By FRANCO PANIZO
FT. LAUDERDALE, FLA. – Following the news that Omar Gonzalez was open to considering playing for Mexico, U.S. men's national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann was again asked about his roster omissions following Thursday evening's practice session.
He answered them in the same manner that he did following Tuesday's practice, though he went in more detail.
"We follow all (players), whether it's George John or other cases in the MLS," said Klinsmann. "Absolutely we have them on our radar screen. On the other side, we kind of develop our way of ranking the positions and we rank it in terms of we have our established one, and we have the challenger and then we have the third and the fourth and the fifth one. Is Omar a part of that? Yes. But I can only call in 18-22 players for a game and I go with the ones that have spot No. 1 and 2 right now."
Asked if having dual-citizenship players out there who aren't officially cap-tied to the United States plays a role in his decision-making, Klinsmann answered by saying that it doesn't.
"We have to make sure that the quality that we want to keep is the best," said Klinsmann. If they have the quality, we call them in if the moment is there. It depends also on other situations like if you're missing somebody, there's an injury there, you move up in that ranking. It could go fast and it could take forever, but it doesn't really necessarily play a role for us."
When asked, Klinsmann also said that he has not spoken with either Gonzalez or John. He also further elaborated on if he feels pressure to summon players who are eligible for the United States and another country.
"This will always kind of be a question that we have to face," said Klinsmann. "When maybe during additional stuff in order to have them become our player, but it also comes along with the quality that we kind of see in them. It's really kind of a juggle and it's case by case that we have to talk through that.
"I mean we have a list of players – if you look down to the under-23, under-20 ranks, if you look around what we have in Europe, it is mind blowing. – and you get your hands around all these kids, that's what we're trying to do step by step to do. Claudio (Reyna) plays a driving force in this identification process. Yes, we want to make sure that we don't have a kid slipping through, like Giuseppe Rossi that decides to play somewhere else, we want to have that next player play for us.
"On the other hand, on the senior level I have to make sure that we maintain the highest quality and getalso our games together, so it is a case by case scenario that we discuss in a group and then when we feel like maybe we have to do an extra jump, we will do that."
JK has very little to do with the World Cup performance as has been documented virtually everywhere. There is a reason he had been unemployed since his debacle at Bayern – he simply isn’t that good of a coach.
Also of note is that Bradley PLAYED Gonzalez. Twice. And to pretend now that Tim Ream is some terrible player after having a rough sophomore season in MLS is revisionist history. He had a fantastic rookie season and was (and still is) considered a terrific prospect.
+1
I don’t know if JK will be successful or not, but saying he’s only in this for the short term is just silly. He’s put a huge emphasis on youth development (and endorsed Reyna’s plans for making it better and more consistent across the country) and on broadening the player pool not just in Europe but in the US, especially among Latin players. Those aren’t the tenets of a Win-Now-and-Screw-the-Future coach.
+1
I just don’t see how Orozco-Fiscal and Ream are considered so much better than Gonzalez and John. New York’s back line has been there biggest weakness and Orozco has been subpar at best when playing for the MNT.
Everybody wants to be on the USMNT. The fact of the matter is that there IS an ever-growing pool of players in Europe and MLS to choose from and a number of decent players are going to be left out, and some of them are going to be unhappy about it. Besides which, a couple of friendlies wouldn’t do a durn thing towards cap-tying either Gonzalez or John to the USA anyway, it’d just make them momentarily happy.
Klinsmann does not strike me as a dumb or oblivious man, or a guy in search of a quick fix. Quite the contrary, he seems to have a very clear idea of what he wants to do and his whole M.O. is a system-wide overhaul.
This guy knows what he wants, and he is building to a specific plan. I’m inclined to kick back and see what he comes up with because we’re NOT in any sort of qualifying cycle at the moment. I’m a lot more interested to see if he can start to implement his system and then go from there.
My point was you were using Ream as an example to discredit Klinsmann’s philosophy and clearly Bradley favored him more heavily than Klinsmann does. Also of note is Bradley often called in Ream over Gonzalez and George John too. It is a hollow argument. You may be right to say people are dumb for blindly favoring Klinsmann because he is European but Ream as an example of that argument doesn’t hold any water.
I don’t think Mexico is interested in Omar Gonzalez, Greece has already shown interest in George John, so there’s more of a chance of that.
With all due disrespect, chief, you are a total D**K H**D. (Anyone disagree?) Yet again three or four rabid Klinsmann haters angry that BB got axed and now on the board in full battle gear trying to weaken team morale and fan support for Klinsmann by trying to spread their hate. You guys ain’t true USMNT fans. Go USA!
I like that Gooch is back in the selection but I really do think Gonzo deserves a call up over Ream now, the kid has showed what he can do for US and has given a couple of goals away. So now lets see what John and Gonzo can do.
I think JK is just choosing favorites and this is what I was afraid of. Castillo and Orozco are his favorites and they both have played poorly. After getting rid of Castillo JK still doesn’t get it that Orozco doesn’t belong with this group. Boca, Onyewu, Goodson, John, Gonzalez, Whitbread, and even Ream should be way ahead of Orozco. I don’t understand what JK sees in this guy. I just name 7 CB who are highly rank, skilled, and just better than Orozco and for some reason Orozco is in JK 1-2 CBs Get the F out of here!!!
BAHAHAAHA
I think of Gonzalez as being similar to Chad Marshall a few years ago. They are big, tough guys who are dangerous in the air when they have great service. Much like Marshall was over-rated because he was a solid young CB for a great team, Gonzalez is now in the same boat. I’ve watched Gonzalez, Marshall and Ream a lot the last 2 years, and Ream has much greater potential than the others. I know he’s struggling and has defensive lapses, but I see him ultimately being more successful on the international level.
no offense, but Disky blows
Ream is a better long-passer and distributor, but he has been out of form. It has been a nightmare year for a kid that has more potential than all of the USA defenders.
Gonzalez>John
melodrama…nothing learned here at all we didn’t already understand
“We have to make sure that the quality that we want to keep is the best,” — Coach Klinsmann
basically a phook you to Gonzo, John, etc.
got it
No excuse for calling up the awful Ream over Omar and John
lmao
The greatest mystery has been Orozco Fiscal — because he got so much time to prove himself and did so little with it, yet continues to benefit from Klinsmann’s 1-2 Buckle My Shoe system.
church
Your right ..you call them up because they’re BETTER than what you currently have occupying your #2 spots. In doing so you also get the added benefit of cap tying them. see how easy that is Klinnsman?
The problem is his rating system..not his M.O
As of mid season Johns passing % was 83% compared to Reams 85%.
Is 2% worse passing that much of a price to pay for a player superior in all other categories INCLUDING Pace/athleticism?
You sir are the one fooling yourself
haha awesome
Just playing devils advocate, if not playing is a reason why Ream has worse or equal technical ability as John or Gonzalez, then what does not being called in say about the aformentioned two not being called in?
Tim Ream continually getting called up boggles my mind. He is not elite in the MLS let alone on the USMNT. For an example because John was brought up, I would take either George John UGo Hemelu from Dallas over Ream. I know Ugo is older so throw him out.
Anyone who has watched the MLS this year and for the past year could tell you but John>Ream in every part of the game. Passing, Defense, quickness, speed, winning balls in the air, offense, soccer knowledge.
For as much as Klingsmann says he was going to look for talent, from what I have scene he has stuck to his guys which he identified pretty quickly and not gone out to find new people. Maybe they dont exist and maybe John and Omar are not quality enough. But as long as Tim Ream continues to get called into camp then I know there are better defenders out there.
there must be acid in your dispenser
National teams do not develop players. Clubs do. We as a fan base need to stop mixing this up. Not to long ago Braderton a national youth set up was our primary method of developing young talent so I can see where the mix up stems from. However, with the emergence of MLS academies we are finally seeing, in my opinion, the best way to develop a wide range of talented youngsters.
Furthermore, I believe it is a national team coaches job to choose the most in form players that fit his system and to form a core (consistent group of 7-8 or more that are in the squad regularly).
If you disagree with his selections by all means make your voice heard, but don’t chalk it up to autonomy.
+1.
I swear if we win the next 10 games people will still be pissed about something.
I like what Klinsy is doing, and he’s innocent until proven guilty (i.e. some major tourneys, qualifying, etc). If those go crappy, then yeah, he’s messing things up.
I would just like to point out that the German public criticized the CRAP out of Klinsy leading up to the 2006 WC. They lost their last preparation game (I forget who they played against). The fans really did NOT buy into his system AT ALL leading up to Germany ’06.
Then they got 3rd place.
Probably won’t happen with us, but I think we’ve yet to see the best of Jurgen.
Good post, I couldn’t agree more. I’m not holding my breath until the Olympics, and even then that’s only u-23.
First comment: I don’t think Omar dialed up ESPN and said “hey tell everyone I want to play for Mexico.” Virtually every dual national, when asked, says they will consider any country that calls. Even Najar (not even a citizen) feigned interest in the US for a while and then afterwards admitted that was never a possibility. So everyone on the “Omar’s a jerk for trying to force Klinnsman’s hand” bandwagon needs to chill. 99% of pro soccer players will not miss out on the chance for international soccer (or for being a starter vs. a role player) even if it means violating their primary national loyalty, and 99% of dual-nationals try to be diplomatic to both nations by claiming “whoever comes first” or “Yeah I’d think about it” when asked.
Second: Everyone keeps saying “Gonzo/John don’t match our system.” Well, we aren’t Barcelona. The primary job of a defender is to DEFEND. Yes, keeping possession is a great form of defense, but we aren’t good enough to out-possess top tier teams. Against top competition you need guys like Jay Demerit who is a sub-par distributor but can stonewall guys like Wayne Rooney. Obviously you’d rather they be top defenders and distributors, but when push comes to shove you need DEFENDERS not “good passers who happen to stand behind the midfield.” Unless Tim Ream develops the defensive ability Bocanegra or Demerit used to have (he’s already 24), he’ll need to at least be partnered in the center with a pure defender. I don’t know what’s coming up the U-23 pipeline, but I know Boca and Onyewu aren’t getting any younger, and nobody currently 20 is going to be ready for prime-time in 3 years. We might be in trouble if Gonzo and John are CB’s #3 and #4 in Brazil, but imo, we don’t have enough wealth of talent to not even attempt to cultivate defenders like that.
Orozco-Fiscal, man. Born 1986. Can’t be 29. Like…. if you don’t like a player, at least get his facts right (and the order of his last name) so you can bash the right stuff :
I doubt he called them out. I really don’t think he’s the one that brought them up.
The media is really awesome at making that he perception, though. This is the problem with answering media questions in an honest fashion. It really gives people the wrong impression.
Gonzalez won’t get called up by Mexico because they don’t call up mls players who haven’t played for Barcelona.
Geoff Cameron should get a call up at cb over Gonzales, ream, John and orozco. He played out of position for his team 90 percent of season and was still an allstar on defense.
Completely off-topic, but:
Hey Ives, hope your Stankees enjoy the rest of the postseason on the golf course with the Red Sox!
(Ives completely deserves this, with all the crap talking he did.)
“…and he had Donovan as a forward even though he is a midfielder. Then he loses Donovan to injury, and he calls up another out and out striker instead of a sort of hybrid player.”
I don’t really understand this; he lost Donovan, who he listed as a striker, so he called in another striker. This looks to me like a consistent move.
As far as his overall roster selection, it’s understandable that it’s disappointing to a lot of us, since we aren’t scoring a bunch of goals. The fact of the matter is, we are better than we were with other selections. I bet a lot of readers will disagree with me, but look at what we are complaining about: finishing.
Are we WORSE at finishing under Klinsy? No. Are we more attractive and possession-oriented in our style of play? Yes. Essentially, he has (so far, in 3 games) changed us up from a team that couldn’t boss possession OR finish, to a team that is learning how to boss possession, but still can’t finish.
Per the average USMNT fan’s expectations, I see a lackluster product. At the same time, however, I see improvement and progress. And I think this conclusion is what keeps me at rest with his roster choices. With his choices, we have so far been better than we were with previous players. Let’s just hope we continue the gradual upward trend.
Agreed, If Omar was a strong prospect he’d be playing for Borussia Dortmund in the Champion’s League but he’s not.
Is that really true? If Gonzalez filed a one-time switch to Mexico now, he’d be effectively cap-tied (like Danny Williams is to the US). It’s a *one-time* switch, after all.
yes, my dude!
#1 hate when players (or their agents) claim they are looking opportunities they really have never been offered.
See rio Ferdinand, Chad 85, Gonzalez, hate to say it but bob Bradley with Fulham and villa, many others..
Imagine if Bob Bradley was so frank, ‘yes Bornstein is ranked #1’.
Of the younger defender prospects, I’d say John>Ream>Orozco>Gonzalez.
One third of the German roster Low called in, is either foreign born or one parent was. There is no shame in courting dual players.
Inconsistent? What are you smoking!? The kid is a rock in the back for LA and is a huge reason why LA has the best defense in the league; great Distributor of the ball as well. He is also a BEAST in the air, but I guess you wouldnt know because apparently you’ve never watched him.
From what I get, Reyna rates him low. Low enough not to talk to.
That’s what he said. Don’t agree but like his frankness.
I’m only trying to look at things from another perspective. Gooch, Boca, and Omar are all big players who hold their own very well. But none of them are known for their passing. Where as Ream and Orozco are better passers. Maybe JK is looking for one big and one passer. I never said I agree with Omar being left out, but we don’t know which perspective he is looking at.
I liked that he said he rated them lower because I couldn’t understand their omissions.
If that was the case why hasn’t Ream earned 1 minute of play? Not one!
Good answer, I was one who worried.