@SoccerInsider: Klinsmann's son wrote this then deleted: RT @jonklinsmann HHAHAHAHAHAHAH DONAVAN HAHAHAHAA I DIDNT EVEN NOTICE UNTIL PHONE NOTIFIED ME HAHA
me to, he hit a raw nerve too soon, but he is a big boy plays college ball and if he wants to dish it out publicly it will cost him.
I always gave Klinsmann the benefit of the doubt - I even compared him to Bill Parcels with his head games and calling out his best players in the press. This, however, proves just how wrong I was. This would be Bill Parcels actually benching Phil Simms for the Super Bowl rather than just talking about him being a worse quarterback than Elway to light a fire under his ass. So how does this benefit the locker room, which I've seen some people bizarrely claim? So now Tim Howard is asked if he still believes Donovan is one of our best players, what does he say now? The fact that they were saying those kinds of things as recently as yesterday shows how out of the loop they were on this decision. There isn't a single argument for leaving him off that doesn't apply more so for another player: Commitment - what about Chandler? Form - what about Altidore, or more so Green who has no meaningful "form" having never played at an adult level and being injured the last few months? Fitness - how can he tell Jones is more fit since he just showed up to camp today? Which leaves his son's tweet as probably the most insight we'll get into this decision. I'm sorry, but when a national team coach's son is mocking the best player ever to suit up for the country the day he's left off the team for personal reasons by his dad, you have a real problem. I really hope the US press has the balls to hound him about that tweet until we get an actual answer.
Hopefully his dad treats him better then he treated LD. Anyway saw this and thought it was fitting (someone on twitter posted it on hwo they felt)
I know many of you might not like it, but can we get Bruce back for the national team after our three and out next month?
@jguesman: US Soccer is happy to USE Donovan for every promo item they have because he IS soccer in US. But not enough to let him ride into sunset?
Couple of thoughts, other than shock and "wow, that was dumb." 1. If you're in Brazil, playing Ghana, Portugal, and Germany---don't you want Landon Donovan there? He's the only goal who has been there before and been "the man" for that long. Dempsey does not inspire me. Howard is the keeper, he can't hold the ball. Beasley, as much as he is to be admired, is a supporting player. This is psychologically bad, to me. 2. Michael Bradley's team now. 3. I am rather worried that this starts the end for Donovan. I think he was playing to make this team, and now? What's to keep him from retiring at the end of the year? He takes things hard, and this may be the hardest thing yet, careerwise. This could be very bad for the Galaxy in the long run. 4. Klinnsman is betting on the young players. The old vets all got moved on, other than Howard and Beasley. It may be an all-in move to try and see if a young fearless team can get out of the group. I'm not saying this is a good idea, but that might be the thinking. 5. This team was not getting out of the group before and it's not getting through now.
Exactly. The only, and I mean ONLY, explanation that doesn't completely fall apart when looking at the actual roster is that Klinsmann simply doesn't like him for whatever reason.
Normally I'm a pretty rational guy, but that news floored me. I figured he wouldn't start, but would come on and play a significant role both on and off the field. I guess not. It's hard not to be upset, he really did deserve better then this.
He doesn't really need to worry his contract is until the next world cup, if he gets fired he gets paid, and we know US soccer won't fire him after this, so he can pretend he's building for the future, by bringing an unexperienced team into an already tough situation without it's most experienced big game player ever. Seems like a good move.
Andrea Canales @soccercanales Ok, what's more disrespectful - Klinsmann's son laughing on Twitter that LD got cut, or that said son can't even spell Donovan correctly?
Adam Serrano @LAGalaxyInsider Our first thoughts from LD on the World Cup omission. RT @JSB_FOX Just talked to Landon Donovan, he said it's a "very sad day" #USMNT
They re-upped his contract right after we learned our group, which to me said "this WC might not go well, so we're re-upping now because we want him regardless of a 3 and out." So nothing changes with that, I don't think.
It seems very petty to hold that against him to this day. I'm sure whatever it is, it must be petty, but wow, talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Alex O @tempofreesoccer Very interesting: 8 out of 9 online sports books increase odds of US win over Ghana following roster announcement.