Sebowski
Footballguy
That's pretty damn funny.Lalas continuing to play the Skip Bayless annoying role
Alexi Lalas ✔ @AlexiLalas
This moment is begging for a statement from the #USMNT Technical Director re the performance of the coach and the team.
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US Men's National Team (24 Viewers)
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- Start date
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Interview with Landon with him reflecting on retirement, US Soccer and MLS.
This is very typical Landon is his usual mix of complete honesty and vulnerability.
It is well worth a read even if you just focus on the US Soccer parts
This is very typical Landon is his usual mix of complete honesty and vulnerability.
It is well worth a read even if you just focus on the US Soccer parts
Landon Donovan reflects on MLS, retirement, U.S. soccer's future Landon Donovan, the coach? While it may be too early to say that the former U.S. legend has found his new calling, Donovan has been named coach for the MLS Homegrown Team for their match against Club America Under-20s on Tuesday, July 28 (9 p.m. ET) as part of the league's All-Star Game week. We chatted with Donovan about his new role and whether the U.S. is on the right track for player development. (Editors' note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.)
ESPN FC: First of all, congratulations on taking this gig.
Donovan: Thanks.
Can you talk a little about how it came about and what it was that appealed to you about this?
I speak to my agent often and he just bluntly asked if this was something I'd be interested in doing. That they'd called and asked if I'd be interested in doing it. My initial gut reaction was "Yeah, it'd be great..." It was pretty soon after I'd gone to New Zealand with the Under 20s and I really enjoyed that experience. My initial thought was "Why would they want me to do this - I've never coached a day in my life" (laughs), but the more I thought about it the more I thought it'd probably be a really good experience for me.
Obviously there was the New Zealand experience, and you seemed to enjoy launching the draft this year on the occasion of the MVP trophy being named for you, and you have your youth camps. Is this an indication of a future direction you're going to take, or is this more of a comfortable fit while you work those things out?
Not necessarily, but I don't rule it out either. My sort of goal right now is to find out what I'm passionate about. I'm fortunate to get opportunities to do different things and I'll keep dipping my toe in and trying things out, but I want to make sure that whatever I do next I'm passionate about in the way I was about my playing career.
You were obviously a young player who was part of a generation where there was a plan but no road map. So when you think about this current group of players, is there anything that you wish had or hadn't been done for your generation of players that you could maybe help with now, or you could suggest?
Yeah, there's a lot of things. I think the biggest plus for them is that they have an end game now. You said it well -- when we came up, we didn't know that there was somewhere we could go. We thought it was ... you could go to college or maybe go overseas somewhere. But now they have -- and these kids in particular -- they are in their home city, their home state, getting to play and learn and grow in front of their friends and family. For us ... me personally, I had to go to Germany and other guys had to move all over the place to have that opportunity, and now they get this chance to do it while still getting to be a kid. Now all of the MLS teams have their own academies and it's been a big plus, and I think all the teams see the value in it.
What's the process been like - being given this particular mandate to look at this group of young players, if only for one game?
It's actually been really interesting from that standpoint, because you hear these names, and then you see these kids play a little bit at the professional level, and a few of them have played a little bit or quite a bit now with MLS teams, but you don't know a lot about them. And it's been interesting for me to, as much as I can, get to know about some of these other kids who maybe haven't played quite as much ... I had the opportunity to speak to every coach in the league, except, I think, Caleb Porter, about these players. And then talk to other people about these players. And it was an interesting process to get to know a little about them through that and then decide how to put a team together.
How are you going to be on the bench for the Homegrown game?
[laughs] I haven't thought about that...
Are you going to be gesticulating, or are you a hand on the chin guy?
It's actually a really, really good question, because sometimes when I watch a youth soccer game and I watch these parents and coaches going crazy, and I'm thinking to myself, "Dude, you're watching an 8-year-old play soccer -- why do you care so much about the result?" But then I find myself in New Zealand watching the Under-20s and I have no real connection, but I'm up in the stands going absolutely crazy when they score a goal or there's a bad call against them or something, and I have to sort of calm myself down, and you can understand why people are so passionate about it. But I always thought if I was in that position I would kind of keep my cool and just be relaxed, but I guess it's to be determined. Fortunately I have two great coaches and friends coming with me -- Pat Noonan is with me and Mike Munoz, who coaches the under-16s at the Galaxy. So if I get out of hand they can drag me back into my seat.
Twitter will be watching
I know, right?
You've obviously been in a few All-Star games. What are they like on the inside as a player and do you see a particular value to them?
I do see value, and I think in this case, for all of the young men coming in for this game, in a lot of ways it's a benchmark. And it's being able to appreciate them for what they have done. Obviously it's their goal and their dream to get to this stage in their life where they are professionals, but to have an opportunity to take a few days out of their daily life and come in and get to be in an enjoyable environment -- I think that's really special for them. That's what I always felt as an All-Star, even at the end -- I really appreciated that opportunity. And then the biggest thing is getting to play with all these great players that you idolize and you watch throughout the league.
We have Harry Shipp coming, and I'm sure a lot of these guys have watched Harry play over the last few seasons, Or Dillon Serna, or Shane O'Neill who has been on national team camps -- or Gyasi Zardes, who won't be with us. But they get to watch that and now they have the opportunity to come in and play with each other, train against each other for a day and have a really cool experience. And they'll remember that forever -- I mean I remember all those experiences very well, and they have an opportunity to be part of something really special, even if it's only for a few days.
Was there an All-Star coach that you worked with your All-Star game appearance where you thought afterwards, "They handled that really well" or "That was a nice touch", or anything you picked up you'd want to pass on?
Yeah there was a few. I believe it was the last two years, in Kansas City and Portland ... in Kansas City it was really cool for me to see, and it was a little bit of an "Aha" moment because I remember playing in Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium in front of 1500 fans, and then to juxtapose that with this All-Star game that you could tell they were so excited to have -- the whole organization and the whole town. It was buzzing and you could really feel it and sense it, and I think their organization did a great job - they really put on a great show.
And it was the same in Portland. Caleb [Porter] did a great job -- Vermes did a great job the year before. They understood it, they got it, they were excited to be a part of it, and it feels really special. And I think as the league has grown and expanded, it's a lot more special now to be named to that team than it was in the past. I think people really realize that. I don't know if you saw the Drew Moor video but you can tell what it means to people to be named to that. And that's what it should be and what they've wanted all along.
The Drew Moor video was one I really appreciated
Me too.
I'll not get you into hot water about commissioner's picks...
[Deadpan] Thanks.
Do you feel that the homegrown program has been growing at a realistic pace? Would you like to see more happening? Say tomorrow Jurgen Klinsmann gives you a call and say, "OK -- you're going to lead youth development for the country" -- what would be the first thing you would do?
To me, it's all about the coaches. I think we probably get a little too hung up about it being about the players. Obviously you need the players, with the right ability and the right skill level, but at the end I think it's about who's doing the teaching. And if we can focus on that part of it, I think we'll continue to get better, and I really think it's been an overwhelming success. I don't think anybody could argue that, but there's still a lot of ways to improve. Some teams do it very well and some teams don't do it so well.
Obviously the team I know best, the Galaxy, have been at right at the top now, for a long time. To the point where, in the past, when kids got called into residency or certain tournaments with the national team, it was an absolute no-brainer that the kid should go - "Of course they should go!" But now we're to a point where in a lot of circumstances it's better for a kid to be playing with the Galaxy U-18s or LA Galaxy II or training with the Galaxy first team, than it is to go to some of these camps, and that is a big, big plus. That's where it's changed a lot ... But to answer your question, the emphasis should be on the coaches and coaching and then eventually you're going to develop a lot of great players.
There's an idea that comes up periodically, in England especially, when the FA starts to worry about domestic development and talks about quota systems to encourage young English players who might otherwise be crowded out in the Premier League by big name expensive signings from overseas. You just mentioned Galaxy youth development, but the team has also signed what is in effect a fourth designated player in Giovani Dos Santos, which gives another first team slot toward an established player. Do you see any argument for at any stage introducing some sort of quota mechanism to protect domestic development?
It's an interesting question ... Part of me thinks you have to leave it up to each individual team to decide what they're going to do with their team and their roster. But the reality is that for U.S. soccer as a whole to get better, we need Americans playing and playing well at a high level.
We hear about cycles of success in other youth systems whether it's Germany, France at one stage, Belgium recently. Each has their own particular qualities. Given your experiences here and in Europe what do you think is absolutely specific to the U.S., that might either curtail or encourage youth development?
It's an important question, and unfortunately one that I don't feel we have a great answer to, but my theory is that it just takes time. I think that's a hard answer for people to cope with, especially with Americans, because we think we can do anything. That's a great mindset to have, and that's a great way to live, but the reality is that things like this don't just happen overnight. I mean, can you imagine if ... I'm just trying to think of or pick a similar country that has our athleticism and our resources...all of a sudden was learning how to play and develop a new sport. It wouldn't just happen overnight.
I think what's happening now is that people who grew up playing, like myself, will eventually have children, who will then be fans and play, and maybe they won't be professionals or play in college, but they'll grow up appreciating the sport. Then they'll have kids, and generation after generation of legitimate soccer fans. Then eventually you start having real fan bases and guys who've played all throughout MLS who are teaching kids all through 5,6,7 years old, all the way through academies, and everyone gets better and better that way.
But I guess the simplest answer and the most, I guess, real answer for me is that it just takes time. We have the resources, right? We have the ability to implement best practices from all over the world and eventually we'll get there, but it'll just take time.
For better or worse you've been a lightning rod for a lot of discussions around the national team, and the league, just through being the first to certain things. You have a certain amount of social capital and power within the U.S. game. So do you think, "I have this voice and I want to choose where I make my stand?"
Yeah, I do think about that quite a bit actually. I try to see both sides and I try to understand why some of the things I do are not popular with people. I think a lot of people would like to make decisions in life based on other things than necessity. And I've always made decisions that would make me and my family and my loved ones, and people I care about, happy. And that's not always popular with people, and probably because people wish they could do the same too, and a lot of people unfortunately don't have that possibility, because they have other things going on in life that make them need to do things.
So I understand that piece of it, but I've always just came back to "I need to live the way I need to to be happy." And I try to do things with good intentions -- the right intentions -- and going forward it's important to make sure that I do what I'm passionate about and what really means something to me. So I'm trying to be more cautious - I could probably do a better job of picking...of, I guess, being careful about what I'm going to choose to do and choose to support. But it is something I think about. And in the end, I guess, I know I'm going to make a lot of mistakes, so now I'm transitioning into figuring out what's next, and I'll probably make a lot of mistakes. But as long as I keep learning and trying to grow and get better, I think I can live with that.
Graham Parker writes for ESPN FC, Grantland, The Guardian US and Howler. He covers MLS and the U.S. national teams. Follow him on Twitter @KidWeil.
ESPN FC: First of all, congratulations on taking this gig.
Donovan: Thanks.
Can you talk a little about how it came about and what it was that appealed to you about this?
I speak to my agent often and he just bluntly asked if this was something I'd be interested in doing. That they'd called and asked if I'd be interested in doing it. My initial gut reaction was "Yeah, it'd be great..." It was pretty soon after I'd gone to New Zealand with the Under 20s and I really enjoyed that experience. My initial thought was "Why would they want me to do this - I've never coached a day in my life" (laughs), but the more I thought about it the more I thought it'd probably be a really good experience for me.
Obviously there was the New Zealand experience, and you seemed to enjoy launching the draft this year on the occasion of the MVP trophy being named for you, and you have your youth camps. Is this an indication of a future direction you're going to take, or is this more of a comfortable fit while you work those things out?
Not necessarily, but I don't rule it out either. My sort of goal right now is to find out what I'm passionate about. I'm fortunate to get opportunities to do different things and I'll keep dipping my toe in and trying things out, but I want to make sure that whatever I do next I'm passionate about in the way I was about my playing career.
You were obviously a young player who was part of a generation where there was a plan but no road map. So when you think about this current group of players, is there anything that you wish had or hadn't been done for your generation of players that you could maybe help with now, or you could suggest?
Yeah, there's a lot of things. I think the biggest plus for them is that they have an end game now. You said it well -- when we came up, we didn't know that there was somewhere we could go. We thought it was ... you could go to college or maybe go overseas somewhere. But now they have -- and these kids in particular -- they are in their home city, their home state, getting to play and learn and grow in front of their friends and family. For us ... me personally, I had to go to Germany and other guys had to move all over the place to have that opportunity, and now they get this chance to do it while still getting to be a kid. Now all of the MLS teams have their own academies and it's been a big plus, and I think all the teams see the value in it.
What's the process been like - being given this particular mandate to look at this group of young players, if only for one game?
It's actually been really interesting from that standpoint, because you hear these names, and then you see these kids play a little bit at the professional level, and a few of them have played a little bit or quite a bit now with MLS teams, but you don't know a lot about them. And it's been interesting for me to, as much as I can, get to know about some of these other kids who maybe haven't played quite as much ... I had the opportunity to speak to every coach in the league, except, I think, Caleb Porter, about these players. And then talk to other people about these players. And it was an interesting process to get to know a little about them through that and then decide how to put a team together.
How are you going to be on the bench for the Homegrown game?
[laughs] I haven't thought about that...
Are you going to be gesticulating, or are you a hand on the chin guy?
It's actually a really, really good question, because sometimes when I watch a youth soccer game and I watch these parents and coaches going crazy, and I'm thinking to myself, "Dude, you're watching an 8-year-old play soccer -- why do you care so much about the result?" But then I find myself in New Zealand watching the Under-20s and I have no real connection, but I'm up in the stands going absolutely crazy when they score a goal or there's a bad call against them or something, and I have to sort of calm myself down, and you can understand why people are so passionate about it. But I always thought if I was in that position I would kind of keep my cool and just be relaxed, but I guess it's to be determined. Fortunately I have two great coaches and friends coming with me -- Pat Noonan is with me and Mike Munoz, who coaches the under-16s at the Galaxy. So if I get out of hand they can drag me back into my seat.
Twitter will be watching
I know, right?
You've obviously been in a few All-Star games. What are they like on the inside as a player and do you see a particular value to them?
I do see value, and I think in this case, for all of the young men coming in for this game, in a lot of ways it's a benchmark. And it's being able to appreciate them for what they have done. Obviously it's their goal and their dream to get to this stage in their life where they are professionals, but to have an opportunity to take a few days out of their daily life and come in and get to be in an enjoyable environment -- I think that's really special for them. That's what I always felt as an All-Star, even at the end -- I really appreciated that opportunity. And then the biggest thing is getting to play with all these great players that you idolize and you watch throughout the league.
We have Harry Shipp coming, and I'm sure a lot of these guys have watched Harry play over the last few seasons, Or Dillon Serna, or Shane O'Neill who has been on national team camps -- or Gyasi Zardes, who won't be with us. But they get to watch that and now they have the opportunity to come in and play with each other, train against each other for a day and have a really cool experience. And they'll remember that forever -- I mean I remember all those experiences very well, and they have an opportunity to be part of something really special, even if it's only for a few days.
Was there an All-Star coach that you worked with your All-Star game appearance where you thought afterwards, "They handled that really well" or "That was a nice touch", or anything you picked up you'd want to pass on?
Yeah there was a few. I believe it was the last two years, in Kansas City and Portland ... in Kansas City it was really cool for me to see, and it was a little bit of an "Aha" moment because I remember playing in Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium in front of 1500 fans, and then to juxtapose that with this All-Star game that you could tell they were so excited to have -- the whole organization and the whole town. It was buzzing and you could really feel it and sense it, and I think their organization did a great job - they really put on a great show.
And it was the same in Portland. Caleb [Porter] did a great job -- Vermes did a great job the year before. They understood it, they got it, they were excited to be a part of it, and it feels really special. And I think as the league has grown and expanded, it's a lot more special now to be named to that team than it was in the past. I think people really realize that. I don't know if you saw the Drew Moor video but you can tell what it means to people to be named to that. And that's what it should be and what they've wanted all along.
The Drew Moor video was one I really appreciated
Me too.
I'll not get you into hot water about commissioner's picks...
[Deadpan] Thanks.
Do you feel that the homegrown program has been growing at a realistic pace? Would you like to see more happening? Say tomorrow Jurgen Klinsmann gives you a call and say, "OK -- you're going to lead youth development for the country" -- what would be the first thing you would do?
To me, it's all about the coaches. I think we probably get a little too hung up about it being about the players. Obviously you need the players, with the right ability and the right skill level, but at the end I think it's about who's doing the teaching. And if we can focus on that part of it, I think we'll continue to get better, and I really think it's been an overwhelming success. I don't think anybody could argue that, but there's still a lot of ways to improve. Some teams do it very well and some teams don't do it so well.
Obviously the team I know best, the Galaxy, have been at right at the top now, for a long time. To the point where, in the past, when kids got called into residency or certain tournaments with the national team, it was an absolute no-brainer that the kid should go - "Of course they should go!" But now we're to a point where in a lot of circumstances it's better for a kid to be playing with the Galaxy U-18s or LA Galaxy II or training with the Galaxy first team, than it is to go to some of these camps, and that is a big, big plus. That's where it's changed a lot ... But to answer your question, the emphasis should be on the coaches and coaching and then eventually you're going to develop a lot of great players.
There's an idea that comes up periodically, in England especially, when the FA starts to worry about domestic development and talks about quota systems to encourage young English players who might otherwise be crowded out in the Premier League by big name expensive signings from overseas. You just mentioned Galaxy youth development, but the team has also signed what is in effect a fourth designated player in Giovani Dos Santos, which gives another first team slot toward an established player. Do you see any argument for at any stage introducing some sort of quota mechanism to protect domestic development?
It's an interesting question ... Part of me thinks you have to leave it up to each individual team to decide what they're going to do with their team and their roster. But the reality is that for U.S. soccer as a whole to get better, we need Americans playing and playing well at a high level.
We hear about cycles of success in other youth systems whether it's Germany, France at one stage, Belgium recently. Each has their own particular qualities. Given your experiences here and in Europe what do you think is absolutely specific to the U.S., that might either curtail or encourage youth development?
It's an important question, and unfortunately one that I don't feel we have a great answer to, but my theory is that it just takes time. I think that's a hard answer for people to cope with, especially with Americans, because we think we can do anything. That's a great mindset to have, and that's a great way to live, but the reality is that things like this don't just happen overnight. I mean, can you imagine if ... I'm just trying to think of or pick a similar country that has our athleticism and our resources...all of a sudden was learning how to play and develop a new sport. It wouldn't just happen overnight.
I think what's happening now is that people who grew up playing, like myself, will eventually have children, who will then be fans and play, and maybe they won't be professionals or play in college, but they'll grow up appreciating the sport. Then they'll have kids, and generation after generation of legitimate soccer fans. Then eventually you start having real fan bases and guys who've played all throughout MLS who are teaching kids all through 5,6,7 years old, all the way through academies, and everyone gets better and better that way.
But I guess the simplest answer and the most, I guess, real answer for me is that it just takes time. We have the resources, right? We have the ability to implement best practices from all over the world and eventually we'll get there, but it'll just take time.
For better or worse you've been a lightning rod for a lot of discussions around the national team, and the league, just through being the first to certain things. You have a certain amount of social capital and power within the U.S. game. So do you think, "I have this voice and I want to choose where I make my stand?"
Yeah, I do think about that quite a bit actually. I try to see both sides and I try to understand why some of the things I do are not popular with people. I think a lot of people would like to make decisions in life based on other things than necessity. And I've always made decisions that would make me and my family and my loved ones, and people I care about, happy. And that's not always popular with people, and probably because people wish they could do the same too, and a lot of people unfortunately don't have that possibility, because they have other things going on in life that make them need to do things.
So I understand that piece of it, but I've always just came back to "I need to live the way I need to to be happy." And I try to do things with good intentions -- the right intentions -- and going forward it's important to make sure that I do what I'm passionate about and what really means something to me. So I'm trying to be more cautious - I could probably do a better job of picking...of, I guess, being careful about what I'm going to choose to do and choose to support. But it is something I think about. And in the end, I guess, I know I'm going to make a lot of mistakes, so now I'm transitioning into figuring out what's next, and I'll probably make a lot of mistakes. But as long as I keep learning and trying to grow and get better, I think I can live with that.
Graham Parker writes for ESPN FC, Grantland, The Guardian US and Howler. He covers MLS and the U.S. national teams. Follow him on Twitter @KidWeil.
Capella
Footballguy
I'm also going to the UCLA game the week before and the US game. My uncle said they don't have bathrooms there. (
) Is he just ####ing with me? I assumed he went during some kind of renovation but he swears by it.
Last edited by a moderator:
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I have not seen the full schedule released yet but it looks like the first game is going to be the easiest one in the whole cycle for the US.
*The U.S. Soccer Federation has selected Busch Stadium in St. Louis as the venue for the first men’s World Cup qualifier, Nov. 13 against St. Vincent and the Grenadines or Aruba. Busch is home to the Cardinals baseball team, whose season will have ended by then. The U.S. women’s squad played a friendly vs. New Zealand at Busch in April, drawing 35,817 fans.
CONCACAF today will announce the full schedule of semifinal-round qualifiers. The Americans will play an away match Nov. 17. Home venues for next year’s matches have not been determined."
*The U.S. Soccer Federation has selected Busch Stadium in St. Louis as the venue for the first men’s World Cup qualifier, Nov. 13 against St. Vincent and the Grenadines or Aruba. Busch is home to the Cardinals baseball team, whose season will have ended by then. The U.S. women’s squad played a friendly vs. New Zealand at Busch in April, drawing 35,817 fans.
CONCACAF today will announce the full schedule of semifinal-round qualifiers. The Americans will play an away match Nov. 17. Home venues for next year’s matches have not been determined."
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
We didn't want to win that stupid copa anyway. [afterwelose]
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Fairly in depth and detailed article on what Julian is up against:
=======================
Julian Green is a bad summer away from leaving Bayern Munich forever
http://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2015/7/24/8903025/julian-green-is-a-bad-summer-away-from-leaving-bayern-munich
=======================
Julian Green is a bad summer away from leaving Bayern Munich forever
http://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2015/7/24/8903025/julian-green-is-a-bad-summer-away-from-leaving-bayern-munich
roadkill1292
Footballguy
gianmarco
Footballguy
CGRdrJoe
Footballguy
I'm also going to the UCLA game the week before and the US game.My uncle said they don't have bathrooms there. (
CGRdrJoe
Footballguy
shtick aside, can you imagine going to a college football game and there not being bathrooms? UCLA plays their home games in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl.I'm also going to the UCLA game the week before and the US game.My uncle said they don't have bathrooms there. (
Capella
Footballguy
He said they had to go outside to port a potties. I told him surely they were doing renovations and he told me it's always that way.shtick aside, can you imagine going to a college football game and there not being bathrooms? UCLA plays their home games in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl.I'm also going to the UCLA game the week before and the US game.My uncle said they don't have bathrooms there. (
Mr. Pickles
Footballguy
Good trolling by your uncle.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Article on player and team ratings from Soccer America. Don't get too caught up in the numbers as they are a bit subjective obviously but since it is the same person making the ratings, the general trend is interesting.
========================================================================================================
Of the 16 matches the USA has played at competitive tournaments in the Jurgen Klinsmann era, its four lowest-rated performances -- and five of the six lowest-rated performances -- took place at this year's Gold Cup. For a look how Soccer America rated the U.S. players.
Average Team Ratings:
2013 GOLD CUP (Average: 5.96)
6.09 USA-Belize
5.45 USA-Cuba
5.64 USA-Costa Rica
6.27 USA-El Salvador
6.36 USA-Honduras
2014 WORLD CUP (average: 5.83)
6.67 USA-Ghana
5.77 USA-Portugal
5.08 USA-Germany
5.79 USA-Belgium
2015 GOLD CUP (Average: 4.79)
5.09 USA-Honduras
4.73 USA-Haiti
4.55 USA-Panama
6.27 USA-Cuba
4.09 USA-Jamaica
4.00 USA-Panama
At the 2013 Gold Cup, eight players (Nick Rimando, Clarence Goodson, Kyle Beckerman, Joe Corona, Jose Torres, Mix Diskerud, Landon Donovan and Eddie Johnson) finished with average ratings of 6.00 or higher.
At the 2014 World Cup, seven players (Tim Howard, Jermaine Jones, DeAndre Yedlin, DaMarcus Beasley, Fabian Johnson, Matt Besler and Beckerman), reached the 6.00 average.
At the 2015 Gold Cup, Clint Dempsey with an an average of 6.00 in six matches was the only player to attain that mark.
Indeed, just eight of the 20 players rated in two or more games averaged as much as 5.00 or higher.
2015 Gold Cup Team Ratings:
AVG. GAME
5.09 USA-Honduras 2-1 (Report Card)
4.73 USA-Haiti 1-0 (Report Card)
4.55 USA-Panama 1-1 (Report Card)
6.27 USA-Cuba 6-0 (Report Card)
4.09 USA-Jamaica 1-2 (Report Card)
4.00 USA-Panama 1-1 (Report Card)
2015 Gold Cup Player Ratings:
Goalkeepers:
AVG. PLAYER GAMES
5.83 Brad Guzan 7/6/6/5/4/7
Defenders
AVG. PLAYER GAMES
5.33 Omar Gonzalez -/5/-/7/-/4
5.00 Fabian Johnson 5/5/5/6/5/4
4.75 Brad Evans 5/4/-/6/4/-
4.50 Tim Ream -/5/-/-/-/4
4.25 Tim Chandler 3/-/4/6/-/4
4.25 John Brooks 5/-/5/-/4/3
3.75 Ventura Alvarado 3/-/4/4/4/-
Midfielders:
AVG. PLAYER GAMES
5.50 Michael Bradley 6/4/6/7/6/4
5.20 Gyasi Zardes 5/6/5/6/4/-
5.00 Alejandro Bedoya -/-/5/6/4/-
4.60 DeAndre Yedlin 4/-/5/5/4/5
4.50 Kyle Beckerman 5/NR/4/6/3/-
4.50 Joe Corona -/-/-/5/-/4
3.50 Mix Diskerud -/3/-/-/4/-
3.00 Graham Zusi NR/3/-/-/-/3
Forwards:
AVG. PLAYER GAMES
6.00 Clint Dempsey 8/7/5/8/3/5
5.20 Aron Johannsson -/6/5/7/4/4
4.00 Chris Wondolowski 5/-/4/-/-/3
4.00 Jozy Altidore 5/3/-/-/-/-
Less Than Two Games:
6.00 Greg Garza -/6/-/-/-/-
4.00 Alan Gordon -/-/-/-/4/-
4.00 DaMarcus Beasley -/-/-/-/-/4
3.00 Alfredo Morales -/-/3/-/-/-
DNP Nick Rimando -/-/-/-/-/-
DNP William Yarbrough -/-/-/-/-/-
========================================================================================================
Of the 16 matches the USA has played at competitive tournaments in the Jurgen Klinsmann era, its four lowest-rated performances -- and five of the six lowest-rated performances -- took place at this year's Gold Cup. For a look how Soccer America rated the U.S. players.
Average Team Ratings:
2013 GOLD CUP (Average: 5.96)
6.09 USA-Belize
5.45 USA-Cuba
5.64 USA-Costa Rica
6.27 USA-El Salvador
6.36 USA-Honduras
2014 WORLD CUP (average: 5.83)
6.67 USA-Ghana
5.77 USA-Portugal
5.08 USA-Germany
5.79 USA-Belgium
2015 GOLD CUP (Average: 4.79)
5.09 USA-Honduras
4.73 USA-Haiti
4.55 USA-Panama
6.27 USA-Cuba
4.09 USA-Jamaica
4.00 USA-Panama
At the 2013 Gold Cup, eight players (Nick Rimando, Clarence Goodson, Kyle Beckerman, Joe Corona, Jose Torres, Mix Diskerud, Landon Donovan and Eddie Johnson) finished with average ratings of 6.00 or higher.
At the 2014 World Cup, seven players (Tim Howard, Jermaine Jones, DeAndre Yedlin, DaMarcus Beasley, Fabian Johnson, Matt Besler and Beckerman), reached the 6.00 average.
At the 2015 Gold Cup, Clint Dempsey with an an average of 6.00 in six matches was the only player to attain that mark.
Indeed, just eight of the 20 players rated in two or more games averaged as much as 5.00 or higher.
2015 Gold Cup Team Ratings:
AVG. GAME
5.09 USA-Honduras 2-1 (Report Card)
4.73 USA-Haiti 1-0 (Report Card)
4.55 USA-Panama 1-1 (Report Card)
6.27 USA-Cuba 6-0 (Report Card)
4.09 USA-Jamaica 1-2 (Report Card)
4.00 USA-Panama 1-1 (Report Card)
2015 Gold Cup Player Ratings:
Goalkeepers:
AVG. PLAYER GAMES
5.83 Brad Guzan 7/6/6/5/4/7
Defenders
AVG. PLAYER GAMES
5.33 Omar Gonzalez -/5/-/7/-/4
5.00 Fabian Johnson 5/5/5/6/5/4
4.75 Brad Evans 5/4/-/6/4/-
4.50 Tim Ream -/5/-/-/-/4
4.25 Tim Chandler 3/-/4/6/-/4
4.25 John Brooks 5/-/5/-/4/3
3.75 Ventura Alvarado 3/-/4/4/4/-
Midfielders:
AVG. PLAYER GAMES
5.50 Michael Bradley 6/4/6/7/6/4
5.20 Gyasi Zardes 5/6/5/6/4/-
5.00 Alejandro Bedoya -/-/5/6/4/-
4.60 DeAndre Yedlin 4/-/5/5/4/5
4.50 Kyle Beckerman 5/NR/4/6/3/-
4.50 Joe Corona -/-/-/5/-/4
3.50 Mix Diskerud -/3/-/-/4/-
3.00 Graham Zusi NR/3/-/-/-/3
Forwards:
AVG. PLAYER GAMES
6.00 Clint Dempsey 8/7/5/8/3/5
5.20 Aron Johannsson -/6/5/7/4/4
4.00 Chris Wondolowski 5/-/4/-/-/3
4.00 Jozy Altidore 5/3/-/-/-/-
Less Than Two Games:
6.00 Greg Garza -/6/-/-/-/-
4.00 Alan Gordon -/-/-/-/4/-
4.00 DaMarcus Beasley -/-/-/-/-/4
3.00 Alfredo Morales -/-/3/-/-/-
DNP Nick Rimando -/-/-/-/-/-
DNP William Yarbrough -/-/-/-/-/-
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
It seems Miguel Herrara has indeed been fired. Unlikely to have much effect in terms of the playoff game, as Mexican players are well-accustomed to having a new manger every year or so.
I thought Bacon played well.
Gonzalez rating is skewed by only 3 games, with one being Cuba.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
They do love to fire coaches down there.
Mexico has played poorly most of the year though and it is interesting to see they are not being blinded by what was a very lucky Gold Cup win.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I don't have a link but I read an interesting comment from JK recently that said he was considering trying Alvarado at DM.
It would fit in with JK's love of moving players around and with Beckerman coming to the end, it might be worth trying if he is not convinced of either Williams or Kitchen.
It would fit in with JK's love of moving players around and with Beckerman coming to the end, it might be worth trying if he is not convinced of either Williams or Kitchen.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Sebowski
Footballguy
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
oh hell, I did not know that LOL
Maybe that is why Alexi keeps needling JK every chance he gets? Hoping for one slug from the German overlord?
What caused Herarra to hit a reporter?
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I shudder to think. He has been the worst player on the field for a few games now.
Ironically, I don't actually think he sucks. He seems to have some decent skill, size and speed. He is holding down a starting job in a good league and on a good team in the league.
Hopefully he just needs to punch through this ceiling he seems to be hitting internationally. He is fairly young too for a CB at 24 (will turn 24 in August) so he has that going for him.
El Floppo
Footballguy
agree that the kid seems ok all around, despite some dreadful appearances for the US at the GC.
but holding MF is a spot that needs a very specific kind of player... and is crucial to the US performing well. trotting any old guy there won't cut it. where's ####### Cameron, fer chrissakes?
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
so lets list out the possibilities:
Jones - I think he can still do it but he would need to be tethered to one of the CB's. Whether he can do it in 2018 is a long shot
Cameron - He can tackle and distribute well from that spot, has some experience there at club level (although it has been a while). Not the fastest guy but reads the game well enough to cover that
Bradley - If JK told him not to worry about bombing forward, I think he would have the discipline to play the simple ball and just be a ball hawk. He tackles well, is just barely fast enough and generally plays a good short ball, but he has been prone to giveaways which is like death at the DM spot
Kitchen - The best American prospect in MLS. He has a nice overall game. Not great in any one aspect but solid in almost everything. He is 23 and appears to be ready to make the leap but with Beckerman still there, his path appears to be blocked
Beckerman - So the only question is, was the Gold Cup a small aberration or was it simply a sign of his age starting to catch up with him? Either way, at 33, the likelihood of him being there in 2018 is very very low.
Danny Williams - He appears to get the exact opposite treatment Chandler does from JK (which just shows that JK does not have a German bias with his players). While Williams play has been up and down on the Nats, his overall performances really are not any different than a slew of midfielders JK has tried over the years. He is in his prime years at 26, powerful and has enough skill to do a job at DM if given the chance IMO.
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El Floppo
Footballguy
solid list.
I think you have to add Mix to the Mix, given how JK seems to want to use him. Watching him this year with NYC and US, I've been impressed by his eagerness to learn and do the hard work, even if I don't think he reads the game for that position as well as any of the others on your list.
what happened to the guy on Seattle- Alonzo? did he get naturalized?
I think you have to add Mix to the Mix, given how JK seems to want to use him. Watching him this year with NYC and US, I've been impressed by his eagerness to learn and do the hard work, even if I don't think he reads the game for that position as well as any of the others on your list.
what happened to the guy on Seattle- Alonzo? did he get naturalized?
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Alonzo has been a US citizen for a while now (since 2012) but he can't play for the US unless he gets a waiver from the Cuban goverment which most feel is never going to happen since he defected.
He represented Cuba before he became a US citizen and as such can no longer use the 1 time switch.
It is a shame because if there was ever a player JK would have loved, it would have been Alonso. He has a "nasty" streak that few American players have.
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
I read that he punched a reporter, but didn't see a punch on the video purporting to show the entire event - at Philly airport.oh hell, I did not know that LOL
Maybe that is why Alexi keeps needling JK every chance he gets? Hoping for one slug from the German overlord?
What caused Herarra to hit a reporter?
El Floppo
Footballguy
good info, andy- thanks
too bad though.
if we had to go right now- I'd say Jones is the guy. After him... Williams/Cameron seem interchangable to me- good phsyical skills, decent enough two-way players, but both lack consistency. Honestly have no idea what happened to Beckerman, who seemed atypically out of place most of the time during the GC. didn't seem like it was his slow feet- but his positioning which is usually rock-solid. How has he been for club? I havne't seen enough of Kitchen to know what's what.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I have not seen RSL play much this year. The one time I did see a full game, Beckerman was not playing (yellow card suspension I think, or maybe an injuury).good info, andy- thanks
too bad though.
if we had to go right now- I'd say Jones is the guy. After him... Williams/Cameron seem interchangable to me- good phsyical skills, decent enough two-way players, but both lack consistency. Honestly have no idea what happened to Beckerman, who seemed atypically out of place most of the time during the GC. didn't seem like it was his slow feet- but his positioning which is usually rock-solid. How has he been for club? I havne't seen enough of Kitchen to know what's what.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
England's under-21 team will kick off the new season with a friendly against the United States' Under-23 side at Preston.
Gareth Southgate led England through a poor European Championship this summer, but will remain in his post for the upcoming qualifying campaign for the next tournament in Poland.
England start their qualification campaign against Norway on Sept. 7.
Four days before that they will play against the American under-23 team at Deepdale.
The U.S. will be preparing for the CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship in October.
"It will be a good test for us as this will be a USA team which is a little bit older and wiser and who will be making up their Olympic team for Rio next year," Southgate said.
"They've got a really good programme now and we're trying to play teams from outside of Europe throughout our age groups, so we're expecting a hard game and one which will help us prepare for the trip to Norway a few days later."
Gareth Southgate led England through a poor European Championship this summer, but will remain in his post for the upcoming qualifying campaign for the next tournament in Poland.
England start their qualification campaign against Norway on Sept. 7.
Four days before that they will play against the American under-23 team at Deepdale.
The U.S. will be preparing for the CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship in October.
"It will be a good test for us as this will be a USA team which is a little bit older and wiser and who will be making up their Olympic team for Rio next year," Southgate said.
"They've got a really good programme now and we're trying to play teams from outside of Europe throughout our age groups, so we're expecting a hard game and one which will help us prepare for the trip to Norway a few days later."
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
More news. The bolded name was first mentioned in the soccer thread years ago when he was a freshman in high school. He comes from my home town.
=====================
CHICAGO (July 28, 2015) – U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team head coach Andi Herzog has called 28 players to Carson, California, for a College Identification training camp that will allow the coaching staff to scout a new crop of collegiate players as the team continues preparations ahead of October qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The group will train from August 5-8 at the U.S. National Training Center in Carson.
"It will be great to work with this group and have a look at them,” head coach Andi Herzog said. “We have brought college players in and have seen them go on to have success with the senior team. Jordan Morris was an example of that this year. This camp is another chance to build our pool of talented players.”
Eleven of the 28 players have experience playing in the U.S. Men’s National Team youth system.
Roster By Position: Detailed Roster
GOALKEEPERS (4): Wade Hamilton (Cal Poly; Murrieta, Calif.), Jonathan Klinsmann (Cal; Newport Beach, Calif.), Kendall McIntosh (Santa Clara; Santa Rosa, Calif.), Andrew Tarbell (Clemson; Mandeville, La.).
DEFENDERS (9): Jonathan Campbell (North Carolina; Greensboro, N.C.), Alex Crognale (Maryland; Gahanna, Ohio), Chase Gasper (UCLA; Alexandria, Va.), Tomas Hilliard-Arce (Stanford, Matthews, N.C.), Grant Lillard (Indiana; Hinsdale, Ill.), Jakob Nerwinski (Connecticut; Lawrenceville, N.J.), Chris Odoi-Atsem (Maryland; Mitchellville, Md.), Sam Strong (UCSB; Santa Barbara, Calif.), Brandon Vincent (Stanford; Valencia, Calif.).
MIDFIELDERS (10): Corey Baird (Stanford; Escondido, Calif.). Andrew Brody (Lousiville; Orlando, Fla.), Mael Corboz (Maryland; Green Brook, N.J.), Niko Hansen (New Mexico; Sacramento, Calif.), Ian Harkes (Wake Forest; Fairfax, Va.), Patrick Hodan (Notre Dame; Brookfield, Wisc.), James Moberg (Washington; Winsdor, Calif.), Adam Najem (Akron; Clifton, N.J.), Keegan Rosenberry (Georgetown; Ronks, Pa.), Jake Rozhansky (Virginia; Germantown, Md.).
FORWARDS (5): Michael Gamble (Wake Forest; Columbia, Md.), Connor Maloney (Penn State; Harrisburg, Pa.), Alex Muyl (Georgetown; New York, N.Y.), Paul Salcedo (Cal; Inglewood, Calif.), Mac Steeves (Providence; Needham, Mass.).
=====================
CHICAGO (July 28, 2015) – U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team head coach Andi Herzog has called 28 players to Carson, California, for a College Identification training camp that will allow the coaching staff to scout a new crop of collegiate players as the team continues preparations ahead of October qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The group will train from August 5-8 at the U.S. National Training Center in Carson.
"It will be great to work with this group and have a look at them,” head coach Andi Herzog said. “We have brought college players in and have seen them go on to have success with the senior team. Jordan Morris was an example of that this year. This camp is another chance to build our pool of talented players.”
Eleven of the 28 players have experience playing in the U.S. Men’s National Team youth system.
Roster By Position: Detailed Roster
GOALKEEPERS (4): Wade Hamilton (Cal Poly; Murrieta, Calif.), Jonathan Klinsmann (Cal; Newport Beach, Calif.), Kendall McIntosh (Santa Clara; Santa Rosa, Calif.), Andrew Tarbell (Clemson; Mandeville, La.).
DEFENDERS (9): Jonathan Campbell (North Carolina; Greensboro, N.C.), Alex Crognale (Maryland; Gahanna, Ohio), Chase Gasper (UCLA; Alexandria, Va.), Tomas Hilliard-Arce (Stanford, Matthews, N.C.), Grant Lillard (Indiana; Hinsdale, Ill.), Jakob Nerwinski (Connecticut; Lawrenceville, N.J.), Chris Odoi-Atsem (Maryland; Mitchellville, Md.), Sam Strong (UCSB; Santa Barbara, Calif.), Brandon Vincent (Stanford; Valencia, Calif.).
MIDFIELDERS (10): Corey Baird (Stanford; Escondido, Calif.). Andrew Brody (Lousiville; Orlando, Fla.), Mael Corboz (Maryland; Green Brook, N.J.), Niko Hansen (New Mexico; Sacramento, Calif.), Ian Harkes (Wake Forest; Fairfax, Va.), Patrick Hodan (Notre Dame; Brookfield, Wisc.), James Moberg (Washington; Winsdor, Calif.), Adam Najem (Akron; Clifton, N.J.), Keegan Rosenberry (Georgetown; Ronks, Pa.), Jake Rozhansky (Virginia; Germantown, Md.).
FORWARDS (5): Michael Gamble (Wake Forest; Columbia, Md.), Connor Maloney (Penn State; Harrisburg, Pa.), Alex Muyl (Georgetown; New York, N.Y.), Paul Salcedo (Cal; Inglewood, Calif.), Mac Steeves (Providence; Needham, Mass.).
Spurs are light at RW though (and both Right FBs are healthy) - Lamela is with the squad, but not on the roster - he just joined the squad in Denver from his post Copa holiday, and Townsend did not make the trip with a small knock (and/or getting ready to be sold...)
So, there is a chance Yedlin gets some time in the 2nd half as a winger.
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El Floppo
Footballguy
Julian Green info per ESPN
Unites States international Julian Green is set to stay at Bayern Munich and help their under-23 team win promotion to the third tier, his agent has told kicker. Green, 20, returned to Bayern this summer following a disappointing loan stint at Hamburg last season.
The U.S international, who played at the 2014 World Cup without having previously played in a Bundesliga match, was tipped to be sent on loan for another year. But speaking to German football magazine kicker, Green's agent Roman Grill has confirmed that the winger "will remain at FC Bayern."
Grill added: "He's got a task here with the second team." Katharina Schrott of acta7, Green's representatives, told ESPN FC."The decision is final. Julian Green wants to assert himself at his hometown club FC Bayern. "With this motivation and perspective in mind, he will give it his all also in the under-23s. Another loan or even a transfer is out of the question."
Earlier this month acta7 told mls.com about the interest from "clubs in Germany and the U.S.," who asked about his plans but did not make a concrete offer for a loan or transfer. On Wednesday, the attacker started for Bayern's under-23 side as they opened their season with a 1-1 draw at FSV Illertissen. Under the guidance of fomer FC Basel head coach Heiko Voglel, Bayern's young side hope to win promotion to the third tier this season.
Ahead of the 2014 World Cup, Green impressed for the club's reserve team by scoring 15 goals in as many games between July 2013 and October 2013. However, he failed to find the back of the net for the remainder of the season. Green took part in Bayern recent tour of China. Ahead of the trip to Asia, the club's sporting director Matthias Sammer said that a "new beginning is possible," adding: "It's down to him and the way he presents himself."
Unites States international Julian Green is set to stay at Bayern Munich and help their under-23 team win promotion to the third tier, his agent has told kicker. Green, 20, returned to Bayern this summer following a disappointing loan stint at Hamburg last season.
The U.S international, who played at the 2014 World Cup without having previously played in a Bundesliga match, was tipped to be sent on loan for another year. But speaking to German football magazine kicker, Green's agent Roman Grill has confirmed that the winger "will remain at FC Bayern."
Grill added: "He's got a task here with the second team." Katharina Schrott of acta7, Green's representatives, told ESPN FC."The decision is final. Julian Green wants to assert himself at his hometown club FC Bayern. "With this motivation and perspective in mind, he will give it his all also in the under-23s. Another loan or even a transfer is out of the question."
Earlier this month acta7 told mls.com about the interest from "clubs in Germany and the U.S.," who asked about his plans but did not make a concrete offer for a loan or transfer. On Wednesday, the attacker started for Bayern's under-23 side as they opened their season with a 1-1 draw at FSV Illertissen. Under the guidance of fomer FC Basel head coach Heiko Voglel, Bayern's young side hope to win promotion to the third tier this season.
Ahead of the 2014 World Cup, Green impressed for the club's reserve team by scoring 15 goals in as many games between July 2013 and October 2013. However, he failed to find the back of the net for the remainder of the season. Green took part in Bayern recent tour of China. Ahead of the trip to Asia, the club's sporting director Matthias Sammer said that a "new beginning is possible," adding: "It's down to him and the way he presents himself."
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
More Bacon to MLS rumors
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-fc-yahoo/aron-johannsson-major-league-soccer-194222843.html
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-fc-yahoo/aron-johannsson-major-league-soccer-194222843.html
CGRdrJoe
Footballguy
Thank god the mls season is still going and deuce doesn't have more free time
http://m.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2015/news/article/2015/07/28/all-star-clint-dempsey-comments-his-rap-career-drakemeek-mill-beef-sideline
http://m.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2015/news/article/2015/07/28/all-star-clint-dempsey-comments-his-rap-career-drakemeek-mill-beef-sideline
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
You know how in the 80s, rappers were always talking about "Sucka MCs"? I think they were all talking about Clint.
Bruce Dickinson
Footballguy
Got an e-mail from the St. Louis Cardinals mailing list today about that World Cup Qualifier at Busch Stadium in November.
The Cardinals' Website, cardinals.com, will have a presale for game tickets on Tuesday, August 4. Goes live at noon Central time.
Stadium configuration for soccer
The password for the presale is "WORLDCUP15"
Ticket prices and packages:
The Cardinals' Website, cardinals.com, will have a presale for game tickets on Tuesday, August 4. Goes live at noon Central time.
Stadium configuration for soccer
The password for the presale is "WORLDCUP15"
Ticket prices and packages:
RESERVED SEATING
Midfield- $150
South Sideline - $115
North Sideline - $105
Prime Corner - $90
Corner - $75
Endline - $65
Upper Midfield - $65
Upper Sideline - $55
Upper Corner - $50
Upper Endline - $45
ALL-INCLUSIVE TICKETS
UMB Champions Club - $195
Midfield- $150
South Sideline - $115
North Sideline - $105
Prime Corner - $90
Corner - $75
Endline - $65
Upper Midfield - $65
Upper Sideline - $55
Upper Corner - $50
Upper Endline - $45
ALL-INCLUSIVE TICKETS
UMB Champions Club - $195
- Indoor air-conditioned social area
- An all-you-can-eat buffet that includes salads, nacho bar, carving stations, paninis, action stations, hot dogs, brats, additional entrees, cookies and brownies
- Full bar service, including mixed drinks and wine, plus Budweiser, Bud Light and Shock Top on tap
- Bar service begins when gates open and ends after the 70th minute
- Coca-Cola products and O'Doul's available throughout the match
- An all-you-can-eat picnic buffet that includes Hunter Hot Dogs, brats, BBQ brisket, BBQ chicken, nachos, field greens salad, cookies and brownies
- Budweiser and Bud Light on tap
- Beer service begins when gates open and ends after the 70th minute
- Coca-Cola products and O'Doul's available throughout the match
- An all-you-can-eat picnic buffet that includes Hunter Hot Dogs, BBQ brisket, BBQ chicken, nachos, field greens salad, cookies and brownies
- Budweiser and Bud Light on tap
- Beer service begins when gates open and ends after the 70th minute
- Coca-Cola products and O'Doul's available throughout the match
- An all-you-can-eat picnic buffet that includes Hunter Hot Dogs, BBQ brisket, BBQ chicken, nachos, field greens salad, cookies and brownies
- Budweiser and Bud Light on tap
- Beer service begins when gates open and ends after the 70th minute
- Coca-Cola products and O'Doul's available throughout the match
- An all-you-can-eat picnic buffet that includes Hunter Hot Dogs, BBQ brisket, BBQ chicken, nachos, field greens salad, cookies and brownies
- Budweiser and Bud Light on tap
- Beer service begins when gates open and ends after the 70th minute
- Coca-Cola products and O'Doul's available throughout the match
- An all-you-can-eat picnic buffet that includes Hunter Hot Dogs, BBQ brisket, BBQ chicken, nachos, field greens salad, cookies and brownies
- Budweiser and Bud Light on tap
- Beer service begins when gates open and ends after the 70th minute
- Coca-Cola products and O'Doul's available throughout the match
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Former US U15 National Team coach Hugo Perez has thrown his hat in the ring to become the El Salvador full national team head coach. Hugo was born in El Salvador.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I don't see this working for JK, but it is an interesting take none the less
========================================================
Solving the Jurgen Klinsmann Problem
By Leander Schaerlaeckens 16 hours ago FC Yahoo
Jurgen Klinsmann isn't going anywhere.
An intellectually honest assessment of his record and performance in his four years on the job would suggest that his position as United States men's national team head coach should at the very least be up for discussion. But it isn't. Even though we can now say confidently that in big tournaments he was outperformed by his predecessor Bob Bradley – who was let go for the benefit of Klinsmann's hiring – U.S. Soccer has no intention of making a change.
Following an embarrassing Gold Cup semifinal loss to Jamaica, United States Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said that Klinsmann's job was not in danger, and that it wouldn't be even if the Americans lose an October playoff against Mexico for a spot in the 2017 Confederations Cup.
So what now? Because no matter how headstrong the federation has become on the Klinsmann kerfuffle – the unavoidable conclusion here is that USSF has invested an irresponsible amount of money and credibility capital into his success and won't write either of it off – this isn't working. Yes, there have been friendly wins against big countries. But while the U.S. survived the Group of Death in the World Cup, its performance was poor and the Gold Cup debacle is its biggest failing in close to a decade. The play, meanwhile, is pedestrian with dispiriting regularity, even though the pool of talent available is deeper than ever.
Klinsmann's mandate is a long-term one. He is charged with lifting American soccer to a higher plane. But how do we reconcile that bigger picture with the lack of results in the short term?
In trying to formulate a solution, why not look back to the one of his three jobs in management that Klinsmann made an inarguable success?
During his tenure in charge of Germany from 2004 to 2006, Klinsmann oversaw a stylistic revolution that resulted in Die Mannschaft winning the World Cup last summer. Back then, he had a strong assistant in Jogi Loew, who has since succeeded him and conquered the world. The way it seems to have worked is that Klinsmann was the public face and the big ideas man. He formulated the vision and defended it to the outside world – and even Germany's congress. He was in charge of the team, giving team talks, while Loew ran practice, constructed game plans and took care of the tactics. It worked well.
So why not replicate that model? Why not equip Klinsmann with a strong assistant – call him an "associate head coach” or a "field manager” or whatever – and let both do what they do best? Why not put a talented tactician-cum-field-coach by his side, who knows the player pool and won't hog the spotlight, allowing Klinsmann to be a kind of supervisor and plot out the next steps to a better future?
Whether Klinsmann is actually capable of leading the Americans to a place where they can finally break into the world's elite is up for debate – he certainly has a hard time verbalizing his plans – but if his job security must be absolute, it makes sense to give him a better shot at succeeding by freeing him from a lot of the daily burdens of being both the national team's head coach and the federation's technical director, as he was named when he renewed his contract through 2018 in December 2013.
Perhaps Martin Vasquez was supposed to be that guy. After serving as Klinsmann's assistant in his disastrous time with Bayern Munich in the 2008-09 season, he was deemed to have been one of the reasons his boss failed to survive his first year. Klinsmann nevertheless brought him along in his third job, in charge of the USA, before finally dumping him in a pre-World Cup purge. Vasquez, a friendly but reserved kind of guy, in sharp contrast to the ever ebullient Klinsmann, didn't leave much of an impression on anyone.
Klinsmann's current assistants, Andy Herzog and Tab Ramos, don't seem to have the clout within the team to carry out such a role, or the experience. Berti Vogts, meanwhile, occasionally listed as some sort of consultant and sounding board to Klinsmann, isn't around much and surely wouldn't be asked to run practices.
So why not bring in an extra coach? A Major League Soccer man, since so much of the USMNT now plies its trade in the domestic league.
Dom Kinnear of the San Jose Earthquakes would probably make the most sense. He has a track record of performing very well with solid if unspectacular squads, reaching four MLS Cups (winning two) in seven years with the Houston Dynamo. His teams are well-organized, efficient and hard to break down, just as the USA used to be. But then his typically austere playing style would be a betrayal of the evolution Klinsmann has promised (albeit very seldom delivered on). It would all probably look too Bradley-esque. And then what would have been the point in all of this? Or so the federation might conclude.
Sigi Schmid could be another option. The German-born Seattle Sounders manager has won two MLS Cups with two different teams and tends to play attractive soccer with his team. He's twice managed the U.S. Under-20s and, what's more, he has a good relationship with Klinsmann. However, at 62, Schmid might be a tad old to agree to becoming someone's No. 2 after spending 35 years as a head coach.
The most logical option would appear to be one of the younger MLS coaches who have proven themselves domestically and could have bigger ambitions to pursue. Provided one of them could be convinced to suspend promising careers in club management, he could act in a quasi-apprentice role. Kind of like the short but ill-fated Guus Hiddink-Danny Blind combination that succeeded Louis van Gaal as Netherlands managers a year ago, which was an idea better conceptualized than executed.
There are candidates aplenty. Peter Vermes (48, Sporting Kansas City), Ben Olsen (38, DC United), Jay Heaps (38, New England Revolution), Jason Kreis (42, New York City FC) and Caleb Porter (40, Portland Timbers) have known real success with their clubs and demonstrated their ability to get their teams to play attractive, aggressive, attacking soccer. The sort of soccer Klinsmann envisions.
All of them could use such a national team pseudo-head coaching job as a stepping stone for their careers, not to mention the big job itself, whenever Klinsmann vacates it. The pot could even be sweetened with the Olympic assignment, with qualifiers starting in October, followed by the main tournament in Rio de Janeiro next summer – even though that job is presently held by Herzog. And in the meantime, the senior national team would benefit from having a real manager out on the field, even if he would be something else in name, without usurping Klinsmann.
Because lately, and for a good while now, the USA has lacked identity, a clear playing style and cohesion, plainly hampering results. These are problems typically solved by switching out the manager. In this case, since U.S. Soccer says it won't entertain Klinsmann's sacking, the old manager would still be kept around, only he would be promoted out of the way.
========================================================
Solving the Jurgen Klinsmann Problem
By Leander Schaerlaeckens 16 hours ago FC Yahoo
Jurgen Klinsmann isn't going anywhere.
An intellectually honest assessment of his record and performance in his four years on the job would suggest that his position as United States men's national team head coach should at the very least be up for discussion. But it isn't. Even though we can now say confidently that in big tournaments he was outperformed by his predecessor Bob Bradley – who was let go for the benefit of Klinsmann's hiring – U.S. Soccer has no intention of making a change.
Following an embarrassing Gold Cup semifinal loss to Jamaica, United States Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said that Klinsmann's job was not in danger, and that it wouldn't be even if the Americans lose an October playoff against Mexico for a spot in the 2017 Confederations Cup.
So what now? Because no matter how headstrong the federation has become on the Klinsmann kerfuffle – the unavoidable conclusion here is that USSF has invested an irresponsible amount of money and credibility capital into his success and won't write either of it off – this isn't working. Yes, there have been friendly wins against big countries. But while the U.S. survived the Group of Death in the World Cup, its performance was poor and the Gold Cup debacle is its biggest failing in close to a decade. The play, meanwhile, is pedestrian with dispiriting regularity, even though the pool of talent available is deeper than ever.
Klinsmann's mandate is a long-term one. He is charged with lifting American soccer to a higher plane. But how do we reconcile that bigger picture with the lack of results in the short term?
In trying to formulate a solution, why not look back to the one of his three jobs in management that Klinsmann made an inarguable success?
During his tenure in charge of Germany from 2004 to 2006, Klinsmann oversaw a stylistic revolution that resulted in Die Mannschaft winning the World Cup last summer. Back then, he had a strong assistant in Jogi Loew, who has since succeeded him and conquered the world. The way it seems to have worked is that Klinsmann was the public face and the big ideas man. He formulated the vision and defended it to the outside world – and even Germany's congress. He was in charge of the team, giving team talks, while Loew ran practice, constructed game plans and took care of the tactics. It worked well.
So why not replicate that model? Why not equip Klinsmann with a strong assistant – call him an "associate head coach” or a "field manager” or whatever – and let both do what they do best? Why not put a talented tactician-cum-field-coach by his side, who knows the player pool and won't hog the spotlight, allowing Klinsmann to be a kind of supervisor and plot out the next steps to a better future?
Whether Klinsmann is actually capable of leading the Americans to a place where they can finally break into the world's elite is up for debate – he certainly has a hard time verbalizing his plans – but if his job security must be absolute, it makes sense to give him a better shot at succeeding by freeing him from a lot of the daily burdens of being both the national team's head coach and the federation's technical director, as he was named when he renewed his contract through 2018 in December 2013.
Perhaps Martin Vasquez was supposed to be that guy. After serving as Klinsmann's assistant in his disastrous time with Bayern Munich in the 2008-09 season, he was deemed to have been one of the reasons his boss failed to survive his first year. Klinsmann nevertheless brought him along in his third job, in charge of the USA, before finally dumping him in a pre-World Cup purge. Vasquez, a friendly but reserved kind of guy, in sharp contrast to the ever ebullient Klinsmann, didn't leave much of an impression on anyone.
Klinsmann's current assistants, Andy Herzog and Tab Ramos, don't seem to have the clout within the team to carry out such a role, or the experience. Berti Vogts, meanwhile, occasionally listed as some sort of consultant and sounding board to Klinsmann, isn't around much and surely wouldn't be asked to run practices.
So why not bring in an extra coach? A Major League Soccer man, since so much of the USMNT now plies its trade in the domestic league.
Dom Kinnear of the San Jose Earthquakes would probably make the most sense. He has a track record of performing very well with solid if unspectacular squads, reaching four MLS Cups (winning two) in seven years with the Houston Dynamo. His teams are well-organized, efficient and hard to break down, just as the USA used to be. But then his typically austere playing style would be a betrayal of the evolution Klinsmann has promised (albeit very seldom delivered on). It would all probably look too Bradley-esque. And then what would have been the point in all of this? Or so the federation might conclude.
Sigi Schmid could be another option. The German-born Seattle Sounders manager has won two MLS Cups with two different teams and tends to play attractive soccer with his team. He's twice managed the U.S. Under-20s and, what's more, he has a good relationship with Klinsmann. However, at 62, Schmid might be a tad old to agree to becoming someone's No. 2 after spending 35 years as a head coach.
The most logical option would appear to be one of the younger MLS coaches who have proven themselves domestically and could have bigger ambitions to pursue. Provided one of them could be convinced to suspend promising careers in club management, he could act in a quasi-apprentice role. Kind of like the short but ill-fated Guus Hiddink-Danny Blind combination that succeeded Louis van Gaal as Netherlands managers a year ago, which was an idea better conceptualized than executed.
There are candidates aplenty. Peter Vermes (48, Sporting Kansas City), Ben Olsen (38, DC United), Jay Heaps (38, New England Revolution), Jason Kreis (42, New York City FC) and Caleb Porter (40, Portland Timbers) have known real success with their clubs and demonstrated their ability to get their teams to play attractive, aggressive, attacking soccer. The sort of soccer Klinsmann envisions.
All of them could use such a national team pseudo-head coaching job as a stepping stone for their careers, not to mention the big job itself, whenever Klinsmann vacates it. The pot could even be sweetened with the Olympic assignment, with qualifiers starting in October, followed by the main tournament in Rio de Janeiro next summer – even though that job is presently held by Herzog. And in the meantime, the senior national team would benefit from having a real manager out on the field, even if he would be something else in name, without usurping Klinsmann.
Because lately, and for a good while now, the USA has lacked identity, a clear playing style and cohesion, plainly hampering results. These are problems typically solved by switching out the manager. In this case, since U.S. Soccer says it won't entertain Klinsmann's sacking, the old manager would still be kept around, only he would be promoted out of the way.
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bagger
Footballguy
the rose bowl notoriously has a lack of bathrooms.Takes all of halftime just to pee.He said they had to go outside to port a potties. I told him surely they were doing renovations and he told me it's always that way.shtick aside, can you imagine going to a college football game and there not being bathrooms? UCLA plays their home games in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl.I'm also going to the UCLA game the week before and the US game.My uncle said they don't have bathrooms there. (
Beautiful location, terrible facility.
Ps enjoy the bench seating where if your row has 3 fatties in it someone's seat disappears.
It's like musical chairs.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Some promising news out of Germany.
16 year old US U17 National player Christian Pulisic has been starting for Dortmund's U19 team and has been reportedly playing very well.
16 year old US U17 National player Christian Pulisic has been starting for Dortmund's U19 team and has been reportedly playing very well.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I went to the Revs TFC game tonight. Here are some comments:
* First and foremost, Jozy :( Dear god. He combined lazy play with poor play all culminating in an early shower with a stupid straight red card in the first half. This is his second one this year in MLS (and I think he also had one with the US). Someone better get inside his head quickly. Out of all the players making big bucks in MLS, he appears to be doing the worst.
* On a brighter note, Jermaine Jones worked the crowd, the "Rev Girls", the Ref and AR's and also eventually got in the game in the second half and immediately assumed control of the middle of the field spraying accurate long passes all over the place. It was great to see him back and in shape. I think the US are going to need his mental strength this fall and winter.
* While Jozy making $4.75 million is the biggest overpay in the league, the pretty amazing Charlie Davies story is the opposite end. At only $83k a year, he might be one of the best bargains in the league. He scored 2 more pure poacher goals tonight (nothing pretty, just getting to a spot before others).
* No comments on Bradley as he is still out injured.
* Agudelo is in a bad funk and has lost his starting spot with the Revs. The arc of his swings from very good to very bad are striking. It can't be a physical thing as it happens every season. He simply might not have what it takes upstairs to be a consistently good player.
* First and foremost, Jozy :( Dear god. He combined lazy play with poor play all culminating in an early shower with a stupid straight red card in the first half. This is his second one this year in MLS (and I think he also had one with the US). Someone better get inside his head quickly. Out of all the players making big bucks in MLS, he appears to be doing the worst.
* On a brighter note, Jermaine Jones worked the crowd, the "Rev Girls", the Ref and AR's and also eventually got in the game in the second half and immediately assumed control of the middle of the field spraying accurate long passes all over the place. It was great to see him back and in shape. I think the US are going to need his mental strength this fall and winter.
* While Jozy making $4.75 million is the biggest overpay in the league, the pretty amazing Charlie Davies story is the opposite end. At only $83k a year, he might be one of the best bargains in the league. He scored 2 more pure poacher goals tonight (nothing pretty, just getting to a spot before others).
* No comments on Bradley as he is still out injured.
* Agudelo is in a bad funk and has lost his starting spot with the Revs. The arc of his swings from very good to very bad are striking. It can't be a physical thing as it happens every season. He simply might not have what it takes upstairs to be a consistently good player.
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