Klinsmann Comments about State of US Soccer

fairwitness · Jul 9, 2010

Sorry if this has already been posted.
A must-read for those who make the moronic argument that U.S. simply needs to get our "best athletes" (whatever that is supposed to mean) to play soccer in order to compete with the rest of the world.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-...e/us/lebron-not-save-us-soccer?cc=5901&ver=us

BTW, do Xavi, Iniesta, David Villa, Messi and Puyol come to mind when someone thinks of "world's greatest athletes?" Probably not. All good athletes...and extraordinary soccer players.

The USMNT needs a coach (and the development system a culture) that values soccer players like Feilhaber, Adu and Torres over grinders and "great athletes" like Michael Bradley, Robbie Findley and Jozy Altidore.

JohnR · Jul 9, 2010

fairwitness said: ↑

The USMNT needs a coach (and the development system a culture) that values soccer players like Feilhaber, Adu and Torres over grinders and "great athletes" like Michael Bradley, Robbie Findley and Jozy Altidore.
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I agree with the general point, but Bradley and Jozy are soccer players. And Bradley for one had a very good WC.

Mutiny RIP · Jul 9, 2010

JohnR said: ↑

I agree with the general point, but Bradley and Jozy are soccer players. And Bradley for one had a very good WC.
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I couldn't help but notice that you did not come to the defense of one Robbie Findley.

JohnR · Jul 9, 2010

Mutiny RIP said: ↑

I couldn't help but notice that you did not come to the defense of one Robbie Findley.
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Findley is surely better than I think he is. That's the best defense I can offer for him.

Stan Collins · Jul 9, 2010

Are you English? You have an English way with the damning-by-faint-praise thing.

truthandlife · Jul 1, 2011

Hoopscoach said: ↑

I hope they replay what Klinsmann just said during World Cup Live about the state of US Soccer. He was asked about if our expectations matched the talent of our players. He responded that it was something that US Soccer was going to have to look at that issue. Then he continued....

"Looking at the game yesterday you had three really quality players that did not live up to their expectations, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard. They were not there. It was not there game last night and if they do not step up to the world stage then you cant expect Michael Bradley and the other ones to pull it all off. I think its really important that they lay out a philosophy for US Soccer and say where do we want to go. I mean hopefully by the end of the the US will get the WC 2022... and so you need to know how to develop the players. It is very difficult within the American culture to talk about that topic because you are the only country in the world that has the pyramid upside down. That means you pay for having your kid play soccer, because your goal is not that your kid becomes professional soccer player because your goal is that your kid gets a scholarship in high school or college. Which is completely opposite form the rest of the world...and it si a tough one because soccer is very similar to basketball you need it out of the lower class environment. Soccer worldwide is a lower environment sport. We all got up from moderate families and fought our way through. You need to keep this hunger throughout your life and I compare it to basketball because all these guys are coming form the inner cities so you need to find ways, whatever they may be to connect with the Hispanics, connect with everyone and get the kids that are really hungry. To get the kids on a technical level that are able to perform and what I mean by technical level is first touch. The first touch yesterday was not there and you cannot afford those in the WC."

I think US Soccer is reaching a crossroads and some fundamental decisions are going to have to be made about the direction of US Soccer over the next 12 years (When we hopefully get the WC). We have seen a small movement in US Youth Soccer to begin developing a Latin American style of soccer as a style of US play. Now we will see how US Soccer attempts to further develop this beginning with the decisions at the MNT.

Thoughts ???
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Amen and we are seeing the results today

WraithXx · Jul 1, 2011

Bob Bradley.... 4 more years! 4 more years!

:facepalm

JcUSA · Jul 1, 2011

truthandlife said: ↑

Amen and we are seeing the results today
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Nice foreshadowing for the U17 USA-Germany matchup.