Bruce the 'Chinaman'

"Landon showed no aggressiveness," Arena told a news conference after his team's 3-0 defeat in their World Cup Group E opening match ... Arena blamed his veteran goalkeeper Kasey Keller for 'putting the ball upfield where we have nobody' at the start of the sequence that led to the first goal ... Arena also singled out PSV Eindhoven midfielder DaMarcus Beasley - alongside Donovan one of his most important players - for strong criticism, "We got nothing out of Beasley on the night."

Okay hold for just one dang dong second. Is it just me or is Arena is a little carried away playing 20-blames about that awful performance against the Czechs? Granted the Yanks were never quite good at being second best at anything except perhaps piracy (we are the champions my friends), but didn't someone told Arena to enrole in Alex Ferguson's School of Press Protection sometime in his reign as US coach? Guess not. So Arena decided to play Mr Chinese boss and walk eagerly down Jalan Negative Reinforcement. Like a few verbal whips in the press is going to get his players cracking. Maybe it would, but they sure as heck won't be sharing any beers with him after the World Cup. Reality check - this ain't a Hollywood sports flick Bruce. Bastard coaches usually stay bastard coaches, not turn into respectable heroes at the end.

Unless they win the World Cup but judging by their performance yesterday ... nah, no beers is a more likely outcome.

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