Reyna Takes Light Jabs at Arena on FSC

By: Dave Martinez | March 28th, 2008

Claudio Reyna was featured on the MLS 2008 Preview Show for the Fox Soccer Channel. And boy did he have some interesting things to say.

Of course, you cant expect controversial comments to come from fluff piece shows like this one. But, any loyal Red Bulls fan will know how to read between the lines.

Reyna was asked of the difference between this and last year (Mind you, I will be paraphrasing here).

And his answer, though mild and subtle, spoke volumes. Here is his (interpreted) take;

“Brucie” (referring to Bruce Arena) was just coming in from being the coach of the United States National Team. He was heralded as the best coach in our nations history, and even before that, had dominated the MLS and College ranks. Basically, as far as American Soccer goes, he has seen and done it all.

A disappointing exit from the Cup leaves “Brucie” without a job. So he takes on the Red Bulls, and basically goes from Worlds Spotlight to Worlds Closet in all of a few months time.

The “biggest difference” between these two seasons is that Juan Carlos Osorio is hungry to be here. He is a motivated coach, who is driven towards success, has always wanted to be the New York Coach, and he has never tasted the glory of winning like Arena has.

WHAT DOES THIS TELL YOU ABOUT BRUCE?

First off, it sounds like Reyna is saying Arena lost the bite to stay competitive in this league.

As I said, read between the lines. Reyna laid it out there for us – Arena was not motivated. He was back where he had started, in a rebuilding situation no less – a far cry from playing with Americas most polished professionals.

MLS is a league where a coach needs to have a more hands on approach. As I have said in a previous article, we aren’t quite the worlds best league, nor the worlds best developmental league – we are somewhere in the middle. Being that is the case, a Coach needs to do just that - COACH.

This is not England, where you spend months on conditioning, teaching nuances of set pieces and forward motion drives. This is MLS, where we hire kids in from College and call them “pros.”

Players need to learn proper technique, pickup on the subtleties of the game in order to improve their market value, achieve a better salary and attain a higher buyout figure for their MLS squad. This can not be done with a Coach who takes on the same approach he would take with a mens national program. Two different beasts.

My Take

Last season, when I interviewed Jozy, I asked him who had been most instrumental in his growth. His answer shocked me, not for its admission, but for its omissions;

DM: More specifically, this season, there has been a noticeable difference in your first touch and finish. Which coach, player, person, what have you, has contributed most to this?

JOZY: Well I think John Harkes has been huge helping me throughout (my development). You know, he helped me man, along with Claudio and Juan Pablo. I mean, you see everyday in soccer . . . if that first touch is good . . . if you have a good first touch on half the plays, it will leave you in good goal scoring positions. Those guys have helped me alot.

I was REALLY expecting a Coach Bruce shout out – but it never happened. So I prodded a tad more . . .

DM: Hows your relationship with the organization, Coach Bruce . . .

JOZY: Oh, first class relationship with all my teammates, coaches, players, trainers, workers, office workers, water boys, altar boys. *chuckles* Nah, I am good with everybody. I love this organization. That is my home right now, and hopefully will be for a little bit longer.

Jozy is first class, I will give him that. But this experience, coupled with Reyna’s innuendo filled review, have really filled the gaps into my minds mental puzzle of the Bruce Arena era.

Basically? He is a great coach for polished players.

Not that he cant train youth or teach them a thing or two – but he has been there and done that. Where is the motivation to take valuable time into teaching kids when you have championships to win? He created a successful program at the University of Virginia, and when he made the leap to the pros, the teaching aspect of the game was of a lesser importance (especially when you have guys like Marco Etcheverry, Jeff Agoos, Richie Williams, John Harkes, Jaime Moreno, Raúl Díaz Arce, and Eddie Pope filling the gaps). And when he made the leap towards the National ranks, it was all about strategy and game fitness. Alas, teaching, it seems, fell to the wayside.

And motivation, understandably, can be hurt when you compare 70,000 screaming fans to 10,000 in a cavernous stadium.

In summation – will a coach that is motivated to be here and win do better than a coach of legend manning our sidelines? Only time will tell. But I think we know what Reynas answer would be.