With this long, long layoff between games, what is Arena doing? Does he just hole-up in his Virginia batcave watching MLS games? Does he personally attend matches featuring Nats players? Is he watching any games featuring European prospects in lower leagues? Is he just putting together the ultimate scouting reports on our potential 1st round opponents? Is he working at all with the youth teams? Or is he debating the mertis of Bush's plan for faith-based charities in our own Politics forum? I'm not bagging on the guy, or saying he should be doing any of these things. I'm just curious about how he keeps himself busy during these lulls between games.
probably the batcave thing tracking all the players. Current, and potential. And hopefully getting on the phone to Convey to tell him to get their ass in gear and that not playing in Europe as a 20 year old is not the end of the world.
He is probably just watching game film and keeping tabs on players who are a) on hte margins on the National Team b) up and coming and c) recovering from injuries.
I think this long layoff for the national team, although tedious for us is very good for Bruce's ability to take massive amounts of time scouting development of MLS players, and hopefully a few European based ones as well. At least I hope so. Kevin
Haunting games and practices, scrutinizing rosters and reels of film to determine which UVA or DCU player could pair with Goose in 2006.
1.) He's analyzing Sampson's 3-6-1 formation... 2.) Trying to figure out how to get more UVA players in the nats squad 3.) Contemplating Chris Albright for a call up 4.) Penciling in Cobi Jones & Earnie Stewart for our 2006 squad... Just kidding...Arena's got my support. James
he probably spends his nights on the phone with Kenny consoling him, explaining the finer points of nepotism, and explaining to his son the basics of tackling without getting a card.....
He's making frantic middle-of-the-night phone calls to Kathmandu to track down game film of rising Yanks Abroad stars.
Good humor! I honestly believe that Kenny has got where he is because of his talent. Unfortunately, it's looking like his talent will be well suited for the a-league.
I think we have a winner. Great responses to the thread all, but, like, seriously, does anybody know? Can one of the many soccer journalists and quasi-journalists on this forum get a 10 minute interview with Da Bruce for us? I'm jonesing for my nats fix, and rewatching the World Cup goals on my computer isn't cutting it anymore. I may have to roadtrip to Nepal to check out our new saviors.
I saw him at the University of Maryland tournament in early September that featured the Terps, Virginia, UCLA and American. He was there both days of the tournament. I've also heard from a friend who has spotted him on the golf course a couple of times. He usually takes a trip to Europe once a year, in part to scout players and in part to meet the coaches of his players as a courtesy so they know who they're dealing with when he calls up his players.