Coach Bradley re-signed by US Soccer MNT

Coach, you've done a fine job since taking over as the manager of Sam's Army. A Gold Cup win in 2007, an exciting run with a second place finish at the Confederations Cup in 2009, and first place qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa...not a bad list of achievements for one's first gig as a national team coach.


You're dedication to picking from the farm crops of Major League Soccer, with talent such as Sacha Kljestan, Jonathan Bornstein, and Ricardo Clark, helped to give the young American pros some valuable international caps. While adding to the credibility of MLS, the very league you made a name for yourself in (Chicago Fire, Chivas USA), our young talent was able to bolster their stock abroad. Now, Sacha's boots are planted in the Belgium First Division, Clark is enjoying Oktoberfest with the rest of the German Bundesliga, and Bornstein...well, he's still a Goat.


However, praise must be accompanied by some constructive criticism for the sake of striving to form a more perfect soccer union. We came up short at the World Cup in beautiful South Africa, plain and simple. It should have been US in the quarterfinals. It should have been US with the strong chance to go through to the semifinals. It should have been US with proud smiles in busy Johannesburg, instead of disappointed frowns in cold Rustenburg. I was at that game. It still hurts...bad.


I have a serious question in regards to your tactics: Did you sew Edson Buddle into his warm ups? Why was MLS's hottest player left to do drills behind the goal during that game against Ghana? During the second half, I shouted with all I had in me, "YEAH EDSON! THIS IS YOUR GAME! LA GALAXY!" while he warmed up at your command. I had seats 4 rows up, right next to the corner flag where he turned to me and smiled, flashing the thumbs up. Edson and I waited...and waited...and waited. Then when you made your final substitution, it was clear.


Lionel Messi led La Liga with the most goals before the World Cup began. Didier Drogba led the English Premiere League in the 2009/2010 season. Antonio Di Natale wore the golden boot in Serie A last season. All three were called upon to work their magic on the pitch wearing their country's colors at critical times. Next time, perhaps we should follow the trend.