USMNT Talk

[Midas Mulligan]

We've had unexpected results with Jurgen on the good and bad side, but we also overachieved in Brazil under him. Ultimately, we've played two of our three most difficult games in the hex so far, I have high confidence we will be fine for Russia.

Switching coaches would lower my confidence.

I feel exactly the opposite. I don't think we'll make it with JK as coach.

On the latest Soccer in the City, Crooks says Klinsmann has lost the team. Apparently, Brooks was apoplectic about Klinsmann saying he "thinks John Brooks lost his mark." Understandably so. A coach so dumb that he doesn't know what happens, yet so egomaniacal he still throws the best CB on the team under the bus.

Apparently, we can take most "JK" posts from last year and apply now when it comes to dealing with players.

 

[FootyLovin]

I feel exactly the opposite. I don't think we'll make it with JK as coach.

On the latest Soccer in the City, Crooks says Klinsmann has lost the team. Apparently, Brooks was apoplectic about Klinsmann saying he "thinks John Brooks lost his mark." Understandably so. A coach so dumb that he doesn't know what happens, yet so egomaniacal he still throws the best CB on the team under the bus.

Apparently, we can take most "JK" posts from last year and apply now when it comes to dealing with players.

Just think. I bet this conversation isn't even a glimmer in our eyes if Wondo hits the net at the death against Belgium.

2 years later and I'm still replaying that in my mind.

 

[adam]

Just think. I bet this conversation isn't even a glimmer in our eyes if Wondo hits the net at the death against Belgium.

2 years later and I'm still replaying that in my mind.

I think that's a good point. If JK does the rational thing and takes Landon instead of Wondo to the WC, Landon most probably scores from that spot. Look what he's cost us already!!!

 

[Ulrich]

Just think. I bet this conversation isn't even a glimmer in our eyes if Wondo hits the net at the death against Belgium.

2 years later and I'm still replaying that in my mind.

I think that's a good point. If JK does the rational thing and takes Landon instead of Wondo to the WC, Landon most probably scores from that spot. Look what he's cost us already!!!

The team didn't need Donovan there - his presence alone in the locker room very likely would have been caustic as he and Dempsey did not get along and it was Dempsey's team that Cup - the team over-achieved and bought into JK's voodoo tactics and it wouldn't have with a shitty voice in the LR second guessing everything.

Wondo is just a massive choke artist, and while he makes tons of shots that you wouldn't expect, he also misses the ones he should be counted on to make. That miss was supremely unfortunate as it was one of the best trick-free kicks I've ever seen. 9out of 10 times we score it, but unfortunately this 1 out of 10 time we asked Wondo to take the shot rather than Green or somebody else.

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

The team didn't need Donovan there - his presence alone in the locker room very likely would have been caustic as he and Dempsey did not get along and it was Dempsey's team that Cup - the team over-achieved and bought into JK's voodoo tactics and it wouldn't have with a shitty voice in the LR second guessing everything.

Wondo is just a massive choke artist, and while he makes tons of shots that you wouldn't expect, he also misses the ones he should be counted on to make. That miss was supremely unfortunate as it was one of the best trick-free kicks I've ever seen. 9out of 10 times we score it, but unfortunately this 1 out of 10 time we asked Wondo to take the shot rather than Green or somebody else.

What did you hear about a Donovan and dempsey rift? That's the first I've heard that

 

[Ulrich]

What did you hear about a Donovan and dempsey rift? That's the first I've heard that

I don't remember which pundits discussed it prior to the last WC, but they discussed how there was no love shared between the two and the relationship was tepid at best only held together by the joint goal of the MNT. It was back when Dempsey was lighting it up in the EPL while LD was in MLS. Maybe it was all conjecture by the pundit, don't know, but I remember one of them making a semi-sarcastic comment prior to coverage switching to LD having to provide analysis of how Dempsey was performing in one of the games.

 

[413Blue]

KLEXIT!

Per the NYT, he has been sacked!!!!!!

Hallelujah!

 

[Seth]

Klinsmann out: http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/201...nt-us-soccer-parts-ways-with-jurgen-klinsmann

 

[Ulrich]

With JK now out, USSoccer is likely to go with a caretaker to get us through qualifying, most likely Bruce Arena. He's no lock for the permanent position unless LA & USSoccer allow him to keep both roles, which is highly doubtful - I think he's going to take his third stint at the helm simply out of loyalty to the program and getting them to the WC.

So if Arena isn't named the permanent coach, and USSoccer doesn't bring in another foreign mercenary manager, who are the likely candidates from MLS???

1. Oscar Pareja: played 11 years in Columbia and 7 inMLS - so he's more than a homogenous MLS lifer. Ties to USSoccer as former U-17 assistant. Head of arguably the best MLS side stylewise/record with a kickass academy. He's a good bet.

2. Sigi Schmid: done it all in the college and MLS ranks with championships galore. Head coach of u-20 twice when they made the youth cup and won their group each time. Currently a tv analyst and could step in immediately. Not sure about any rumored ties to clubs.

3. Peter Vermes: former MNT player/captain. Founding MLS player (allocated?) and SKC coach since 2009: 1MLS Cup & 2USOpen Cups. Gritty/workman style of play from team and one of first to achieve success with high- average overall roster rather than expensive stars/low cost filler. Always seems to get the team pumped/ready for big games, but not sure if he'd be over his head tactically vs international styles???? He's a definite dark horse.

I'm sure there are more possible domestic candidates, but these three are my guesses along with Arena.

 

[LionNYC]

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

We will find out who was right now, the Talent or the Coaching blamers.

Totally weird timing IMO. Are you doing this in response to the near loss to Mexico and expected loss to CR? Would you still have fired him if the lucky header doesn't go in vs Mexico and we draw 1-1? Gulati comes off as reactionary here, and if we look worse going forward in March is going to look like a moron.

 

[NickA]

I blame him AND the talent. Both are at equal faults. They'll probably go with Bruce as the fixer and we'll be a good team, but that's about it. I guess it's a matter of who they'll play hard for all the time, not some of the time. Not sure if Bruce is the answer, but not really sure if there is an answer. Maybe we just aren't that good.

 

[413Blue]

We will find out who was right now, the Talent or the Coaching blamers.

Totally weird timing IMO. Are you doing this in response to the near loss to Mexico and expected loss to CR? Would you still have fired him if the lucky header doesn't go in vs Mexico and we draw 1-1? Gulati comes off as reactionary here, and if we look worse going forward in March is going to look like a moron.

Not weird at all IMO. His job has been under pressure going in, and 0 out of 6 points to start the hex is simply not good, regardless of the opponent. It also seems clear that he has built some animosity with too much of the player pool and he may not be able to recover that.
This is the perfect timing, with the hex on break until March, the next manager has time to prepare for camp cupcake and get some type of organization and system in place for March. Imagine if they did not fire him now, waited to see if he can recover, he continues to be a buffoon, and then a decision has to be hastily made with shorter recovery time, in the middle of the MLS season limiting the replacement pool.

 

[413Blue]

I forgot the obvious.


HAHAHAHA KLINSMANN HAHAHAI DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE UNTIL MY PHONE NOTIFIED ME HAHAHAHA

 

[SoupInNYC]

We will find out who was right now, the Talent or the Coaching blamers.

Totally weird timing IMO. Are you doing this in response to the near loss to Mexico and expected loss to CR? Would you still have fired him if the lucky header doesn't go in vs Mexico and we draw 1-1? Gulati comes off as reactionary here, and if we look worse going forward in March is going to look like a moron.

I really don't think its quite reactionary as there are many reports coming out that Klinnsy had lost the lockerroom.

This all started bubbling up in the last Gold Cup, an atrocious performance from our NT. The decent performance at Copa America was nice, but the Costa Rica match was really, really bad. It wasn't the fact that we lost, it was 4-0 and the team lacked any passion or will to win at all.

And then the reports that Klinnsy had lost the locker room. He absolutely needed to go.

 

[Ulrich]

Not weird at all IMO. His job has been under pressure going in, and 0 out of 6 points to start the hex is simply not good, regardless of the opponent. It also seems clear that he has built some animosity with too much of the player pool and he may not be able to recover that.
This is the perfect timing, with the hex on break until March, the next manager has time to prepare for camp cupcake and get some type of organization and system in place for March. Imagine if they did not fire him now, waited to see if he can recover, he continues to be a buffoon, and then a decision has to be hastily made with shorter recovery time, in the middle of the MLS season limiting the replacement pool.

I really don't think its quite reactionary as there are many reports coming out that Klinnsy had lost the lockerroom.

This all started bubbling up in the last Gold Cup, an atrocious performance from our NT. The decent performance at Copa America was nice, but the Costa Rica match was really, really bad. It wasn't the fact that we lost, it was 4-0 and the team lacked any passion or will to win at all.

And then the reports that Klinnsy had lost the locker room. He absolutely needed to go.

No question he had to go, but if he lost the locker room that long ago and the players continued to show zero interest/effort, then they're also to blame for the current situation of 0-pts.

There may be times when I have lost respect for my boss, but I don't ever torpedo the project I'm working on - rather I continue to give the best I can out of self-pride. I'm pretty sure based on the eye-test that a number of US players didn't give everything because they wanted to speed this "process" along. That's sad and reprehensible on the national team level.

 

[adam]

Nagbe now looks like he could be captain. Took balls not to play, he must have seen the revolt bubbling in the locker room and didn't want any part of it. Now he's proven right and took the big stand for the players that also felt the ship was being steered in the wrong direction but we're afraid to sacrifice their MNT careers to make a stand.

How about this lineup next match?

Green - wood - pulisic
Benny - bedoya - Nagbe
Fabian - Cameron - brooks - yedlin
Guzan

PS, I could see little finger instead of benny. But I wanted to put him in there because he hasn't had a chance in years. Also LD as super sub.

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

Any time the American soccer writer hive mind loves something it turns out bad.

 

[Ulrich]

Nagbe now looks like he could be captain. Took balls not to play, he must have seen the revolt bubbling in the locker room and didn't want any part of it. Now he's proven right and took the big stand for the players that also felt the ship was being steered in the wrong direction but we're afraid to sacrifice their MNT careers to make a stand.

How about this lineup next match?

Green - wood - pulisic
Benny - bedoya - Nagbe
Fabian - Cameron - brooks - yedlin
Guzan

PS, I could see little finger instead of benny. But I wanted to put him in there because he hasn't had a chance in years. Also LD as super sub.

I wouldn't let Bedoya near the field, but that's just me. Using your lineup as a basis to start, shift Benny middle because that's his natural spot. Move Fabian to left midfield. Bring Tim Ream in for a look at Left Back - he gives the flexibility to play three in the back with Yedlin pushing up, or 5 in the back with Fabian dropping.

 

[413Blue]

Another uplifting part of this is that within hours, I've seen this reported on numerous outlets, including my local news websites, that I remember back in the day wouldn't touch soccer!