Great stuff http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/grant_wahl/08/08/klinsmann.mexico/index.html
Klinsmann was doing exactly what Bradley never did: explain himself. Even just that part where he goes down the list and talks about Clint's situation, Mike Bradley's, Freddy Adu's, etc. I can't help but think that fans might have had a little more confidence in Bob if he'd let them in a little on his rationale like Jürgen's doing here.
Exactly, to me the most interesting part of the interview is where he is talking about the intellectual side of training and coaching at the college level to professional level. I thought he was dead on with this quote: This is really well said and I think it will go over the heads of most people just how important this mentality is when evaluating both the college player AND the college coach. They aren't as brain-dead as most make them out to be..it is just that the professional/intl. game is totally different than the college game in terms of logistics.
Wow that was some good stuff from Jurgen. I hope he can accomplish his goals in his time in charge. I like how Jurgen has a plan and he seems to completely know what he is doing and what he wants to do.
At the same time, I wonder how some of the players who've been around a while will react to having thinks talked about in public with such candor. Because that's definitely a change. But for the fans, this is better by a factor of 1000.
The stuff at the end about more playing time for the kids and WHY we need that was spot on. More interesting stuff in that one page than Bob's said in his life
Nothing wrong with stating the facts...I don't see how a player can get upset over Klinsmann saying he's been left in no man's land by his club.
People get upset over things that logically they shouldn't because they feel threatened. Talking about peoples' situations publicly can do that. Should they get over it and get used to it? Sure, but the psyche isn't always logical (in fact, it's often the furthest thing... and we're talking about young, highly-strung, highly competitive athletes here, not philosophical elder statesmen), and most of our players have been rather used to having most things kept very much "in house." Klinsmann's a lot more candid that most coaches, especially most American coaches. I hope his approach proves to be effective, but I do wonder if Freddy and Michael aren't feeling a little pissed about being talked about like that today. Nevetheless, I see this candor as a positive thing. But will Michael or Freddy? They're the ones who are going to have to play...
Totally. This interview kind of highlights exactly what my hope was for Klinsmann. On the field, I'm not at all certain that he'll prove to be an upgrade, but the way that he'll use the media to work on the mindset of US Soccer and campaign to get people on the same page as him... no one that we've ever had coaching has ever been able to use the platform of being the USMNT manager nearly as effectively to effect the sorts of changes that he would like to see (and let's face it, MOST high-level coaches vaguely qualified to lead the USMNT would like to see) and already has begun that 'campaigning' process. Because he comes with a combination of a lot of charisma and confidence as well as a certain level of credibility that none of the insiders have that allows him to do so.
Oh, I'm feeling much better. He talked with Pete Carroll. sigh. Good read. Enjoyed his views on the youth. But the one aspect, about what he brought to Germany, is the strength of American players. These 'ideas' are nothing new to US players who grew up under Arena and Bradley or watch the NBA and NFL.
Yup, totally agree the bottom line is... "The American kids need hundreds and even thousands more hours to play. " That's the only answer to improving technical skills. All the arguments about development and coaching aside as long as our kids don't spend enough time touching the ball, we're screwed.
Freddy airs his business out over twitter. If you ask him about his contract he will tell you. Don't know about Bradley, though. I don't think he is going to finger poke Klinnsman, though.
Can you explain what the problem might be with what he said? He didn't actually say anything we didn't already know about either of them, except that Benfica won't let Adu train at DC United. I guess, also, how he was talking up Bradley's sharpness and intensity in training, which at least sounded a lot better than what we've heard about his just jogging on the side of the field while the team trains. I just don't see what problem they might have. He's clearly on their side.
So he is reminding us about the 10 thousand hour rule. Thumbs up from me that he read Malcolm Gladwell
Yeah, I really liked how he got to the nitty gritty. Young american kids needs way more time on the ball than they are getting. Basketball players and baseball players (pitchers especially) spend thousand of hours with time on the ball as kids outtside of practice. In soccer too many kids play club ball and then never touch the ball until the next club practice.