Yesterday a distinctly unmotivated and haphazard US team lost to a youthful Brazilian side, 2-0. Were they channeling Bradley’s present coaching distraction with stories linking him to Aston Villa?
He is still the front runner according to the betmasters at 7/2 odds. He is followed by Sven Goran Eriksson at 13/2. Alan Curbishley and Martin Jol are 7/1 contenders. Bradley himself has made it clear that he will welcome a new challenge preferably in Europe.
Lets make this clear. It seems Bradley whether the Villa job works out or not sees a different future than continuing on in the US job. Four years is an eternity in national coaching circles. He has carried the team as far as possible.
There have been some extremely notable moments. Under him the USA entered the their first ever final in a FIFA organized tournament. This World Cup saw the US topping their group giving renewed hope for an unprecedented showing before their deflating loss against Ghana.
Under him, Michael Bradley made it on his own merit and Landon Donovan is less of an enigma. Bradley’s biggest legacy was to successfully repair the negative and bitter taste left by his predecessor Bruce Arena after the 2006 World Cup shambles.
There have been other less salubrious choices – his insistence on using Jonathan Bornstein, the misplaced faith in Robbie Findleyand Jonathan Spector. Tactically, the USA has been turned into a counterattacking machine devoid of actual ball control and possession. Bradley has shown little appetite to redress the situation. Likewise, he failed to mend those maddeningly early goals which finally doomed the USA’s World Cup exertions.
So stories that his contract is not to be renewed or that he will tender his resignation are quite plausible. Even as the USSF issued a denial.