"Not-so-Deep thoughts" - by Fern (aka LE BIX)
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Vol. 1, No. 12
30/June/1998 

"The Queen is Dead"

COSTA MESA, California - Not too happy that England lost.  They 
were a good bunch, especially that Owen fella', he's got a bright 
future ahead of him.  But I have to question Hoddle's tactics in 
the Overtime period.  Yes, he was down a man, but England looked 
content with packing in the backfield and taking their chances 
with the penalty kicks.  Under the circumstances, I can see why 
this was a good option; Argentina just could not break down that 
tall wall of defenders.  Too bad for Seaman though, he was always 
highly regarded as the king of penalty kick stoppers.

Now that happy days are here again, courtesy of Steve Sampson's 
departure, let's take a look at possible candidates for the 
vacancy that is the Head Coach of the United States National 
Soccer Team.  Some of the more prominent names include (please 
forgive my spelling):

Carlos Alberto Parreira - "former Brazilian coach, former NY-NJ 
Metrostars coach, former Saudi Arabia coach...former U.S. National 
Coach".  Parreira has international experience, especially when he 
won the '94 World Cup, but his time has passed.  If he were to be 
hired by Rothenberg, then he will quickly be out of a job and the 
headline above would be an absolute certainty.  Did poorly with the 
Metrostars, but then again, it was the Metrostars.  Unlikely 
candidate.

Carlos Quiroz - former Portugal coach, former Metrostars coach, 
currently coaching Grampus Eight of the J-League, technical advisor 
for the U.S. National Team.  Has been an up and coming coach for 
awhile now, but where is, or was, Portugal a good team at some 
point?  Reportedly a good developer of young talent, has been 
quietly waiting on the U.S. soccer wings for a vacancy such as this 
one.  It seems more like he was planted there for this reason.  A 
very likely candidate.

Bruce Arena - former University of Virginia coach, former Olympic 
Team coach, current coach of D.C. United.  Has won numerous 
collegiates championships with UVa, coached Claudio Reyna and 
John Harkes, and has won two MLS Championship Cups in as many 
games.  What does this add up to?
Jack-S**t.  This is another Sampson in the making.  A coach with
internationl experience is needed and Rothenberg would be foolish to 
consider hiring him.  Arena has been wise in the past by refusing 
the position; he should continue to do so.  A very bad choice if it 
was ever made.

Fernando Bustamante - former coach of AYSO Team, Bad to the Bone 
(record 2-7-1), former soccer player, good head for the game.  Hey, 
at this point, I'm as good a choice as any other.

We will just have to wait and see what the higher-ups of U.S. soccer 
decide to do.  In any case, they will not hire another American.  
Sampson is a prime example of an American coach's limitations.  We 
need a coach with international experience and somebody who knows 
the international game and someone who can gain the respect of the 
players.

-fb