The Klinsmann Coaching Thread v.3 N&A Edition [R]

on the first goal, was cameron moving up to play the offsides trap? It was a bad decision, but at least I can guess the thought process. Also, these feels a lot of gcam and gonzo against honduras, two new guys just thrown in there together and making close to the same mistake in not getting back.

 

First, two strikers does not equal 4-4-2. Second, EJ was playing second striker for most of the first half also and we weren't always looking good when we did. Take a second look at the game, EJ was nearly always present as a second striker. Probably our worst minutes of the game were in the last twenty minutes of the second half. EJ wasn't dropping down enough to cover defensively or retrieve the ball. Mix started drifting left to cover the space and Bedoya started dropping down to the point where the shape looked like a box 4-2-2-2. Ideally, EJ should play as an inverted winger/forward and Bedoya as a winger/AM. The key to understanding EJ's role is that he has the wheels that allow him to play second striker but also run down and press the high line. Both can play their roles but I believe the stress from the first goal and the crowd pressure had them revert to what they are used to in their club teams. This showed a lack of focus, they need to shake off the bad moments and play to the plan. They weren't the only ones to do that. Bradley also stopped doing the regista role and started playing as if he were box to box. At that point, Bosnia started to look more dangerous when up to that point my thought had been that they were very lucky to be a goal up. Up until around the 25th minute, Bosnia had not really threatened the US box except for that one mistake at the 8th minute. They then started finding spaces near the middle because of this imbalance.

In any case, the key to the second half was like Jozy said a bit more intensity in the 3 AMs. Also, having Bradley going back to what he did so well at the start which was to play regista and spray passes up and just in general having more movement and sharpness.

 

Players changes, again, mattered more than formation changes. US play improved when Fabian was moved from defense to midfield, when Eddie Johnson was moved to his more natural role (and was then replaced by a very dangerous Johannsson), and when Kljestan replaced Jones, making Bradley the clear orchestrator.

 

Jozy's comments regarding the tactical shift, that he gives credit to making a difference, appear to have electrified this thread, a tad.

The other advantage to doing this, is unclogging the midfield, which allows our athletic pool a bit more time and space, particularly the space behind the defense.
EJ's goal, is a clear example of the benefit of having two strikers.

 

Not sure where to post this, but I haven't felt this good about the USMNT since the 2009 Confederations Cup. {immediately knocks on wood}

 

Yeah, this is what many have been calling for for so long, and once JK does it, we start scoring and Jozy starts scoring. Jozy needs someone up top with him to take off the pressure. If you have to man up on Jozy up top, he will beat you.

JK is doing a good job, and I understand he wants to play around with the 4-5-1 or the 4-2-2-1 or the 4-3-3, but what we have been calling for was to pair up Jozy with someone, or whoever is playing forward, and get some width. JK has found what is working and he is going to that when he needs goals.

The future looks bright and our team (final 23) is starting to come together. It is more and more obvious who are starting 11-14 players are and who needs to be playing in what situation. The thing that JK now really has working for him is depth, and the fact that he has 4-5 guys who can play multiple positions effectively. His challenge is getting the right guys on the field at the right time with the right formation and tactics, but he is finding the way, and he is not chained to one system anymore.

JK is doing well, and I am more and more optimistic. Really want to see how he handles CR in CR and then Mexico at home. If he gets some pretty play, but even a loss or tie in CR, and then a solid 2-3 goal win against MExico, I will be won over. If he gets two wins during the next stretch, I will be fan.

 

I have said, "only one cycle per USMNT coach". I am rethinking that now. Not because of the results, but because he has the guys thinking goals, goals and more goals. That is fun to watch! that's the number one reason.

Other reasons
1. Don't let Gulati make another important decision,
2. We wandered 12 years in the desert of bunker ball; it will take more than 3 years to rid ourselves of the stain,
3. His selection of supporting staff looks very good.

 

By the time the World Cup starts, the USA is going to be a Top Ten team in the FIFA ranking, if the good results keep coming. Right now, with a tie @ CRC and a win vs. MEX, the team can climb to #13.

 

I just looked at the FIFA site yesterday. I'm not sure I'm using the widget right, but I think we may already be almost to #13 or #14. Not that it really matters. We won't get a seed and wouldn't have a strong argument for one unless we don't lose between now and the draw and all the other seeds above us either don't make the cup or lose quite a few qualifiers. Even then, we have a few years of mediocre play to answer for before the last couple 12 months.

 

That's their style: defend and counter. One of the most efficient sides doing it (the other two being Greece and Switzerland).

 

ok, i'll just accept that BB brought in tons of players too. i just don't remember them making the sort of splash that klinsmann's "rookies" are. maybe it's because Bacon and Brooks just debuted, or that the USMNT is currently generally playing better than i've ever remembered them playing, but klinsmann seems to be finding the talented players he said were out there when he passed on being manager the first time around (resulting in BB getting the gig).

 

So what were we playing before the '12 years of bunker ball?'

 

Remember the last time we went to the WC with a top 10 ranking?

 

Maybe not. This is the USA. "Our own worst enemy" scenarios don't tend to happen once we know what to do.

 

There's nothing with less significance than a FIFA Top 10 ranking..............................

It's how we're playing, and whether we can carry that form into the WC, that really matters.

 

All the talk about the switch in formation, discounts how poor EJ was in the first half. He passed on at least two clear shots on goal as well as giving the ball up at the top of the eighteen. In addition to that people are blaming Altidore for passing to nobody when EJ was the one who gave up on the play, had he continued to crash the goal face he would have been right in the path of that ball with the whole right side of goal open in front of him.

I know people want give him excuses (out of poisition) but the turnover and the failure to complete the run are not positional things, a striker should be able to handle the ball around either box, and quitting on a play instead of completing the run is just piss poor fundamentals. The first half saw plenty of attacks going to him to die.

Honestly I have watched the game again and my opinion did not change that he had a howler, and i think the only two reasons he was not subbed at half is because it was a friendly and Jk did not want to ruin his confidence by pulling him at or before the half. Even on the goal he scored I think JA scores if EJ does not take the sidefoot tap-in.

To be honest when the WC is over JK will not have had a full cycle yet. Aside from being the Nats coach JK was brought in to grow Soccer in the USA by playing attacking football. Depite the rough start and the weaknesses of our pool, JK has found a way to play the beautiful game. It has to be fun for the casual fan to watch these goal fests. Not to mention we love a winner, and we love being relevant. I think football will eventually catch on here, but i do think making us a legitimate player on the world stage will accelerate that growth. Americans do not seem to appreciate being fodder for the big boys. Playing not to lose is not our style, it does not appear to be JK's style either. We may have the best coach in the world for our circuumstances and i will be sorely disappointed if he does not take us to the 2018 WC.

 

I'd give the same advice to anyone who freaks out when we list a 4-4-2. It's shorthand. Call it tactics, formation, green jujubees, I don't care.

The whole point is that Jozy had a partner in the 2nd half as someone shifted out of midfield. We have looked infinitely better when we do that.

So the question is: who is his partner.

Right now, my vote is Landon due to his history of combining well with Jozy. Could change based on who is in form. But LD and Jozy created magic before when Jozy was half the player he is now. Now? Could be disgustingly good.

Stop being so defensive of JK now. Vast majority are behind him. Let's focus on discussing his strategies.

 

Ah that 4-4-2, his willingness to change and adapt. Klinsmann is doing much better now.

 

JK generally has more talented, experienced, and overall gifted players at his disposal. The Germericans have been a big help, MLS gets better every year, and in the last 2-3 years American players have become more of a commodity in both Europe and Mexico.

Bradley had Altidore and Bradley, but they have gotten so much better as they have matured in Europe.

Not to say that JK hasn't done a good job this last year. And not to say that JK hasn't done a good job recruiting and bringing players along, but we are watching the natural development of the American player. The next hurdle is to have all of our starters playing for CL level teams. Once that happens we will most likely win a WC. That is the next step, and it will happen.

 

But we had some of that going in the first half to no avail. We need someone who partners Jozy and gives him someone to playoff. Again, call it whatever formation you want, but leaving Jozy on an island just doesn't work as well.

I don't disagree with this - players do matter. Just think Jozy is better with a partner. Formation be damned.

And the Jones replacement was also key. Don't disagree with that. Could be fair to say that mattered more than the two striker change. Not sure.

 

Not really it is just that some of you were late to the party and couldn't see it earlier. It is kind of like that Brad thing, you guys will be coming around on him shortly as well and then you will talk about how he has gotten much better.


Same plan, same goals, same with players all over the field out of their normal postions, only difference is the progress is reflecting in results now that the cultural change has taken root. It was always going to be a non-linear progress with an overall upward trajectory. But hey it is better since there is a lot less ragging on our coach, and more people are beginning to believe. Welcome to the bandwagon, hang on though, because there are likely to be a few more bumps along the way.

 

EJ was not good. Pretty evident in the player rating thread. He is better as a forward than a LM. Think about Jozy when he's playing with Landon.

Forget EJ. When LD was setting Jozy up they looked good together - what if we focus on that? Hell, AJ looked good with Jozy too!

 

Aka, JK deserves a TON of credit, but the players deserve some credit too. Think that's fair.

 

There is a fundamental disagreement on this. Please do not drag us into the mire again. Just recognize that people disagree with you on it, and stop trying to convert them.

 

I don't root for a coach or against him. I root for the team.