Read quotes from Bob Bradley and Landon Donovan from today's pre-match press conference.
(And listen to the podcast here...)
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Time to Change Your Bookmarks for the New WNT Blog
15 years ago
Saturday, June 20, 2009
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8 comments:
Bob's response to not using a third sub versus Brazil is completely ridiculous! He needs to go now!
Bob completely sides steps the issue of answering to the fans and media about the poor play of the first two games. He basically is saying it's none of the fan's business. But he forgets it's the fans he should answer too. What is he going to do to turn things around?
"There is a belief and an understanding whenever we’re together in terms of how we talk to each other, and how we work. There is a pride within the team, from the leaders a sense that we’ve had chances in these games..."
Well cleary that belief and pride has not worked in the last 4 of 5 games. (And we still gave up a goal in the opening minutes of the Honduras game) So answer the question Bob, don't duck it. What are you doing to address the issues? Put the players publicly on notice. Let them know these performances are not acceptable not only to you, but to the loyal fans.
What is kind of scary is that this is the first generation of US players over the last 25 years or so (since I've been following the national team) that is worse than the preceding one. This national team doesn't have anyone at the level of Pope, Reyna, O'Brien, Ramos, McBride...
Something is happening to the young promising US players. Donovan, Beasley, Adu, Altidore, even Gavin and Szetela were all supposed to grow up to be world beaters -- what has happened? I remember when Adu was mentioned in the same breath as Messi a few years ago at the youth WC -- and look at them now!
He thinks we have been playing "very well"?
Oh brother. I don't know who lives in more of a bubble, George W Bush or Bob Bradley!
The monotone, pathetic, cliched, emotionally flat responses from bradley leave much to be desired. Pathetic. The mantra of having to focus on the next game and learn from one's mistakes is getting old. It's in bob's interest to focus ahead because the last 4-5 games have been awful. Wake up!
I bleed Red, white, and blue and will always be behind these boys no matter what happens.
USA!! USA!! USA!!! USA!!!
davidm,
I disagree with every single point that you made.
Let's start with a player-by-player comparison with those "better" players that you first mentioned. According to you, we have no one at the "level" of the certain players. The first problem with your point is that you fail to identify at what "level" those prior players were playing. Are you referring to the level they played at when they were in their prime: 26-27 years old? Are you referring to the level at which they were playing when they were the respective ages of the group you are comparing them to?
Last I checked, Pope never played European ball, and had very few chances to do so. I saw Pope play for both club and country and he couldn't beat Gooch out right now for a starting spot, at any age.
Claudio Reyna was incredible at managing the tempo of a game, and I agree that we don't have someone that can do that--but "controlling the tempo of a game" is not the only important quality in a midfielder. Oh, and are you referring to the "level" that Reyna played against Ghana in '06? Yea, I remember that giveaway, too. In 2002, he played amazing, but he played on the wing. The point there is that the team was evolving, and we are still evolving. When Reyna was playing, everyone complained that the U.S. team had no flair. Now, when Dempsey tries a move, even in the last 20 minutes of a game that is lost, people berate him for being "cute." C'mon. Also, with Bradley's current progression, I would put him up against Reyna or Ramos in a minute (and I idolized both those guys). And Bradley is 21 years old.
I agree with you on O'Brien, at least regarding his touch and vision. But he was one in a million--and he burned out on injuries, right? Is that what you would prefer right now? I doubt that Italy fans are whining right now that they don't have a perfect replacement for Maldini, because he was an amazing talent that doesn't come along every generation. I think we have players in the system that could match O'Brien's output at the very least.
And who would you like me to compare McBride to? Altidore, the 19 year old? Ching, who was the same "generation" as McBride? Do you see the problems with these attempted comparisons?
One player cannot beat the world, and now you are pulling from different "generations" of players. Donovan and Beasley's 1999 U-17 class? Quarterfinals in the '02 World Cup. Adu and Altidore? They are still 2 YEARS away from being able to drink legally. Gaven and Szetela are just two of many players, from any national team, that did not meet expectations...not sure what the point of their inclusion is, when Bradley and Edu are in the mix.
And finally, no one ever mentioned Adu and Messi "in the same breath," even at the '07 Youth World Cup. Messi joined Barcelona's SENIOR side in 2004. At that time, Adu still had 3 years to toil away on the bench for DC and RSL.
BRADLEY MUST GO! WE NEED STUART HOLDEN AND HIS COACH DOMINIC KINNEAR! I PROMISE YOU KINNEAR DEMANDS EFFORT AND IS NOT AFRAID TO CLEAN HOUSE AND GET THE RIGHT PLAYERS TO COMPETE IN THE WORLD CUP! BRADLEY HAS DECIDED TO RIDE HIS PREMADONNA EUROPEAN BASED PLAYERS AND THIS WILL PROVE TO BE HIS DOWNFALL. THE TEAM IS LISTLESS AND SHOW NO INTESTINAL FORTITUDE!
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