photo by Nick Turchiaro/ISIphotos.com
Jeff Larentowicz has become the latest player to heed Jurgen Klinsmann's advice.
Larentowicz has joined English Premier League club Bolton Wanderers for a training stint during the MLS offseason, joining the long list of domestic-based U.S. men's national team players to train abroad.
The 28-year-old Colorado Rapids midfielder played twice under Klinsmann in September and was included on the U.S. roster for the October friendlies, but he was not called into the November camp.
What do you think of Larentowicz training with Bolton? Think he deserves another look with the U.S. men's national team?
Share your thoughts below.
I haven’t followed his career closely, but he played well in his 15 or so minutes against Belgium. I remember his cutting out one specific through ball on an error by someone else which would have resulted in a Belgian one-on-one with Tim Howard.
Pretty sure Holden’s here in Houston rehabbing, although he’ll probably spend the weekend in LA to catch the MLS Cup Final.
Who says Klinsmann organized this. Larentowicz has an agent, and as far as I know JK has no connection to Bolton. Klinsmann says ‘I want MLS players to stay in shape in the too-long offseason,’ so players who would like to see more time in the USMNT shirt look for loan spells.
There is no downside to this news, however much the Debbie Downers would like there to be.
I am unabashedly a Jeff Larentowicz partisan and I think the Ginja Ninja deserves another shot for the USMNT after he’s trained with a team that plays at a higher speed.
I would love to see Geoff Cameron get a training stint in post-MLS Cup. Would really boost his chances of the call up he already deserves.
If you did,you’d see them playing there.
It’s not about whether Edu, for example is a better player than Beckerman.
He is a better player but what most US fans can’t seem to get through their heads is that just because you are a superior player it doesn’t mean you play better than the inferior player.
Mo is great but he doesn’t always play great. If he always did he would have been the unquestioned starting defensive midfielder a very long time ago.
Beckerman follows directions and one thing I’ve noticed is since he has been a regular, there are no more early goals. Remember when topic number one was how the US always
gave up the early goal?
Beckerman is as bad as you all say he is but the defense looks better than it has in a long time.
Say “hey” to Stuart for us Jeff!
It is only TRAINING. Sweet buttery beans, man! Clubs do this all the time. Plus I think Klinsi has a few more coupons left in the “take my Joe Schmagega and allow him to train with your sexy Euro team” coupon book. So chilax. He still has a lot more “just anybodys” to send over for…[gulp] training stints.
Could this be more? Possibly. For Jeff’s and the USMNT’s sake I hope so. But if nothing comes of it, then that’s cool too. You know why? Because it’s just a training stint.
Not that I am saying this is your position, but many of the comments on here have the undertones of “how can this mere MLS guy be associated with this/my sexy Euro club.” It’s not like we just hijacked Dan Smoothie from the local fish market and sent him there. Our guys ado have quality. Are they world class (whatever in the world that is)? Probably not. But then again I don’t see the Boltons of the world oozing over with Messi-esqu type players.
Yup
Dude, while out of fashion, Quaaludes are a fine option for you.
And yet he still wouldn’t get anywhere close to regular playing time for them. We’re talking about horrid in the Premier League here.
If that were true then most every defender I’ve seen in most European leagues must be slow.
Shirt pulling is SOP for the most part over there.
God doesn’t watch South Park.
+2
Haters will continue to hate.
Yeah, during they’re most recent tour they had a couple days off in Boston so he went and trained with the Revs. It was on mlssoccer
I’d call that an overreaction– these are players solidly in our national team pool, highly doubt they’ll embarrass themselves. Good enough to make the first team? Maybe not. Good enough to train? Yes.
Starting to get the feeling that this is is “throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks”.
Sort of a random shotgun apporoach.
Its experimental and I hope it doesn’t come back to bite JK on the arse. The last thing you want is to send over “just anybody”. Sooner or later, clubs will then just ignore or turn down your requests. JK only has so many bullets in his gun for this tactic to work.
If it takes hold then great, if not its curtain for US players.
I don’t think he belongs on the USMNT, but good for him on continuing to train during the MLS offseason.
Kyle Broflovski is better than Beckerman in: freekicks, finish chances, slightly better soccer IQ wise. Beckerman was lost vs France (not the only one).
the actual linked article in Ives post says it is a trial
LMAO, so true!
In soccer once you hit in your high 20’s low 30’s you’re old for this sports. This isn’t like Basketball or Baseball you can play in the top leagues until you’re 40. If Larentowicz and Beckerman we’re both in their low 20’s then this will mean so much more and they’ll have an amazing chance to improve and play for top teams in the best leagues. In that sense I’m proud of there guys for improving their games but in the end it will be to little to late for them. Glad to see Jurgen have great connection through out Europe and hope he starts doing this with the U23 players because they are our future and present for our USMNT.
IMO this does NOTHING to hurt the players going over there. Awesome job by USSF and JK.
Did he really?
+1
+1
You know how you can tell he’s slow? Look at how many times he pulls jerseys from behind…
So these training stints are meaningless, yet having a player train with the best players and ride the pine in Europe is a good thing – especially (I am not suggesting you ever said this) when compared to playing in MLS? I added that last part as the natural progression of things.
Training is training and he gets a chance to train in a new environment, stay sharp and fresh and maybe with some luck improve his game. It’s easy to hate on these MLS guys, especially when it comes to Nats callups, but the people in the know, you know the people who get paid to make those calls and evaluations, know what they are doing.
Tom,
I feel he gets gassed because he needs to exert himself so much to keep up with the pace of the international game. Once you get 10 minutes into the second half, its time to get him off the field because he can’t close down space effectively anymore.
These “relationships” between EPL teams and MLS (even Chivas and Chivas USA) do not seem to provide anything of value that I can see. They get to play some pre or post season matches from time to time….but that seems to be about it.
I thought part of the ownership group at Rapids was shared by Arsenal or something (and partly how they got connected to their coach). I would have thought that would have made it easy for some Rapids guys to go on loan or for training (i am not saying make the team, but go on load or maybe help get some invites into other teams from there) but Arsenal seemed closer to NY (which shares ownership with a company that of course owns a team in Austria) because of Henry. I would have thought some of the Houston guys might have gotten some looks by Bolton.
I am happy to see any top MLS player (and USMNT option) get looks at by other leagues, but it seems odd that Coach K would have to say “look at this guy” when teams like Bolton already have direct relationships with MLS teams and even play MLS matches in the summer on tour.
Maybe they should just have some guy on the staff in the UK who can just checkout the MLS blog from time to time or look at the MLS-All start roster and do a little research…heck…lets give each MLS team a free account on Match Day Live 😉 I am glad coach K is pushing for his guys…just find it odd that some of these players do not seem to be on the radar of some of these teams on their own.
Yes, tend to agree. Really good MLS player. It is good that he’ll get to train in Germany, though. I know everyone says he’s slow, and at times, he certainly seems to drag, but other times he is very quick to the ball. Is he really slow or does he wear himself out chasing plays unnecessarily and get gassed?
for whom?
Let’s see. You’re (Larentowitz) a professional soccer player. Let’s assume you actually want to be the best professional you possibly can.
You’re offered to train with a great team.
Regardless of what follows, he will have the opportunity to train with some excellent players.
MLS players having the chance to improve with these stints (albeit terribly short ones) helps the whole league.
Good for Laretnweo…err Jeff. It will be a good opportunity for him to pick up a few things and bring them back to MLS. It’s highly unlikely Bolton would sign him, so everyone can calm down about this being a trial. He’s just training.
Because every training stint IS a trial, to some extent. Maybe a long-shot, but a trial nonetheless.
It IS amazing how many overboard reactions there are by people when players train. Is it possible that Bolton will try to make a play for him? Sure. Anything can happen. But it’s training. The bassist of MUSE trained with the Revs….But they not signing him.
It’s not as though Bolton claimed he was the savior for the season.
so I assume you haven’t seen bolton play this year then? They’ve been horrid
Its training not a trial why do people always associate the two??
Love all the players getting training time overseas, no matter who they are. This will benefit MLS as a whole.
Proof that these training stints are meaningless
Is this a joke?
sorry, no way he makes the bolton squad (even if this were a trial).
he is simply not THAT good.
at this point, he is what he is and wont really be getting any better. I think he could be a fine player for a club like bolton, though I’d him mostly as a reserve/cup player rather than a starter
I hope this becomes the norm for all MLS players. It will help the quality of play in the league will increase even more
both him and beckerman are good solid players but I dont see them in the national team…think we have better players in that position.
That’s awesome for Jeff. He’s a hard working player. He’s the type of guy who can handle the defensive load on his own. He needs to take his game to the next level, so hopefully this is the first step.
good move. top MLS midfielder and he could use regular exposure to a higher level of play. should make him better.
Agreed, I love Beckerman as an MLS captain and team leader, but to be the connecting point of our midfield and back line as well as extinguishing fires? Not exactly
Beckerman is a good player but oh my god is he slow. Some days it appears as if he is running in quicksand which is not ideal for the international level. Wondering when we will get to see Benny Feilhaber in a US jersey again.
Actually, check that – I like him on the Nats over Beckerman any day lol
I like Jeff a lot, so I am happy for him. I don’t think he merits a spot on the Nats until he performs at a high level in a more competitive league, but I don’t doubt he could perform if given the chance in the Prem