Sorry to disappoint you, busy day... but if I'm being called out by name:
I think Klismann has pretty much proven through is comments to be full of shit over the last few years (confirming what others like Lahm have said about him). It's a bit frustrating for those who actually believe words have meanings, although it is amusing to watch his personality cult engage in mental gymnastics to justify his bizarre decisions based on his comments like amateur Kremlinologists. Klinsmann's statements are about as internally consistent as your average thousand-plus year old religious text. Of course those holy books are followed by billions of people so I'm not surprised self-loathing Eurosnobs (granted some others are just suffering from Stockholm Syndrome) believe everything he says just because he was once a star Euro player (it's true he's a better coach than other former stars like Maradona or
#1 worst MLS coach Ruud Gullit, but then
Klinsmann did unleash #4 on that list Aron Winter on the league).
What's really amusing about this comment is that anyone who expressed agreement with Donovan's position did so when it was the only one out there, and now you're mocking those people for circlejerking while simultaneously buying into the other position now that there are two competing (and mutually exclusive, barring some strange timing stuff and LD not checking his email) stories.
Personally I'm willing to consider all evidence. I can't think of any case over the last decade where Donovan has straight up made false statements, but who knows maybe he is a liar
as well (whitney houston receipts . gif)... are there any examples you'd like to share? From what I've observed, Donovan is far too honest, from publicly discussing his mental fatigue before his infamous hiatus (that mostly coincided with the offseason and caused him to miss 3.5 of the Galaxy's league games) to handing Klinsmann the rope to hang him with his pre-WC comments in that ESPN video series, as if not being the same player he used to be meant he's not still better than a guy like Brad Davis will ever be. With Klinsmann, on the other hand, it seems to me like there is almost no connection between what he says and does. Since I asked for examples from Donovan, here's one I dug up, reaching way back to October 7 of the year 2014:
"We left quite a few of the experienced players out because we want to give the younger players a chance to break in. Guys like...Chris Wondolowski...are not in this roster...simply because we want to see the youngsters make their point."
-Klinsmann October 6, 2014
Chris Wondolowski added to USA roster for friendly vs. Ecuador
-October 7, 2014... because when you're giving younger players a chance to break in why call up
Andrew Wooten or
Jack McInerney or half a dozen guys who wouldn't be 35 in Russia.
You seem pretty sure of that, based on... who knows what.
When Klinsmann left Donovan out of hex games following his hiatus, saying he had to work his way back into the team, he completely dominated the 2013 Gold Cup like few have dominated a tournament before. And then in the hex he had both the goal and assist in the 2-0 win over Mexico to clinch qualification.
Also, Donovan didn't start in back to back games elimination games for the US at a tournament once: the quarterfinal and semifinal of the 2011 Gold Cup. He came in as a substitute and made the game-winning assist to Dempsey in the 1-0 semifinal win over Panama:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxbYvmAdI0I
Still, it was up in the air whether he'd start the final against Mexico or not. According to Bradley:
Donovan's reaction before the game:
Donovan's reaction in the game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTjxVoLGxyw
(by the way he was also right there at the far post on Bradley's header, just in case)
But hey if you say he'd be an "absolute cancer" who can dispute that rock solid argument....
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On another note, I find it interesting that some people are so ready to believe what some anonymous source at US Soccer told Alexi Lalas and that he tweeted out (does the source have first hand knowledge? has he seen the email or have proof of the phone call? or is that just what he has been told?). I assume those same people must
really be convinced that
Klinsmann is a completely incompetent coach based on Brian Straus' 5,000+ word Sporting News article which had 22 sources....
In that case there was good reason for the anonymity, Klinsmann is running things and could really harm someone's career if they publicly spoke out against him. I'm not sure why anonymity is necessary here, Donovan has no real power (see: getting left off the WC roster) and his international career will be over in another 30 minutes.
People discussing what kind of guy he is have nothing to really gain (aside from Arena for a couple more months, we'll have to see if he comes out with a Lahm-style book exposing Donovan as a fraud once the season ends).
Donovan pretty much publicly accused Klinsmann of being a two faced liar, if Klinsmann can provide evidence (emails, voicemails) that Donovan is lying to harm his reputation, he should do so to reputable journalists, what could even diehard "Donovan circlejerkers" do at that point but accept it?
