Pareja is not so subtly campaigning for the job again by critiquing Klinsmann's decision-making and mindset. During the FCD game today, Strong and Lalas shared that he was irritated at Jurgen and co. for force-fitting Kellyn Acosta into the fb position in January camp and the Olympic qualifiers. Felt it limited his effectiveness when on the field in those situations and has carried over. Believes that players should be put in positions to succeed and where they are more comfortable. If you didn't see it originally, this is where he was also taking veiled shots at Klinsmann's beliefs and decisions regarding the U.S. program, and essentially campaigning for the job as well. http://americansoccernow.com/articles/fc-dallas-commitment-to-youth-sets-it-apart-in-mls That's where he swung my vote, after just considering him a viable candidate, and now he's solidifying it with his continued success in MLS.
I think Pareja would be a pretty good option, but don't really agree with comments about Acosta and his treatment with US teams is very similar to how Pareja actually used him. I don't think he's ready to play in the middle of the field for our NT or u23s. He used him to fill weaknesses due to his flexibility. I also didn't see any veiled shots at Klinsmann in that article. Here's an article on Acosta from about a year before the January camp... "I think I’m getting better," Acosta assessed. "Getting games is important and I am experiencing that kind of level. It’s good for me and it’s helping me grow. I am playing more physical. It’s a physical game. I was playing more of an outside back in MLS right now and I am trying to adapt with Tab in his system of play. It’s challenging for me but I’m accepting the challenge and just working hard." Acosta believes that his most comfortable position over the long term is central midfield but at this stage in his career, he is willing to do whatever Ramos or Pareja ask of him. "I’m open to any position," Acosta said. "As long as I am on the field, I am excited. Anywhere I can help the team, that is the position I will play. If I need to play left back, right back, d-mid, right mid—it doesn’t matter. "Wherever the coach needs me and wherever the team needs me, I’m happy to be there." http://americansoccernow.com/articles/kellyn-acosta-anxious-for-u-20-world-cup-qualifying
For all the talk about his local youth academies and alike, Pareja's staring attackers, when everyone is healthy, is Urruti - Castillo - Diaz - Barrios. The piano players, as it were, are all foreign. The piano movers are locals or draftees but those are largely replaceable anyway.
That's nonsense, fitting a narrative. Acosta-Ulloa-Hedges-Zimmerman-Hollingshead-Gonzalez all American-bred. About half his starters at a given time are American-bred. And those players aren't "largely replaceable anyway". Hedges was one of the top 3 best CB's in MLS last season. Hollingshead proved his value when he was out and they were discernibly worse. He is a highly rated player who is an excellent blocker and provides width to their attack. Ulloa is a ball winner, maintains possession, and dictates pace. Acosta harasses attackers, plays a good long ball, takes a lot of set pieces, is a receiver box-to-box, and links defense to attack. Gonzalez is a great shot stopper. And FCD/MLS are naturally losing creative players and attackers to Europe and the Americas at young ages because those players are much easier to notice and more coveted so they get bid on, something that MLS/FCD doesn't do. Even some guys they got in the FCD academy to begin with they lost like the Funes Mori bros. Pareja has only been associated with FCD for 2014. What, was he supposed to be starting Zendejas and Craft by then? They're only 18. Total nonsense, again.
How long before we start talking about Patrick Vieira as the guy-with-international-playing-success-who-knows-the-American-system?
Well, Louis van Gaal is available. Louis van Gaal is a proven coach. Louis van gaal is a tectical master. Louis van Gaal knows every trick in the book. Loius van Gaal also had a player mutiny on his hands at Man United. So, it's decided. William Bligh to the rescue! Let him guide the USSoccer.
I already mentioned LVG upthread. Apparently we'd rather go with an MLS coach who "knows the American system."
There's undoubtedly some truth to that. FCD's homegrown initiative has developed defenders and holding midfielders. [Even guys we don't think about as FCD products like London Woodberry.] Both Pareja and Hyndman have had less success with the guys they've signed in attacking positions (Ruben Luna, Bryan Leyva, Danny Garcia, etc.) Let's see how they do with Zendejas and Coy Craft, as well as the next crop coming thru. This isn't just an "FCD thing." When we look at the homegrown initiative, they're not alone in that. As far as the teenage homegrown signees (and not kids that went to the NCAAs like Morris, Zardes, etc.).....................there's been a lot more success with defensive players. The U20 homegrowns getting the most playing time this season are Tommy Redding of Orlando and Justen Glad of RSL. Both defenders. And the best of the bunch might be Palmer-Brown, on loan to Porto. This on the heels of the Matt Miazga success. There's no doubt, by the way, that Pareja wants to coach the USMNT. In a recent interview he said he constantly thinks about how he would coach and prepare the USMNT. He watches USMNT games and thinks about how he would have the team set up differently. He said he does this for only two teams: the USMNT and a Colombian club team (I think it was Independiente Medellin, but can't remember) I've extremely biased on this one. For a team that's about to go thru a generational change after the Copa, Pareja would be a fantastic manager. He's a very different guy than Klinsmann. His nickname is "Profe." For the most part he's a quiet and thoughtful guy [Once in a while there's an in-game outburst. Tissue-gate for instance.] He doesn't have "diarrhea of the mouth" like Klinsmann does. People don't talk about it as much as his ability to work with young players, but he's tactically astute. Its amazing how often he makes some tactical change or tweak that works out. This past weekend was a masterclass in that with regards to his starting lineup and then in-game adjustments.
I wouldn't bet on it, though with about $20M ($10M after tax), off his latest stint, he may take a less stressful job. BTW, everyone is familiar with his introduction at Bayern, right. It involved unzipping of certain male garments. As to Pareja, on his regular season achievements, he certainly outcoached Arena on a goal-per-dollar-spent basis but, to solidify himself as a NT candidate, he'd probably have to win the MLS Cup. As it stands, the random nature of excellence MLS seems to subvert many a coach's chance. Personally, instead of the Ramos-Herzog-Williams-Hackworth lineage, I'd take an MLS coach for those jobs. Porter did it in reverse (and failed at the U-level) but, IMO, if an MLS coach wants to be a candidate for the NT, he has to do well at the CCL and with an U-20/23 team. PS. Arena's lack of success at the CCL despite having a huge budget edge over his Liga MX opposition ought to remove him from the NT considerations until the 2050 WC.
Pareja is a very good coach. Maybe the best option in MLS. But he probably needs a trophy before it would happen.
Does he really need a trophy? Lets remember that Jason Kreis won only one trophy. And that trophy came after he scraped into the playoffs as the 8 seed (on goal differential if I remember correctly). Is that one trophy what makes him a candidate? Gary Smith won an MLS Cup, so what does that necessarily mean? With the parity in MLS, I'm just not sure winning a title should be a prerequisite for the job. I think Oscar probably needs a few more years of seasoning as a head coach. Post WC2018 would make a lot more sense. However, if his teams finish near the top of the league playing with a style that is appreciated.....................that should be enough. He's already made one conference final with FCD. By the way, his winning percentage with FCD is over 50%. His winning percentage is about the same, slightly above actually, as Bruce Arena's with LAG. Bruce just has the longevity of many more years coaching at that high level that Pareja.
Let's hold him to the same standard as JK. He should have at least as many trophies as JK before hiring.
2nd best on this particular list . . . http://www.theguardian.com/observer/osm/story/0,,1072648,00.html https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/08/flashback-jurgen-klisnmanns-diving-celebration.html
All this Pareja talk is cool and all but if there is a Colombian to be chosen as the next manager I want Osorio. I read an article recently on how he mentioned he would be open to coaching in the USA again and he has kids who are going to college here. He himself was educated here and also in England. He knows about MLS, he knows about the Mexican League and he can cultivate players from both leagues. And he is gaining International Experience with the Mexican National team. I think he would be the perfect fit.
The one person who absolutely should not be considered is Earnie Stewart. After all, the only job he could get was for a third rate MLS team. Leave him to rot in Chester.