This is pure speculation from my side, but I sense a bit of Verbeek/Klinsi tension underlying this situation. Not completely on them, but I don't think they help it. I would not be surprised if Verbeek were a bit in Jozy's ear about not being used properly and if Klinsi does not have a bit of disdain for Verbeek. Again, I'm kind of making stuff up here, but I would not be surprised if the two personalities were not at least failing to be helpful to each other and Jozy in this situation. At the same time, I have no doubt, if Jozy's form holds, and Jurgen and the boys get it done, he will be in Brazil with the team and all will be Hunky-dorey.
I can understand staying with Gomez in the XI, but leaving Altidore off the squad entirely (and calling in Gordon above him) has created an unnecessary distraction. If these were friendlies or if we were already clinched for the next round, then okay whatevs. But to do this in a window during two WCQs where our passage has not yet been secured is a reckless decision. I don't give a shit what Klinnsman's end game is on this, this is just dumb dumb dumb. I wonder what kind of effect this move will have in the locker room. These kinds of decisions can divide a team and can negatively affect the way the team plays.
He is probably more upset at the general manager, someone very close to USMNT, for withholding Jozy, almost as if he wanted him to fail so he had more time for his club team. Verbeek never got in the way of MB. In fact, MB was played at a different position for him as well. There was that whole, 'I am a DM' and Verbeek, saying, 'no, really you're not,' debate.
Actually, check out this response (a regular on the holland side of the site) on Altidore's recent success and how he judges (I agree with him) the dutch league. Read the part where he talks on why defending is so weak and why strikers tend to do well in the league. I agree. https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/jozy-altidore-cant-be-stopped-in-holland.1975844/
This kind of decision can light a fire under an underachieving player. A month ago, Wondo was struggling a bit to score from the run of play. Frank Yallop benched him for the first half against Portland. He subbed him at the half and he scored a brace. He has 6 goals in ~300 minutes of playing time since this happened.
You could light a bonfire, develop a machine that pumps an endless supply of gasoline on said bonfire, and it won't matter. The system makes strikers look like shit.
Idiotic move by Klinsmann. His hate for Altidore is puzzling. First benching him for a journeyman like Gomez and now leaving him out of the team entirely for a complete scrub like Gordon. Just mystifying. Other than the typical Lichaj omission, nothing else really jumps out at me about this roster good or bad.
He's got to do more with AZ this year. I will say he is a character - and probably too much of a character for the USMNT, although I can't argue with what he did at 'veen, he also didn't better Foppe's basic results either and never really overachieved in the league - There was a pretty steep drop off after he left (aside from 08-9 of course). He had player issues at Fword ... I kinda liked what he did with AZ and Jozy last year. But judgement is out for this season for sure. I just really think there is a little personality/competition between the two guys - small evidence like battling over that first call up etc. But again, I'm just shooting in the dark 'cause it's fun to speculate.
T This, however, makes little to no sense. Someone who thinks he is an automatic selection expects to get the call regardless of playing time or form with his club. Jozy is starting and scoring with great regularity. Based purely on form, which Klinsmann claimed would be a major factor in his selections, Altidore should have at least been in the squad.
It's a punishment for disrespecting him on Twitter, he will learn his lesson and will be back next month against Russia. Jozy will make a big impact just like how Bradley came back to the starting lineup and made a big impact against Slovenia last year.
This, but I would continue the discourse by saying there's probably a lot of truth to Jurgens comments concerning how Jozy looks during team practice, and how hes played for the last 14 months. While the later does not right you off the team per say, the former will.
Wahl updated his article with two quotes from Jozy, one of which is him saying the "incompetent" quote had nothing to do with Klinsmann, and he deleted it because he didn't want people to get the wrong idea:
Well, it's certainly good that he is backing up off it. It's really hard to imagine who else it might have been referring to.
Sorry but no way to spin this no matter how hard one may try. Leaving Altidore off the roster with his current form is insane but calling up ALAN GORDON to the USMNT??? That's unforgivable. Klinsmann must think his job is airtight. He'd better hope so because there's no way in heck that Alan Gordon will be on the final roster assuming we are going to Brazil in 2014. No chance. Klinsmann = Fail on this decision.
Well, after reading Wahl on Klinsmann's selection, I still don't like how he handles callups. He really lays the hammer down on players he doesn't feel are meeting what he wants. On the other hand he has been consistent. He dropped two players who play well for their club but badly for the US - Torres and Altidore. He also brings in new players for the trouble areas - AM and forward. But, all in all, I hate the idea of so much turmoil on the roster. Klinsmann, on the other hand, seems to think it's a great learning tool.
What message was JK sending to MB? "You're the former coaches son, and even though you're the best CM in the player pool buy a country mile, the retarded mob on BigSoccer didn't like you because of who your dad was so I need to pander to the tard monkeys so they like me?"
Sorry but ALAN GORDON ?!?! Geez...at least call up Wondo, you know, the guy who scores a bit. Crazy. Crazy. Crazy.
Jozy is scoring goals right now in the Eredivisie, but he's been pretty awful for the USMNT lately. My biggest problem is that he just doesn't move when he plays for us. When I see his motion for AZ I kind of scratch my head and wonder if it's even the same player. Maybe it's a bad move, but I hope it will light a fire under him to perform for his country.
No, he felt that at the time that Beckerman did a better job than Mikey but he came back to the starting lineup against Slovenia and made his case that he should be an automatic starter.
Do the two managers have some kind of history, or is this all just because of Altidore in this cycle?