Especially if one of the forwards misses an easy one...
The embarrassing thing was how the refs were constantly against us. We were playing good football.
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American Soccer |OT| Life, liberty and the pursuit of the beautiful game
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Especially if one of the forwards misses an easy one...
The embarrassing thing was how the refs were constantly against us. We were playing good football.
So...as I was laying down thinking...do I see shades of 98? A foreign player who has little connection to the current national team (David Regis then, Julian Green now) brought on board so close to the World Cup, and now, with the World Cup looming, a leader of the team is dropped from the team (Harkes in April 98, Donovan now), potentially causing chaos within the dressing room.
Sampson also liked to tinker with his lineup a lot. USA also had to play two European teams in their group that year.
(As far as I know, Donovan is not rumored to have had an affair with Dempsey or anybody else's wife).
I'm just kidding, the situation then and the situation now are completely different, but it's still...interesting.
I wonder if the sabbatical that Landon took soured the relationship with Klinsmann that much, or did it occur much earlier than that? I faintly remember seeing that Klinsmann and Donovan had a good relationship, and Klinsmann was the man who got Donovan into Bayern after all. Maybe the aftermath of the failed Bayern loan was where things began to sour.
In many ways, Landon is very much the anti-Klinsmann in terms of attitude. Klinsmann has that European mentality, where, you live, breath, and die with soccer if you're going to do it professionally, while Landon definitely doesn't give out that aura. The sabbatical showed this, or at least, it showed this to Klinsmann.
Sampson also liked to tinker with his lineup a lot. USA also had to play two European teams in their group that year.
(As far as I know, Donovan is not rumored to have had an affair with Dempsey or anybody else's wife).
I'm just kidding, the situation then and the situation now are completely different, but it's still...interesting.
I wonder if the sabbatical that Landon took soured the relationship with Klinsmann that much, or did it occur much earlier than that? I faintly remember seeing that Klinsmann and Donovan had a good relationship, and Klinsmann was the man who got Donovan into Bayern after all. Maybe the aftermath of the failed Bayern loan was where things began to sour.
In many ways, Landon is very much the anti-Klinsmann in terms of attitude. Klinsmann has that European mentality, where, you live, breath, and die with soccer if you're going to do it professionally, while Landon definitely doesn't give out that aura. The sabbatical showed this, or at least, it showed this to Klinsmann.
jamesinclair
Banned
Bad choice for US soccer in general.
Ask Joe Average to name one american soccer player, and he'll probably be able to name Donovan and only Donovan (maybe).
Landycakes is the face of US soccer. You kick him out and now Joe Average feels even less attached to the team.
From a marketing perspective, major fail.
Ask Joe Average to name one american soccer player, and he'll probably be able to name Donovan and only Donovan (maybe).
Landycakes is the face of US soccer. You kick him out and now Joe Average feels even less attached to the team.
From a marketing perspective, major fail.
You know, I keep coming back to the thought that if Klinsmann left Donovan home he must be damn confident in the team he's picked. I suppose we'll see how the team plays starting on Tuesday, if they crush everyone in their path or have a rough time.
Let's remember Landon Donovan and what he did for US Soccer. He is a legend. I know the players going to Brazil admire all that he has done for the team and for the sport in this country. All of his USA goals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRWHkER_Ou4
some highlights:
the beginning (and the best) of dos-a-cero: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRWHkER_Ou4&t=1m15s
At around 7 mins into that video, he just demolishes PK after PK. I want to see his international PK stats.
My all-time favorite Donovan goal is the counter-attack against Brazil (BRAZIL) in the Confederations Cup in South Africa. The link above didn't give a great view of it. It's one of the sexiest counter-attack goals I've ever seen this team accomplish and it's one of the best moves Donovan ever did on that ball to score like he did: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yvPkUapBk8 (playstation!)
That BAD-ASS Slovenia goal where he just said "I DONT CARE WHAT THE WORLD THINKS OF US" after the ref-which-shall-not-be-named ruined the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRWHkER_Ou4&t=9m58s
I don't need to link the Algeria goal...
It's pretty amazing what he did in those 13+ years. We love you, Landon!
some highlights:
the beginning (and the best) of dos-a-cero: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRWHkER_Ou4&t=1m15s
At around 7 mins into that video, he just demolishes PK after PK. I want to see his international PK stats.
My all-time favorite Donovan goal is the counter-attack against Brazil (BRAZIL) in the Confederations Cup in South Africa. The link above didn't give a great view of it. It's one of the sexiest counter-attack goals I've ever seen this team accomplish and it's one of the best moves Donovan ever did on that ball to score like he did: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yvPkUapBk8 (playstation!)
That BAD-ASS Slovenia goal where he just said "I DONT CARE WHAT THE WORLD THINKS OF US" after the ref-which-shall-not-be-named ruined the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRWHkER_Ou4&t=9m58s
I don't need to link the Algeria goal...
It's pretty amazing what he did in those 13+ years. We love you, Landon!
There are rumors out there now that some of the guys on the team just didn't like Donovan.
https://twitter.com/FrancoPanizo/statuses/469596004694900737
https://twitter.com/FrancoPanizo/statuses/469598605700251648
Not sure if I buy it as Donovan has always come off as a good teammate. But then you have this tweet from Alecko Eskandarian.
https://twitter.com/alecko11/statuses/469600415957655552
We know that Klinsmann places a premium on team unity, so maybe this was about locker room chemistry more than anything?
https://twitter.com/FrancoPanizo/statuses/469596004694900737
https://twitter.com/FrancoPanizo/statuses/469598605700251648
Not sure if I buy it as Donovan has always come off as a good teammate. But then you have this tweet from Alecko Eskandarian.
https://twitter.com/alecko11/statuses/469600415957655552
We know that Klinsmann places a premium on team unity, so maybe this was about locker room chemistry more than anything?
I think his thought is that it's better to just get the second guessing out of the way now. LD can't go the full 90 in that climate and wouldn't be able to play significant minutes in multiple games in a short period. Now the team can just simply focus on preparing without him. The narrative would have been about him and when he came in or went out of games.
The media will still question it if the results don't go our way, but the players themselves know they have to step up. It puts more onus on their success than his (Donovan's) failure.
This could be seen as a dressing room decision even if LD wouldn't necessarily complain about a lack of minutes. You could tell he wasn't pleased about being a sub versus Mexico -- he said he understood it but there was an undercurrent that has run through a lot of his comments since then. His body language in interviews after the game made that clear.
France left home a guy who has been arguably their best player in 2014 due to Ribery's dip in form. LD obviously has a much better history with our NT than Nasri has with his, but that decision came down to non-sporting reasons. It probably was a mix of both with LD.
The media will still question it if the results don't go our way, but the players themselves know they have to step up. It puts more onus on their success than his (Donovan's) failure.
This could be seen as a dressing room decision even if LD wouldn't necessarily complain about a lack of minutes. You could tell he wasn't pleased about being a sub versus Mexico -- he said he understood it but there was an undercurrent that has run through a lot of his comments since then. His body language in interviews after the game made that clear.
France left home a guy who has been arguably their best player in 2014 due to Ribery's dip in form. LD obviously has a much better history with our NT than Nasri has with his, but that decision came down to non-sporting reasons. It probably was a mix of both with LD.
ActStriker
Member
You could see Donovan playing himself off the roster in the run up; the Mexico friendly where he came off the bench was an indicator of that. That, and the stats w/ the Galaxy so far this season; granted I haven't watched them play live.
It's just that most of us probably didn't expect him not to make it, but I think a lot of that is because of his name.
It's just that most of us probably didn't expect him not to make it, but I think a lot of that is because of his name.
Cornballer
Member
- Klinsmann with a few comments on the 23-man roster
- ASN: World Cup roster By the Numbers
There's a press conference this morning at 9am PT. ESPN SportsCenter & espn3 will carry us soccer press conference live.
- ASN: World Cup roster By the Numbers
There's a press conference this morning at 9am PT. ESPN SportsCenter & espn3 will carry us soccer press conference live.
Herc responded by saying it's false, but it's not entirely clear. Maybe it's semantics. Their exchange:
Herc:
Franco:
Herc:
So if Herc's just arguing the semantics of some vs. many...I dunno!
Cornballer
Member
Here's some numbers. A friend gathered the FIFA ranks of all the teams and then we looked at their group stage strength. Nothing earth shattering here, just tossing it out there if someone else was interesting in seeing it.
Code:
FIFA Rank:
Group Teams Group Total
----- --------------------------- -----------
A BRA CRO MEX CAM
3 26 19 50 92
B SPA NED CHI AUS
1 15 13 50 79
C COL GRE IVC JAP
5 10 21 47 83
D URU CSR ENG ITA
6 34 11 9 60
E SWI ECU FRA HON
8 28 16 30 82
F ARG IRN BHZ NIG
7 37 25 44 113
G GER POR GHA USA
2 3 38 14 57
H BEL ALG RUS SKO
12 25 18 55 110
FIFA Rank: Team's Opponent Totals
Group A Group B Group C Group D
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
BRA 89 SPA 78 COL 78 URU 54
CRO 72 NED 64 GRE 73 CSR 26
MEX 73 CHI 66 IVC 62 ENG 49
CAM 42 AUS 29 JAP 36 ITA 51
Group E Group F Group G Group H
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
SWI 74 ARG 106 GER 55 BEL 98
ECU 54 IRN 76 POR 54 ALG 85
FRA 66 BHZ 88 GHA 19 RUS 92
HON 52 NIG 69 USA 43 SKO 55ActStriker
Member
Donovan Algeria and the shot heard round the world are top 2 then
Platini money really worked well for France
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Also don't think it's a surprise, but Donovan's first F off the standby list if Klinsmann needs him:
Can klinsmann still change his decision? Even if Donovan was out of shape and didn't get many minutes, this still pisses me off. Donovan is a big game player.
Almost feel like klinsmann is putting pressure on Donovan and his team. Will bring him back on soon (or I freaking hope)
Almost feel like klinsmann is putting pressure on Donovan and his team. Will bring him back on soon (or I freaking hope)
Only chance of a reverse of the decision is if someone gets injured. The team is set Donavan is not going.
Smfh.
"I won a world cup, I know more than you."
That'sa bullfuckingshit answer by klinsmann to that specific question
ActStriker
Member
...what?
The question was about the lack of World Cup experience throughout the roster, with many players going for their first time. Klinsmann is saying that it doesn't matter too much in his experience; Germany won the WC in his first WC.
Germany can have no WC experience on the entire squad and lineup a better squad than us. That's all I meant
Also - obviously how Donovan performed in this 10 day camp was not taken in account to Klinsmann's decision because from all reports he was one of the best players. Why even bring him to the camp?
Cornballer
Member
Assorted tweets:
- Jurgen Klinsmann Addresses Fans before Press Conference in Palo Alto (short, youtube)
Also:
- Jurgen Klinsmann Addresses Fans before Press Conference in Palo Alto (short, youtube)
talisayNon
Member
fuck you Klins I want you gone.
Seriously.
Also - I feel like the only reason a 17 year old posts such a stupid Twitter post about the best American player ever being taken off the team, which should be an incredibly tough decision since he's been a leader on this team since 2002, is because his dad has constantly derided him while at home. No doubt in my mind. Fuck you klinsmann. I hope he's fired
Cornballer
Member
More comments:
I think you will get the same answer with the Davis choice. Competing for different positions and Klinsmann probably values the service he can provide from the left. For our sake I hope Zusi starts over Davis.
I wish Donovan made a stronger case for him this season. He was not setting MLS on fire and his sub performance against Mexico wasn't great either. It was clear physically he wasn't the player of old.
edit: yeah I think the intention to start Cameron at CB became clear after all the RB options were called in and Omar's constant blunders. In all likelihood it will be Johnson, Chandler, Besler and Cameron in the back.
I wish Donovan made a stronger case for him this season. He was not setting MLS on fire and his sub performance against Mexico wasn't great either. It was clear physically he wasn't the player of old.
edit: yeah I think the intention to start Cameron at CB became clear after all the RB options were called in and Omar's constant blunders. In all likelihood it will be Johnson, Chandler, Besler and Cameron in the back.
Klinsmann is such a dick. Lost all respect for this guy. Chandler hasn't played a game for us in a year and he gets an automatic spot. Donovan takes a 4 month break and he's "not dedicated to the team" smfh
I don't think he has ever questioned his commitment after he returned to the fold during the gold cup. Chandler made it in because of his play and the fact that he recovered in time.
ActStriker
Member
Chandler has some value in that he plays/fill in the black hole that is our RB, and where at least a number of us penciled in as our main RB if he ever got his head straight. Which from JK it sounds like he has
I'm not a fan of Yedlin atm, but if he made the 23-man for that over say Parkhurst or someone else, you can see the value there for Chandler.
I'm not a fan of Yedlin atm, but if he made the 23-man for that over say Parkhurst or someone else, you can see the value there for Chandler.
Lol man calm down. They are not going to fire Klinsmann now, especially just after signing a four year contract.
He knows a lot more than you and there are real reasons why you would leave Donovan off this squad.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/worldcup/2...rgen-klinsmann-left-landon-donovan-his-world-
badscooter
Member
Another problem is the message it sends to the older players - "We don't care about this World Cup, even though it's probably your last one, so we're not bringing our best 23. We're focusing on 2018 and beyond." Tough to accept.
That, of course, assumes that Donovan is still one of the best 23 US soccer players.
That, of course, assumes that Donovan is still one of the best 23 US soccer players.
Dude. Chill out.
The friendlies are about getting the final squad playing together and prepared for the World Cup, not about making final choices. It was the right decision to make the "cuts" now -- it is atypical compared to other countries to even have the 7 stand-by players around the camp at all so getting it taken care of sooner than later was and is the right decision.
This also of course, assumes that the team can't win big games or can't go on without Landon this World Cup, despite the fact that they got some big results without Landon Donovan last year. Some of these were friendlies, yes, but that's just how it goes in CONCACAF land.
I'm surprised as most that Klinsmann left Donovan off the final 23, but the way I've read some of the media reaction, it's almost as if the USA has lost already. I think this is what Klinsmann meant by the media treating Donovan as the "holy cow."
badscooter
Member
Yeah, I believe the US can get results equivalent to a theoretical team with Donovan, and I have concerns about his fitness and declining skill. I personally hope that his omission is correct and that Donovan hasn't shown he should be part of the this team.
But if Donovan is one of the best 23, and he's not on the team, that sucks for the players, especially the vets (no matter their personal feelings towards him). It means US Soccer has other goals besides sending the best possible team to Brazil. However noble those goals may be, if I'm a player, I'm pissed. World Cups only come around every 4 years, and you might not be playing the next time.
Cellbomber
Member
Lol overreactions. When was the last key or standout moment for donavan? I don't think the US is stacked enough to take a player as a mentor or because of experience.
Donavon was great and it's not like a new face of US soccer can't happen at this world cup. Most people would say it's already Bradley. The last tours the US did had Bradley on most of the marketing. He's younger and obviously more important at this point.
I'm sure this was in the best interest of the team.
Donavon was great and it's not like a new face of US soccer can't happen at this world cup. Most people would say it's already Bradley. The last tours the US did had Bradley on most of the marketing. He's younger and obviously more important at this point.
I'm sure this was in the best interest of the team.
INSIDE: U.S. Soccer's March to Brazil - Preview of Episode 3
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10974571
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10974571
ActStriker
Member
Think they're gonna try to roll out the diamond again, at least in one of the friendlies?
Did you watch the Gold Cup?
Cellbomber
Member
NoRéN;113158726 said:
Yes. Is that showing consistency though? That was last summer as well so a player can have a rapid decline. When I've seen him recently he hasn't seemed with it. Maybe he's lost intensity and that is what Klinsman loves. I barely hear about LD anymore (MLS coverage sucking adds to this). From reading news or catching highlights he doesn't seem to have the impact as before. A World Cup isn't going to be slow paced. I'm fine with taking youth or more hungry players over him.
I also think it shows how much the team has grown. The team finally has depth and a rotation of players the US has never experienced.
Now that the shock has worn off, I'm ok with the decision. I think it is presumptuous for any fan to say they know better than the coach in a situation like this, but like others have said he will held accountable for that decision, good or bad. I personally will still miss Donovan's talents and fan service, but I think in the heat of the match it will fade quickly.
Right, because there was no 32 year old Brad Davis around to make previous World Cup rosters... 29 year old Brad Evans as the regular RB through qualifying, 31 year old Damarcus Beasley who was on the bench at the last World Cup as the regular LB, 32 year old Kyle Beckerman...
Of course the talent pool is deeper now, but on the other hand you can't just have the national team coach call in some mediocre veteran like Davy Arnaud over Clint Dempsey and then say "Wow this team is so deep Dempsey didn't even make the roster!!"
I'm disappointed that no one asked Klinsmann (or at least I'm not aware of anyone asking him) why he considered Donovan a forward for the camp. Because if he was a midfielder, then putting Davis ahead of Donovan on the squad is questionable at best. But leaving him out at forward is understandable. The four on the roster are better at forward than Donovan. But why label Donovan a forward in the first place? That decision puzzles me.
This article raises a good point:
The weather and travel are not things I had thought of. Donovan is definitely not at the same high level of fitness he was at in his younger days. That drop in fitness could be a big deal in a humid, high temperature game that comes after hours of travel across the country.
This article raises a good point:
The weather and travel are not things I had thought of. Donovan is definitely not at the same high level of fitness he was at in his younger days. That drop in fitness could be a big deal in a humid, high temperature game that comes after hours of travel across the country.
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