Amid the articles including quotes from US president Sunil Gulati placing a lot of the responsibility on US head coach Bob Bradley for the team exiting in the round of 16, Fanhouse wrote about a clearer conclusion - in the end of the day, it is about the players - as well as about the plan for future development of US players.
...there's clearly something that those countries (and a few others that have fallen just short) must be doing right, and for all the questions and consternation this week about Bob Bradley, his future and his decision to start Robbie Findley and Ricardo Clark, in the end it's about the players.
U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati admitted as much when he met with reporters here in Johannesburg.
"If I coach the team that we all agree has the best players in the world, and whomever we agree is the best coach in the world has the No. 32 team, I'm going to like my chances. Because in the worst-case situation, I'm just going to say, 'Go play'," Gulati said. "Does a coach make a difference? Sure. But I think it ultimately comes down to players."
And he admitted what's obvious to everyone -- the U.S. does not produce enough world-class talent to compete for a World Cup.
"The expectations have to be realistic. The players that are representing the United States are not players at Arsenal and Inter [Milan] and Real Madrid and Barcelona and Chelsea and Manchester United and so on. The players we're playing against in some of these situations are," Gulati said.
The harsh truth is that when put to the test, Jozy Altidore and Findley couldn't finish, Clark gave away the ball and Carlos Bocanegra and Jay DeMerit were beaten (twice). They are the best we have. For now.
...there's clearly something that those countries (and a few others that have fallen just short) must be doing right, and for all the questions and consternation this week about Bob Bradley, his future and his decision to start Robbie Findley and Ricardo Clark, in the end it's about the players.
U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati admitted as much when he met with reporters here in Johannesburg.
"If I coach the team that we all agree has the best players in the world, and whomever we agree is the best coach in the world has the No. 32 team, I'm going to like my chances. Because in the worst-case situation, I'm just going to say, 'Go play'," Gulati said. "Does a coach make a difference? Sure. But I think it ultimately comes down to players."
And he admitted what's obvious to everyone -- the U.S. does not produce enough world-class talent to compete for a World Cup.
"The expectations have to be realistic. The players that are representing the United States are not players at Arsenal and Inter [Milan] and Real Madrid and Barcelona and Chelsea and Manchester United and so on. The players we're playing against in some of these situations are," Gulati said.
The harsh truth is that when put to the test, Jozy Altidore and Findley couldn't finish, Clark gave away the ball and Carlos Bocanegra and Jay DeMerit were beaten (twice). They are the best we have. For now.
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