as a 2nd (withdrawn) forward. But then where does Espinoza go?

So many questions. I think one thing we can count on is that Bruce is gonna play his guys. Look for Harkes, Kaye, Romney, and Lima all to start.

 

I was thinking about that and decided that they're probably going to wait until after the holidays to give the current coaching staff their walking papers. That's what I would do in his place.

 

I think it's much too soon for that speculation. Nobody's even hit the practice pitch, and Bruce has been away from NE for long enough that he's probably not super well-informed regarding their current form.

 

In his interview he called out these acquisitions in terms of how he's gonna fix the team, and I got the sense that certainly these guys will have a leg up. My guess is that at least 3 of the 4 will start on opening day.

 

Could be - but March is still quite a ways off. Not that we're stacked with high-quality defenders...

 

Pretty sure Romney starts on the left, and Lima at RB. Then there's Kaye vs. Gruezo I guess (though hopefully Gruezo is no longer around at season start), and Harkes. I think it's possible that Bruce plays Harkes as a sort of 10 and plays Hernán as a withdrawn forward in a 2-forward system. That leaves a spot for Niko. Seems like we're short CM's though.

 

Yeah, but February is less far off!

I expect us to try to trade Rodrigues. We could get real value for him. Or we might try to play him at d-mid.

I think that Benji and Marie are both going to get a shot at left-mid. Maybe Benji will play striker?

It’s possible that Bruce means to trade some of our guys, or maybe he’s stockpiling flexible guys who can play more than one position until he can figure out what’s going to work best?

Whatever the case, Bruce better figure it out quickly.

Go Quakesfans!!

 

And we are painfully short of Forwards... if Monterrey sells Vazquez to San Diego we better have a plan B... If Arena doesn't a plan B, we are toast...

 

Move Rodrigues to foward. He seems to think he's one, anyway...

 

Bruce is smart, and he’s experienced. He should have plans B, C, D, and E, at a minimum. What if we can’t get Vazquez? Who’s next? And if we can’t get that guy?

But we could get to a point where we need to sign someone and we settle for choice D or E, and miss out on C or B.

We can’t get obsessed with one player, like we did with Hernán last year. At some point, it’s better to pull the trigger than wait for a player we might not get. We got Hernán way to late to help us, so we’d better sign another striker before say … the middle of January?

Go Quakesfans!!

 

I don't think we were "obsessed with" Hernán last year. It seemed that we were gonna sign Vela. When that didn't pan out we went to our plans B, C, and D. Hernán was someone we were interested in and he became available suddenly due to his team bowing out of the playoffs early.

BTW, assuming Vela was gonna be our DP signing, that would have probably not been great. He wound up playing like 6 minutes for LAFC last year, then they cut him. I'm guessing he's done at this point.

 

Theyre talking to Vela now.

Vela was also late coming into an established with a rythem. He was there to offer veteran and championship experience. He was also trying to get back into game fitness. Being off for so long and not consistently playing at a high level makes it hard to maintain game speed and dexterity, no matter how good you are. If LAFC or us got Vela in April it would have been different. The Quakes never were legitimetly interested in Vela. It was just another rumor and innuendo.

 

Also, many of you aren't familiar with Bruces building.

He had to rebuild DC United in 1996 half way through, when he cut a bunch if guys, picked up Jamie Moreno, got Marco Etcheverry got fit and changed the backline from 4 to 3 and Shawn Medved, Kris Kelderman and Steve Rammel becane super subs.

With Red Bull he was rebuilding them.before they axed him too quick.

Then with LA Galaxy he had them in MLS Cup year 2 of his time after gutting the Ruud Guilit roster.

He had the Revs probably winning MLS Cup at some point within 3 years and did find them Gil.

Hes always relied on veterans with an influx youth and international.

I have faith in Bruce.

Lets not be bullish and shit all over the guys he signs. Hes always been able to get more from less. Its about finding pieces that fit a system.

 

I’m willing to give the Bruce the benefit of the doubt. He’s earned it. But he’s gotta be able to *bring it* here too. His championships with LA, DC, and NE (SS) have nothing to do with us. IOW it’s not OK if we finish 13th because well he was a championship coach somewhere else.

 

Bruce wont do anything short of attempt build us to stability.

I warn many to be patient. We wont be MLS top dogs right away, but I think we will show signs of life amd a good future. It will tske him 1-2 seasons to get our roster and cultute correct. Its going to be a fun ride, in my opinion.

Plus Ive been a friend of Curt Onalfo's since childhood. I Dream he works for this club again, and it could maybe happen, strong possibility with Bruce here.

Im very curious how our staff plays out. Sarachan?

 

It'll be table stakes to improve our results from last year. The real test will be the following year. Can we build on it, or will we tumble back down the hill again. Luchi improved us in 2023 and then, whap!, right back down the hill you go, crashing in a crumpled heap.

 

Agree that Bruce will focus on building long term (3-5 yrs?) rather than quickly making the playoffs only to struggle with continuity across the years. He knows how to leverage veterans and bring in a few younger players as you noted.

However, I will caution that he is not a miracle worker. His last stint with the USMNT didn't go well (albeit a challenge, but doable for him) and NE went the wrong way after he left.

I expect this season that the defense will be much improved and roles better defined. We will struggle if we can't find a Jebo replacement and Hernan continues to be flash, but continues to struggle with decision making with the ball.