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Klinsmann reiterates desire to bring top USMNT players to final friendlies of 2013

USMNT train in Panama

Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

We may currently be in the midst of the MLS playoffs, but not even that will stop U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann from calling in his best players later this month.

Klinsmann reiterated his desire to select the best possible group for upcoming friendlies in Europe against Scotland and Austria in an interview with ussoccer.com on Wednesday, saying that he would summon his top players from all around the world and even those who will still be in the thick of things in the MLS postseason.

This season’s MLS playoff format is such that there is a near two-week window in which games will not be played so as to not conflict with the final FIFA date of the year, and that is likely to result in Klinsmann calling in several MLS-based players.

“Because MLS scheduled their playoffs with respect to our FIFA fixture dates, it’s basically working hand-in-hand,” said Klinsmann. “We’re going to bring the best players into Scotland and Austria no matter where they play. No matter if they play like Michael Bradley in Italy or the guys in the [English] Premier League, the Bundesliga or the guys in Liga MX in Mexico and MLS. Because of MLS creating that window between their playoff games, that helps make our two games really exciting.”

The final two friendlies, in Scotland on Nov. 15 and Austria four days later, will also give Klinsmann an opportunity to see his European-based players one last time before the year comes to a close. Klinsmann hinted at the possibility of bringing in Michael Bradley, who recently returned from an ankle injury, as well as John Brooks, Fabian Johnson, and Terrence Boyd.

“You mentioned Michael Bradley, and he is very key for us,” said Klinsmann. “We are thrilled he’s back in the starting lineup now after his injury. We watch all the other players getting their rhythm. We see Fabian Johnson and John Brooks now coming back from their injuries. I’ve talked to their coaches, and they are ready to go again. Alejandro Bedoya is doing extremely well with FC Nantes in France. Aron Johannsson is in his rhythm in Holland. With Terrence Boyd at Rapid Vienna, he’s totally motivated for this camp to play in the second match against Austria. It’s great to see how Jozy (Altidore) is fighting his way through in the Premier League. I will go to see Sunderland play Manchester City on the weekend. Maybe that helps him get his first goal in the Premier League there!”

Klinsmann stressed the importance of having all his healthy players, whether based domestically or abroad, in camp as it is one of the last times the U.S. will come together prior to next summer’s World Cup in Brazil. In fact, there are only a handful of FIFA fixtures left between now and next June.

“It always helps when they come in every game and train together,” said Klinsmann. “We see so many things in training and in games. So for us, in the few opportunities we have to see them directly together, we can send out specific messages, and we can discuss with a lot of players—especially players from MLS and Liga MX—what their offseason should look like after the playoffs are done.

“Having everybody on board, getting everybody together and having those meetings are very crucial to us because we build chemistry for the World Cup. We want to see who’s really 1,000 percent dedicated to everything we do. Therefore, every day we have together in our group means a lot to us.”

As for the upcoming opponents, Klinsmann expects two teams that will be motivated to win in front of their respective home fans after just missing out on qualifying for the World Cup last month.

Scotland suffered a 5-1 defeat to the U.S. in a friendly last May, and the time of the match played a part in that loss. That is why Klinsmann is expecting a much tougher test this time around, not only from Scotland but from Austria as well.

“It’s a team very different from last year,” said Klinsmann of Scotland. “They came to Jacksonville to finish their season and they simply wanted to have a good time and go on vacation. The coach, even after the match, kind of apologized and said, ‘Shoot, it was hard to push them up again.’ I said, ‘It’s totally understandable.’ It helped us get our confidence for our World Cup Qualifier last summer.

“This team now just barely missed the World Cup. This team twice beat Croatia, which still has a chance to go to the World Cup. It’s a team full of competitiveness that every time they play in Hampden Park in Glasgow is full of energy and full of enthusiasm and great attitude because they want to show their crowd that they’re good. For us, it’s a great benchmark to face them on their home turf and fully motivated. It’s great because it puts us on our toes a half year before the World Cup.

“It’s a similar case is Austria. Austria is full of talent and came very close to making the World Cup. They had a tough group with Germany and Sweden and still almost made it. They have a point to prove, to show their fans that they should be in Brazil. They want to show off, so we have to be very alert, be very sharp and play our game. To play those two stadiums in Glasgow and in Vienna is a highlight. Those are places you want to play, and for our players it’s the right benchmark to show how good they are.”

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What do you think of Klinsmann’s approach to these final two friendlies of 2013? Which players would you like to see called in?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. JK seems to be the right coach at the right time. History has proven that timing is everything; I believe that the US federation could not have chosen a more appropriate moment to nominate the endearing and sympathetic Teuton. Should the decision have been made a cycle earlier, I’m not convinced he would have been as successful.
    Until the recent coming of age of a prolific generation of US talent, you really needed a homegrown coach because the player selection was pretty straightforward (the pool being quite limited) and a high profile international coach would have been superfluous. I stand firm in my conviction that the invaluable local to local synergies Arena and BB shared with their squads were instrumental in getting the most out of otherwise lackluster and mediocre squads, characterized by limited resumes and insufficient top-flight experience – save for the odd exception. At that time, the US was still transitioning into international soccer relevancy. The paternalistic attribute delivered by our American coaches brought much need guidance, confidence, and inspiration; and, it allowed us to severely overachieve on multiple occasions.
    However, towards the end of the BB era, US soccer had entered a more mature phase. Talents long in the making began sprouting left and right (not the mention the German born armada), and our boys started to play all over the globe more frequently. One could sense during the twilight of BB’s tenure how our bold (and bald) champion was struggling to cope with the new landscape of US soccer, where a resource once scarce suddenly became bountiful. Therefore, it seemed to me that the time was ripe to graduate to a more high profile coach, one better acquainted with the upper echelons of world soccer, thus providing a legitimate platform to propel US soccer to greater heights. So far JK fits the bill quite well. Obviously, his ability to harness the power of our German foreign legions is a great asset (despite the controversy teeming on these boards), one that will surely have positive repercussions well beyond his time, as it sets positive precedents bound to encourage further allegiances.
    The next phase is to be able to produce world class US coaches, which will have tested their metal in top leagues abroad (or coaching other nations to success on the international stage) and will return home, combining advanced tactical management and world soccer street smarts to local familiarity. While it still seems a distant horizon, all we need is a “Jackie Robinson” of US coaching, thereby opening the gates to more and more yank skippers in Europe.
    Personally, having followed US soccer for a long time and still remembering the day when Caligiuri’s 30 yard left-footed volley vs. T&T sent us to our first WC in 50 years and initiated the irresistible momentum which, two decades later, is enabling us to debate about the USMNT in such passionate manner, I am confident in our growth as a footballing nation and hereby turn my gaze with great anticipation towards the next two decades, for which I foresee unprecedented success for both US players in elite leagues and our national team. Granted, I’ll be a grumpy old bastard by then, but perhaps I will be able to say: we did it, what a grand adventure it has been!

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    • Mat, you provided a great description of the growth of modern US soccer with Herr Klinsmann now cranking it up to a true world level. He has introduced a more possessive and pressing style of soccer which has been very successful for the US. I only see two weaknesses which Klinsi needs to address before playing in the WC. One, we have too many poachers up front (Jozy, Dempsey & E. Johnson) and hopefully the young and very talented AJ will fix this problem. Two, the defensive line needs more speed and experience and hopefully Klinsi will find another talented player or two to help out. Note, the German national team has a similar defensive weakness. I hope the US team plays wunderbar against the Scots and those Vienna boys!!

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  2. In all the hub-bub on this thread, forgot about one point in the article above that is baffling. Klinsmann says Fabian is coming back from injuries but Fabian last weekend again failed to make the game-day roster. Maybe Klinsmann has been informed that Fabian will rejoin the team this weekend, but he has been out for six weeks or so, makes me wonder if it would not be wise to leave Fabian off the November USMNT roster and instead regain his fitness at the club.

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    • Was just going to say that, both were had shots and Rapid Wien up 2-1 over Genk. I think Terrence is trying to show he deserves to start next week for the USMNT in Vienna for the home-town fans. Would be nice to see.

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      • Yeah I kind feel for him, he’s been with the team so much but only gotten limited minutes. Been playing really well so far this year, deserves a shot.

        Johannsson probably should of had one on a break away but put it right into the keeper.

  3. I wanted the US to hire Klinsmann a long time ago and despite a couple of bumps in the road he has certainly delivered. Whatever you think of his managing ability, you have to love his enthusiasm and optimism. Since jklinsmann came in with the intention of changing the whole system, we won’t be able to really judge his effectiveness until 2018. I hope he stays at least until then.

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  4. We do have more depth now, but watch our last game in 2002 WC against Germany, where we were robbed (we scored, which was batted out after crossing the line, by a hand no less). Germany went onto the final. We haven’t been too bad for a while, but we are even better now. I would hope that if we meet Ghana again things will be different this time around. I like our chances better now.

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    • I see people citing this all the time, with good reason. But let’s not forget that the goal would have only tied the game and there is no telling what would have happened in extra time or penalty kicks. The US had a great run, but Germany certainly was a better team.

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    • Every time we met Ghana the media hyped us as the favorite. Hopefully they are more humble in 2014 since technically we have never beat the at any level.

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  5. Klinsmann is a God! He has made all the right moves as our coach. He will get us to the Semi-Finals of the World Cup. On any given day, we have the quality and grit to beat any team in the world,.

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      • Oh, you would love that wouldn’t you biff? I will look soo terrible and people will disregard the job I’ve done thus far if I don’t call in a defender that plays at “Nottingham Forest”…wouldn’t want that to happen.

        GUTEN TAG

  6. More importantly, was Klinnsman able to watch the MLS playoff games last night? He’s got to have an MLS Live account, right? I wonder if he’s sitting at home streaming on his laptop wishing he had an HDMI cable to put the game on his big screen.

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  7. Klinsmann’s ego is so completely out of control if he thinks he can make Jozy score an actual goal for Sunderland. Has he seen that team play? (I know he’s kidding and jabbing Jozy a bit)

    For USMNT fans, Sunderland’s offensive competency is equivalent to putting a Beckerman, Jones, Edu “death to offense” midfield combined with a Robbie Findley, Conor Casey and Chad Barrett triumvurate to blow the few chances actually created

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    • Dude, do you have about the hardest time with sarcasm as almost anyone on this board or what? It’s all good man, JK will get the troops motivated and he’s been a game changer as far as Jozy is concerned. He’s made these players fight and earn the spots, not just be along for the ride.

      Example 1: There is no way in hell that Ricardo Clark should have been starting on that 2010 WC squad. JK has proven that he will never make a mistake like that. Need I provide more?

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      • Chill with that, it’s not 100% that Clark won’t be on that roster in Brazil with the way he is playing ATM. I DON’T THINK HE WILL BE, but IMO, he’s better than Beckerman…not that that means much lol

    • Someone is wearing his Anti-Klinsy panties on today.

      We’re in the WC, we won the Hex by a very comfortable margin, we’ve gotten “First ever” results, our team plays a more attractive brand of soccer, and our depth has been improved and reinforced with younger talent and yet STILL people are not content. I was going to use “satisfied” in place of “content” but I couldn’t as only advancing further in the WC than in previous editions would actually satisfy me. However, you’re going to tell me you’re not even remotely content?

      Looks like Ebenezer Scrooge made an early appearance this year.

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      • He’s done very well for us, and if we get to the second round or better, he’s going to be poached by a team that is willing to give him more Benjamins.

      • He makes plenty of ‘Benjamins’ with the USMNT. And if it came to that, if he brings the results in Brazil, he’ll get all the ‘Benjamins’ he wants from Nike, I mean US Soccer.

      • Exactly. The financial opportunity is as good at the USMNT as anywhere, if not better and this is his home. The only thing that would drag him away is the professional aspect of perhaps coaching at the club level.

      • Guys, chill. If you know anything about Klinsmann, you’d know he’s been WANTING the USMNT job for some time now.

      • I don’t think Klinsmann would be good for an established team. As silly as it sounds, He would be great for England. He could clear out that teams deadwood and they have a ton.

      • I am not sure JK is that motivated by money (though he did demand a lot more than Bradley was paid). A lot of the improvement the team has seen is as much a result of the US player pool getting better and JK had very little to do with the development of Besler, Johannssen, Beasley, Bradley, Dempsey, etc. That had a lot more to do with the overall improvement in US soccer at every level and that has been on going for a long time. For example the days when most college soccer could best be described as “50 yards and a cloud of dust” are gone, even though the NCAA substitution rules still encourage 100-mile-an-hour go-go running at the expense of skill, it is still much better than even 15 years ago.

      • @Dennis: I agree that a lot of the improvement we are now seeing in soccer was set in motion long before Bob Bradley was fired and replaced with Jurgen Klinsmann. But I am not sure I agree with you that JK is not motivated by money. He demanded a base salary 4 to 5 times more than BB. And, if news reports are correct, Klinsmann demanded a clause in his contract that will pay him between $500,000 and $10.5 million in bonuses based on how deep the USMNT advances at next summer’s world cup. It’s possible that he already has received a big bonus for the USMNT simply qualifying for the World Cup. Did BB have those sort of bonus inducements in his USMNT contract for WC 2010?

        Here is a link to one news article mentioning Klinsmann’s exorbitant bonus demands.

        http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2013/09/25/u-s-national-team-coaches-earnings/

      • sorry abou the stutter post, this one got moderated and I thought it would withheld because of the link to Mr. Goff.

      • @Dennis: I agree that a lot of the improvement we are now seeing in soccer was set in motion long before Bob Bradley was fired and replaced with Jurgen Klinsmann. But I am not sure I agree with you that JK is not motivated by money. He demanded a base salary 4 to 5 times more than BB. And, if news reports are correct, Klinsmann demanded a clause in his contract that will pay him between $500,000 and $10.5 million in bonuses based on how deep the USMNT advances at next summer’s world cup. It’s possible that he already has received a big bonus for the USMNT simply qualifying for the World Cup. Did BB have those sort of bonus inducements in his USMNT contract for WC 2010?

      • cite some “game-changing” examples please… to me the USMNT looks like the same level of squad we’ve seen for a decade with more Americans of German origin layered in…

        1st in the Hex? (also in 06, 10)
        Gold Cup win? (also in 05, 07)
        beating #1 ranked team in the World in a tournament (oops that was Bradley)

        let’s hold our horses on “game-changing” until there’s actual change taken place, like a semi-final appearance at WC- THAT’s game-changing…

      • not going quibble over game changing but I disagree with he “same level of squad we’ve seen for a decade”. This team is deep and in my opinion has never had this level of talent across the board.

      • I have to agree with the depth part….the current squad has seen players step in all over the field when our starters were unavailable and still achieved results.
        I remember all to well the years where you could predict exactly who was in the starting 11 game after game….and if anyone was injured/suspended, more often than not, the team would fail to get a result.
        The results under JK may have equeled those of other USMNT Coaches, but they way they’ve been achieved is different. So far this cycle we’ve gotten results while missing 1) Our best midfielder – Bradley, 2) One of the best players – Donovan, 3) Our best defender – Dolo, 4) Our best Keeper – Howard, 5) Benched our best striker – Jozy, 6) Started 2 neophites @ CB together – Gonzalez & Besler….Through all this JK has found ways to motivate the team, played with formations, gotten what almost everyone considered fringe players (Evans & Beasley) playing like contenders, and brought in some very promissing young talent.

      • Depth is not on Klinsmann, I could be the coach and would still have the same depth. This is nothing against JK it just the fact that as a nation we are getting better and better and have more options as players. 10 years ago if you were in Europe sitting on the bench you could make the USMNT now you have to be doing playing and playing well.

        But I agree Klinsmann has really come around and done a great job. But my final rating of him will be after the WC. Depending on the group we are in and how far we get.

      • i disagree that our depth is at an all-time high (or whatever). i think we have very close competition for slots in the starting 11, but i believe that comes down to our would-be starters not locking in their spot due to poor form/injury/landon’s vacay, not necessarily the stellar play of the ‘other guys’.

        i do think that the talent pool is a lot stronger, but i don’t think that has anything to do with klinsmann, which is who we were originally talking about.

      • “Nate Dollars
        i disagree that our depth is at an all-time high (or whatever).”

        When has the USMNT’s depth been better?

      • I 2nd Rowsdower. The depth and competition at each position has never been higher. He’s had a major influence of changes made in the preparation and development of American players at all levels. If I remember correctly it was a condition of him coming on board which is why they chose Bradley back in 2006.

      • blokhin – Yes, your stats are correct and have no dispute with them. But as Mr. Einstein said, “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” You cannot measure Klinsmann’s success right now, but you will appreciate it in the future. You are looking at the trees, but suggest you look at the forest.

      • Why do I feel like I am talking to a person with a fervent disdain for JK? JK is a game changer for a number of reasons. His success cannot be measured by 1 WC cycle. BTW, this is completely subjective and the matter of opinion and not fact. Stats do nothing to support opinion. JK has changed the landscape for US soccer and his contributions cannot be quantified. If you haven’t seen the light yet, I hope you will soon my friend.

      • …I have no idea because it’s literally nothing like that scene in Moneyball. Do you, or do you not feel more confident RIGHT NOW with the national team than you have in the last decade? If the answer is yes, like most of us, then you have to give JK some credit here. Yes, the pool is looking better, but that shouldn’t be used as an excuse to diminish the value of what JK has done. If we were playing poorly everyone would blame Klinsmann, I just dont understand why some people don’t want to give him any credit while we are winning. (We look incredible!-It’s all on the players. We look terrible!-Klinsmann needs to go.) Who else would you rather have managing this team right now?

      • he absolutely has been game changing. sure we’ve had our successes before in the hex and GC, that’s always expected to continue. But this team plays such a different style of soccer. It’s leaps and bounds better than when we were stagnant with Brian Ching as our lone forward. No more long-ball counters and set pieces. We can score in the run of play through our midfield. Klinsmann is revamping not only our USMNT, but also the younger levels too, trying to improve the quality and consistency of our training and tactics. I think even if we don’t make it out of our WC group I want him to stay another cycle, just to make sure these wholesale changes to the entire system get set into place.

      • Great points bb, I totally agree with you. I love J/K for nothing else then the fact we actually play the ball out of the back now as opposed to just launching it forward up the field in hopes of a forward tracking it down.

      • ‘I think even if we don’t make it out of our WC group I want him to stay another cycle, just to make sure these wholesale changes to the entire system get set into place.’

        why? this is an honest question; i would rather win a world cup playing bradley-ball than not ever make the knock-outs playing klinsmann-ball. not that i think it’ll never happen playing attractive soccer–but when it comes down to it, i just don’t care about the system. as long as our guys play clean and fair, i don’t care how we win.

      • well yeah, if those are the two choices then I choose winning the WC playing ugly, but I think we will have more success in the years to come with the tactics he is installing for the USMNT, developing a more technical style which the US lacked on a team-level. The fact that Klinsmann has said that we need to increase player development at the younger levels as well makes me hopeful that we won’t revert to a reactive long-ball style of play when he’s gone.

      • okay, i was just wondering, because i’ve met a few people who seemed to value ‘attractive soccer’ at the expense of actually advancing in tournaments. it would indeed be awesome if we were able to succeed with a more free-flowing attacking style.

      • agree with you on that, Nate Dollars. that statement had to have been written by JK’s private PR flack trying to finagle and contract extension now, not later.

      • ha, i think the pr flack is “Joe” up top who said that klinsmann’s ‘contributions cannot be quantified’.

        reminds me of tom on office space: ‘I have people skills!’

      • I was more thinking in terms of if we can’t get out of a group of death, I’m just worried we’ll get stuck in one due to the wacky FIFA seedings and the pots we’ll get placed in.

      • we scored at a better rate in the Hex under Bradley than Klinsmann-wan’t even close….bu they we looked good scoring less! yay!

        (this s not a defense of Bradley whose time had passed, but a “slow down” to these bandwagoners whose euphoria is clouding objective analysis

      • …this was considered by many to be the toughest HEX ever.(Ask Mexico if you don’t believe me) When you add the fact that we were implementing a new system in the beginning of this HEX AND one of the games we played at home was in conditions not conducive to scoring, stating we scored more with Bob Bradley is more deceptive than illuminating.

      • The stuff is getting might thick around here. I would argue that Klinsmann’s you-know-what was saved by the Brian Straus article in March. Let’s not forget, guys, that in February Klinsmann was still starting three d-mids and playing defensive-minded soccer and was perceived by some as giving preference to players who grew up in Germany. A lot of us fans felt he was making bad roster decisions and it’s clear that a lot of players in the pool also were not happy with him, as evidenced by the Straus mutiny story published ahead of the Costa Rica Snow Bowl game in March. We will never know what would have happened had that story not been published, but things were looking grim and I think chances are high the US would have ended up with one point at most in March and Klinsmann would have been very close to being fired. I think the article forced him to open up and allow the players to voice their frustrations and Klinsmann finally became more flexible and listened to the players and we quit seeing three d-mids and Daniel Williams at right wing and, well, the rest is history.

        We still do not know what sort of discussions went on in the locker room between players and Klinsmann after the story was published, but I would not be surprised that the players lit a fire under Klinsmann’s you-know-what and demanded change from Klinsmann’s previous defenisve strategies. I hope one day we here the real story.

      • it’s almost as much speculation as bb’s comment (that biff was responding to) about how, even if we don’t advance out of our group this summer, we should spend another cycle on klinsmann because his system will eventually work.

        biff’s speculation makes more sense to me.

      • Bb’s original comment is not speculation.

        It is an opinion.

        His opinion is that JK should be kept around to insure the USMNT continues playing his style of ball

        Biff’s comment is pure speculation. He is speculating on the reasons for why things went a certain way. He provides us with no facts. It is a made up story that could be true or could be pure BS.

        There is a difference

      • “We still do not know what sort of discussions went on in the locker room between players and Klinsmann”

        That’s right we don’t.

        Apparently you think you do.

      • Playing a completely boring brand of soccer and never winning the possession game regardless of how bad a team we are playing…. (oops that was Bradley)

        Winning 12 games in a row……

      • true 12 in a row is better than streak of 10 wins and a tie that Bradley started out with, but not exactly a game changer

      • What would make you believe he is a game changer? I am guessing that if we won every game 105-0, you would still be unimpressed. My point is that no matter the run of results or data analysis that goes into this discussion. The intangibles that JK has surpass any other coach in USMNT history. His European playing experience, connections, knowledge of the game, and fundamental restructuring (along with US Soccer) of the grass roots development of players in our country will be felt for years to come. He will prove to be a pivotal coach in USMNT history, but I cannot prove that to you anymore than I can disprove the theory of relativity.

      • Stats, stats, stats is what your post oozes. That’s all fine and dandy on paper but soccer is wayyyyy more nuanced than just stats. READ the game! I love Bob but this is not the same playing style that we saw with Bradley in charge. This team is much more active than reactive (as was under Bradley). Not only that but the depth is MUCH better this time around. Moreover, your stats mean almost nothing considering you conveniently chose only TWO facts to cite. Not that stats mean everything but AT LEAST cite 5, 6, 7 or however many criteria to base your judgment/analysis on. The fact that your sample size is so underwhelming makes your analysis almost null and void.

      • you realize that you sound like D1ck Morris talking about Nate Silver, or an old baseball scout bad mouthing facts htat don’t agree with your opinions?

        why don’t you cite at LEAST 5,6,7 facts that prove your point-or stop argnig with mine

      • Althought I’m sure I could cite 5 or 6, that’s not my burden, that’s yours. You’re the one claiming Klinsmann hasn’t had an effect on the team and chose only two stats as a point of comparison.

        By the way, that’s the whole point of discussion forums — to argue/debate.

      • @blokhin: Agree with this. At this point, absolutely nothing game changing about the Klinsman tenure that we have not alrady seen. That said, I think we are heading that direction and have high hopes that we can make it the semi-finals. When that happens, it is game-changing.

      • He’s a game change; just as long as you’re not playing a game that involves results that can be measured. Oh, wait a second…

      • His “game-changer” status for me is INC – incomplete. I don’t think you can answer this question until next year in Brazil.

        If JK can get the US out of their group (or even win it), especially if it is a tough group, and get the USMNT to the fifth game…then I’d call him a game-changer.

        Something like come in second in a Colombia-Portugal-Ghana-USA group and then beat a top 10 team in the second round before falling to a Brazil/Argentina/Spain in quarters.

      • Gotta step back here.

        If we did any better than finish 3rd in that group I’d be stoked.

        And that would be one of the easier groups we could get.

      • Exactly my point. By achieving that, and going beyond most fans’ expectations, JK will have been a game changer. A performance like that starts to raise the bar where people will start to expect that the US gets out of the group and makes some noise in the knockouts.

      • I am not so sure JK gets responsibility for that. He surprisingly is much better at dealing with the press and fans than Princeton graduate Bradley was. Though I do think JK sometimes shares too much with the press, his verbosity serves to inform fans (even when he says contradictory things like the most import thing is getting playing time with your club (and thn brings players not starting) or that playing in europe is essential (then taking MLS based players over euro-based players). People seem to prefer JK’s openness to Bradley’s ability to demure.

      • But, Dennis, yeah, he is good at flowery statements, but if you read them a second time they often make little sense and are vague and ambivalent. If Klinsmann were open, then he would have been honest about Julian Green declining the invitation to join the November camp. Instead, Klinsmann told a story that he, JK, was the one who canceled the invite and that simply is not true, according to several other news reports and to Green’s spokesperson. And to me, that is indefensible and lost respect for any coach that would do that. And maybe Green did too.

      • You lose respect for a coach that twists a story to the media?…you must hate every big time American sports coach.

      • of course. it was a tongue-in-cheek comment talking more about comparison to bradley, where an interviewer would basically have to make up their own soundbites. i don’t think there’s anything (necessarily) wrong with that, but i think if we’re talking ‘game-changer’, PR skill is only thing klinsmann’s got (so far).

    • Klinsmann is not poor. He has young children that go to school. He could have chosen to live in Europe, but he wants to live in California. After the World Cup, when he makes up his mind what job he wants to take, money will not be his motivating factor. He’ll be thinking about his family first and what is best for his children.

      Reply

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