After failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the future of the USMNT doesn’t look bright. However, a solution isn’t far away.

First, we need to review how the USMNT got to this point. After the sacking of Jurgen Klinsmann, Bruce Arena was hired as a temporary manager, with plans to qualify for the World Cup, and resign immediately after. However, the tactical naivety and arrogance of Arena proved, once again, that he was not fit for the USMNT job. He was sacked shortly after, and the US was stuck back at Square 1.

After the sacking of Bruce Arena, long time assistant Dave Sarachan was hired as interim manager. While he has done an admirable job so far, leading the US to a 3-0 win over Bolivia, and a 1-1 draw vs France, it’s evident that he is not the man for the job. For the USMNT to go forward, a fresh slate is needed. Anyone remaining from the Arena-Era must be let go, in order to progress as an organization.

There are a lot candidates for the USMNT job, and many pose an interesting future. The usual names of Jason Kries and Gregg Berlhalter are in the mix, as well as a few outsiders such as Miguel Herrera and Arsene Wenger. But, there’s only one name the USSF should be looking at, and they have to look no further then their own coaching academy: Tab Ramos.

Ramos is currently the head coach of the USMNT U-20s, and has impressed in the past, leading his team to the knockout stages of the last two Under-20 World Cups. Not only that, but he’s familiar with many of the current youngsters in the senior team. These names include Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, and Weston Mckinnie. This would greatly help the transition between a new coach and his players, a problem clearly shown with Bruce Arena.

Football is changing, and the age of defensive, counter-attacking teams is gone. Ramos is an attacking manager, often deploying a 4-3-3 with a high press. This encourages attacking play, and aims to maintain possession of the ball. In order to win football matches, you need to PLAY football. Not sit back and wait for the opposition to make a mistake. With this old style, the US has always behaved as an underdog, and it has clearly affected the players. But with Ramos in charge, this would change. He would look to go at teams and try to win. In the long run, this would be very beneficial as it would change the mentalities of both the players, and the fans.

This is the correct way forward for the USMNT, and the only way. If the USMNT wants to reach its full potential, the USSF need to make the right decision, and hire Tab Ramos.