Early last week, the New York Times Goal Blog contacted USSF President Sunil Gulati by e-mail to address the status of U.S. Men’s National Team Coach Bob Bradley. Bradley has been under hot water after a disappointing performance in this years Gold Cup tournament, capped off by an absolute dismantling at the hands of Mexico in the Final, 4-2. Since that time, as evidenced on this very page, people have been clamoring for the head of the coach who is now six months into his second World Cup cycle as the Men’s boss.
In a rather curt response, Gulati replied to the Time’s inquiry, stating, “We’ll have something to say later this week.” That was Tuesday, June 26th. By Friday, Gulati did have something to say; he wrote a lengthy open letter to U.S. soccer fans exposing his disgust with the behavior of the Mexican fans attending the Gold Cup Final.
Bradley’s name wasn’t mentioned once.
The only inkling of Bradley’s continued relationship with the Federation came in the USSF announcement of September’s friendly matches against Belgium and Costa Rica, where the current Men’s coach was quoted as saying that these games would be “another great opportunity to continue the building process as we move towards the start of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying.”
How does one read this situation? American soccer’s leadership and brain trust has been radio silent from the moment the final whistle blew at the Rose Bowl. Not even turbulent international waves created by Tim Howard’s post game Gold Cup presentation rant could drag the Federation out for a statement.
In fact, the only evidence of a move forward simply stems from an electronic exchange between a respected reporter in Jack Bell, and the man who pulls all the strings for U.S. Soccer. The statement, as ambiguous as it may be, ignited a nation wide guessing game; does Sunil mean Bradley is out, or will he stand by his coach once more? One simply doesn’t let out this type of information to a mainstream and respected news organization without having the thoughts or intentions to make an announcement, do they?
Perhaps in responding to Jack Bell, Gulati neglected to note the extended holiday weekend, thus changing his plans for an announcement. Maybe he doesn’t want to overshadow the Women’s World Cup with news on the Men’s side. No matter the circumstances, you can’t expect to quietly ignore the issue in order for it to go away.
U.S. Soccer is not the foremost sporting organization in this country, but it shouldn’t act like it’s minor league. If there is a change coming, strike while the fire is hot and let people know that the program is taking a different direction. If they are once again backing Bradley for this Cup cycle, why not say so to end the uncertainty that has surrounded this side?
Right now, the American fan base, much like the current MNT, is in a state of limbo. Don’t make it worse by making promises you do not intend to keep.
It is all a game for the USSF. With soccer not being under the spotlight in the US media, Sunil can say and do as he pleases Knowing he won’t be pressured for any real decisions. I mean name another country that gave a 4 year deal to a coach with one of the easiest draws in the world cup and gets a full 4 year extension.
Good article. Hopefully if enough ppl keep asking questions we will get some answers.
well england rehired their coach but we shouldn’t have rehired bradley
think sunil has two numbers you can contact him with if you really want to piss me off
The most upsetting part of this circus is that for some unknown reason Bob wants to continue being the USMNT coach. Come on BB you know that you have gave it all you got and that there is nothing new that you can bring to the table to help the team move forward. BB is the most selfish person in this whole situation. He prefers to take the team down the drain before letting it go. Man up Bob and resign before you mark yourself as the man who fail to qualify the USMNT to Brasil 2014. I knew that we were not winning the Gold Cup with Bob at the head and I now have this strong feeling that we are not qualifying to Brasil 2014 if Bob refuses to resign or Gulati refuses to fire him.
Oh look, another public relations disaster for Gulati. Who would have guessed it after his last 2 Klinsman debacles or the Charlie Davies’ saga before the 2010 world cup where Gulati hung him out to dry.
I can’t imagine why they’d have a hard time filling an empty head coaching position.
I’m all for replacing BB, BUT, there is NO sense in firing him unless USSF is ready to be realistic and get a BETTER coach, which means they MUST give up more control. A world class coach needs control if you want to hold him accountable for results. However, if the USSF replaces him with Arena, Sampson, Kreis, or any other MLS mind, then it will be a step backwards as BB has the same ideas but at least has chemistry with the team established already. In the end I think Sunil is the bigger problem. He needs to decide to give up control. If he does, it’s a good job and there will be people willing to come fill BB’s shoes.
BB is only part of the problem. He MUST go. However, Sunil Gulati is just as big an issue. He MUST go!!!!! We need a new manager that we can give full control. We also need someone over USSF that actually knows what they are doing and cares about having a winning program.
I’m interested in a minor aspect of this article. What did Mexican fans do that was so disrespectful? All I can find is that they booed. So?
For one, They booed the USA national anthem, which is the country that is providing them with a descent lifestyle which is something that Mexico can’t do for its people. They have chosen the USA as their home, so some respect would be nice.
I agree…..but then there is passion.
It’s no different when Turkey plays in Germany, except…the Geran team always wins.
Would like to see some changes around the team
@jeff, BB has no type of chemistry established with the current team! If the team had any established chemistry with what BB is attempting to implement the USMNT will be at least playing as a descent unit. Dempsey has been the only one to come to express any type of public support for this clown. Obviously the team is tired of playing poorly with no style under BB. Just look at the player faces everytime they are receiving any type of instructions from BB at the games and you can easily conclude that they are not happy. The players are just respectful to BB, but believe me the next step in this disaster is that the team will split in half. BB favorites (Bornstein, JR, Dempsey) and the players that wnat a change (Donovan, Edu, Bedoya). BB has to go before we sit here in this page complaining about not making it to Brasil 2014. Belive me qualifications are not going to be easy for us anymore. Look how we struggle in this Gold Cup. At this point anybody is better than BB!
All I can say is thank you for posting this article. As a longtime supporter of the USMNT that has spent hundreds of dollars on tickets over the years, I frankly feel completely insulted by the way Sunil is treating the fanbase. Either man up and proclaim that Bob is our manager or get rid of him and bring someone else on board.
At this point, I demand the ouster of both Sunil Gulati and Bob Bradley. Neither one know much about soccer. The first thinks that the game is a a business enterprise where making money is no. 1 and the second, thinks he’s coaching his son on a travel team, where the objective is to to play him 100% of the time. Soccer is passion, extreme emotion and cannot be viewed as these two guys view it.
It’s obvious what’s going on–Gulati is trying to find a new and better coach, but until he secures that person’s service or exhausts his search his mouth will remain shut, at which point he’ll either announce our new coach or he will give Bradley a public vote of confidence. I’m in favor of dispatching of them both. I’ve read a lot of articles recently saying “Firing Bradley won’t fix the problem.” True, and neither will firing Sunil. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t at least try to correct the problems they DO create by finding someone better. Losses in our two most important games of the last year–the WC game vs. Ghana and the GC final against Mexico–were largely the result of poor lineup choices by Bradley. We expect our coach to make the right choice, and when he repeatedly doesn’t, we should find someone who can. And Sunil, this guy’s a loon. He doesn’t seem interested in advancing the program, he’s always seemed more interested to me in using the USMNT as a promotional tool for the MLS. They should both go.
Yea, Bob Bradley must go. Decent guy, but we should be better. All the young guys coming up need better and stronger leadership. Goodbye Bob.
Heck yes, keep at it Mr. Martinez! Gulati is way out of his comfort zone right now, don’t be afraid to hold him accountable. We can’t replace him right now, but the players need a higher profile coach for sure, and we need to force Gulati to get one.
The USSF has to have a president that will give our MNT coach full control of the federation’s teams. We need someone to come in and build from the ground up. Germany did it with Klinsman. We have to have our entire program playing the exact same style. Of course, we have to have a style to begin with. I don’t see any playing stule at all with our team. With the complete collapse against Mexico, and our loss to Panama, not to mention our lackluster play in other games, we may no longer be the second best team in CONCACAF.
Absolutely right. Bradley has no idea of how to implement a clear style, much less create one from the ground up. It’s so disappointing as a fan to see.
Get Bob out of here, and get Klinsmann in.
[...] What’s the status of Bob Bradley? Sunil Gulati isn’t saying. [...]
What we are seeing is “followship,” not leadership. I am just one man but it’s clear SOMEBODY has to be a candidate to replace Sunil Gulati or whoever Don Garber would appoint to replace him.
I have started a “citizen-campaign” to replace Sunil Gulati and if I am somehow elected we will take WINNING the men’s World Cup our top priority. To do this we must change the thinking of our sport as the “poor kids’ game” like it is in every serious soccer nation, not the “rich kids’ game” it is today. I hope I’m not the only one running but clearly this “trained flea mentality” must stop.
We must push this teenage soccer nation out of the nest and join the rest of the adult soccer world.
Please visit http://www.dennisjustice.com, “like” the Facebook group, follow my Tweets @DennisJustice, and send your prayers.
It CAN be done, but it will NEVER be done under Gulati.
Thanks.
Dennis Justice
I just don’t understand the arguement that the USMNT needs an American Coach who understands the American system that Bruce Arena keeps spouting.
Look at the US Women and what a profound difference it made going outside the US box for a coach. Look at England. They had no problem going with Capello from Italy. Most of the best US players are playing outside US borders anyway and not for the MLS. What difference does it make.
Or is the problem with the US system, the pool that is looked at or the style that we play.
I personally find it revolting that I have watched the US men for 25 years now and nothing has changed in our “style” or at least the one that we still saw under BB. Hard-nosed defense. Goals off set pieces or crosses. Great goal keepers. Where is the beautiful game….or at least something closer. I know we are coaching it at younger levels. I know our best players play it professionally. Why is it not evident internationally?
Clint Dempsey was amazing last season and clearly one of the most creative players in the EPL. He goes to the Gold Cup and gets stiffled??? That’s a lack of style.
Klinsmann with much more control over everything.
That’s what is needed. Set a new direction like he did with Germany.
There is no American coach of the calibur needed at this time. It is time to take it to the next level and think outside the box.
If Klinsmadd doesn’t want it, go shopping somewhere else….but outside our borders. Hell, maybe somebody more familiar with the Central American game so we can still qualify for the WC 2014. We will have our work cut out for us there as Mexico is the only guaranteed team to make it….in my opinion.