In a move that shocked no one, the United States Soccer Federation chose to renew head coach Bob Bradley's contract for four more years.
How do I feel about this? Frustrated, to say the least.
In Bradley's first term he compiled a less than stellar 30-20-8 record, highlighted by the USA making it to it's first ever final in a FIFA competition (2009 FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP), beating #1 ranked Spain and topping the group at the 2010 World Cup for the first time in sixty years.
It's not as if Bradley doesn't deserve to be coach, but he already had his chance. The last US coach to repeat as manager was Bruce Arena, after a quarterfinal journey in 2002, Arena and the Yanks crashed out in the group stage of Germany 2006.
Bradley, it should be noted, also made terrible personnel decisions during the last World Cup. Going back to Ricardo Clark after he showed no reason to be on the pitch in the first place.
My main beef with Bradley is his blind loyalty to certain players. Deciding to start Clark over Feilhaber and Edu was ludicrous. It was a prime example of what could happen in the next four years. Certain guys need to hit the "dusty trail" and move on from international soccer, but will Bradley have the stones to tell them to go?
Bradley must also address a rapidly aging back line. As of now, Jonathan Bornstein and Oguchi Oneywu will be the only holdovers from the last World Cup.
Bradley must also solve two more riddles, first an overcrowded mid-field and second and probably the most important, he must find a world class striker.
The first problem will be easier to deal with. Micheal Bradley, the coaches son, was solid this past world cup as well as Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan. Bradley however, failed to find a suitable partner for his son in his first four years giving me little hope he will this go around.
Finding a striker will be tough, unless Jozy Altidore breaks out of his shell and becomes world class. Let us not forget that Charlie Davies was tearing up the pitch with his pace and finishing prowess, but he was almost killed in an October car crash before the USA's last qualifier. If he can return to be 95% of the player he was, then he could be a huge boost.
It appears that coach Bradley has a long tough road ahead of him if he hopes to duplicate his success from 2010. Four years seems like a long time, but Brazil 2014 will be hear before he knows it. Can Bradley change his formula and create a team that infuses youth and skill with savvy veterans? Or will he be doomed to repeat the same mistakes his predecessor Arena made?
That's it and that's all....


