Well, you are probably as surprised as I to have watched the US v Ireland match. 'Holy melt-down, Batman!'
Ireland scores first on a good goal, which sort of exposed Cameron and Besler (center backs); but it was a well taken goal, and not much Hamid could have done about it. Then, we draw level--on a VERY good goal for us that was well put together and had some great passing. Then......we just kinda' folded.
I have said in earlier Blogs (mid-July), that I wondered if Jurgen Klinsmann was truly a good coach. I still wonder--even MORE now. Reports are coming out now that the US squad was doing 3-a-days for the month prior to World Cup 2014. Whaaaaaaaat?!? Are you kidding me?!? If that is true, Mr Gulati needs to step in and release Mr Klinsmann. The most elementary Coach knows that players of ALL ages, ALL levels, need 'fresh legs' going into competitions. C'mon, Man!
As for GKing, I think we have done pretty well with the USMNT. Howard, Guzan, and Rimando have been more than serviceable, and Hamid looks to be a great athlete that is still learning about being a GK. His time will come, but he will most likely have to wait.......awhile.
Getting back to Klinsmann, I am reminded of Wayne Gretzky...GREAT player, not so good as a Coach. Gretzky wasn't terrible as a Coach, but neither is Klinsmann. Klinsmann keeps talking about 'changing the culture' of US Soccer. Which is great, but will take longer than Klinsmann's tenure. (At this rate, Klinsmann may have a very short tenure...). Plus, the expectation by Klinsmann that his players will all approach the game in the same manner he did as a player is quite unrealistic. And.....continually carping about how deficient MLS is, and how the European players are better is stupid. The German-born/American players that Klinsmann has in the National Team fold, can't get a game with their German clubs. They are sitting on the bench. Sitting on the bench prepares you for one thing......sitting on the bench. Better to play regularly than be a substitute in Europe. True, the MLS is hardly world-class level--but it is better than sitting. There is much that needs to be fixed with the MLS, but that is not at the core of the USMNT problems. I postulate that the main problem with USMNT--at this point in time--is Klinsmann. He needs to change his culture in order to get the best out of this group.
So far Bob Bradley and Bruce Arena are looking pretty damn good as coaches. By the way, I believe--my own opinion--that Bruce Arena is the best soccer coach that the US has ever produced. You may not like him, and you may not agree--but the man can flat out coach; and gets results.
Anyway, let us hope that JK can get things re-organized and begin getting results. As I've said before about US Soccer....."we're going to need a bigger mirror......"
May the ground beneath your dive be soft. May the opponent always shoot right at you. May your goalposts be 3 feet wide.
All the Best--EV
Ireland scores first on a good goal, which sort of exposed Cameron and Besler (center backs); but it was a well taken goal, and not much Hamid could have done about it. Then, we draw level--on a VERY good goal for us that was well put together and had some great passing. Then......we just kinda' folded.
I have said in earlier Blogs (mid-July), that I wondered if Jurgen Klinsmann was truly a good coach. I still wonder--even MORE now. Reports are coming out now that the US squad was doing 3-a-days for the month prior to World Cup 2014. Whaaaaaaaat?!? Are you kidding me?!? If that is true, Mr Gulati needs to step in and release Mr Klinsmann. The most elementary Coach knows that players of ALL ages, ALL levels, need 'fresh legs' going into competitions. C'mon, Man!
As for GKing, I think we have done pretty well with the USMNT. Howard, Guzan, and Rimando have been more than serviceable, and Hamid looks to be a great athlete that is still learning about being a GK. His time will come, but he will most likely have to wait.......awhile.
Getting back to Klinsmann, I am reminded of Wayne Gretzky...GREAT player, not so good as a Coach. Gretzky wasn't terrible as a Coach, but neither is Klinsmann. Klinsmann keeps talking about 'changing the culture' of US Soccer. Which is great, but will take longer than Klinsmann's tenure. (At this rate, Klinsmann may have a very short tenure...). Plus, the expectation by Klinsmann that his players will all approach the game in the same manner he did as a player is quite unrealistic. And.....continually carping about how deficient MLS is, and how the European players are better is stupid. The German-born/American players that Klinsmann has in the National Team fold, can't get a game with their German clubs. They are sitting on the bench. Sitting on the bench prepares you for one thing......sitting on the bench. Better to play regularly than be a substitute in Europe. True, the MLS is hardly world-class level--but it is better than sitting. There is much that needs to be fixed with the MLS, but that is not at the core of the USMNT problems. I postulate that the main problem with USMNT--at this point in time--is Klinsmann. He needs to change his culture in order to get the best out of this group.
So far Bob Bradley and Bruce Arena are looking pretty damn good as coaches. By the way, I believe--my own opinion--that Bruce Arena is the best soccer coach that the US has ever produced. You may not like him, and you may not agree--but the man can flat out coach; and gets results.
Anyway, let us hope that JK can get things re-organized and begin getting results. As I've said before about US Soccer....."we're going to need a bigger mirror......"
May the ground beneath your dive be soft. May the opponent always shoot right at you. May your goalposts be 3 feet wide.
All the Best--EV