Being on the opposite side of the pond from most of the rest of the posters here I missed all the Gold Cup excitement. There's been a lot of conversation about Panama v Mexico, but what the bleep happened to the US? Read somewhere that Klinsmann changed the formation for the Jamaica match and it didn't work, what else went wrong?
BUT Tim Howard put himself into the back of Guzan's mind (not in a good way) right before the match. It will be interesting to see if Howard gets the same treatment Donovan did after his voluntary absence. And Guzan was far from the only probably in that match, coaching or personnel wise, and personnel kind of circles back to coaching as well. Just can't claim our overall player pool isn't good enough to beat Jamaica when it matters.
To be fair Howard hasn't (yet) left his team to play WCQs against Costa Rica at home and go to the Azteca without him. The U.S. has successfully gotten through the Gold Cup with their #2 keeper multiple times in the past.
There's been nothing about the way the US has played throughout the tournament to suggest that the Jamaican outcome was anything to be shocked by.
To be clear I don't want JK to treat Tim like he did Landon but a huge part of being the National Team Manager is managing the many amply sized egos -- including his own. Some of the hubris should have deflated yesterday but what they do from here will be telling; win the playoff for the Confed Cup, perform well in WC and Olympic qualifying and all will be forgotten ... (until we crash out of the Confed Cup w/ 3 losses).
This is the truth. US looked awful throughout. I didn't watch the Cuba match because I was fed up with how bad they look right now. JK made some absolutely horrible decisions with his roster make up and lineups. T Chandler is awful. Beckerman is past his prime. Neither had any business being on that roster. On a different note - after a few years of watching Johannsson I have come to the conclusion that he isn't the answer. I'm also concerned that Altidore isn't the answer either. The US is very weak up top.
The thing about Klinsmann that absolutely kills me is that he's nearly mastered how to approach, manage, motivate, and beat the European teams but when it comes to CONCACAF (minus MX) he is f***** clueless. It all goes to hell in a hand basket. Yes, his record against CONCACAF foes is exemplarily ---- as it should be. But let's get real, our superior athleticism has prevailed and bailed us out over and over and over again. Klinsmann, though, has shown repeatedly that he's inept understanding how these teams play and all the antics that are associated with their said "play". He just doesn't get it. Quite frankly any manage that come from outside CONCACAF struggles with this. People and pundits outside CONCACAF just don't understand how bat shit crazy, unpredictable, and difficult this region is. I've been so up and down with Klinsmann. I've never been able to really get a grasp on him. I think his happy go-lucky persona publically just masks his wishy-washy behavior behind the scenes. I don't know.......Some days I think we are better off without him. Some days I think we are in good hands. I don't like that feeling. I wish I had more definitive answers.
Specific to me was JK's CB pairing selection of Brooks and Alvarado, even though every game they had times of ineptitude he kept rolling with them even with WC CB Gonzalez available and 2 time club player of the year Ream (Granted not an EPL side). We are still searching for that top level Forward that strikes fear into even CONCACAFE teams... On MLS side, I love the Pirlo signing (one of few aged star signings I will ever agree with) and what did he do after his press conference yesterday? Why go spend an hour with their academy kids http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...ty-fc-press-conference-was-peak-pirlo-and-bea
I don't really disagree with any of your sentiments, but things have always been a little hairy against CONCACAF sides, especially in away qualifiers, so I'm not sure how different that really is. If anything, we actually glided through the last Hex with more ease than usual I felt (though the semifinal round was not as smooth, but not atypical either). Certainly losing at home in the Gold Cup semifinals to Jamaica feels new, though (even then, however, we've had scares in the past where we got lucky; e.g. vs. Canada in 2007). Regardless, I agree we look much more competent against high-profile European squads, but there's a number of other factors implicated there too (climate, etc.). One that stands out to me in particular is how much space we had to operate in midfield against Germany and the Netherlands. Bradley especially used that to great success (and has in prior friendlies over the last year vs. Mexico and Serbia), but faced a lot of pressure all tournament.
I thought this, too. However, I had the pleasure twice in the Spring, while visiting Holland, to see Aron in action twice with AZ. What he's asked to do for the US and what his role at AZ are completely different. It frustrates the living piss out of me that Klinsmann ignores this. With the US he's asked, often more times that not, to play more centrally -- to play off the last defender. That's not his game. That isolates him. Aron is so much more effective when playing at angles -- tucking in from the wing, where he can play off the back shoulder of a defender. This allows him to slip in behind the defense. he plays "small ball" -- if you will for AZ. That includes: 2-3 touches, short, quick movement off the ball, and tight combination passing. The US doesn't have anyone to play off Aron so he can benefit and play his game. So instead JK just sticks him upfront and says "go fight". We've seen glimpses of what Aron can do but until JK realizes and figures out a definitive role it will be up and down for Aron.
Agreed. It's not really different when you break it all down. The media or JK, himself, just created this mythical sense of hope that it would be greatly different. JK is a salesman and it sometimes comes across that way. It may just be my bias, my comfort but I never doubted the trust of Arena and Bradley when it came to CONCACAF. I've never felt comfortable with JK in the drivers seat against CONCACAF. Never.
I would have preferred to see him field a line up more in line with what he did in Europe the previous month. They are the future.
So Zlatan Ibrahimovic wants to play in the MLS. Here's the safest bet of the century: he wouldn't leave PSG to play for the Rapids. Still, if he lands in LA, we would have to deal with him 2 or 3 times a year. Hmmm, Ibrahimovic versus the Rapids' back line, what could possibly go wrong with that? On the other hand, if he does come to the MLS, there's money to be made investing in steel shin guards and riot-strength face masks. All the MLS needs is for Luis Suarez to make the move, and we could have both chomp-chomp and kick-kick to contend with.
If Jurgen wins the playoff, he deserves to coach through Copa America and maybe even the World Cup. If he loses the playoff, fire him and hire a good American coach. I'd even consider hiring Bob for 2018 (maybe Marsch) to get us through the cycle.
Aren't the Gals about full with DPs? No doubt he won't be in a Rapids kit, the only place he goes is a sexy venue like LAFC, NY or now Orlando City. Although I guess LAFC is too far out at this point. Oh, I guess Seattle would qualify as sexy too. Places like Denver, KC, etc., will never get the sexy Euro guys. Maybe sexy isn't isn't the right word, but you get the picture.
By the time he comes Miami might be the place, money will be there and a 'name' player will be needed like Kaka at Orlando. I personally hope he stays at PSG that long as well. Watching that 'project' develop has really captivated me, I'm more interested in their International Champions' Cup match with Chelsea this afternoon than the Gold Cup 3rd loser and 4th loser placement tilt.
I think that's true for now, but if the prestige of the league grows that'll change. Big stars go to places like Manchester and Birmingham, after all
Really? Is there something different than Qatari's dumping planeloads of money to buy star players who otherwise wouldn't be in Ligue 1?
Love the optimism. You're not wrong at all but it is worth bearing in mind that in the case of Manchester big stars were attracted with world record transfer fees or were homegrown. Plus if they fancied a trip to London its less than a 4 hour train ride away. I'm afraid I don't know of any top drawer players in Birmingham (sorry Guzan). Your overall point I think is spot on though. Wouldn't mind a few geniuses sprouting in Colorado in the meantime though.
The Gals are never full with DPs. If they need another, the MLS will simply "adjust" the rules again. They're special, remember?