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Interim coach stealing the show
Bradley making strong case for full-time job
By Tim Elliott
Granted, Bradley has only coached the team for two games, but right now, the team lacks continuity. A team without continuity can get real confused, real fast.
U.S. soccer president Sunil Gulati is in a pickle.
Interim head coach Bob Bradley wasn“t supposed to be leading the U.S. national team to two straight victories. Bradley was only there to head a coach-less squad until Gulati could land a high-profile head coach to take over the team for good.
When Gulati failed to nab former German national team head coach Juergen Klinsmann to head the U.S. squad, panic set in. In the meantime, Bradley quietly led the team to an impressive 3-1 win over Denmark in January. Bradley“s real test came against bitter rival Mexico, a game that Gulati had secretly hoped the U.S. would lose, making his decision to not to hire Bradley a bit easier.
But Bradley proved his worth, defeating the more experienced Mexicans 2-0 and leaving Gulati pondering his next move.
Taking over the U.S. team was no easy task. After a poor performance in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the U.S. soccer team was in need of change.
Head coach Bruce Arena resigned after coaching the team for eight years, longer than any coach in history. During that span, Arena became the most successful coach in U.S. history, including leading the U.S. squad to the quarterfinals in the 2002 World Cup.
That“s a tough act to follow. But so far, Bradley“s audition has gone flawlessly.
As the U.S. continues to teeter on the brink of greatness, you can“t blame Gulati for intently looking for the right man for the job.
Bradley has been that man. Playing without stars DaMarcus Beasley and Oguchi Onyewu in the game against Mexico, Bradley refused to complain. Instead, he instilled a sense of confidence in his young and inexperienced squad, gaining their respect. That“s the true sign of a great head coach.
So what is Gulati waiting for? Granted, Bradley has only coached the team for two games, but right now, the team lacks continuity. A team without continuity can get real confused, real fast.
The team has adapted to Bradley“s style of coaching (which is strikingly similar to Arena“s) and if Gulati is to eventually bring in someone new, the learning process begins all over again.
The only thing hurting Bradley is his resume. No, he“s not a foreign, high-powered coach with World Cup or European experience on his record.
He“s a product of Major League Soccer, turning mediocre players into great ones. Bradley has a great soccer mind and he is ready to take the reigns permanently in the U.S.
As the pressure continues to build on Gulati, Bradley“s next big challenge comes when the U.S. hosts Ecuador in an international friendly on March 25 in Tampa, Fla.
Maybe then Gulati will be able to decide the direction and future of soccer in the United States.
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