Soccer/Football
Related: About this forumUSMNT: Impressions of Klinsmann's tenure so far?
For those of you who follow the USMNT at all, what do you think about Klinsmann thus far. Sure, the results haven't been what we'd like to see, but I still think he's doing the right things. We've got some time still before WC2014 qualifying really ramps up, and if he's given enough room to follow through with his philosophy, I don't think we'll have anything to worry about. (That, and I could probably coach the USMNT through CONCACAF qualifying).
I think his biggest challenge, and one he's not yet overcome, is moving the core players past BB's legacy. Guys like Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley, Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo...it just looks like those guys are still playing under BB. Klinsmann's second biggest challenge is finding guys to replace them. We love you Tim Chandler, we really really do! I think Shea and Beckerman can play with the Nats. Stu Holden needs to get healthy.
Was this coherent enough to make sense of? What do you think of the state of the USMNT?
tkmorris
(11,138 posts)Klinsy warned us all up front that results in the early games of his tenure were not of primary importance to him. His main objectives were to get the players comfortable with his system and to evaluate the player pool. I think he's done well in implementing his system, the players certainly seem to have taken to it well, though whether that is a credit to JK or just that they were pretty tired of Bradley's tactics I cannot say.
The results on the scoreboard have not been stellar obviously. Defensively I think the team has been respectable, but offensively not so much. Klinsmann's system requires them to play a more possession oriented, passing style versus the counter-attacking style Bradley favored. This system demands that the offensive players break down an established and organized defense in order to score goals, something they have not done much of so far. Of course the US two most creative players in Donovan and Dempsey have yet to see the field at the same time under Klinsmann, and Holden is still out with his knee injury. I expect that once the WC qualifiers begin and we start seeing our best offensive players on the field more regularly the goals will come.
Michael Bradley will adjust. I think that ultimately he is a possession and passing oriented type player, which suits the JK system just fine. I think Jermaine Jones is a tremendous talent and would love to see him on the squad but he really needs to be playing regularly and he isn't really doing that at Schalke. Shea looks promising but is still pretty raw. I don't know that Beckerman is up to the international game. I know, he's been playing for us pretty regularly under JK and hasn't done poorly really, but I am not sure his game can ever rise to the level of Bradley's or Jones'. Plus there's Benny Feilhaber, and Maurice Edu, and Jose Torres. All should probably combine to push Beckerman out of the lineup IMHO.
For me the biggest problem area for Klinsy to sort out in the future will be the central defense. I think Chandler has the RB locked down come 2014, and at LB well... I dunno but we hardly ever have a LB worth writing home about so it doesn't really seem like a deficiency. At CB though, Onyewu isn't getting any younger and has never been quick. Boca can play there of course, but he is slowing down as well as age creeps in. There are a few prospects to be tried (Omar Gonzalez comes to mind), but they remain untested for now.
We'll see. I expect JK will have em playing well enough by the time WCQs roll around, and they will likely cruise through that. Beyond that who knows? The one thing prior WC cycles have taught me is that 3 years is a long time. There may well be 4-5 players on the 2014 roster who aren't even on the radar right now. Given Klinsmann's apparent penchant for looking for talent in unconventional places it seems quite likely.
USA_1
(1,684 posts)Therefore, as I see it, not enough time has transpired for us to make a fully informed assessment of his work in revamping the Team.
If the USA is to reemerge as a world super power in soccer/football, it must draw talent from the ranks of youth and junior leagues. This is something Europeans and other do. Unfortunately, for some reason we continue to send our best players to college rather than into juniors leagues and this works against our interests. Let me illustrate what I mean:
In the NCAA athletes are restricted in the amount of hours of practice and access to coaches. Generally, they cannot practice more than 20 hours per week during a sports season with only about 8 hours of practice per week in the off season. This limits the development of an athlete. By contrast, when one plays in juniors league, there is virtually no limit to the hours of practice one has during the regular season or in off season. Because of this, and because the athlete has access to instructions from professional coaches, the athlete develops far better and faster. Consider the fact that this is how Canada produces so many more ice hockey players than does the USA even though we have a much larger population - Canada send its best players to juniors leagues, we send our best to college. Thus, Canada produces players who are far better prepared and more able than ours. Similarly, the rest of the world does the same with footballers - they send their best to developmental leagues, we send ours to college. And who reaches the top of the FIFA ladder? Those countries with developmental leagues.
On that basis, we must stop sending our best players to college. We must create a strong developmental league in football, ice hockey, gymnastics, and every other sport. If we ever do so, then we will dominate every sport in the Olympics and other forms of international competition.
Let us remember than JK and earlier American coaches did not have these advantages. Therefore, if a Bob Bradley, Bruce Arena, Steve Sampson, Bora Milutinovic, or others have failed to bring us a World Cup, this is not a sign that these coaches have failed. Instead, it is incontrovertible proof that our system of educating and preparing athletes has been a dismal failure. As such I do not and cannot honestly expect JK to succeed unless and until our system is altered to conform to that practiced throughout the world.
USA_1
(1,684 posts)A stronger USA football team would enhance our damaged reputation throughout the world. As such, this matter deserves considerably more discussion here on DU, in the news media, and throughout society.
HuckleB
(35,773 posts)He's trying out as many of the possibilities as possible. Step two is much more difficult, however.