Auf wiedersehen, Arena

Thanks for the memories, Bruce, you done well. And now - good-bye.

No question -- the most successful MNT coach ever. But then again, it wasn't a very high bar to jump over, was it? And the plain truth is that when it comes to tactics, Bruce is sorely lacking. He has also shown time and again that he's willing to play too conservatively when aggression is needed.

The Italy match on Saturday was a prime example. When Lippi took off Totti, it was an Italian side being forced to adjust strategically to an American team. It was our game to win; no one can convince me otherwise and a fair observer would agree. An organized American defence blunted all Italian attacks, and our own counterattacks inspired thoughts of victory.

This was the time to bring our own attacking edge...yet Arena blinked. He said later that he saw no reason to replace McBride with Eddie Johnson. And that, in a nutshell, is classic Arena thinking -- he just doesn't see opportunities when they are there for the taking. Johnson offered fresh legs, an attacker's instinct and speed against a tired Italian defence, yet Bruce couldn't see any reason to substitute a tired, ineffective McBride.

Arena is too loyal to his veterans and sometimes a coach just needs to shake things up. I was shocked and pleasantly surprised to hear him criticize Donovan's woeful performance after the Czech game. It was necessary, and effective -- Landon played like a true international against Italy.

There is also the problem of team naivete. Too many times it is clearly obvious that the MNT is not prepared for the tactics or a player they face. I heard it again after the Czech game, someone saying they weren't ready for the Czech. This happens way to often, and is inexcusable.

Arena's been great, and all hail to that. But it says here that he won't be able to do more than what he's already accomplished. There's nowhere for him to go but down, and he's going to drag the National team with him.

The MNT is a mature side with quality talent, many of whom will be around in 2010 and even 2014. Yet Arena has not been able to lift the performance of this squad to the point that we are a legitimate threat on the world stage. We are still too lightly regarded, and games like last Monday's are the reason.

It's time for a more tactically-oriented coach to take the reins. Sadly, it'll probably have to be a non-American, but that's the worldwide trend anyway. We need to get rid of the British tactics that we still use, and find someone who has attacking tactics ingrained into his psyche. A Dutch coach would be brilliant.

So long as it's not Sigi Schmid...