Despite U.S. success, fans are prone to second-guess Arena.

By Robert Wagman
SoccerTimes

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Wednesday, August 29, 2001) -- No, I don't think Bruce Arena is nuts. However, quite a few readers who write to me each week apparently think he is.

With the approach of Saturday's critical World Cup qualifier, the stream has turned into a flood from mystified fans, some quite angry with the United States men's coach. They simply can't understand why he can't solve the Americans' finishing problem when the solution is so simple. Each e-mailer's favorite Major League Soccer -- or A-League -- player is the answer to Arena's most pressing problem, such as who will replace injured midfielder Claudio Reyna or step in for the multitude of ailing attackers. Why then wasn't that player even invited to camp?

A typical e-mail might read: "I don't understand how it is possible that Arena hasn't invited -- insert the name of any MLS player who has had a decent match or two in the past month -- into training. Doesn't he know that he is sure to score a couple of goals? Is Arena some kind of idiot?"

No, Arena is not. For the record, not only do I think he is sane, or at least as sane as any coach who must juggle managing a roster spread over club teams all over the globe, as well as a constant stream of injuries and other personnel problems -- but I think he knows exactly what he is doing, and is doing it quite well.

Fans tend to forget that over the past almost two years, Arena and his staff have looked closely at least 70 players. Virtually every player in MLS who is halfway decent has had the opportunity to show what he can do, either in a training camp, or in a match.

What many fans don't understand that just because a player stands out in MLS, the step up to international competition is a large one. There is a sizable gulf between what happens in an American domestic match and the world stage where the stakes are higher, the pace is quicker, the pressure is greater and the fans, for example at Mexico's Azteca Stadium, are far less civil.

To be quite honest, I cannot think of a healthy MLS player who deserves to be with the national team who is not currently with the U.S. team as it prepares for Saturday's match here at RFK Stadium or next Wednesday's qualifier in Costa Rica.

Then, again, born-again striker Eric Wynalda, the all-time leading U.S. goal-scorer and obvious MLS "Comeback Player of the Year" probably deserves a chance to be alongside Preki Radosavljevic, as an offensive weapon for the final 20 minutes or so in one or both of these matches.

A number of letter writers demand to know how it is possible that Arena is not starting the Columbus Crew's Jeff Cunningham Saturday against Honduras. One went on at great length, and with substantial vehemence, castigating Arena for his obvious prejudice against Cunningham who was not invited to this training camp.

As I have in the past, let me state again for the record. Jeff Cunningham is not an American citizen. Very simply, he is not eligible. Cunningham has submitted his application for citizenship, but the Immigration and Naturalization Service abides by its own timetable. If everything checks out, he could be in a U.S. uniform by spring.

Why is it taking so long for Cunningham's citizenship to come through when essentially former U.S. coach Steve Sampson managed to get David Regis naturalized in two weeks in 1998? Apparently, Regis’ marriage to an American government employee put him in a top priority category, well higher than Cunningham.

Arena opened himself up for criticism when he called in both goalkeepers Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel, only to have one sit on the bench. A while ago, Arena said he would not bring both in together, but he now has reversed himself and brought both from England.

With four games left in qualifying and a World Cup berth at stake, Arena cannot find himself caught short at any position, particularly goal, because of an ill-timed injury or suspension. Arena did what he had to do.

Keller, based primarily on his ability as a shot blocker, had emerged as the starter, but not by much. In the new European season, Friedel has been exceptional for Blackburn Rovers in the English Premier League, starting every match and playing against the likes of Manchester United. Keller, in the meantime, has not played a competitive match since the U.S. fell 1-0 to Mexico July 1 in Mexico City and has yet to play with the EPL's Tottenham Hotspur after signing just two weeks ago.

Friedel obviously has earned the start, but, by the same token, with so much on the line in the next week, how could Arena run the risk of Friedel getting injured in training or against Honduras Saturday with another qualifier four days off. Furthermore, the Premier League has taken the week off for European qualifying, meaning neither keeper will miss any club matches. And Tony Meola, third on the depth chart, has not regained full fitness after a long absence because of injury.

There are times Arena tends not to be communicative. His answers can be, shall we say, terse. He does not go out of his way to explain himself. He plays everything very close to the vest. The fact that he won't explain, or won't detail his lineup or plans until the last minute, should not be taken to mean that he does not know what he is doing. Going into this match, he said he pretty well knew who his starters were a week or so ago, and what he wants from each of them.

The players know and that's what's important to him, not what the media or public knows.

So, no, I don't think Bruce Arena is nuts.

Senior correspondent Robert Wagman's "It Seems To Me . . . " appears regularly on SoccerTimes. He can be e-mailed at bobwagman@soccertimes.com..