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[Frank Cunha]

From his perch near the top of the soccer food chain in the United States, Bruce Arena, the men's national team coach, would probably accept efficiency over elegance.

The United States team has played in the last four World Cups and resumes play in the regional semifinal qualifying round on Oct. 9 in El Salvador, but Arena, the man who guided and cajoled the team to the quarterfinals in South Korea at the 2002 World Cup, is critical of Major League Soccer and the United States soccer federation.

"For the league to play games during World Cup qualifying is insane," Arena said yesterday in a telephone interview. "It shows a lack of respect for the national team."

FIFA, the sport's governing body, recently instituted a system that sets aside dates for worldwide qualifying matches. A majority of leagues around the world, but not M.L.S., suspends matches for up to two weeks. The MetroStars, for example, will play an important late-season game against Columbus on Oct. 9 and could be missing some important players (Jonny Walker, Eddie Gaven and Eddie Pope of the United States; Fabian Taylor and Craig Ziadie of Jamaica; Amado Guevara of Honduras; and Cornell Glen of Trinidad and Tobago).

"Ideally, the league should synchronize its schedule with the rest of the world," Arena said. "Next week after I announce my roster, the clubs will complain to me again about calling up their players. We are fighting for our lives in qualifying and they're worried about making the playoffs. People are pulling in opposite directions. Every coach, and I can't blame them, is trying to be successful. And they will call me, every coach. The decision to play games during qualifying is their problem."

Arena addressed several other issues involving M.L.S. and the national team program.

MEANINGFUL GAMES IN M.L.S. "Most of the regular-season games mean nothing. The players are not motivated, and in reality the games don't mean a lot until the last month of the season. And players only get better when they play real games all the time. The league needs to think about a bonus system, going to a single table and reducing the number of teams in the playoffs. It's 8 of 10 teams now and I know the league is going to 12 teams, but four in the playoffs would make more sense."

ALL-STAR GAME "A complete waste of time."

U.S. OPEN CUP "Debatable it makes any sense" for M.L.S. teams to participate.

RESERVE TEAMS "It would be a positive thing for young players, but I realize it is a matter of economics. They would have better opportunities to develop, and by getting reserve games, these players would be ready if there were injuries or national team call-ups."

EXPECTATIONS OF U.S. WINNING THE WORLD CUP "That's the problem. That's the way people think. It's a product of the environment we live in, that the sporting world is centered around sports we have invented, winning championships and calling ourselves world champions. We actually believe this, and it's pretty comical. There are only a few global sports: soccer, basketball, tennis and golf. Look at how we do. We can't compete in the Ryder Cup, although we think we are the best golfers in the world. We were sixth in the basketball world championships played in our own country and third in the Olympics.

"People have got to realize that the World Cup is the most challenging sporting competition in the world. And all people can say is that we can't beat Panama in Panama City. No one gets it. In soccer, every country has experienced players. I'm saying to people: 'Educate yourself now. The boundaries have been extended in global sports, economics and politics.' We have a long way to go."

STATE OF THE GAME "In soccer, we don't have any administrators with soccer skills, in terms of knowing the game, and that is the case at U.S. Soccer and M.L.S. We are trying to select venues for qualifying games that give us the best chance to succeed but are compromised when games are put in M.L.S. venues to help the league. Not sure playing El Salvador in Foxboro was the best idea."

M.L.S.

New Coach for New Chivas Team

[Soccerdad]

Sounds to me like he needs to vent! under pressure????
I do agree with alot of what he said especially the MLS playing on qualifying weekends and the single table.

[Ricochet]

read it yesterday, very good article IMO

[Frank Cunha]

you read it, but didn't past to your friends at talksoccer

[BethlehemFC]

But MLS not particpating in the US Open Cup? Strongly disagree there.

Single table? Gave my opinion on that in another thread.

All else makes a lot of sense.

[Frank Cunha]

he was undecide about the Open Cup

[BethlehemFC]

U.S. OPEN CUP "Debatable it makes any sense" for M.L.S. teams to participate.

That doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement to me!

[Frank Cunha]

he made some good points but not all of it
Arena is trying to be a teacher when he talks about the Ryder Cup and the WC of Basketball

soccer, we don't have any administrators with soccer
skills, in terms of knowing the game, and that is the case at U.S. Soccer
and MLS. We are trying to select venues for qualifying games that give us
the best chance to succeed but are compromised when games are put in MLS
venues to help the league. Not sure playing El Salvador in Foxboro was the
best idea."
-- U.S. coach Bruce Arena. (New York Times)

"There are only a few global sports: soccer, basketball, tennis and golf.
Look at how we do. We can't compete in the Ryder Cup, although we think we
are the best golfers in the world. We were sixth in the basketball world
championships played in our own country and third in the Olympics. People
have got to realize that the World Cup is the most challenging sporting
competition in the world. And all people can say is that we can't beat
Panama in Panama City. No one gets it. In soccer, every country has
experienced players. I'm saying to people: 'Educate yourself now. The
boundaries have been extended in global sports, economics and politics.' We
have a long way to go."
-- Arena. (New York Times)

[Frank Cunha]

Soccer america is asking for opinions about the Open cup

FEEDBACK
We want your opinions! Is Bruce right? Is the U.S. Open Cup, which averages
crowds of a few thousand, worth the time and investment of MLS clubs? Is the
MLS All-Star Game a waste of time? Should MLS restrict the playoffs to the
top four teams instead of the top eight?
Let us know by writing us at:
letters@socceramerica.com

Your comments may appear in the Oct. 25 issue of Soccer America Magazine.

[Sinter]

i agree with arena on some points such as 4 teams in the playoffs instead of 8, and a single table... plus the all star game is a joke. Also, MLS shouldn't play games the day of qual games.

However, I am concerned that we barely managed a tie against a team that isn't considered a top 100 footballing nation by FIFA. Hopefully he'll help put any doubts away and take all of the next 9 points in this round of qualifying.

[Frank Cunha]

easy nations, they the one's that decide you goes to the WC::talksocc

[BethlehemFC]

Originally posted by Frank Cunha
easy nations, they the one's that decide you goes to the WC::talksocc

Frank -- you're using that dancing banana a lot lately! LOL!!

[Frank Cunha]

::leedswac ::leedswac

[Frank Cunha]

2. MLS CONFIDENTIAL: Bruce Arena's options

By Ridge Mahoney, Senior Editor

U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena was in attendance last Saturday at
Spartan Stadium to watch the Galaxy and Quakes lurch their way to a 0-0 tie.

He refused to specify which players he might be observing as possible
call-ups for the next two World Cup qualifiers against El Salvador and
Panama. Not only did Arena not say when he would announce his roster, he
also refused to say if he had decided it would be announced at all.

The U.S. is a bit short on the right side of midfield as well as in the
middle, with Chris Klein out for season and Claudio Reyna hobbled by a
quadriceps injury. Reyna, though, has been called into camp for evaluation
by the U.S. Soccer medical staff if nothing else.

Cobi Jones has come on as a sub in the first three qualifiers of the
semifinal round, and Earnie Stewart wasn't recalled after starting at right
mid against Jamaica and playing rather poorly.

Landon Donovan is the projected starter at right mid unless Arena moves him
up front, which is a possibility, because Donovan's teammate Brian Ching is
also injured and didn't play against Los Angeles. Yet with Josh Wolff
healthy, Clint Mathis scoring a goal last week in Germany, and Brian McBride
getting at least spot duty for Fulham, Arena has other options at forward
besides the Galaxy's Jovan Kirovski.

If Arena wants to gamble on Chris Armas's fitness, or that of Pablo
Mastroeni, he has a midfield alternative for Reyna.

Brian Mullan struggled through one of his worst games as a Quake against the
Galaxy and Richard Mulrooney played his usual aggressive, busy role.
Mastroeni has played central defender for Colorado this season, and Arena
has reservations about whether playing that role can instill the fitness and
sharpness to play midfield in a qualifier.

The impressive form of Tony Sanneh, the newest member of the Crew, also
poses some intriguing possibilities. He played central midfield and right
back and scored the only goal as Columbus beat D.C., 1-0, last Saturday.

[Sinter]

we also got conor casey up top, and hell id give guys like edson buddle and eddie johnson at least a call up