Comments on: Survey Says … Off With His Head! http://onthepitch.org/2006/06/22/survey-says-off-with-his-head/ Thoughts on Youth Soccer from a Soccer Dad, Fan, Coach and Administrator Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:47:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: chucky g http://onthepitch.org/2006/06/22/survey-says-off-with-his-head/comment-page-1/#comment-1900 chucky g Sat, 24 Jun 2006 04:34:30 +0000 http://onthepitch.org/2006/06/22/survey-says-off-with-his-head/#comment-1900 Bruce must go and be replaced by a coach with unquestioned world class credentials like Gus Hiddink. http://www.latinosportsjournal.blogspot.com/ ### Bruce must go and be replaced by a coach with unquestioned world class credentials like Gus Hiddink.

http://www.latinosportsjournal.blogspot.com/

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]]> By: Soccer Dad http://onthepitch.org/2006/06/22/survey-says-off-with-his-head/comment-page-1/#comment-1898 Soccer Dad Sat, 24 Jun 2006 02:27:36 +0000 http://onthepitch.org/2006/06/22/survey-says-off-with-his-head/#comment-1898 But what can we do about CONCACAF? We can't necessarily wait until the competition gets better. How many European clubs want to schedule friendlies with us? If we get invited to an overseas tournament, we damn well should go instead of turning it down. We went 12-4-2 in qualifying, but maybe the fact that we couldn't beat Jamaica in 3 matches... Yes I know it wasn't the full strength squad, etc, etc. Maybe the US and Mexico need to team up and schedule some 3 way friendlies with some quality teams over the next two years. I'm rambling, I know. I know one of Bruce's big concerns was the quality of the programs at the youth level and the level of skill (or lack thereof) that kids possess once they start reaching the select and developmental stages. It will be interesting if a new manager is brought in, what they feel needs to happen farther down the food chain. But what can we do about CONCACAF? We can’t necessarily wait until the competition gets better. How many European clubs want to schedule friendlies with us? If we get invited to an overseas tournament, we damn well should go instead of turning it down. We went 12-4-2 in qualifying, but maybe the fact that we couldn’t beat Jamaica in 3 matches… Yes I know it wasn’t the full strength squad, etc, etc.

Maybe the US and Mexico need to team up and schedule some 3 way friendlies with some quality teams over the next two years.

I’m rambling, I know. I know one of Bruce’s big concerns was the quality of the programs at the youth level and the level of skill (or lack thereof) that kids possess once they start reaching the select and developmental stages. It will be interesting if a new manager is brought in, what they feel needs to happen farther down the food chain.

]]> By: Rich http://onthepitch.org/2006/06/22/survey-says-off-with-his-head/comment-page-1/#comment-1887 Rich Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:27:27 +0000 http://onthepitch.org/2006/06/22/survey-says-off-with-his-head/#comment-1887 Let me echo others' appreciation for this blog and this post. My sense is that Arena was the right man for the job at the time he was hired. But times have changed and someone else would be the right person now. Part of the problem for the U.S. is CONCACAF -- the national team just doesn't have enough games that matter against quality opposition. It doesn't have enough games that count, period -- it's two more years 'til World Cup qualifying. (Nobody grows up dreaming about winning the Gold Cup.) And while CONCACAF qualifying provides some mental challenges, like playing in the road in Central America, the opposition doesn't offer the technical challenge equal to a World Cup. Witness the exits of Costa Rica and T&T. Incidentally, I think the same theory applies to Mexico, which explains their decades of disappointing performances on the world stage. Let me echo others’ appreciation for this blog and this post.
My sense is that Arena was the right man for the job at the time he was hired. But times have changed and someone else would be the right person now. Part of the problem for the U.S. is CONCACAF — the national team just doesn’t have enough games that matter against quality opposition. It doesn’t have enough games that count, period — it’s two more years ’til World Cup qualifying. (Nobody grows up dreaming about winning the Gold Cup.) And while CONCACAF qualifying provides some mental challenges, like playing in the road in Central America, the opposition doesn’t offer the technical challenge equal to a World Cup. Witness the exits of Costa Rica and T&T. Incidentally, I think the same theory applies to Mexico, which explains their decades of disappointing performances on the world stage.

]]> By: football kNuts http://onthepitch.org/2006/06/22/survey-says-off-with-his-head/comment-page-1/#comment-1845 football kNuts Fri, 23 Jun 2006 04:20:19 +0000 http://onthepitch.org/2006/06/22/survey-says-off-with-his-head/#comment-1845 Helluva comment roundup, and a lot of work to boot. You just went in the list of daily sites to visit. As for Bruce, I think his time has likely passed. I don't say this out of menace or anything - I have a great deal of respect for what he's done, but I think he's done everything he can do (at least at this time) and that we probably need new blood at the head of the program. Helluva comment roundup, and a lot of work to boot. You just went in the list of daily sites to visit.

As for Bruce, I think his time has likely passed. I don’t say this out of menace or anything – I have a great deal of respect for what he’s done, but I think he’s done everything he can do (at least at this time) and that we probably need new blood at the head of the program.

]]> By: Soccer Dad http://onthepitch.org/2006/06/22/survey-says-off-with-his-head/comment-page-1/#comment-1844 Soccer Dad Fri, 23 Jun 2006 04:18:16 +0000 http://onthepitch.org/2006/06/22/survey-says-off-with-his-head/#comment-1844 One thing that a few touched on and I should have included in the post is Arena HAS done a lot for US Soccer. He's worked hard to improve the training curriculum for youth coaches and felt that things needed help from the bottom up. While there is much debate about HOW to change things at the youth level, the fact that it was recognized as an area needed improvement. Do people bitch about ODP and the like - sure. The next few years are likely to see continued debate about how skilled players are handled once the rise above the Rec/Challenge stage. But for all the good that has been done, there comes a time when you need fresh thinking. I think that time is now. One thing that a few touched on and I should have included in the post is Arena HAS done a lot for US Soccer. He’s worked hard to improve the training curriculum for youth coaches and felt that things needed help from the bottom up. While there is much debate about HOW to change things at the youth level, the fact that it was recognized as an area needed improvement. Do people bitch about ODP and the like – sure. The next few years are likely to see continued debate about how skilled players are handled once the rise above the Rec/Challenge stage.

But for all the good that has been done, there comes a time when you need fresh thinking. I think that time is now.

]]> By: Josh http://onthepitch.org/2006/06/22/survey-says-off-with-his-head/comment-page-1/#comment-1842 Josh Fri, 23 Jun 2006 03:29:59 +0000 http://onthepitch.org/2006/06/22/survey-says-off-with-his-head/#comment-1842 <i>It all started with ESPN commentators and ex USMNT members Wynalda and Balboa calling for Arena’s firing flat out. </i> To be fair, I wrote the first half of that article at halftime of the Ghana game. :-) Great post, BTW. It's amazing to see how quickly the calls for his head came. I suspect that, like me, many have been thinking it for some time now. It all started with ESPN commentators and ex USMNT members Wynalda and Balboa calling for Arena’s firing flat out.

To be fair, I wrote the first half of that article at halftime of the Ghana game. :-)

Great post, BTW. It’s amazing to see how quickly the calls for his head came. I suspect that, like me, many have been thinking it for some time now.

]]> By: It came from Black Background http://onthepitch.org/2006/06/22/survey-says-off-with-his-head/comment-page-1/#comment-1841 It came from Black Background Fri, 23 Jun 2006 03:22:06 +0000 http://onthepitch.org/2006/06/22/survey-says-off-with-his-head/#comment-1841 <strong>The Only "USA Sucked Out Loud in '06 World Cup; Discuss" Post That You'll Probably Need...</strong> Coach Mike over at On The Pitch offers the definitive round-up on blogosphere reaction to the US' dismal all-around performance in the World Cup, along with his projection that Bruce Arena needs to go and US qualification preparation schedules need...... The Only “USA Sucked Out Loud in ‘06 World Cup; Discuss” Post That You’ll Probably Need…

Coach Mike over at On The Pitch offers the definitive round-up on blogosphere reaction to the US’ dismal all-around performance in the World Cup, along with his projection that Bruce Arena needs to go and US qualification preparation schedules need……

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