PAUL KENNEDY: Is there the will?

If you didn’t know the meeting was going to take place, you would have missed it. There was no notice. If you didn’t know where the meeting was, you wouldn’t have found it. The meeting room, at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco’s Nob Hill, was unmarked. And even if you did know it took place, you wouldn’t have any idea what was discussed. U.S. Soccer’s weekly “U.S. Soccer Wire,” released 48 hours later, didn’t even mention the presentation took place. The big push to launch Project 2010 — the plan to jump-start the U.S. men’s national team program — began on Feb. 13 shrouded in mystery. I was told, well, I really wasn’t supposed to be there anyway. My problem with Project 2010 was not what I heard. Exactly the opposite, I thought Sunil Gulati and Bruce Arena were at once dreamers and realists, presenting only those concepts that made sense. No 99 full-time national team coaches, as outlined in the Queiroz Report, here. The problem I have is with the organization. A big selling job lies ahead as Project 2010 must be sold to U.S. Soccer constituents. Gulati, the architect of Project 2010, is a brilliant strategist, but many in U.S. Soccer’s rank and file hate him. Bob Contiguglia, the new president, is a consensus-builder, but that’s not what’s required here. What’s needed is a bold leader. The person who fit that bill exited last summer. Project 2010 will require dealing with complex management issues. Hank Steinbrecher, the general secretary, is a great speaker, but management is not his strength. Competing to win the World Cup may seem a great idea to you or me, but the vast majority of dues-paying members could care less. Frankly, I don’t see the political will to get Project 2010 done. Hopefully, I am proven wrong. FANS: LET’S HEAR YOUR VIEW Does U.S. Soccer have the political will to get Project 2010 done? Click here to log onto (Soccer) American Graffiti. Then click on the topic entitled “YOUR VIEW: Is there the will?” and respond to Paul Kennedy in 200 words or less. Don’t hold nothin’ back! Best responses will be reprinted in Soccer America Magazine. If YOUR View is selected, we’ll send you a cool t-shirt and pin… Because You’re FANATIC.