Sporting News Piece with anonymous player quotes on JK

So, who was the player who asked about Lahm's book? I'm assuming it wasn't one of the German-Americans, which means that it's probably down to Bradley, Chernundolo, or maybe Donovan (I doubt he reads German although he presumably speaks some).

I'm going with Bradley.

 

I doubt Donovan was interviewed for this. For one, he's been absent from communication with just about everyone in the media. And two, I highly doubt he would comment annonymously. That's not his style.

 

There wasn't a whole lot in there that should be shocking. I think these players were just vocalizing some things that a lot of us were thinking in our heads, and I appreciate their honesty. That people are unsure about his tactical acumen, that he's more of a motivator, or that the German-Americans keep to themselves. I disagreed with the decision not to play Bocanegra on the road in Honduras, but I'm certainly not ready to throw in the towel on this qualifying campaign. The team camraderie in general seems good. We've got nine to go.

 

Crap article. Seems like all of these supposed sources are bs posters.

 

I'm not buying it... Yet...

Reminds me of Lahm's book...

 

Interesting article. The only troubling aspect is the allusion to there being some sort of divide between the diaspora players on the one hand and the US bred players on the other.

Imo it's good the laundry gets aired out though. If the staff is responsive they'll make adjustments.

 

Or maybe YOU'RE Klinsmann.

 

Some interesting points I've seen made:

There were concerns/complaints/grumblings about Bradley as well.

'Meticulous planning' found the US down 1-0 early on a relatively frequent basis.

Do we want the German-Americans on the team or do we not? If we do, we have to be ready for some of the things that come with that.

I don't really have time for the 'Bayern Munich' and 'Vasquez' conversations. Those were hashed out a long time ago. Bringing them to this article is just filler. If they were a concern, they should have been written about and dealt with awhile ago.

 

It's not a crap article, It points out the weaknesses of Klinsman as a coach, which any one who paid attention would recognize. He is not a tactician, he's a motivator and a big picture guy, he needs an assistent like Lowe, who will sweat the details, design the tactical game plan and make adjustments when needed. Kinsman and Vasquez don't do that.

I don't understand the coaching rational of not letting your team know who the starters are untill just before the game because you want them competing for spots. You don't go into a WCQ not knowing your line up when you only have 2-3 days to get them ready. I understand wanting to change to culture and improve the style of play but that is what friendlies are for not the night before a WCQ.

I was not the biggest fan of Arena's and Bradley's tactics but at least the team knew what was expected of them and tactically how they were going to play. Telling the team to just go express themselves on the field?? I tell my U littles that the last 15 minutes of practice to just go out there and have fun. not what we should expect from a national team coach at an awat WCQ.

 

This was the most alarming for me...

So basically it is safe to say some of these guys don't have the faith in their abilities to take their games to a different level. To me that sounds more like a veteran like Dolo or Boca who would say this. Which is understandable, because it is late in their careers to change their approach, but I think this just confirms the belief some of the vets should not be there, because these are going to be the guys younger members look to when heading out of the tunnel. So if the veteran doesn't buy in well that's a problem that can only be addressed by having them stay home.

I think Bocanegra is part of the problem here and we can see why he was left out. However, it is not like he merited a call anyways based on his form and playing time at his club.

 

I learned very little from this, it just confirmed what I already assumed. The majority of that stuff is readily apparent to anyone that has watched the NT with any frequency during JK's tenure.

JK brings some very good qualities to the program but tactics and gameday management aren't among those. Jurgen needed someone on the staff with proven tactical acumen and who wasn't afraid to speak up and override Klinsmann, Martin Vasquez wasn't that guy. I speak in past tense because JK has made his bed with Vasquez, they will either succeed or fail together.

If we don't get 3 pts this weekend JK/Vasquez will have little to no remaining credibility with the players I'm afraid, thus forcing the USSF to make a change.

If Jurgen does get axed as manager I still hope he'd remain involved in the USSF in some fashion, he does bring some very valuable things to the US program.

 

Brian Strauss just did the damn thang.

 

You know, I just realized that if the locker room situation really is this bad, if the German-Americans really do keep to themselves like this(which I can certainly believe, different groups of people tend to separate themselves into cliques), and if there really is such a divide between them and the more "native" born US players, doesn't that mean that for really the first time in recent USMNT history that whoever gets the captain's armband is going to be a big deal?

 

This is terrifying.

 

My understanding is that this is a legitimate news source. And some of the most troubling quotes from that come from unnamed individuals that the article identifies as current players.

 

I think you're right, but an article like this shows that there may be more to Donovan's hiatus than it seems.

 

No one should be blacklisted

Blacklisted for life? Please... This wasn't Strauss exposing Watergate. It's him writing a pretty fair article with legitimate criticisms, but nothing over the top other than showing some of the veterans like Boca feeling a bit entitled.

 

Yeah right...If that were true he would just be playing with the Gals.

 

So no players complained about Bob?

 

Non sequitur

 

This is a massive story and in any other country would headline the equivalent of SportsCenter at a minimum. Klinnsi is destroying our national team and I agree with antOn that Landon's absence seems to make a bit more sense now. His failure to even call in Boca despite that massive injury situation on the backline is shameful. This article exposed Klinnsi for the fraud that he is.

Fire him now.

 

Pretty damning article and frankly the sources are all stating the same things most informed observers have been saying for months. The hiring of Klinsman at the price that was paid for him will go down as one of the dumbest moves in the history of the USSF and that's saying something. The players clearly have no confidence in him as a manager or a tactician and they all indetify mass confusion as a major factor in disjointed performances.

This USA team has no style or substance to it at all, no chemestry or charecter. Its just 11 men being thrown out on a pitch 15 minutes before a game and being told "go win!!" The team has the talent to easily qualify from this region, the fact anyone is even seriously debating whether we will finsih 4th tells us something is seriously ********ed.

If, as I suspect, we lose to CR and Mexico or come away with just a point then how important are the games against Panama and Jamacia going to be. 3 years ago we would have laughed at the idea that we would be in a fight with them to even qualify or get a result. Now, assuming the worst this week those four games will decide our world cup fate in 2013.