USA Soccer: Sunil Gulati Acquits His Case with Bradley Fire, Klinsmann Hire

Take a bow, Mr. Sunil Gulati.

After all the criticism and flak coming in your direction, you have acquitted yourself by making three moves. You kept Pia Sundhage as our manager of the women, sacked Bob Bradley and you hired Jürgen Klinsmann to replace him.

Masterstroke moves. And no-brainer moves, I may add.

First, keeping Sundhage was necessary. For the record: Pia is no Greg Ryan. In the FIFA Women's World Cup, Sundhage rode Hope Solo all the way to the finish line. No benchings. No shunning. All trust.

And the USA did put up a strong performance.

Japan had to win that FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany. They were the team of destiny that dared not to be touched (although Hope Powell's England side did break that rule). It had to happen, because they were a team of destiny.

Aside from that, Sundhage is a manager that will be in it for the long haul and with the rich talent pool the States already have, they will be ready to take back the Cup, preventing another disastrous event does not befall the celebrated home of the Nadeshiko.

Secondly, the Bradley firing was past due. Why wasn't this done last year? Of course, after seeing Mexico take back the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2009 combined with Brazil pipping the Stars and Stripes on the '09 Confederations Cup, it could have been done at that time.

For me, this move should have taken place after the States lost to Ghana in South Africa last year. It still befuddles me, Sunil, that you had to wait until this week to end the frustrations of a country that will be going through some rebuilding after another lousy Gold Cup campaign.

You may be thinking, how can this be a rebuilding year? When you have a country like Australia on top of your in the FIFA World Rankings, combine that with a managerial change and yes, this is a rebuilding year. Nothing wrong with that, to be honest with you, so long as the national team can reload while they rebuild.

Which leads me to my final point. Hiring Jürgen Klinsmann was a move that I expected many moons ago. This is a manager that is capable of producing a contender. Readers, you all remember Klinsmann leading Germany to third place five years ago. I have a good feeling he can do the same to the States.

Sunil, this is Jurgen's team now. Let the new coach do what he wants regarding the development of the senior side, the youth teams, the team that will compete for a berth in the Olympics. Let Klinny do what he wants because this is a manager that knows how to develop a winner.

As an aside, I don't expect the USA to get their revenge on Mexico in August, but I do expect a strong, revitalized performance.

Now I will admit, Bob Bradley has done his part and has raised the bar for the USA Men's National Team. We must never forget the marks he has left managing the States, with a second-place finish in the 2009 Confed Cup being his highest achievement. In the end, if you cannot raise the bar any higher, your time as a manager will reach its death knell.

You wonder if the Chicago Fire Soccer Club will relieve Frank Klopas of his already-burdened role and hand the reins to Bradley so as to encourage some sort of coaching continuity. Bradley did win titles with the Fire, as seen in their inaugural season.

Could it happen again with a second stint at the helm? The possibility is there, but the announcement needs to be made.

In conclusion, it was going to be this for Sunil, noble readers: either Bob goes, or I go. I have to lay down the law and give in to the consensus. I am proud to say that I have a vote of confidence in Mr. Gulati as the boss behind the U.S. Soccer Federation.

That means the only gripe I have with him is the failed 2022 World Cup big, which went to a rather oil-rich outpost in the Middle East. But that, readers, is another story.

In the meantime, Mr. Sunil Gulati...go ahead and take a bow.