Probably no big surprise. From Planet Football. http://www.planetfootball.com/artic...itle=Klein+would+be+happy+with+English+switch * Is he thinking to big for his britches? * Limited time for the Nats, we'll see if that continues soon. I would think he'd have to get quite a few more caps to get to the 75% level for transfer eligibility. * Could he stand up in Div1 or EPL play? Personally I think he's above average player and a great guy. He's done a wonderful job for KC and MLS in general but I think he's a Nat bench player at best right now for a wing/mid. He is not an outside back, his D needs improvement; still just too loose to be a last man type guy. I think his wing/mid game benefits more than he thinks due to the distribution skills of Preki on his interior side which have led to most of his good runs down the flank. The diagonals over the top from Guti or Quill don't alway pan out so well. We'd probably have him for at least one more season even if there was interest. Discuss:
He has an incredible cross, something that the English game requires of a flank player. Until he tried, I'm not sure if he does or doesn't have the skill, but he definitely has the speed, crossing, and often finishing ability that could get him on a squad. I would just hate to see him follow the footsteps of Eddie Lewis and ride pine his whole time there.
I hate to lose him, but he would be better off even if he's stuck on the bench. (1) He has little hope of playing for Bruce Arena, which means his National career isn't going to happen. Whatever little chance he has can only go up by going to England. (2) He would probably make a lot more money (3) Even sitting on the bench, it's something to stick on the resume.
I don't think any of us thought he was gonna goto the WC, but he was a mainstay on the WCQ roster until his injury. I think he's just gotta do something big again to get back into camp. He's got a good shot at getting back on the roster if he stays in the MLS, but it's almost gauranteed if he goes to Europe. His workrate and athleticism would be great in England. I love him here, but I'd love him even more abroad.
I've interview Chris on this very topic in 2000. He is all about making it to the World Cup with the US Nats. I think he would cut off his left ear for a chance at improving his game in time for the next go around, especially after being robbed of a chance this time around during a stinking Merconorte (sp) game!! Let's face it, he ain't no spring chicken and this thing only rolls around every few years or so. Even sitting on the bench on a division I team is going to get you some of the best coaching and conditioning in the world. (Do they bunker in England?) He'll jump at the chance and I don't blame him. It's all for the right reasons.
Sitting on the bench in England really helped Joe-Max, Keller, and Eddie Lewis in their quest to make the starting 11 in the WC.
Re: Re: Kleiny Wouldn't Mind England While I agree with your main point, I must point out that Lewis did make a start vs. Mexico, and cross that ball to Donovan for the second goal. (At least I think he started)
Re: Re: Kleiny Wouldn't Mind England And if the US loses or ties Portugal in the first match, Keller starts for the US.
Where the hell do you get this stuff? You just enjoy making "facts" up, don't you. Bruce Arena love's Chris Klein as a player. Chris was being groomed to make the World Cup squad before his injury. Arena has mentioned that he intends to bring Chris back into the squad.
Umm...no. Coaching in the First is not necessarily all that good. I'd wager to say at least half of the managers in Division I know considerably less about coaching soccer than Bob Gansler. Seriously.
email I received today: "CHRIS KLEIN NAMED ACE COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR Midfielder Overcomes Torn ACL, Regains Workhorse Stature for Kansas City Major League Soccer announced today that Kansas City Wizards midfielder Chris Klein has been named the 2002 ACE Comeback Player of the Year. Klein rebounded from a devastating tear of his right ACL during the offseason to reclaim his status as one of the premier flankers in American soccer."
Once upon a time, I knew a player almost exactly like Chris Klein. A tall, strong right winger with a decent cross, a decent shot and decent, but not world-class speed. That right winger played on a couple of championship teams, and wound up leaving MLS to go abroad. There, he was converted to defender, and after a few rough seasons and a few moves, learned the role and played the tournament of his life. His name is Tony Sanneh. I had never realized it until now, but they're the same damned player; it's just that Tony is a few years older.
Does that also mean that we all have to bitch and moan about Kleiny's play during the qualifiers, only to decide that he was one of the best guys on the pitch for us during the cup?