The Daily Dirt, December 28: Bradley fired

Bob Bradley was fired from Swansea after a poor eleven game stint after taking over from Francesco Guidolin in October. His firing should not be a referendum on American managers, but it likely will be.

Swansea’s performance under Bradley was poor by anyone’s standards. Many managers would have been fired for a similar record. The Swans are an absolute mess at the moment, with many experts saying that it might be the worst roster in Premier League history. It was taken for granted that Bradley would get the transfer window to try to improve the roster, that was not upgraded after key departures in the offseason.

Bradley’s mistake was to try to have this poor team play on level terms with superior opponents. He gave his players too much credit, and they let him down.

He did not do what Sam Allardyce, Harry Redknapp, and many other English managers who bounce around from club to club do. He did not have them park the bus and slash the tires, he tried to play and his players were not capable of it. That miscalculation is what cost him his job, and could speak to the miscommunication on what his expectations were from the club’s leadership.

Will Bob Bradley be successful elsewhere? Yes. Los Angeles FC is looking for their first manager and Bob Bradley would be an excellent first choice. Every MLS club that makes a managerial change in 2017 will be calling Bob Bradley to see if he is ready to come home. Already, there is a movement to have Bradley considered by the Norway national team due to his strong work at Stabæk.

If he could go back in time and turn down the job, should he? Yes. It was not a good fit to take over Swansea when he did, with no guarantee of patience from the club.

The media were very unfair in their treatment of Bradley, flying off the handle about terminology and other things that had nothing to do with his job. But, they did not cost Bob Bradley his job. His performance simply was not good enough. The funny thing is that most of the pundits who rip Bradley for his performance also say that no one could have done the job at Swansea. The team was simply that bad.

All the luck in the world to the next manager at Swansea, because they are definitely going to need it.

Where do you think Bradley will end up next? Do you think he was treated fairly at Swansea? Give us your thoughts in the comments.

Domestic

Bob Bradley fired at Swansea City after 11 matches (Stars and Stripes FC)

David Villa did not see MLS as a retirement league (DirecTV Sports)

Portland is busy in the MLS offseason: Nagbe staying, Melano could be leaving, Wallace could be returning (Goal)

Minnesota officially signs former Atlanta target Francisco Calvo from Saprissa (E Pluribus Loonum)

International

Beware of rumors from Spanish speaking countries today, it is Día de los Santos Inocentes. (Background)

Oscar went to China in search of first team football, according to his new club Shanghai SIPG (Goal)

FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino says that he has support for an expanded World Cup format (BBC)

Local