it showed that he is a good player to have against weak teams but he is clearly outclassed against world class teams. how many times did he try and make a cross and just got stuffed. the pace of the game was just too fast for him.
As thoughtful as this thread is, I think the reason no one bats an eye when Klein sucks is that Klein is nowhere near a WC roster spot and never was. Berhalter, on the other hand, was penciled into almost EVERYBODY's 23. Klein was in my top 300 pool players (meaning there are plenty of college players or U 18's I'd take over him). I think most people feel the same way.
Agree. He would have loads of space and either a) wait too long to get a cross off or b) dribble right to the defender before attempting the cross.
THe problem I have with Klein is that I (and everyone else) knew this three years ago. Which makes it baffling why he's still in the picture.
When Klien worked for the ball up the right wing, took possession, crossed up his defender to the left - and then tripped over himself trying to avoid actually having to kick the ball with his left foot - I nearly wet myself laughing.
Don't stop with Klein. Why ignore the mediocrity that is TT and Ching? Not to mention Zavagnin and Olsen?
No doubt. Please, lets hate on Klein as much as possible. But Seriously, who had the worst game? Ching, Klein, Zavagnin, or Berhalter? I'm going with Zavagnin. For a CM the guy is almost absent from play. but I will admit that he had a better game than he did against Poland. It baffles me that BA started him again.
i loved how Ching is suppose to be our backup target forward and he gets manhandled by every german player out there. Zavagnin is too slow and looks like an oblvious retard. hopefully, Clark and Mapp will be called up in April to give us another alternative.
What game were you watching? He did a good job of holding up the ball. Not his fault that the ref was calling him for nonexistent fouls (such as when the German defender had both arms wrapped around him).
I have no gripe against TT, at least he makes some effort, he's fearless in the box and unafraid to take a shot. On the other hand Berhalter was a disappointment and Zavagnin and Klein are also over their heads. This late into the selection process and they were still on the bubble? Whew!
Klein was only on the roster because of an injury right?....there's no way he's making the team. Twellman on the other hand.......SUCKS.....he's supposed to score and set up good opportunities and he did neither....Wolff played better and he only played ten minutes.
they both recieve pleanty of hate from me, dont worry. Berhalter isn't as bad as he played, but I'm sure bringing him along with us would be a waste of a roster spot. Klien should never put on a US jersey again, simple as that. Ever since I saw him play in SF against Japan, he looked to be one of the worst players I could remember seeing play with the US.
I had Klein on my sheet to make the squad for the World Cup. He's unfortunately fallen off in the past few matches drastically. His "I can't pass or shoot with my left foot" was pitiful. For Fooks Sake, use both of your feet Klein. Berhalter was on my world cup squad list too, but he totally played himself off. After the first goal, his mind just appeared to be numb. But I'm not giving up on either of these guys for future friendlies, they do have skills but they just need to use their skulls a little bit better.
Berhalter and Klein are both bums and should never have been called up. I don't know what Arena sees in Klein. He shouldn't have been called up for the longest time. Well, hopefully now it is clearto Arena that both of them cannot cut it. Conrad needs more experience. So while he didn't play great, it is hard to play well when your partner is without a clue.
you are right, we did know this 3 years ago and bruce has tried to fill the gap. he even gave quaranta more than a fair shake - remember when he was called up early last year? everyone was saying "wtf" he had like 1 goal and 1 assist through like 10 games (something close to these stats) and quaranta got in lots of games to stake a claim at the spot. Gaven got some looks as well. so essentially bruce knew klein wasnt good enough three years ago but who does he put in? why is he going to reward quaranta for coming into camp slow and fat and out of shape? why is he going to reward gaven for being so lackadaisical? Ralston has been hurt. Who else was going to play right mid?
So the logical question is why does conrad need more experience? he is 28 now and will be 32 at next world cup. This work cup he is 5th choice at best, next world cup he will be 5th at best. He will still be behind Gooch, Gibbs, Boca, Califf and most likely Marshall if not Parkhurst as well or demerrit. Why havent we been working to get caps for Marshall and get him the vaunted "experience." I just cant understand why we keep giving old folks or folks that really have no nat future caps. Klein got it because there was no one else. But Conrad and Zavagnin and Ching all have capable replacements that with experience could really grow (marshall, clark, jaqua)
I wish, I think a lot of people do. Maybe, just maybe, he gets another look against Jamaica, it's not too late. Fingers crossed. But then you get the "It's only Jamaica business", which is legit, really. I guess he just can't win, so never mind.
Klein didn't really play that well against weaker teams either. He was horrible in the Japan match. The guy is slower than molasses. As other posters have mentioned the reason Beerholder is taken all the heat is becasue he's challenging for a WC roster spot, Klein isn't. Beerholder had a lot of people fooled into thinking that he was going to be a good player for us in Germany, Klein was never able to that. Since we're on the topic of players who suck, I'll go ahead and say it, Ben Olsen SUCKS!!! He's looked like crap just about everytime I've seen, I hope he never plays for the nats again.