Bob Bradley was at the Chicago Fire match this past week, and was interviewed about upcoming matches, Soldier Field as a venue, and the impending retirement of Brian McBride-
How do you make you selection in this cycle knowing that it comes at the end of the MLS season and knowing that there are more players available for selection?
Around the world there are challenges between club and country and we all know that but I think the fact that I have coached in MLS and know most of the coaches quite well - the dialogue is always positive. We will certainly take into account the playoffs and the schedules and balance that with the hope that we can start to work some players in. Most of the coaches in MLS, as difficult as it is to find that balance, appreciate when their players get opportunities to play for the national team and I think when you look at it we understand in certain moments when a lot is at stake that we need to understand that side of things and I think that pays off a lot ultimately in other moments when we call players in. All of it leads to the end when it’s qualifiers and then obviously on a fixture date you call your best guys in. but certainly along the way we try to find a good balance and respect everything that’s going on in the league.
Changes in the national team? A lot of new faces?
I think it’s a gradual process but certainly you can look at a core of players that I thought were right in the middle of our team in this World Cup and believe that they’ll still be there over the next four years. We identified players that we thought needed to take bigger roles and I think in many cases guys like Timmy Howard, Landon [Donovan], Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey, Stevie Cherundol, Oguchi Onyewu - guys that became leaders, guys that took more responsibility. I think we also felt like a lot of the younger players that we thought with time would help us grew and played significant roles. You’re always trying to find a good balance, making sure that we have that solid group of leaders and looking for the players that now deserve opportunities to be moved into the program.
Who are some of the up and comers that you’ll be looking at in the next cycle?
In the last game against Brazil Omar Gonzalez got his first cap - there’s a young defender that we think over time can continue to grow and play an important role. I think the game against Brazil shows that there’s certainly a difference between playing against a team like Brazil and playing in the league. You look around the league - another good example is Tim Ream. As a staff, we’re on top of all the games. Whether it’s in person or on TV or back on DVDs, we’re constantly looking for players that we think are ready to get a chance with the national team.
How do you make you selection in this cycle knowing that it comes at the end of the MLS season and knowing that there are more players available for selection?
Around the world there are challenges between club and country and we all know that but I think the fact that I have coached in MLS and know most of the coaches quite well - the dialogue is always positive. We will certainly take into account the playoffs and the schedules and balance that with the hope that we can start to work some players in. Most of the coaches in MLS, as difficult as it is to find that balance, appreciate when their players get opportunities to play for the national team and I think when you look at it we understand in certain moments when a lot is at stake that we need to understand that side of things and I think that pays off a lot ultimately in other moments when we call players in. All of it leads to the end when it’s qualifiers and then obviously on a fixture date you call your best guys in. but certainly along the way we try to find a good balance and respect everything that’s going on in the league.
Changes in the national team? A lot of new faces?
I think it’s a gradual process but certainly you can look at a core of players that I thought were right in the middle of our team in this World Cup and believe that they’ll still be there over the next four years. We identified players that we thought needed to take bigger roles and I think in many cases guys like Timmy Howard, Landon [Donovan], Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey, Stevie Cherundol, Oguchi Onyewu - guys that became leaders, guys that took more responsibility. I think we also felt like a lot of the younger players that we thought with time would help us grew and played significant roles. You’re always trying to find a good balance, making sure that we have that solid group of leaders and looking for the players that now deserve opportunities to be moved into the program.
Who are some of the up and comers that you’ll be looking at in the next cycle?
In the last game against Brazil Omar Gonzalez got his first cap - there’s a young defender that we think over time can continue to grow and play an important role. I think the game against Brazil shows that there’s certainly a difference between playing against a team like Brazil and playing in the league. You look around the league - another good example is Tim Ream. As a staff, we’re on top of all the games. Whether it’s in person or on TV or back on DVDs, we’re constantly looking for players that we think are ready to get a chance with the national team.
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