Interesting article about JK by Steve Davis today that goes at some of the points frequently raised by a number of the familiar voices in this thread. http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/...smann-todays-topic-being-ok-with-being-wrong/
Good article.... I think this defines why JK is such a great coach. His lack of Ego, his 'nice guy' attitude and positive outlook is something that we need as a team right now. I love that fact that the player in question was Jozy, and how he finally showed him no one is 'untouchable' for the NT, and pushed him to prove him wrong, that he isn't plateauing and can get in better shape, fitness, and perform better with the NT. Against russia he started to prove that already, in his first game back! Guys who don't understand JK or his positive vibe/pep guardiola style on coaching.... will understand when we have a better system, and 'way of thinking' about our soccer as a whole in the future.
His choices truly are about tweaking the chemistry and the individual talent factor, about the push for long-term improvement rather than about lesser motives, the power struggles or about the desire to “be right” about this player or about that strategic philosophy. Stubbornness and a rigid inflexibility that can rule some managers’ worlds don’t seem to infect his. Really? I hope this is the case in the future at least.
Thanks for the link. The series of interviews is a good read. But I'm amused by the topic of the December 11 segment: Today’s topic: Being OK with being wrong Where does Klinsi actually admit to being wrong about anything? He's right about Jozy and his work-effort. He's right about Jones and his battle-tested intensity. He was right about AS Monaco and Djorkaeff needing to "get it." He was right, and Trappatoni was wrong, about Klinsi learning the Italian language and culture. The only issue in the series of articles where the author suggests Klinsi might have been "wrong" was about Brek Shea, who played in Klinsi's first 14 matches but was dropped in the Summer of 2012 because he wasn't meeting JK's training expectations. BUT, Shea struggled most of 2012 and lots of fans were expecting Shea to fall out of the starting XI based on his weak MLS form. And then he had some injury issues, too. I'm not seeing Klinsi as being wrong about Shea; played Shea when in good club form and dropped Shea when his club form slipped. I like Klinsi and want him to succeed. But I'm not sure he hasn't pulled off a clever snow job on sports writer Steve Davis!
My assumption (perhaps incorrect) was that Davis condensed down his impression from the number of sessions that he had with Klinsmann, and rather than reproduce everything word for word, he presented a couple of illustrative examples.
Well, he has dropped early favorites Beckerman, Torres, Fiscal, and Rogers. And leaned heavily on MB and Gomez,which he slighted early. Seems to at least implicitly admit mistakes.
Hardly. He got Steve Davis to write a fawning Dec 11 story in which Klinsi is right in just about everything, but is also open-minded and flexible enough to admit when he is wrong, even though there are no good examples provided for when he was wrong. I'd say that was a brilliant bit of work by Klinsi and some shoddy writing by Steve Davis. Lloyd Heilbrunn needed but a few seconds to come up with some examples. Davis???
JK doesn't need to admit he was wrong. 90% of the fan base knew that his decisions on Bradley, Rogers, 3 Dmids, etc. were idiotic. What do he or the team gain from him saying "I was a moron"? Nothing. It would probably have a negative impact more than anything. This is just more bull$hit press. The same that we've been subject to since he took over. It's not going to stop anytime soon.
is it not a bit strange that no matter what this guy does it brands him as a liar, double talking, know nothing, shitty coach, dishonest person all around.....the rest of us of course know all that is fact.....sad and NOT classy.............
You guys are absolutely priceless. You know you're stuck in when you feel the need to criticize a manager for admitting to a reporter that he was wrong in certain of his managerial decisions, even though you spend most of your time saying the same thing. When the guy isn't doing anything at the moment that you can rail against, why, don't let that stop you! Rail against the fact that he's talking to reporters at all!
Interestingly, I'm actually criticizing Steve Davis' article. I think Klinsi is smarter than Steve Davis and totally owned the guy. You have to admire that in Klinsi.
For me it has zip to do about JK. I have followed him his whole career...I knew what he was. Politician. It's more fun to take shots at posters who claimed what a genius he was and how clueless those criticizing him were. The ones who felt aggrieved and insulted that he should be questioned.....even when he was doing incredibly obvious dumb stuff if u had a basic understanding of our player pool. U know, the guys who posted mindless pages in anger while proclaiming how mindless masses had made some sort of personal affront to u and JK. The ones who still act in such a manner even though their God of the pitch has shown that all those petty, unworthy, ignorant posters who critiqued those moves were ahead of the coach himself! Those are the ones who it's fun to take shots at. Do u know any posters like that? He he. He has learned. I feel good about where we are headed, hope CB doesn't sink us early in the Hex, and feel very positive overall. To bad JK, and some posters couldn't have listened to some of the folks who knew better earlier. Seems u shouldn't have been as offended as u acted. JK can admit it. can u.
I just think you like to mess with people when they get fired up about stuff, aka a classic contrarian lol. At least you're light hearted... and don't ACTUALLY get worked up about it...
Actually I think he's shown that he's quite adaptable and thus I'm excited for the Hex. A little nervous...but excited. I think there is a chance he comes good on his billing. I didn't really feel that way early on when he was making bizarre decisions while simultaneously sucking every popsicle the press had to offer. His understanding of the player pool and decision making have vastly improved. I'm content at the moment.
He's learning I think he really had no idea what to expect in CONCACAF qualifying. The team has had some very close calls. Last min goal at Antigua, the loss to Jamaica, very shaky road performances. The mental aspect of this team on the road still frightens me. Russia and Mexico are nice, but they don't count point-wise. In some ways Russia draw was more impressive than Mexico. But both involved a bit of fortune. The home game vs. Guatemala was nice, not a strong opponent however the execution was there, offensively much better and the team showed urgency. I think EVERYONE was pissed with the team's performance at Antigua. And some of that falls on the players. It was as if they didn't care at times, I was a little disgusted after that game. I think the general consensus is that he's learning a bit on the job. His number one concern going into is center defense. Klinsmann has wasted some time in regards to the CB situation. I hope not to see Goodson or Onyewu. Sure we'll still use Boca throughout the Hex but at some point he's going to have to try someone new and in a meaningful game as well. Where I think I differ from most posters is my opinion of Jones-Bradley midfield. I've yet to see that pairing do well. Jones is superior to Williams in pretty much everything, but it doesn't always show with the national team. Klinsmann will continue to be coach and politician, it's just the way he is. If there's progress and results in qualifying then the politician making an appearance is fine. Early in his tenure the contradictions were annoying. Have to walk the walk. He seems to NOW be on the right track.
Simply incredible. You're saying that vaquero28's consistent defense of JK was wrong because JK was uneducated until you, and your brilliant fellow posters, pointed him in the right direction. Now that JK has shown the acumen vaquero28 has always seen, he shouldn't point it out to the benighted (the anti-JK intelligentsia) because, well, JK learned from the criticism of you and your ilk. People have an stunning ability to rationalize their positions. I applaud your vision.