http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2012/11/Klinsmann-Conference-Call-Nov-1.aspx " Every time you have an opportunity like that and go into these countries to play Italy or Russia or other big nations, you’ve got to take that opportunity. We got there and try to play a good game and get a win"
I'd like to ask JK if Landon Donovan is in the plans. Oh, that's already been asked and answered 4 times in the last 5 minutes? Sorry, had my head up my arse.
Multiple sentences about how JK's in touch with Chandler and respects the guy's personal decision-making, is in touch with Chandler's coaches, bla, bla, bla. And then one short, terse sentence about not having been in contact with Altidore and not being sure if Jozy will be called in for the Euro Friendly. Anyone else struck by the contrast? JK is the leader and the older, mature, experienced athlete/coach. He has to fix this apparent rift with Altidore.
I love how we have these pressers and Jurgen doesnt give any actual nuggets of news. Its always the most obvious information in the world..
Ives quick bite about the tone and expression of the statement: Regarding Altidore, Klinsmann sounded like a coach who was growing tired of even talking about Altidore. That doesn’t very much sound like Klinsmann, but you had to hear his response to the Altidore call-up question to see just how unusual his response came off as.
Jozy hasn't scored a NT goal in about a year now. He shouldn't be an automatic starter (no one should) and he shouldn't be an automatic call-up (no one should). Between Gomez, Dempsey, Donovan, Wondolowski, EJ, and Gordon, I think we can squeak by without Altidore, if that is what JK decides. Between Boyd, Agudelo, Bunbury, Sapong, and some others, I think we have some guys in the pipeline as well. I hope Jozy and JK patch thinks up and Jozy develops into a force for the USMNT, but I don't think so. He isn't that good as a #9, and Dempsey and Landon are both better playing underneath.
I feel Jurgen is just simply leaving it open to leave Altidore motivated and looking to prove something.
So sick of hearing about Altidore. He hasn't done jack squat for the USMNT in over a year whereas EJ and Gordon were instrumental in getting us six points to qualify us for the Hex. Until Jozy learns to run hard while on the pitch while wearing a US jersey, I am happy as a lark to see him get ignored for call ups.
Fascinating, I was saying when he got dropped that Altidore is a scapegoat for Klinsmann's problems prior to October, and it turns out that this really is the case. Altidore had to grind through all those friendlies against difficult opposition with only 2 other attacking players on the field, with few exceptions. When Klinsmann finally shifts to a type of formation with a normal number of attacking players on the field, Altidore is nowhere to be found and everybody else benefits. To be fair to Klinsmann, I like the spin on Chandler as long as Klinsmann never actually calls him up again.
I dont think he will be ignored. He will probably be atleast called. He could sprint from sideline to sideline but is that the kind of player he is? No. He doesnt do that for AZ. He just really isnt a work horse and no one should expect that kind of player out of Jozy. If we call him in with our core group and he has the service and support, he will be fine. He hasnt had that since Jurgen took the job.
How the hell can he "learn" to run hard while wearing a US jersey if he's not called up? From all reports, he busts his ass with this club team. If this was an effort thing, the appropriate thing to do, by Klinsmann, would be to call him up and sit his ass on the bench. He can then point to what he wants and put Altidore out there and see if he follows up on it.
Im confused as to why we should even have to "squeak by". He's an idiot if he doesn't call up our most talented pure striker who just happens to be playing the best soccer of his life.
But from the reports of his play at club level, he does do that. His coach called him out early on about what he wanted and benched him. Jozy took the calling out and upped his play. He's the center forward for his team where he's expected to bang around against the oppositions two CB's, hold possession, distribute to his midfielders, run at defenders with the ball, run off the ball to make room for other players and be there for the "tap ins". He's doing this.
Are you serious? Whats he suppose to do when Danny Williams is playing right wing and Maurice Edu is on the field at the same time. Get a grip.
Spot on. The sheer fact that we were in the position that we were re: qualifying at the last minute, was down to incompetence by Klinsmann.
If by "upped his play" you mean just simply started to play better then yes, but has he adjusted his play to where he sprints constantly while the opposing sides back 4 have the ball? Nope. He wont do that.
American fans are finding out what it's like to have a big name European manager running their national team. European soccer is full of prima donnas and drama queens. We were blessed in a certain respect with Bob Bradley, who was virtually ego-free. Even Bruce Arena, who was prickly, didn't come close to Euro levels of arrogance. I see a parallel between Klinsmann's personnel problems and the sometimes baffling treatment our players sometimes suffer overseas. It's a culture clash. Obviously it's the players' responsibility to adapt. I hope Jozy does, because he's flat out better than any other striker in the pool - I don't care how hard Gomez works. But Klinsmann also has to be careful not to be so unyielding that the team's performance suffers because of seemingly arbitrary exclusions. I'd worry less about this if Donovan didn't seem to be questioning his entire relationship to the game right now.
Yeah, the only problem is that Jozy thinks he shouldn;t have to adjust his game between playing for AZ and the USMNT. He plays in a 4-3-3 at Alkmaar in a much more open style, for the USMNT you have to get back and get invovled in the play, not walk aimlessly around waiting for everyone to push up to you. That exactly what he was doing. It's not Klinsmann's job to tailor and offensive system to one player, and if that player has a problem with it, its also not his job to coddle him either Probably sounded so terse becasue he's sick of people talking about Jozy like he is American Messi or something. He played like ass and was left off 1 roster FFS. I think we need Chandler to be a better team. Sorry.
What player does this? What coach requires this? Gomez who has been lauded on here for his "hustle" doesn't even do this. He picks his times to press the defenders.
Guys, even if the team loses on the road to Russia, Klinsy will finish in a tie for the highest win percentage as USMNT coach during a calendar year (with Bob Bradley). We didn't play a bunch of cupcakes this year, either. Are our expectations out of whack or are we spoiled? On Altidore, we have no idea what he was like in training. Sometimes as a teacher you run into a student that doesn't respect you or want to be taught. Altidore could have given Klinsy attitude and that might have grated on him. We simply don't know. As long as we keep winning, things will work out.