FIFA World Cup 2010: Time For U.S. Soccer To Find Its Next Coach

Nearly four years ago, the U.S. National Soccer team left Germany humbled after being outclassed by the Czech Republic, Italy and Ghana.  It was yet another disastrous trip for the Americans who never can find their footing when a World Cup is in Europe.  Once heralded coach Bruce Arena was removed soon after and Bob Bradley, a fairly successful coach from the MLS was given the reigns.

As the U.S. team departs South Africa, it leaves being outclassed again in Ghana, this time in the round of 16.  On the surface, the Americans reached their goal, which was to make it out of the group stage.  Even more, they won their group for the first time in 80 years and tied England, who despite their disapointing performance, is still seen as a world power.

However, in my eyes, the surface ends right there.  The fact is, this American team failed to capitalize on what could almost literally be described as an opportunity that comes once in a century to go to advance to a World Cup semi-final without having to play a soccer superpower.  With all due respect to the teams the Americans had in their bracket, Ghana, South Korea and Uruguay do not come close to the Brazil, Spain and Germany's of the world.

Just a few days after the teams demise, there has already been a discussion about the future of Bradley.   On the one hand, Bradley did what he was supposed to do.  But as this World Cup moved on, it became clearer that Coach Bradley had done about all that he could do with his team.  Furthermore, he failed to correct the team's total ineptness in the early moments of every game, and made several bad lineup decisions in the last game against Ghana.

Before you judge me as someone that is totally against Bob Bradley, let me tell you, I think he's the best coach in American soccer history.  He was able to bring about a physical and mental toughness I've never seen this team have before.   Previous teams in the past 20 years would have folded like a wet blanket if they faced just a fraction of the adversity the 2010 team faced.   If you consider the fact they came back to tie England and Slovenia, score in the 91st minute against Algeria and reach extra time with Ghana, you have to give an amazing amount of credit to Bradley instilling a never say die attitude in this team.

Even more so, the U.S. team scored nine, yes NINE goals after the 80th minute during qualifying for this tournament.

Instilling toughness in this team will serve it well for years to come.  However, as an actual tactician, Bradley looked lost.   His reluctance to start other forwards over Robbie Findley proved to be a disaster as Findley, while fast, looked clueless when he took his few shots.

Even worse was the re-insertion of midfielder Ricardo Clark in the game against Ghana.  Clark, who showed nothing in the first two games of this tournament, turned over the ball that led to Ghana's first goal less than ten minutes into the game.  How did he follow this up?  By getting a yellow card just minutes later.  Bradley then had to use two of his three substitutions to take both men off the field before the second half ever kicked off. 

And for whatever reason, Bradley could not get his squad to come out strong at the start of a game.  This was an issue that hurt this team for much of his tenure and was only magnified in the bright lights of the World Cup.  The Americans gave up goals to three of its four foes in the first fifteen minutes and Algeria hit a cross bar in that time span as well.  It was an issue that absolutely crippled this team.

For these reasons, it is time to thank Bob Bradley for his service.  Heck, put him in the U.S. soccer Hall Of Fame!  But for this team to make progress, they need a new voice.  The question is, what voice do they need?

The Americans currently have in my opinion, one of the ten best midfields in the world and it should continue to be a strength four years from now.   Jozy Altidore should also be a monster as a 24-year-old striker.  The defense will have to be revamped, as much of the current squad is 30 or more.

Knowing this, it's time to bring in a coach who can teach this team to have a killer instinct for the net.  The American midfield was able to create a host of chances that were left unfinished that other teams would not have squandered. 

I believe it's time to stop hiring MLS American coaches and bring in someone from a nation that understands what "the beautiful game" means.   Whether that is someone from European nations like Holland, Germany or Spain or one in South America, this is what the Americans will need to succeed for years to come.

Thank you again Bob Bradley, but your time as coach needs to come to an end.