If Straus’ sources are right, Jurgen is “losing the locker room,” and moreover he doesn’t seem to care, or be worried about it for a second.

“This is normal,” Klinsmann explains, whenever a new manager asks players for big changes in tactics, formation or playing style.

But that’s the next problem: the players feel “over-trained and under-coached.” Player frustration is NOT about being asked to do new things. This is NOT about a change in tactics, style and formation as much as it is that players don’t know what the hell they’re being asked to do. They feel they have a lack of directions. Klinsmann’s pre-game or half-time guiding words to “be more creative” or “pull things together” are tactically meaningless to many of the players. And one of the players who might be able to translate this to the field for Klinsmann is stuck in Spain riding pine.

Instead of specific changes like “get the ball out wide more” or “let’s have Michael play further out in front of Jones,” players are delivered words of encouragement and a pat on the fanny: “go get em guys!” For many players held over after the Bob Bradley era, where specific directions, tactics and responsibilities were spelled out in almost clinically clear terms, Klinsmann’s polar opposite approach must be bewildering.

Its one thing to tell players to be more creative—its another thing to explain what that means tactically and positionally. Our guys don’t play for Barcelona or play on teams that play “Barca-ball.” They need guidance and direction, and moreover, it sounds like they’re asking for it.

What does it mean for the team as it heads to Costa Rica for the 2nd game of the hex? Do loose lips sink ships? Is this non-vote of confidence from many of the players a sign of things to come? Or is Klinsmann right: is this all part of the process of “change?” You’re not learning if you’re not squirming. The question is, what are the players REALLY learning?

All this cynicism aside, let’s get into our line-up, formation and assessment of the match vs Costa Rica. Brett has picked a side he would like to see. I have picked a side I think Klinsmann will probably go with (are my days of picking Jurgen’s line-ups almost to a man over?).
BRETT’S PICKS

DEREK’S KLINSMANN PREDICTION

GUZAN AND THE BACK FOUR
Brett: Guzan is going to have his hands full with organizing an inexperienced defensive crew against Costa Rica and especially Mexico. Due to injuries to key players and Bocanegra riding pine at the club level, Klinsmann has called up a curious group of defenders. Our most experienced defender in this roster is Goodson who has 34 caps for the national team, but he is unlikely to even see the pitch. Klinsmann is likely to stick to his guns from the previous camp and start Gonzalez and Cameron and given our center back options, I wouldn’t blame him.Bocanegra hasn’t seen the pitch since February 2nd with his second division Spanish club. While his experience is needed, his form and sharpness will clearly have dulled due to lack of playing time. Bocanegra apparently felt blindsided when Klinsmann presented a starting XI against Honduras that did not include him and I completely understand his confusion as he received the bulk of center back playing time even when he was playing in the Scottish 3rd division. There were several chances to at least call in someone like Gonzalez prior to the Hex, why in an extremely hostile location for his first high profile match? Goodson on the other hand is playing consistently with his club but is he an improvement over the Gonzalez? There is an opportunity that Edu could be placed back with Gonzalez and push Cameron out right, a position he’s occasionally played with Stoke (among other positions).

Derek: This may be a curious back 4 but I’m not sure who else Klinsmann calls in at this point. Lichaj is riding pine. Boca is riding pine. Gooch has long since waved the national team goodbye and Tim Ream struggles for regular time at 2nd level Bolton. Jonathan Spector is off the radar. I could see Goodson instead of Gonzalez–and if Jurgen hangs out at the right/wrong pre-game party and gets enough 2nd hand hits prior to making his final selection who’s to say we might not see Beasley starting at LB, making over-lapping runs? At this point, and with so many players missing, I won’t be shocked by any Klinsmann line-up.

ON THE MIDFIELD
Brett: Klinsmann has already discussed the partnership between Jones and Bradley as a center mid duo, but in past games, we also saw a stay at home defensive midfielder. If we really want to see a successful pulley system in the center, we’ll need to have them actually play in the middle. In Honduras, Jones had to cover the right side as well as the center, due to a lack of actual wing coverage. This roster presents an opportunity to have width as well as the Jones and Bradley pairing. I decided to pick Shea and Beasley over other wide options like Zusi and Davis, due to the fact they offer pace and spread out the pitch. If we had wing backs that I felt comfortable with overlapping and pushing forward then I could see Klinsmann using Zusi over Beasley. Zusi isn’t a true winger, and offers the type of width we saw under Bob Bradley. When he receives the ball he looks to cut into the middle or look to lay off to the overlapping defender. With this roster, I’d prefer wingers who act more like actual wingers.

Derek: I’m going with the “Klinsman can’t help himself” midfield of three, with Edu playing in front of the back 4 and Jones and Bradley playing LCM and RCM. Has this formation bombed before? Of course it has. Do we look clueless playing it? Very often. But hey, my job here is to predict what I think Klinsmann will do, and what he’ll do is stubbornly stick to some form of the 4-3-3. Can this look like a 4-5-1 sometimes? Sure does—but with Dempsey and Gomez playing LF and RF, and I would expect them to do a lot of cutting inside during possession, once again leaving us very little attacking outside pressure. Same story—different game.

STRIKERS AND FORWARDS
Brett: Individually, Dempsey has been very successful under Klinsmann, but as a striker tandem, he and Jozy haven’t been on the same page. Jozy hasn’t received the service he’s used to with AZ. There is strong potential here, but both need assistance from the wings and the midfield pairing. We can’t rely on Jozy taking on four defenders by himself. Our other options are Boyd Gomez and Eddie Johnson, who could see the pitch later in the match to spice things up. With Jozy’s current form with AZ, I’d be surprised if he didn’t get the start. Still, its time for Jozy to capitalize on his chances, regardless of how limited they may be.

Derek: with the three midfielders in his line-up, Jurgen Klinsmann will start the game with an attacking look using two of his favorite line-up returnees, Gomez and Dempsey at RF and LF. I agree with Brett that Jozy has to get the nod as the starting central striker, but I feel its time for Klinsmann to figure out why Jozy is so successful in Holland, and why he’s ineffective in Jurgen’s own approach. Perhaps Jurgen doesn’t have an “approach,” (if you listen to the locker room)—and THAT is the real problem. If so, expect Jozy’s day to be “the same story—different game.”

Derek Richey and Brett Corbit are the hosts of “The Straight Red Card” and have regularly appeared as guests on numerous podcats and radio shows across North America. They are also co-founders of the Brickyard Battalion supporter’s group in Indianapolis, Indiana that recently successfully brought pro soccer back to the city.

by Derek Richey

Mike Magee. What a guy. Is there any doubt about his ability to take a ball on the cut or out of the air? Is there any doubt about his skills on the ground? Is there any doubt that he’s one of the best American players to never go overseas?

Is Magee a late bloomer? Sure he is. He’s a fantastic late bloomer. Am I saying all this because he scored a hat-trick against Chicago yesterday? Kind of, but not really. Mike Magee has been amazing when it counts for the past few seasons for LA, even though he’s been over-shadowed by the glowing lights of Landon Donovan, David Beckham and Robbie Keane.

But go ahead, ask anyone on the Galaxy, or Bruce Arena, or talk to anyone around the MLS, and ask them if Magee isn’t one of the most reliable, steadfast, dependable, talented, skilled, and efficient players in the league. Per opportunity, who takes care of the ball better? Bruce Arena would have him on the Nats if he were still coach. Just ask him. Then again, that might not be too convincing for some.

Is Magee as good of a poacher as Wondolowski? Maybe, but he’s not asked to be a poacher like Wondo. Magee doesn’t do all his damage as a poacher like Wondo does. And is being a poacher on the US National team really an asset anymore? I mean, we don’t cross the ball enough to cause poacher-friendly skirmishes in front of the goal for a guy like Wondo to flourish. Oh, but that’s right, Wondo scores goals for an MLS team that plays the OPPOSITE style that the US National team ASPIRES to play. So, why play someone like Magee that fits more into the ball-control framework?–that makes too much sense…

Eddie Johnson as a winger? Sorry Jurgen, but if you’re going to throw someone on the wing, why not someone who has been there and done that for two MLS championship teams? Why would anyone ever choose EJ over someone like Magee to play that role? Oh, that’s right, EJ scores goals for Seattle–and lots of them. But doesn’t he do that in a traditional striker role–not as a winger?

But then there is Mike Magee. His feet are magical. He’s a more skilled player than Wondo is. He’s not as good a poacher, but we already discussed the cons of that in Jurgen’s lair. Magee is a better winger than EJ could ever hope to become on his very best day. Magee is just a special player. Better than that, when the pressure is on, he steps up and performs better. When everyone else is taking a break (Landy Mountain Man) or moving on (Beckham and “gay Pear-ee”), Magee’s the guy you can rely on. He’s versatile. He can play striker, reserved striker, winger, even central midfield… But mostly, he’s a play-maker.

When Landon Donovan and Keane are both around and healthy, he doesn’t get to play much up top, but by-goodness when he does, he scores. And he scores when it matters (at least recently). If we’re going to give a guy like Alan Gordon a reach-around and a chance at camp-cupcake type games, why not CONSIDER a guy like Mike Magee? He has better feet than Gordon and actually fits into Klinsmann’s system… Isn’t that the whole point of Jurgen’s evolution of American soccer? If so, why not choose some players that actually fit into your Barcelona style vision? Players who can hold the ball, pass the ball, shoot the ball, dribble, run, and score when called upon?

Okay, maybe 10 Magee goals in the last two seasons doesn’t blow your mind, but did you ever consider that he hasn’t been asked to be a goal-scorer until the end of last season? And didn’t that work out pretty well for the Galaxy when it was clutch time? And really, wouldn’t you want him on your team if you had the chance? Be honest.

If I’m Jurgen Klinsmann right now, I’d be picking up the phone and calling one of the most unheralded players in the MLS over the past two seasons (unless your a Galaxy fan—-then you know better). If Mike Magee were 22 instead of 28, he’d be a hot property in the world (not just MLS) and god knows he wouldn’t be playing in the MLS much longer. He’d be in the EPL, or Germany.

And if some of those Euro clubs don’t think 28 is too old to become a star player or a major contributor, then maybe they’ll still give him a call soon. It happened to Geoff Cameron (who is 27). In fact, it was just over a year ago I said Geoff Cameron should head abroad to make a case for himself to be a regular on the national team—-and I was right (despite sighs and grumbles from the gallery). That call might not come for 28 year old Mike Magee from anyone overseas or even from Klinsmann, but it should, because Mike Magee has been, and is, a class player.

The 4-3-3 will also look a lot like a 4-5-1, as usual. It would be surprising, with all players available, if Jones, Bradley and Williams don’t start in some form of a rotating middle triangle 3, with Dempsey and Zusi/Gomez pinching in from the wings.

The biggest adjustments to my picks could happen if Klinsmann decides (once again) that Altidore doesn’t deserve a shot up top as a starter. If he doesn’t, expect Gomez up there. If Altidore shows well in practice, expect Zusi or Gomez to start up the wing.

Dempsey could play a 2nd Striker role, but it won’t likely be as a real 2nd striker, but as a pinched in winger from the left side. As usual, he’ll spend plenty of time having the freedom during possession to do whatever he wants, but will drop back on defense–predominantly on the left side.

I would be shocked if JK doesn’t play Jones, Bradley and Williams in the middle, which is why I picked this formation. Williams will play mostly in front of the back 4 during defensive stages of the game UNLESS Klinsmann agains allows Bradley to play the more holding/possession role, which would again throw a monkey-wrench in my picks. But wouldn’t it be nice to see Bradley freed up to move forward with Jones on the counter-attack knowing Williams is back there to sure things up?

For those who are sure Bocanegra should be thrown overboard for Gonzalez: don’t expect it to happen in game one of the Hex. Gonzalez is the future, sure, but to start this scary Hex, I forsee the Cameron and Bocanegra partnership that Jurgen is most comfortable with. Don’t expect Klinsmann to go experimenting with a new Cameron and Gonzalez qualifying partnership for the first game of the WCQ.

2-1, US.

Article by Derek Richey