Official Team USA Soccer Thread

[and1GS]

Looks like Klins saw what we all did in the game...

Jurgen Klinsmann: "I had a very severe word with Fabian Johnson, and I sent him home today."

Saw that on Twitter. FWIW though he should be playing LB given that he's a lefty....

[Bernman]

What I see is another attempted red herring by Klinsmann in scapegoating someone (like the refs in the Mexican GC games he wasn't even in) who had little or nothing to do with his failure, and when the guy defends himself, Jurgen is not putting up with it because he developed a huge ego as a great player. I think his public feuds with players are up to double digits now. The common denominator is the coach, so maybe it's just that he's an incompetent douchebag like regarded in multiple of his previous stops. Great players make horrible managers on average (Maradona, Jordan, Zeke), but they get numerous opportunities because of the name they had attained, and we're seeing that with Klinsmann too.

Sadly, he's sticking around way longer than he should in part because of the sunk cost fallacy. At a point you have to just cut your losses. They lost 10's of millions on the Confed Cup. You just hope this gets worse really quickly, thru another embarrassment in a friendly against Costa Rica. Get to that breaking point before we're into WC qualifying, the initial phase which would be a great time to integrate new players (heavily from MLS), and the second phase which at our current level might well have us missing the WC for the first time in 8 tries. You thought you lost money already?!?!

[and1GS]

FWIW Fabian did look disinterested on D and toothless in attack. But yes that's something best kept behind closed doors - especially since Fabian is shaping up to be one of our top 5 talents and is the only player we have with real CL experience.

[BUCKnation]

Fabian wasn't good, but neither was half the team.

[NotaHypeJob]

FWIW Fabian did look disinterested on D and toothless in attack. But yes that's something best kept behind closed doors - especially since Fabian is shaping up to be one of our top 5 talents and is the only player we have with real CL experience.

Well he trashed Bedoya after the Brazil game and he's really the only USMNT guy after Fabian and Cameron that's still playing high level Euro football.

Klinsi always talking about wanting his players to have club success in Europe but again you got a guy like Cameron who's been out of the picture until recently. A guy like Lichaj never got a shot. Sacha K in his prime was playing Champions League football and it didn't matter. Danny Williams another guy who is in good form in Europe but gets sporadic playing time.

Klinsi is just so inconsistent.

[Bernman]

He talks about wanting his players to challenge themselves and play in the better leagues in Europe, but then he doesn't call up promising unintegrated players from MLS outside January camp, to greatly increase their chances to go to Europe. I butt heads with many on this, but they are just as ignorant about this as our national team coach. As if Geoff Cameron would be playing at Stoke right now if he stayed a non-international like his first 4 years in MLS, instead of pouncing on a very limited opportunity in January camp. Agudelo would be with Stoke too if he was a regular international. Work permit requirement in England, high non EU standards, showcases against players in top leagues in Europe, prestige of being an international; you realistically need the caps if you're not a dual national. MLS improved a lot over the last few years. i think that's part financial investment, part academies, and part Klinsmann neglecting all the up and coming talent there to in effect keep them from a clear upgrade in club opportunity in Europe.

If Bruce Arena took over after Costa Rica, the shift in perception the next couple of years about American talent among the casual fan and media would be substantial. Then Klinsmann would write an article to the BBC taking credit as it all being part of his master plan. And if they would have kept losing, that would have meant Klinsmann was right too. Jurgen Klinsmann can't lose. The guy is a total con man. Who is he going to get next, Canada? Then recruit a bunch English f-teamers to play for them.

[Hellcrooner]

Usa should ask for comenbol and concacaaf to merge.
True that may result in missing the world cup maybe but it also would mean Better/more competitive matches more often against better teams and eventually adjust to a higher standart of play.

Same for club level merge the conference and play libertadores and get to play real competitive club matches every year.

wouldn hurt if they could get PRIME world class players into the mls either but of course to be able to do that they would need to ditch " american way" ( drafts , max salaries, salary cap etc) and have free market rule like in the rest of the world.

Vertical divisions and having basically pro teams in evey little town every region , every city in the usa wouldnt hurt either.
HAve kids everyhwere see that there is " easy" living money you can make from practicing soccer instead of try for nba/nfl with their 1 in a million odds about making a living with it.

[Det the Threat]

FWIW Fabian did look disinterested on D and toothless in attack. But yes that's something best kept behind closed doors - especially since Fabian is shaping up to be one of our top 5 talents and is the only player we have with real CL experience.

It's probably the pressure getting to Klinsmann and him trying to find a scapegoat.

Johnson's been a real pro his entire career and him wanting to be subbed certainly wasn't because of desinterest.
The guy had been injured for a couple of weeks and just came back about three weeks ago, to play five games within about 15 days for Gladbach.
The club also stated that he's suffered a thigh injury and was sent back because of that, with him being a question mark for the next match.

[CalamityX12]

Why isn't the highly prized Julian Green playing for "his country?"

That's something I don't understand... how is he not practicing with his "national" team teammates as well as improving his game? USA's future in the attack looks bleak at the moment..

[Det the Threat]

Why isn't the highly prized Julian Green playing for "his country?"

That's something I don't understand... how is he not practicing with his "national" team teammates as well as improving his game? USA's future in the attack looks bleak at the moment..

Julian Greene is currently trying hard to get playing time for Bayern Munich's reserves in the fourth division of german football.
I doubt he's someone that could do a job for the US at this point.

Also, I guess that Klinsmann's fate is something of a guy that does the groundwork, while others reap the benefits later on.
All the stuff about the youth system etc. will still need some time(it took Germany 10 years+) and unless he's brave enough to send in some of those youngsters(Zelalem etc.), he'll have a hard time achieving a lot in transforming the team from one that reacts to one that acts on the pitch, which is the toughest step to take.

[CalamityX12]

Why isn't the highly prized Julian Green playing for "his country?"

That's something I don't understand... how is he not practicing with his "national" team teammates as well as improving his game? USA's future in the attack looks bleak at the moment..

Julian Greene is currently trying hard to get playing time for Bayern Munich's reserves in the fourth division of german football.
I doubt he's someone that could do a job for the US at this point.

Also, I guess that Klinsmann's fate is something of a guy that does the groundwork, while others reap the benefits later on.
All the stuff about the youth system etc. will still need some time(it took Germany 10 years+) and unless he's brave enough to send in some of those youngsters(Zelalem etc.), he'll have a hard time achieving a lot in transforming the team from one that reacts to one that acts on the pitch, which is the toughest step to take.

But Klinsmann deemed Green good enough to make a WC roster.... forget about actually scoring an excellent goal in the few minutes of play, he made the roster....

Klinsmann can't, IMO, yo-yo him or other players. Bring them up and work with them. I still haven't seen this guy play for USA outside of the WC. Maybe the under 2X games but that's it. Play the damn attacker when we as a team nationally are in need in youth and potential.

[Det the Threat]

But Klinsmann deemed Green good enough to make a WC roster.... forget about actually scoring an excellent goal in the few minutes of play, he made the roster....

Klinsmann can't, IMO, yo-yo him or other players. Bring them up and work with them. I still haven't seen this guy play for USA outside of the WC. Maybe the under 2X games but that's it. Play the damn attacker when we as a team nationally are in need in youth and potential.

He hasn't played a meaningful game in way over a year and hardly every played Bundesliga in his career.
I'd compare him a bit to David Odonkor in that 2006 German WC squad, who was out of it as soon as the WC was over but somehow made it in the squad during that 2008 european championships.

I think Greene needs to find another club that actually gives him playing time(even if it's "just" 2nd division) so he can develop and people can see if he's a real contributer or not.

Right now Klinsmann would be best adviced by calling up some of the younger guys(Zelalem, the Stanford kid etc.) and try to break them into the team.
I mean, you've got Michael Bradley as your "creative" midfielder even though he's a #8 box-to-box player and certainly not a #10.
And I also don't see much on the wings, which could lead to winning one on one matchups to get by the defender.

All of that is needed, if you want to make the next step in becoming a team that can dominate games with possession and create chances against teams just going out ther to defend.

[truth18]

Why isn't the highly prized Julian Green playing for "his country?"

That's something I don't understand... how is he not practicing with his "national" team teammates as well as improving his game? USA's future in the attack looks bleak at the moment..

Julian Greene is currently trying hard to get playing time for Bayern Munich's reserves in the fourth division of german football.
I doubt he's someone that could do a job for the US at this point.

Also, I guess that Klinsmann's fate is something of a guy that does the groundwork, while others reap the benefits later on.
All the stuff about the youth system etc. will still need some time(it took Germany 10 years+) and unless he's brave enough to send in some of those youngsters(Zelalem etc.), he'll have a hard time achieving a lot in transforming the team from one that reacts to one that acts on the pitch, which is the toughest step to take.

But Klinsmann deemed Green good enough to make a WC roster.... forget about actually scoring an excellent goal in the few minutes of play, he made the roster....

Klinsmann can't, IMO, yo-yo him or other players. Bring them up and work with them. I still haven't seen this guy play for USA outside of the WC. Maybe the under 2X games but that's it. Play the damn attacker when we as a team nationally are in need in youth and potential.

Not that simple at all. Green would look absolutely atrocious if we gave him minutes.

We're not going to challenge anyone internationally for some time. That much is clear. I've been calling for Jurgen's firing for some time now, but I just thought over who we could get to replace him and came up blank. Any ideas guys?

[CalamityX12]

But Klinsmann deemed Green good enough to make a WC roster.... forget about actually scoring an excellent goal in the few minutes of play, he made the roster....

Klinsmann can't, IMO, yo-yo him or other players. Bring them up and work with them. I still haven't seen this guy play for USA outside of the WC. Maybe the under 2X games but that's it. Play the damn attacker when we as a team nationally are in need in youth and potential.

He hasn't played a meaningful game in way over a year and hardly every played Bundesliga in his career.
I'd compare him a bit to David Odonkor in that 2006 German WC squad, who was out of it as soon as the WC was over but somehow made it in the squad during that 2008 european championships.

I think Greene needs to find another club that actually gives him playing time(even if it's "just" 2nd division) so he can develop and people can see if he's a real contributer or not.

Right now Klinsmann would be best adviced by calling up some of the younger guys(Zelalem, the Stanford kid etc.) and try to break them into the team.
I mean, you've got Michael Bradley as your "creative" midfielder even though he's a #8 box-to-box player and certainly not a #10.
And I also don't see much on the wings, which could lead to winning one on one matchups to get by the defender.

All of that is needed, if you want to make the next step in becoming a team that can dominate games with possession and create chances against teams just going out ther to defend.

Green needs to do himself that favor and leave BM, he won't and can't crack that first or 2nd team... He definitely needs to elsewhere to play, he needs to realize that.

By no means i'm calling Green a stud at all, I heard all that noise last yr leading up to the WC and I've seen plenty of US games after the WC but no green, he can't improve if he doesn't play etc... But if he really is stinking it up, then that sucks and makes matters even worse.

Bradley is no #10, I think he's there by default... bad decision on Klinns...

[CalamityX12]

Julian Greene is currently trying hard to get playing time for Bayern Munich's reserves in the fourth division of german football.
I doubt he's someone that could do a job for the US at this point.

Also, I guess that Klinsmann's fate is something of a guy that does the groundwork, while others reap the benefits later on.
All the stuff about the youth system etc. will still need some time(it took Germany 10 years+) and unless he's brave enough to send in some of those youngsters(Zelalem etc.), he'll have a hard time achieving a lot in transforming the team from one that reacts to one that acts on the pitch, which is the toughest step to take.

But Klinsmann deemed Green good enough to make a WC roster.... forget about actually scoring an excellent goal in the few minutes of play, he made the roster....

Klinsmann can't, IMO, yo-yo him or other players. Bring them up and work with them. I still haven't seen this guy play for USA outside of the WC. Maybe the under 2X games but that's it. Play the damn attacker when we as a team nationally are in need in youth and potential.

Not that simple at all. Green would look absolutely atrocious if we gave him minutes.

We're not going to challenge anyone internationally for some time. That much is clear. I've been calling for Jurgen's firing for some time now, but I just thought over who we could get to replace him and came up blank. Any ideas guys?

Depends where you want to look...

I mean, inside(American) the house, I'm not sure I would want any MLS coaches TBH. Sigi? Kinnear?

Outside looking in, Idk... I can't think of someone to trust and bring in a new culture or close to it. Someone, who I like but would be a crazy yet big but unrealistic chance is prying/buying Simeone from Atl Madrid. He wouldn't and would want Argentina rightfully so but who knows when that could happen? but he'll stay at club level i'm sure of, more money there too.

[and1GS]

Green was included on that roster as a way of locking him into the USMNT long term. It was a gamble I'm glad we made (though there was still room for Landon elsewhere) because, honestly, our talent level is dangerously low. The lure of WC playing time got Julian to convert and it's a gamble that might pay off long term. I think it's a little early to be calling a 20 year old Bayern reserve a bust.

To the point of international managers...I just don't know. It's an odd coaching role because you basically have to work with what you have. I do like the old adage Klinnsman uses in that a national team should reflect the style of the country - but it's then odd that our defense has been such an afterthought.

Here's what I'd ideally like to see today given the roster selected:

Dempsey
Bedoya-Nguyen-Zardes
Jones (or Danny)-Mix
Brek-Cameron-Ream-Yedlin
Howard

OR we could go with a more traditional wide diamond with two strikers, moving Zardes up top with Nguyen playing the top of the diamond, while subbing Jones out for someone.

Either way, Ream has made some real progress and I think his pace (or lack thereof) better lends him to the CB position. IMO progress starts at the back for the USMNT. Brek-Cameron-Besley-Yedlin should be that optimal back line, or Fabian at LB if Brek keeps underperforming/being a general douche.

[truth18]

Who called Green a bust? I just meant if he came over right now he would look awful, nothing more, nothing less. I am also glad he's here long term whether it works out or not.

[Bernman]

You were serious about Julian Green? I thought you were taking a shot at Klinsmann with that. The guy has 5 caps, and the goal was one of a few decent touches in all of them. He has tunnel vision, is not pragmatic about his abilities at this point, and is pretty weak/small. He flopped at Hamburg and he's back to playing in the 4th division. It's irrelevant if it's Bayern's reserves. He wasn't even deemed good enough for u-23, and understandably so. Zelalem didn't help them either playing in the Scottish 2nd division, albeit for Rangers. It's the Freddy Adu syndrome. Some fans keep getting duped by skillfull, but green (pun intended), and tiny players. Most don't work out. Zelalem has some legit promise with his height and awareness, but Green and Adu I've never seen it. And Green is not going to get much better playing limited time in U.S. senior caps. Those are for developed players. Clubs/reserves/youth teams are for development because they spend such a monetary and time investment and in front of tiny audiences often times. Klinsmann was enthralled with him because he was a fellow German starlet and to make an excuse to burn Donovan. Klinsmann's douchey kid came out and mocked Landon after that choice was announced, so obviously it was personal, like so many of Klinsmann's decisions.

As for Klinsmann having a master 10-year plan, that's all just part of his con. How does having the oldest senior roster in the world and failing in u-23's which he invested heavily in, serve that purpose? He's just a small-minded guy who believes in certain superficial attributes like experience in general and in one country/culture vs. another. He doesn't look at players based on their own merits. That's why he fills the roster with so many players who have a German and Mexican background. He has a built-in belief in them, which has proven counter-intuitive for the USNT, just as it did for Steve Sampson. You could argue things in part went downhill under Bradley when he started incorporating them, as well as the typical 2nd cycle player loyalties. If/when this doesn't work out for Klinsmann, he can claim the 10-year plan, and when we inevitably get better in the future because there's nowhere to go but up from where he had the program, as well as the growth of MLS and our country's athletic potential, he can take credit again. Have some gullible people believe it. Get another job making millions per with the same promise.

[Det the Threat]

Green needs to do himself that favor and leave BM, he won't and can't crack that first or 2nd team... He definitely needs to elsewhere to play, he needs to realize that.

By no means i'm calling Green a stud at all, I heard all that noise last yr leading up to the WC and I've seen plenty of US games after the WC but no green, he can't improve if he doesn't play etc... But if he really is stinking it up, then that sucks and makes matters even worse.

Absolutely. Green needs to go somewhere else to get regular playing time and develop.
That won't happen in Munich and I'm not even sure if he was part of the group of players which were send to the 2nd team by Pep, because he didn't like their attitude.

I also thought that he was close to going somewhere else but it didn't happen because of what not.

Bradley is no #10, I think he's there by default... bad decision on Klinns...

Yeah, but who else do you got?
Is Nguyen really good enough for international football?
Diskeruud has looked pretty bad whenever I saw him at NYC, but that whole team was a mess as soon as they brought in the old men Pirlo and Lampard.

Like I've stated before, you guys need to bring in the youngsters and give them playing time(not too much, but still enough to get used to it), cause you need something else to get better.
I mean, just up front there's Dempsey(who I like) but he'll be pretty old once the next WC comes around and I'm not sure if he'll be that good by then.
Then there's Altidore, who's been crap and it seems like Klinsmann doesn't play Zardes much.
etc.

So right now, I think Klinsmann needs to keep implementing younger guys, to have a shot at something more then maybe the knockout stage during the next WC and also wants to keep his promise of developing football in the US.

[CalamityX12]

You were serious about Julian Green? I thought you were taking a shot at Klinsmann with that. The guy has 5 caps, and the goal was one of a few decent touches in all of them. He has tunnel vision, is not pragmatic about his abilities at this point, and is pretty weak/small. He flopped at Hamburg and he's back to playing in the 4th division. It's irrelevant if it's Bayern's reserves. He wasn't even deemed good enough for u-23, and understandably so. Zelalem didn't help them either playing in the Scottish 2nd division, albeit for Rangers. It's the Freddy Adu syndrome. Some fans keep getting duped by skillfull, but green (pun intended), and tiny players. Most don't work out. Zelalem has some legit promise with his height and awareness, but Green and Adu I've never seen it. And Green is not going to get much better playing limited time in U.S. senior caps. Those are for developed players. Clubs/reserves/youth teams are for development because they spend such a monetary and time investment and in front of tiny audiences often times. Klinsmann was enthralled with him because he was a fellow German starlet and to make an excuse to burn Donovan. Klinsmann's douchey kid came out and mocked Landon after that choice was announced, so obviously it was personal, like so many of Klinsmann's decisions.

As for Klinsmann having a master 10-year plan, that's all just part of his con. How does having the oldest senior roster in the world and failing in u-23's which he invested heavily in, serve that purpose? He's just a small-minded guy who believes in certain superficial attributes like experience in general and in one country/culture vs. another. He doesn't look at players based on their own merits. That's why he fills the roster with so many players who have a German and Mexican background. He has a built-in belief in them, which has proven counter-intuitive for the USNT, just as it did for Steve Sampson. You could argue things in part went downhill under Bradley when he started incorporating them, as well as the typical 2nd cycle player loyalties. If/when this doesn't work out for Klinsmann, he can claim the 10-year plan, and when we inevitably get better in the future because there's nowhere to go but up from where he had the program, as well as the growth of MLS and our country's athletic potential, he can take credit again. Have some gullible people believe it. Get another job making millions per with the same promise.

To the bold. That's not what's properly done throughout the world. Every country do bring up their young players through international friendlies, tournaments and qualifiers. The sentiment that only developed players are eligible or granted playing time in senior caps is erroneous and will hold the US back in development. No one is saying field a half a team of call ups or young guns but you have to find a way to insert them here and there throughout the campaigns/years. The under 20s aren't enough, clubs are what they are but still doesn't replace international experience.

I did not know that Green mock Landon, that's not cool.