tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583526986290428363.post345586895758145033..comments2011-12-27T19:57:27.348-06:00Comments on Bearkat Sports Forum: Bradley, US Soccer wasted 2011Yak 21http://www.blogger.com/profile/09834001844555451196noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583526986290428363.post-53766594866709215862011-06-30T11:16:45.066-05:002011-06-30T11:16:45.066-05:00I think one of the big problems, is it seems we on...I think one of the big problems, is it seems we only plan competition to competition. There doesn't seem to be any long-team plans in place. It is a mentality of what will help up win right now, and not what will help us win in 2014 and 2018. <br /><br />They should be thinking Round of 8 at a minimum in 2014 and competing for the World Cup in 2018. If that is not the goal by those in leadership positions at US Soccer, then changes need to be made and someone needs to be brought in who can make that happen.<br /><br />There are 300 million people in this country. We can't find 11 who can compete with the best in the world? Maybe we need to change the way we look for and develop talent.Yak 21https://www.blogger.com/profile/09834001844555451196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583526986290428363.post-5564912145496895212011-06-29T09:35:36.307-05:002011-06-29T09:35:36.307-05:00I agree with all of this. I think it all has to st...I agree with all of this. I think it all has to start with player development. I think Bedoya and Jones are good examples of where things have gone wrong. Bedoya is one of the brighter young USA players right now but was originally left off the roster for the Gold Cup, was left entirely off the World Cup roster and was never a part of any USA youth competition (U-17, U-23, etc). The USA has paid almost no attention to this kid yet he still manages to look like one of our better prospects for the future.<br /><br />Jermaine Jones made his first cap for the USA at 29 years old only after deciding he didn't have a shot with the German national team. His spot should have been reserved for a younger player with more of a chance to play in the future. Maurice Edu could have filled his spot without issue, instead the 25 year old is left to rot on the bench not gaining the valuable experience he needs.<br /><br />Obviously Freddy Adu getting another shot was a positive sign, but when will we see Mikkel Diskerud? Gale Agbossoumonde? And the kid playing in Russia Eugene Starikov? What happened to Jose Francisco Torres?<br /><br />We have all said it for years, Bob Bradley has to go. Why not do it now? We have a solid enough foundation with Donovan, Dempsey, Howard, and even young Bradley to really shake things up and start over. If we wait until after another WC cycle, will we have any foundation to build on?K-Rodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03586838022044125757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583526986290428363.post-74230785120717798412011-06-29T08:14:15.458-05:002011-06-29T08:14:15.458-05:00Good stuff. Unfortunately Timmy Chandler wasnt ab...Good stuff. Unfortunately Timmy Chandler wasnt able to play due to his club (he adds some much needed speed and creativity). Adu may be a young answer to the same problems. In my opinion, Altidore has to work harder to find the ball and Bedoya is just a bunch of wasted effort. Feilhaber's injury took away one of our better midfielders.<br /><br />There is supposed to be an announcement this week on Bradley's future. If Gulati goes against his nature and shakes things up, you could see a complete tear down of the youth system (which is the foundational problem in this case). <br /><br />We just fond out that we can't get by on superior size or athleticism anymore...from a technical standpoint, we are years behind everyone (even mexico).Holly and Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16159922292577127090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583526986290428363.post-209100530006302902011-06-29T00:05:11.549-05:002011-06-29T00:05:11.549-05:00My biggest problem with the National Team is that ...My biggest problem with the National Team is that they seem to lack a game plan, or, if they have a game plan then its not one they can consistently execute. We look like we are playing the same old, tired, American style of kick it, run and hope we are faster than the other guy. News flash, we're not. If we try to play a ball control game then we screw it up because we have just enough guys playing in overseas leagues to make us dangerous, but not quite enough to make us a serious threat to a good, defensive midfield. I definitely agree that the lack of future preparation is quite disconcerting. The next WC will be a pivotal time for US Soccer, in my opinion. If we dont qualify or get sent packing early it will hurt big time. Not in the eyes of the world, but in our own country.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14351852248216911966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8583526986290428363.post-40158423444899028062011-06-28T23:08:47.937-05:002011-06-28T23:08:47.937-05:00excellent assessment. Need to see a better mix of ...excellent assessment. Need to see a better mix of the A-list veterans showing the ropes to the next generation of stars. Hopeful that Adu is starting to develop into the top-level player that he was unfairly (for PR & marketing purposes) tabbed as when he was much too young. Altidore has shown flashes, but needs to be more consistent. The next 24 months will be key in recognizing, developing and seasoning the guys in their late teens and early 20s who will be the centerpiece of the '14 , '18 and even '22 WC teams.brianplacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03791048462560570150noreply@blogger.com