U.S. national team fans hoping to see Jermaine Jones playing for the USA this summer will have to wait a while longer.
According to U.S. Soccer sources and a representative of Jones, the new FIFA rule that will allow players to switch national teams at any age (as long as they haven't appeared for another national team in a senior competition) will not take effect until October 1st, meaning the earliest Jones will be in a U.S. national team uniform is in a World Cup qualifier on Oct. 10th at Honduras.
Jones' decision to apply for a switch to the U.S. national team is raising a big ruckus in Germany, as is an interview he recently did with The New York Times.
In case you missed it, here is my previous post on the Jones situation.
Now that we've had a few days to digest the Jones situation, what are your thoughts? Still love the idea of him joining the U.S. pool? Worried that he could cause chemistry problems? Confident that he will fit right in?
Share your thoughts below.
After reading the NY Times article, I’m not so sure about this guy. I get the feeling that since he couldn’t hack it for the German National Team, he’s settling for the US.
Also, he’s lived his life in Germany but feels that since he’s tattooed, colored and outspoken, that’s his American side. Since when do those things make someone American. You’re American when you live here!!!
Jermaine Jones > Ricardo Clark
Arne, thank you for your response. I don’t know much about Jones, so it is good to hear an assessment from someone who has seen him play regularly.
I can’t wait. Great player at a great time. He will be settled even if he starts playing after October.
Jones is a JUDAS! haha. just kidding. I wonder if he knows David Regis…?
Rossi = 13 yrs of living inthe US, always wanted to play for Italy, USA wanted him.
Jones = Germany DIDNT want him. He has lived in USA
And now you must decide: welcome Jones and stop the Rossi hate – or continue the Rossi hate and insist that Jones should play for the country he was born and raised in. You can’t have both, sorry.
Jones instead of Clarke today = Win over Italy?
“He said his father was from Mississippi; Jones lived in Greenwood briefly when he was young. He said the family moved to Chicago, before he moved with his mother back to Germany. His parents, he said, are now divorced, his mother remaining in Germany while his father lives in California.”
Another Delta Boy Like me!!!
Bring him on!
7 months before the world cup, thats enough.
october can’t come soon enough!
feilhaber -> blows
clark -> can’t control his temper
bradley -> disappears for parts of the game, like today vs. Italy, has obvious stamina issues
Could have used him today. Am worried about how he gets along with Bradley who only prefers stay in line lemming players.
Outspokn players dont fare well
…..just ask Jimmy Conrad
Could have used this guy today.
Danke Arne for the info. And if you guys feel like beating the crap out of the U.S. to free us of Bob Bradley then I wouldn’t be sad either.
Can’t wait to see him in a USA kit.
It’s funny that he thinks no one will tell him to keep his mouth shut in the US. At least he’ll keep his publicist busy.
Sounds to me like the kind of world experienced player that is not going to intimidated by Saprissa or any other full stadium. Sounds like the kind of guy we need, especially in that position…
Anyone who thinks any of our current midfielders could start on Shalke and be named the best midfielder in the bundesliga at any point in time, is retarded. This guy will easily step in and be the best player on our team… This is absolutely amazing if he plays for us. He’s a auto-starter no doubt. If not, I’ll never watch the US again. We have been starving for a blessing, Jones is it.
SO GULATI STIL WANTS HIM? HE IS CRAZY
Congrats to the US team. Jones is a brilliant defensive midfielder who can run for 90+x minutes without a break.
As a Schalke supporter I can tell you that:
a) The fans of the team are completely supporting him and most of us agree with his decision as Löw has made clear that Jones plays no role in his plans, although almost every German agrees that he should be on.
The staff want a team of popstars though who sell the jerseys and say what the coaches want them to say. That is why Jones sadly has no perspective although we would need him on the national team in games like the EURO 08 final. He is the kind of player who will always fight till the bitter end and with his dynamic way of playing can also mess around in the offensive end although he isnt really the most creative mind.
b) On our website there is a longer statement by Jones about the interview published in the States. I dont want to translate it completely but the core is that he feels home in Germany and has never had any problems being black. He says to have said you “dont need to have blue eyes and blond hair” and that the statement “I dont have a good feeling about stuff in Germany” was just about the national team and his chances there and taken out of the context in the interview.
c) Even if the German public rips him apart: We, Schalke, will support him and he is a core player in the next years as we are building a new team around several upcoming players like him, Westermann, Höwedes and Neuer. So the short answer to a question I read here: Yes, he will continue playing in Germany.
d) You can expect sympathies for the US national team from Schalke fans from now on, at least as long Jones is on the team. And if you were the ones to free us from Coach Löw by beating us next year, it would not really be that sad for us.
Royal Blue Greetings from Gelsenkirchen-Schalke, Germany
Come on anyone who is worried about this guy’s outspoken personality needs to look at the comment above:
Kicker magazine today named Jones best DM for the 2009 part (matchdays 18-34) of the last Bundesliga season:
That kind of information is all we need to know. The guy can play. And the player’s are all adults on the national team, so I think they can work things out.
He is exactly what we need in our midfield to take another step towards becoming a serious international contender. I’d love to have him on the team, but he has to earn his spot, which won’t be hard for him if he is as talented as he is hyped up to be.
It really sucks we won’t see him till maybe the last two qualifiers, but at least we could have him before South Africa next year.
Got to love a player with personality, people who are willing to voice their opinion can only help bring the beautiful game more noterity. Welcome home Jermaine
I’m pretty sure Gold Cup is considered a competitive tournament. I didn’t expect him to play before Oct anyway. Hope he stays fit, motivated and hungry in the bundesliga until then. That’s about all we USA followers can do….
I’m sure our man is working on it but US’ starting XI has been announced. looks like a good lineup. though one thing, blackmouth (hamstring) isn’t on it.
I’d like to know if he can “train” with the team prior to the October 1 date. Is the Gold Cup considered a group of frendlies or is an actual competition? In other words, if we had a player (Alvarez comes to mind) that played in the GC, would he then be cap-tied to the USA forever?
If not, why couldn’t Jones play in such a competition?
Like to see him in sooner rather than later. Even if it is just to train. Better in his “off-season” as I could foresee some problems with Schalke when Bundesliga starts back up. They are only required to release him during “international” dates.
Feel free to comment…
Shame he won’t be available until October. I was hoping to see him trot out against Mexico sporting “Jones 13” on his shirt and seeing the wave in urine bags come his way. He wears # 13 for Schalke and no one has worn that number with regularity since Cobi.I’m hoping he inherits the #13. Back on topic—- based on what I’ve seen of him he’ll be able to fit in ASAP and our players should adjust quickly. He plays a straight forward game, not complicated, not fancy, just efficient.
The Bundesliga does have a winter break so he might just be brought for the January camp.
I think as soon as he is elgible you have to pull him into camp.. but i don’t think he will be an auto starter.. we have this young guy named edu who has made some big strides and was an auto starter fro Rangers, to pair with bradley on the inside. But it is nice to have some depth and let mastro retire from the national team..
Jones said today that he was misquoted by the NYT. Who knows….but Jones is known to speak first and think later.
Kicker magazine today named Jones best DM for the 2009 part (matchdays 18-34) of the last Bundesliga season:
http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/artikel/510150/
Chemistry problems??? you make it sound as if there were chemistry in the first place… How is this for a chemistry problem? Having your son on a National team squad, and starting!! Whether he deserves to play or not, you telling me he can seperate emotion and a rational decision? Last thing, M. Bradley as an attacking mid?? What does he do to create scoring opportunities for players in front of him??
I think he wants Becks DP spot on LA. No wonder he wants to play for US.
*And also he is crazy.
Playing him the minute he is available is a no brainer. There will be enough games and friendlies to get him acclimated. He will have to prove himself once he is on the pitch, of course. But you have to assume that someone with his background and obvious talent will find a place in the U.S. starting World Cup side.
I recommend you read the NYT piece Ives linked to; it’s very good and answers some things that have been floating out there.
He apparently can speak passable English and–sorry National Party fans–he lived here when he was a kid.
Brant:
Thanks.
Clearly he will be a welcome addition to the team. He starts where Rico does.
Meant to say give him some games, not guys. Need to start proofreading.
This guy sounds like a headcase. We should invite him into camp and give him some guys but I’m not penciling him into the starting lineup for 2010.
Is he going to continue playing club ball in Germany? I doubt his comments about being better liked if he had blond hair and blue eyes are going to sit well in a country that continues to feel tremendous shame because of its Nazi history.
Anyone see Brazil vs Egypt? Both looked really good…very worried for USA..
babelfish translation of Jones story at Bild.de:
http://tinyurl.com/jjonestousa
The translation isn’t great (refers to Jones as “it” instead of “him”) but you get the gist of it all.
The native German is a bit harsher on the German team than the translation is. Jones doesn’t like Joachim Loew at all.
My only worry is I hope he doesn’t disrupt the team for the final 2 qualifiers. Obviously he will be a benefit eventually, but it could take time for him to get used to everyone and vice versa. I just hope we are safely qualified by then, although I doubt it.
Regarding getting him games, we should have several friendlies leading up to the World Cup, like last time around. I’m sure we’ll also play some friendlies during the season as well.
My concern is that he’ll change his mind again between now and then. There’s plenty of time between now and October for Germany to settle matters on their own by capping him or just convincing him that his chance will come.
chemistry? you kidding? if any usmnt member has a problem with jones joining they probably shouldnt be on the team in the first place because they are clearly only concerned for themselves.
the football gods have smiled upon america, and we need to take advantage. this is exactly the kind of guy we need, someone with balls who kicks bundesliga ass and has a truckload of top flight euro experience. i can wait until october, but i would have loved to see what he could do for us in mexico city.
this is what many thought would have happened (him not being eligible until October). He should be able to train with the team otherwise, yes or no? I can see him coming into one or two qualifiers and then the January camp.
Where to buy Jones/USA kits??
Can’t wait to have him aboard and see what he has to offer on the field. Off the field at least it’s entertaining to follow the storm that this announcement (and Jones’ quotes / misquotes) has caused over in deutschland.
Can’t wait to see him in a USA kit.
I happy to have him, but concern lies in how much he will be able to play with the team before the world cup. With only 2 qualifiers he’s eligible for, he won’t have as good of a feel for the system and the players as the other midfield options. This saddens me because he probably is currently a more talented player than our other midfield options.
Does anybody know what the USMNT game schedule is between the WC and Qualifying? Will he at least get a few friendlies to get acclimated?
room him with duece… let them work on goal celebrations together… jones can channel his expression with the help of a fellow great player
Whenever you can add depth to the midfield pool its a good thing. Happy to have ya in October bro!