Klinsmann Interviews Dec 2012

I'm copying and pasting a comment I made today in the Klinsmann coaching thread in the general US men's Forum:

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!

 

JK is a politician. Has been his whole life. He has the gift...well, if u consider that a gift.

 

First, this was a single conversation, although Davis has broken it into a series of articles. While Davis chose to cite the Brek Shea example, others were brought up. But that misses the point entirely. This was not about a public mea culpa to make BigSoccer posters feel better about their previous grievances filed against Klinsmann.

Klinsmann's point was about being open to having to change your approach, being open to selecting different players, or being open to using players in different positions than what you may have planned. As frustrated as I have at times been with Klinsmann, I cannot accuse him of not being adaptable and being willing to learn from what did not work before.

There are those that think there are things he should never have been wrong on in the first place. I prefer a coach who is willing to try things and be wrong than a coach who plays it safe and is "right." It was one of my favorite things about Bob Bradley. He had the balls to put Robbie Findley in the starting lineup of a World Cup Team, Freddy Adu in the final of a Gold Cup, and try a 4-3-3 on the road against Costa Rica in qualifying. Not every gamble worked, but not every gamble has to. Likewise, Klinsmann tries stuff. It does not all work. Some of it has, and he seems to be breaking away from the "wrong" choices (aside from Goodson), and moving the team closer to where it needs to be.

 

I don't disagree with your points. But none of those points were in the series of interview stories. The point of the most recent story was that Klinsi admits mistakes and is open-minded. But the author gave zero good examples of Klinsi admitting mistakes. Indeed, several examples sprinkled throughout the interviews depict Klinsi being "right" over others who were wrong (Altidore, Trappatoni, Djorkaeff).

Maybe you could have consulted/edited Steve Davis' writing!

 

I am with you on that. He's a risk taker in that sense.... and I too really loved BB's change and approach to the Gold Cup with Adu playing a big part in the final 2 games.

This is why I like this sport, guys,players, coaches, etc who play more agressive, push the game on the opponent, play high pressure, and aren't scared to take a risk...even if it means losing...big!

 

A poster on the other thread brought up the obvious ones:

 

I agree with this, and I am one of those who thinks he should not have made some moves he made in the first place.

I am certain he made some of those non sensical moves because he simply didn't know the player pool nearly as well as he campaigned, and thought he did. To his credit he admitted this in an interview a while back so he gets credit for that as making an error and learning.

He didn't know, or respect MLS enough, and over rated the Mex league and players there also.

He is moving in the right direction and I am very happy to see it, but some of those earlier moves were just batshit crazy. Plain and simple.

 

Don't forget Edu as a 6...FN infuriating and batshit crazy....if u knew the player, piss poor league and actual skill set.

 

I know. Lloyd Heilbrunn and Susaeta should both have been brought in as editors for the Dec 11 article!

JK is brilliant, personable, and media savvy. He got Steve Davis to write an article in which Klinsi is not only right about nearly everything, but is also flexible and open-minded enough to admit when he is wrong! Now THAT is a masterful bit of work by Klinsi!

 

I happen to think that the segment on Jermaine Jones is quite interesting and the best of the series. That article actually has some good information (about why JK is right to have Jones as a prominent member of the team).

The other articles are fluff pieces in which JK has Steve Davis wrapped around his finger.

 

Kind of reminds me of Wahl handing Arena his pulpit every interview.

No questions allowed....Arena speaks!

 

Klinsmann has grown on me big time. I'm really glad hes the manager.

 

I appreciate Bob much more after "Klinsman experience", so please, don't remind me about Findley, as that is the case when Bradley was seemingly using above mentioned balls instead of the mind that he lost.

 

The point wasn't whether he was right or wrong, but that he had enough balls to bring him on, even though he didn't show diddly in the friendlies leading up to the WC. Takes a lot of balls on BB's part. Same with playing Freddy Adu, coming from a unknown second division turkish club.

 

Yet to see Jones-Bradley play well in qualifying together.

 

Yea... this one is still being felt out by JK. I am sure he'll get over it, in time. But he's still showing 'OK' for JK when brought in as a 6 off the bench. I just hope he doesn't become JK's Clark....

I am sure he won't. I see him transitioning to CB, given our weakness there. As a CB, he'd have more time, and space, to do what he does at the '6' position.

Hehe.

Can you blame him though? A positive attitude like JK's can be contagious. Pep Guardiola has it, and Frankly, I think is the biggest reason why he got the best soccer out of Rjkaard's(sp) Barca.

Call him a spin doctor, but I think it's good what he is doing, and will do wonders for the players mentally. Soccer for me, is HUGELY psychological. Bolivia went to the 94WC not only from a good group of talent, but because mentally... they felt they could beat anyone, and all loved each other (teammates) like brothers, and looked at the game that way. Same thing with Barcelona, I think JK Wants the same out of our guys.

There are interesting connections I can go on and on with the old bolivia team and JK's way of doing things... but that may go off topic.

I agree. That was fascinating stuff. Never knew JJ's attitude. Makes me think...he may be really trying hard to put his hat in the ring to become captain some day after reading this. Love his 100 attitude...I wonder how he feels about Tim Chandler?

 

I enjoyed reading the articles and have moved into more acceptance regarding Klinsmann.

Here are my basic issues with the direction of the piece:

1. Jurgen campaigned for the job as someone who knew exactly what he was doing and what the job needed.


2. I pretty much agree that he he basically pandered to the Mexican and Latino communities with his early selections. Holding on to Torres, as long as he did was a mystery to me. So was the early under-utilization of Bradley. So has been the overreliance upon the older defenders, in hopes of delivering results, perhaps at the expense of preparing/delivering/creating a team to compete through the Hex and on to the World Cup.

3. Now we get this " I am evolved and my ego is strong enough to admit I'm ok with being wrong". It is amusing and more than a bit disingenuous.

4. So where has he admitted he was wrong? It's more like he is ok with him if it turns out that he was wrong.

 

Politician.

Said it first day he was hired. Don't believe a word he says and he is good with PR.

Oh where are all those lil kids with their neg reps now.

He is what he is and always has been...as long as he does right on the field moving forward that's all that matters.

However, BS artist he always was...BS artist he remains.

 

I would have preferred a theme of

"The job was more challenging than I expected, I was not as familiar with the player pool as I thought, I have made some mistakes, learned from them and I believe we are in a great spot moving forward into the Hex".

Why the spin?

 

Shameless, self promoting politician.


Enough...forward to the Hex and I pray CB doesn't screw us.

 

And no one would have viewed that theme as "spin" as well?

This winter break (with no results to see on the field for 2.5 months) will all and only be "spin" (and the analysis/complaints there of) in some sense.

'Tis the (off-)season.

 

Gulati should have put him in charge of the USA Bid2022 back in 2009-2010. (Not that it would have helped.)

 

I still think his preference for Edu over Bradley at the #8 spot prior to Nov. 2011 was truly bonkers, especially considering how long he stuck with it. The whole team was broken as a result of that decision.