Trying Not to Get Too Expectant..... | JMG84's Blog

Where do I begin. When, oh when, will we (the USA) ever make necessary changes and adjustments as a team that will put us in a better position to make waves in big games/tournaments. Maybe it is just me, but what Bob Bradley (BB) is doing right now with the team looks alot like what Bruce Arena did when he was in charge. Just exchange a few names.

First, why do we keep bringing in the same core of strikers that are so inconsistent when it counts? Especially when there are rising stars out there that could use the training and experience now against teams we WILL beat, regardless of who is out there? Kenny Cooper, the kid that trained with ManU as a youth, is on FIRE! Call-up from BB? Negative. I am sure there is a reason Sir Alex Ferguson brought him in so young, because he saw he had potential. Jozy Altidore is playing and training daily with one of the best teams in the best leagues in the world. Any recent call-ups? Nope. Why do you think he signed one of the best deals for an American to date to play in Spain? Hmm.

Second. Ok, Michael Bradley isn't too shabby. But to be a starter in every game? I beg to differ. I can see him being a 60th minute sub for now. It is understandable that BB wants to show his kid some love, but he may be overdoing it just a tad.

What is it going to take for the USSF and Sunil Gulati to see we are progressing none whatsoever. Just using the same tactics in various different ways and acheiving the same results. I know we can win the CONCACAF region every 4 years, so what. I am growing tired of that. I expect more out of us now. Time to take that ever precious next step. We have quality players out there playing in quality leagues but instead we call up familiar faces. Why? Hesitant of a change? I will tell you, winning our region every 4 years and then going to the World Cup and losing embarassingly in the group stages or the first playoff round isn't going to get you a contract extension, just ask Bruce Arena or Steve Sampson.

Bob Bradley is an excellent MLS coach, but I think we need a change at the national level. Don't go after one internationally experienced successor and stop when they decline. Instead press on and go to the next, and the next. Eventually I can see hiring a MLS coach, but that's when all other options have been exhausted.

You can see that the motivation just isn't there in some of the players. Tim Howard even called his team out on that before the game against Guatemala. Why aren't they motivated and hyped up, they are getting the opportunity and privelage to represent their country. There are so many others that would love this chance. If I was the coach I would be lighting the preverbial fire under their a****. And if they didn't respond to that then they would be off the team and replaced by someone else.

So to wrap it up, this is a lineup I would love to see sometime before 2010 in South Africa:

F: Dempsey, Altidore

M: Beasley, Donovan, Edu, Adu

D: Pearce, Onyewu, Bocanegra, Cherundolo

GK: Howard

Subs:

GK-Guzan

D-Demerit, Spector, Parkhurst

M-Bradley, R. Rodgers, Klestjan, Feilhaber

F- Ching, Cooper