Scholarship table
Yeah, it doesn't matter what he has done to fix USA Soccer if they guy can't get the US into even the final round of qualifying for the world cup.BTW, if MLS was a European league, where would it rank? Thoughts?
This team frustrates the hell out of me. For all the positives we've seen since Klinsmann took over, there are just as many worries. Our back line isn't nearly as cohesive, after scoring we always seem susceptible to giving it right back, we are rarely able to put our foot down and seal the game. I really want to believe in the Klinsmann project, but I've been a skeptic since he was hired, and if this is what we're going to get, I don't see why Bob Bradley was fired. Two things I feel positive of, we wouldn't have given up so many setpiece goals with Bob at the helm and we would have qualified for the Hex by now.We have a good team. On our day, we can beat anyone. But we are maddeningly inconsistent and simply not there yet as an international team. It's really too bad we pissed away the lead in the Confederations Cup Final 3 years ago. I have a feeling that is the closest I'll ever see us get to winning a (semi-) major trophy.
The back line is still a mess... whether it be age, lack of communication, lack of talent, lack of speed, lack of consistency, lack of whatever. They gave up goals in five of the six matches, including both against A/B. Howard is still asked to clean up far too many messes than any comparable world-class 'keeper.I know there are cycles within cycles as a team builds. Even with Altidore in the wilderness, the offense of the national team is ahead of the defense in terms of field players. And even as presently constructed, it would take a miracle for them not to qualify for Rio. However, I don't think it's wrong to hold this team to a higher expectations given what Klinsmann has professed he wants to instill.
I agree with much of that. I think Jurgen could have long-term benefits, but I worry about the cost. We have never won at Costa Rica in the Hex and have been outscored 11-3 there. It is highly unlikely we will get anything at the Azteca. And to get points out of Panama or Honduras, we need good selections.When our top two LBs went down, why didn't Eric Lichaj get a call? As you note, Parkhurst was senseless. When Graham Zusi is our best available winger, there's a problem. Why not push Dempsey wide (he was near-useless against A&B) or call up Chandler or some of the younger kids? And no Altidore nor Boyd was just silly. So while it's easy to say that we succeeded despite some questionable (at best) choices, what expectation should we have of more sensible choices when the level of competition goes up?I still think we will qualify for the World Cup. I still think we are the second most talented team in the region and think we can get 17 points. But I look at where this team is and we've clearly moved back from just 2 years ago. We haven't found anyone to replace Donovan or Dempsey and both are aging. We've traded an in-their-prime defense of Boca, Dolo, Gooch, and DeMerit for Boca, Dolo (both 35 in 2014), Fab, and Cameron. We still have no strikers that give much hope, and the ones we do have can't get a match because of a grudge from the manager. These are near-unforgivable sins. We're regressing, not progressing.
Also, to be fair to JK, both Arena and Bradley relied on a number of the same players without developing much youth, leaving JK without many young, talented choices in the player pool. I think he's been trying to catch up with that deficit during qualifying.
One interesting, non-related talking point. Does anyone think that Landon Donovan will break the all-time international caps record? Donovan at age 30 has 144 international caps, 20 behind Cobi Jones for the USA record and 40 behind Ahmed Hassan with 184 for Egypt.Donovan only earned 6 caps this year, but if healthy will have the opportunity for many more in the next 2 years. In 2013 and 2014, we will most likely play at least 20 major international matches (Qualifiers, Gold Cup, World Cup) and another 10-15 friendlies. I have to think a healthy Donovan would play in 25 of those matches, putting him at 169 after the next World Cup.The question at that point, would he continue? He'd be age 32, not young, but not automatic retirement age. Both Bocanegra and Cherundolo are already older than that. If LD played one more year through the 2015 Gold Cup, he'd almost certainly pass Claudio Suarez for the most caps ever by a CONCACAF player (178) and could be right on the heels of Hassan.However...the 37-year-old Hassan is still playing internationally and his goal is to play in the 2014 World Cup. Between qualification and the World Cup, Hassan could play as many as 16 more games, leaving him at 200 caps. Could Donovan reach that total?
Good question. Donovan has been extremely successful as a player because, mostly, of his pace. At 30+, that's going to decrease significantly. To continue to be a factor in the USMNT going past 31/32, he would have to develop/alter his game (sort of like Jordan when he became a jump shooter). This transformation could be helped by Klinsmann as he bases his strategy around buildup and possession rather than pure speed/counterattacking. I'm not sure if LD has the IQ/technical ability to turn into a holding/playmaking CM (like Pierlo from Italy) where his physical traits wouldn't be as big a factor, but I'm pretty sure that's what he'd have to do to play into mid, late 30s