FTR length of time as a member on big soccer does not equate to more knowledge about soccer. I am not claiming tobe a font of football knowledge or tactics but I know enough to know there are some really clueless posters here. Just as you think Klinsi was deficient in his decisions with Bradley, I think the German is crazy like a fox. I happen to think he knows more about our players and the pool and what he is trying to do than any of us. I alos see valid reasons for why MB did not get the caps you think he should have gotten, but i disagree. All that said I do think MB would be a good choice for captain, but I bet it goes to JJ if it is up to Klinsi. I also think MB's game is much improved even form a year ago. I do not know how high his ceiling is, but he is the heart and soul of our team NOW.
Here's to hoping that we see more of the fox and less of the crazy going into qualifying. Here's also to hoping that he knows what he is trying to do with the player pool more than any of us; because anything else would be really scary!!
The only thing I would fault Klinsi for is our CB situation. And to be honest to he did try out different combinations of CB's. Gonzalez got hurt, Ream's form went to hell, but he did get Cameron. Besler just came into the picture this season. On our style of play; we have piano carrier types playing at the highest levels in midfield, so of course they would dominate the lineups and influence our style.
I think Dempsey has a better chance of being captain than JJ. IMO Bradley or Howard should be the new captain.
I think Donovan can live with the fact that most of the world already thinks (and probably will continue to assume) that he's our captain no matter who's actually wearing the armband. To me, Bradley is more of an overall leader on the field than Donovan. And I used to hate Bradley. I had to come around on him to see his influence. Plus he's improved every year he's been playing and continues to push himself to play a bigger role. It's hard to think of a US game he plays in and doesn't have an influence. Donovan can disappear. Dempsey can disappear. Outside of Howard, he's our most consistent player. And to have a midfielder who can do that is one of the things that separates good teams from bad teams..
If Howard is slow to recover from his injury, Klinsmann may have to make a decision on the armband. Donovan - unavailable, currently on the run from Bigsoccer and last spotted in Cambodia. Bocanegra - healthy, but hasn't played a single minute in over a month. Howard - injured, for how long I don't know. Even if healthy, Guzan is a legitimate threat to his #1 spot. Cherundolo - injured. If the early estimates were correct he should be back by mid-March, but I haven't seen anything yet suggesting that. Bradley - healthy and playing Dempsey - injured, should be back next week. If Bradley goes down and these other players are slow to heal, then I really have no idea who would be next in line. Cameron, and then maybe Jones?
I would be willing to serve as non-playing captain. Edit: I am confident I know enough meaningless sports cliches to handle the press.
I don't think it was mentioned on this particular thread but Michael was called by Klinsmann to be with him in the pre match press conference in Honduras. This is ordinarily the role/spot reserved for the captains of each of the teams. http://m.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/02/07/bradley-embraces-new-role-transitional-time-usmnt
I would say Howard might just edge out Bradley, even though I'd love to see the kid with the armband. Other than that, Dempsey might just have to be the one to take it.
Yeah Howard has the experience and the voice to take it for now but post WC it just has to be Bradley.
If Bradley goes down then it's clearly Jones. Jones has captained twice, he's already a leader on and off the field and JK has praised him numerous times about that. Honestly, if Jones was pure bred America he'd be the next captain without question.
Well, if Jones was pure blooded American, I doubt he would have had the luxury of developing his entire career in Germany from a destroyer into a more rounded central midfielder in his early 30s. There's always a chance though, but the answer to that is probably not - so it's not a "without question" statement in the slightest.
Amusingly, here is a German article about some outrage (I never heard anything about it) regarding Jones being the captain in the past Camp Strudel. http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/...macht-jones-zum-kapitaen---unter-protest.html A difficult translation from Google translate, but one can get the picture . . . Reason for the harsh criticism is Jones' recent past.It is "bad enough that Jones, who was titled after his kick to Marco Reus in Germany as the worst player, has become a part of the team," said the specialist portal that the decision U.S. as a "dark day in the history of the national team of "designated. That Klinsmann will look upon it as a suitable guide players was incomprehensible. another translation: Reason for the harsh criticism is Jones' the latest past. It is bad enough " that Jones which was entitled after his step against Marco Reus in Germany as the worst player has become a part of the team ", according to the professional main entrance which called the decision " dark day in the history of the national team of the USA ". The fact that Klinsmann looks at him as a suitable leadership player, is incomprehensible. Maybe our friend @Lascho can offer a better translation.
Less concerned about his Germanish, Thomas Dooley was a great captain for the US Nats, and more concerned that you have a minimum expectation that your captain is actually going to playwith JJ, and shall we say his proclivity for suspensions, that is a bit of an issue.
That's got nothing to do with it. He doesn't have the right mind set to be the captain 24/7 too many cards and rash tackles to be captain. You normally pick a calm in the face of crazy type of person not the crazy in the face of crazy type person.
I don't understand this post. It seems like you're saying Jones isn't our best midfielder, infact, it seems you're delusionally calling him a mediocre midfielder.
You pick a leader, not just a well mannered, soft spoken guy. I'm not sure wha tyou know about Jones anyways if you think he's anything but calm and collected when talking with refs.
Let me help you understand. You in essence said if Jones had been born in the US, he'd be the next captain. Responders said if he had been born in the US, he wouldn't be as good as he is since Germany's development system is better than ours, so he wouldn't be the next captain. I don't believe the Rico Clark comparison was trying to say that Jones is only as good as Clark, but rather that if he had developed in the US he would only be as good as Clark.