What I find interesting is that for someone who seemed convinced that he was an excellent coach, Bruce Arena doesn't appear that eager to get back into the coaching mix. When Bob Bradley was let go by New York, he didn't hesitate to jump at the next opportunity. Chivas USA turned out to be a smart move, because Bradley was able to rehab his resume just in time to take on the USMNT job.
Yet from what I hear, some observers believe Arena isn't even really looking - that he'd rather continue a broadcast career instead of coaching. Or maybe he'll become a soccer journalist. He sneeringly suggested at the World Cup that such a job would be very easy for him to do.
Part of me would like to see Arena try it - just like I was hoping he'd coach in MLS again, so his arrogance could have to deal with the reality that it's not as easy as he thinks.
However, the broadcasting career is more likely, because Arena's already done that before. I'm curious as to what readers who have heard him think of his talents in that regard. Should Arena go back to the booth?
19 comments:
I hope he doesn't go back to broadcasting. His voice is annoying.
He'd be good for something like DiCicco did for the Women's World Cup. Have him come in briefly during the match and at half-time with some analysis.
DiCicco has a lot more broadcast personality while Arena sometimes sounds uninterested.
I think there might be a few U12 teams Arena may be capable of coaching, though preferable not my kids. Otherwise, lets hope he just disappears with him millions to some far away land. Or better yet maybe he could coach the Samoan national team (no offense to the Samoans of course).
Why coach? They still have to pay him for sitting on his considerable rear for another year. Why not pull a second salary at ESPN2? Although I would love to hear him in the booth w/Bretos.
Any word about Ruud Gullit becoming the Galaxy's next manager?
I'm wondering the same thing about Ruud Gullit on the possibility of coaching the Galaxy.
Fox Soccer:
"According to reports, a three-year contract is in the works and only minor details need to be sorted out before the announcement is made public, possibly before the end of this week."
I found Arena's on-air presence a bit refreshing. Dependable, anyways. He was blunt and to the point and he knew what he was talking about. I liked that. Get him back on the air.
I didn't think he was very good in the booth. Alexi needs to get fired from the Galaxy and go back to the booth. Not Bruce.
Bruce Arena ruined last year's Eastern Conference final for me.
And why in the hell doesn't JP Dellacamara do more soccer games?
I'd like to hear more of JP as well bt he's a busy man. He's the play-by-play man for the NHL Atlanta Thrashers and also does the Red Bull games for MSG Network.
Well there you go. JP's talent is in high demand.
I'll second/third/whatever some of the other comments that I don't want him in the broadcast booth. He seems like an arrogant jackass to me, and I don't want to listen to him.
Why doesn't he write his memoirs? They'd be self-serving, I'm sure, but they would also be an interesting read.
I think he's been pretty good in the booth when I've seen him, but I'll second the notion that we need more JP. Maybe Arena can use that massive brain to figure out how to clone good announcers.
I'm just glad that ESPN has been using Glenn Davis more - I enjoy his work as much as JP's.
JP is great, so is Glenn Davis and Derek Rae is quality too along with the UEFA teams. Although beneath those guys in quality, I thought Bruce and Wynalda and Stone and the baseball guy called a wonderful game when the US played Mexico in Phoenix. That whole broadcast was spectacular. Bruce needs a break from the sidelines now anyways - burnout.
I prefer Wynalda over Arena in the booth; the man is awful.
Please don't insult any minority group by comparing them to Arena.
I don't think his arrogance translates well to commentary either. He is so complemently condescending that I can't respect anything he says.
Considering the disdain with which he has treated the media, it would be the ultimate irony for him to join their ranks.
Success has spoiled him. I think Bruce has always assumed that he was smarter than everyone around him, and he pushed his teams to win in part to validate that perception. Now, he's so sure that he's a genius, if his team's not doing well he can point the finger at the scheduling or the officials or the artificial turf or whatever. He doesn't seem to care about losing anymore. I sure wouldn't hire him as a coach.
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