Bielsa

Sounds like it's Arena. I'm ok with that short term. We will see beyond that how qualifying goes. The player pool is better and deeper than the last go around for Arena.

I'm sure its gonna be Arena, part II

The short-term fix is somewhat common internationally, right?

If the goal is to plug a band-aid that can qualify us while looking for the next guy, I'm all for Arena.

If Arena is the next guy to get a 4-6 year run, I'm a little more anxious.

Wow. Didn't think Gulati had it in him.

Arena will get us through qualifying (maybe even to the 2018 WC). Honestly, we would have qualified under JK still, but the players had quit on him from looking at the play on the field.

Negotiations are ongoing but you can pretty much bank on Arena. It's an understandable pick given the circumstances but I fear we're going to see a return to 2006 for the next 2 years and you might not ever see Chandler, Brooks, or Johnson in a national team jersey again.

Arena strikes me as just a reactionary, "hire a guy who is most unlike the guy you fired." Isn't he on the record as thinking you should have to pass kind of arbitrary "American-ness" test to play on the team? I feel like we're going from a guy who has one set of preconceptions to another rather than someone who will do all of the homework.

Yeah, he pretty much said all the German-American players weren't really American and shouldn't be on the USMNT.

I'm surprised Gulati pulled this trigger. He must be under immense pressure. Let's hope it's a long term decision that drives the next selection and not a band-aid.

gig them said:

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The short-term fix is somewhat common internationally, right?

If the goal is to plug a band-aid that can qualify us while looking for the next guy, I'm all for Arena.

If Arena is the next guy to get a 4-6 year run, I'm a little more anxious.

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It'll be this, then hopefully Pareja for the next cycle

Dre_00 said:

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Yeah, he pretty much said all the German-American players weren't really American and shouldn't be on the USMNT.

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That scares me. A lot. If Gulati had the balls to tell him to get the **** over it, I'd be more ok, but I'm just shocked as hell he pulled the trigger.

Quote:

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I fear we're going to see a return to 2006 for the next 2 years and you might not ever see Chandler, Brooks, or Johnson in a national team jersey again.

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I'd be willing to bet if he stops calling in Johnson and maybe Brooks, his ass could find the door just as quickly. Both are pretty much established members of the 1st team and Johnson is probably in the Top 3 players for the USA right now.

Yeah, I don't see Arena axing zee Germans either.

Although I wouldn't be torn up if I never saw Chandler whiff another tackle for our defense again.

Why even go after a band aid in Arena if Pareja wants the job? I don't know if does but I'd be surprised if he turned it down. Arena isnt going to fix our poor development problem and I don't want them to wait another 2 years

One would hope that Arena was more taking a shot at guys who he felt were on the team because they were German, euro-based rather than deserving, or possibly even of players who were just trying to get to the World Cup when they were unable to with their other eligible federation without putting in the work year in and year out for the national team I dont know. He did take David Regis to another world cup after taking over Sampson, so maybe its all just him sticking up for MLS really.

OregonAggie said:

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Why even go after a band aid in Arena if Pareja wants the job? I don't know if does but I'd be surprised if he turned it down. Arena isnt going to fix our poor development problem and I don't want them to wait another 2 years

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Development is much bigger than a single man and anyone expecting a coach to come in and America to start miraculously churning out 3 messis a year is nuts and setting the next coach up for failure

That falls under the purview of the technical director anyways

Kampfers said:

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OregonAggie said:

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Why even go after a band aid in Arena if Pareja wants the job? I don't know if does but I'd be surprised if he turned it down. Arena isnt going to fix our poor development problem and I don't want them to wait another 2 years

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Development is much bigger than a single man and anyone expecting a coach to come in and America to start miraculously churning out 3 messis a year is nuts and setting the next coach up for failure

That falls under the purview of the technical director anyways

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I don't think the expectation is for the next coach/technical director to produce 3 Messi's. In fact, US Soccer needs to figure out if they want the coach and technical director to even be the same person.

The reason I'm saying going after Arena for 2 years then Pareja for the next cycle makes no sense is because players don't develop overnight. It takes time. With that being said, why wouldn't you give the long term solution (Pareja) the rest of this cycle and the next to make changes?

I'm guessing we'll see an internal promotion to technical director. Maybe an interim tag?

That he was removed from the TD position surprised me a little bit more than being relieved as manager. As long as someone else bought the ingredients and cooked the meal, letting him handle the logistics of building and running the kitchen didn't seem like a worst case scenario.

Assuming that it was even an option for either JK or USSF.

aggie kid said:

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That he was removed from the TD position surprised me a little bit more than being relieved as manager. As long as someone else bought the ingredients and cooked the meal, letting him handle the logistics of building and running the kitchen didn't seem like a worst case scenario.

Assuming that it was even an option for either JK or USSF.

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I doubt that would've been an option with his ego.

Great hire for the situation.

Arena's point was not "anti guys who play in Europe". It was "just because they're German, it doesn't mean they are great".

And he was right. And the same sentiment has been stated on EVERY texags thread for USMNT.

Arena respects Concacaf. He will trot out the best lineup to win. He won't tinker with personnel or formation unless it's a friendly or outmatched opponent. And the team will play hard for 90 minutes. If not, he will bench you.

Will be nice to have a presser without a coach that tells us Americans know nothing about soccer.

http://deadspin.com/the-usmnt-should-not-be-coached-by-an-american-1789236832

Arena is not the same coach he was in 2006. The guy has dominated.

Also, lots of focus on the 06 WC but little mention of 02...

2006 World Cup wasn't the total disaster that people make it out to be. Team didn't play as well as expected, but that group was nasty.

Czech game was opener. USA looked scared and unprepared. USMNT was run out of the gym.

Italy game. USA dominated. One of the worst officiated matches that I've ever seen. We got screwed in this game, plain and simple.

Ghana game. Pretty good game, even throughout. Ghana got a dubious penalty kick in 93rd minute. Real weak call.

Good to see and I was surprised to see this hit my screen today. I had lost interest in watching the team in the last year.

I wish Landon Donovan's son was old enough to tweet.

wangus12 said:

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Jose Mourinho when he gets fired by Man United

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This

PJD Ag 10 said:

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Arena is not the same coach he was in 2006. The guy has dominated.

Also, lots of focus on the 06 WC but little mention of 02...

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Arena has done very well in the MLS - with an open checkbook and arguably the most league support. We'll see what he can band-aid in the next few games. Hope that the players don't all have to be American born...

There is a strong rumor being quoted by several sources that Bielsa is in fact a strong candidate to replace Klinsmann.

I'm guessing it's all smoke and no fire. Gulati presumably fired Klinsmann because he felt that qualification for Russia was at risk. He isn't going to hire someone who brings a lot of risk and Bielsa brings a lot of risk. But holy hell that would be entertaining to watch. He could literally take us to the WC semis or quit after 2 days on the job...and everything in between.

Reportedly wants a 4 million dollar salary, Donovan as assistant, and the start of the MLS season moved up


He's the definition of a my way or the highway type guy.

I would love it but see it as extremely unlikely

Gulati wanted to give Bielsa the TD job when Bradley was coach

I like it (obviously). It is way risky though. Hes more of a program builder than a rescue caretaker type. Ceiling is great IMO, floor is lower than with random MLS american though

Steven Goff reporting that Arena is official. Let's see how this goes.