USMNT Training Camp: 30 to 23

Joe, I don't think there is any comparison between her tweet and Klinsmann's son. Her tweet was not mean like Klinsmann's. She just made the same joke the rest of the world makes about the Browns and still said it was "cool"

If that's true about Zusi it's no reason to leave someone off the roster and a pretty lame statement about Zusi's character. I actually don't believe its true; just Lalas psycho-babble.

 

:clap:

thanks for pointing that out. still baffled by the decision, but we gotta hold on. I haven't read anything about personal animosity in the decision but my gut tells me JK and Landon are not on the same page - or even remotely close.

 

Worth a read for those of you who want to justify this roster in their minds; I'm not one of them though. I'm with Jimmy Conrad on the matter.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/worldcup/2...rgen-klinsmann-left-landon-donovan-his-world-

 

I'm beginning to believe more and more the conspiracy theories (if you want to call them that) that JK's decisions are more about 2018 than 2014. Is it possible that he sees our chances this year as so slim that his first priority is to use this tournament as an opportunity to give the youngsters experience? And that he would actually not bring the 23 best players at his disposal in order to make that happen?

How else do you explain only bringing along 6 players with previous WC experience?

I understand that this year was always going to be, to a certain extent, a "rebuilding year." But JK seems to have doubled-down on that philosophy. I hate to say it, but I think we're headed for a very quick and very unflattering exit.

 

Normally, I'd agree. But as the Right Honourable Senator from Mary Land said in the World Cup thread, re: Samir Nasri's exclusion from the French side, and I quote,

"It's not always about bringing your country's most skilled players, but the ones that will, hopefully, be best for your team."

And lest anyone forget, JK agreed to an extension through the next World Cup cycle not that long ago. Think maybe that was about the same time he told Sunil and/or some of the other muckety mucks at US Soccer that we had no chance this year, that the only logical plan was to build toward '18? Sure looks like it, huh?

 

I appreciate the input and agree with Tim's and Jumpkutz' posts, but there's gotta be room for Landon as a spot despite the youth movement. Doesn't 3 world cups give you credibility in the locker room? These are interesting observations but I can't see selling this squad down the river for 2018 as a good option. I agree with the theory that there's little hope in advancing, but to concede before a ball is kicked, is more disappointing to me than losses, if that's the truth.

 

Then why bring Jones 33, Beasley 32, Beckerman 32, Dempsey 32, Davis 32 not to mention Wondo at 31. If it's' for the next cycle you have Edu over Jones or Beckerman, Boyd over Dempsey, Shea over Davis, Agudelo over Wondo, etc.

As I understand it Nasri's omission had to do with his poor attitude; that's not the case with Donovan that we know of. Also, Nasri is not and never was to France what Donovan was with the USA. When they talked to Howard about it he looked like he was going to cry.

 

I think you may have misunderstood me, Nev. I was just searching for some reason to explain what JK has done. I don't agree with the philosophy. Perhaps I should have added the line I was debating...something along the lines of...If the idea is to give the kids some experience, what kind of experience is it going to be when we're eliminated after three games and are outscored a combined 10-1?

 

Does everyone really believe that Donovan makes the difference between being able to compete and taking a quick and unflattering exit?

After seeing him struggle with form, nagging (or niggling for the brits) injuries, and conditioning (self admitted), I wasn't expecting him to make much of an impact in Brazil. The Mexico match last month was very telling. He didn't get the start and didn't show anything when coming on as a sub in the second half. I am surprised that he was sent home this early. I figured that he would at least be there for his past experience. A veteran to help guide the first-timers through the craziness.

I'm surprised (for similar reasons) that Goodson was left off in favor of Brooks. But at the same time, I don't think Brooks (or Goodson) will be getting to see any time on the pitch in Brazil. There's probably a chance that 4-5 field players don't see time on the pitch (unless we bomb out of our first two matches and Klinsmann throws out the newbies for the Germany match).

I'm not putting too much thought into the bottom half of the roster. I just hope the starting eleven will perform cohesively and put on a good show, win or lose.

 

Maybe Donovan doesn't have the legs to go 12 days in a row, maybe he doesn't have the form right now, maybe he's old bones...but doesn't his performance in recent national team competitions (maybe not Mexico) afford him a pass? I mean, you've got at least 3 guys on the team that aren't going to sniff the field in the World Cup, but couldn't you reserve him for some super sub performance for at least one game. I've got to believe he's got at least that left in the tank to take a game into his feet and make a difference and make something happen! I'm gutted for him. I know JK did this when he was in Germany in 2006, but we don't have the class of Germany back then to hold a candle to the group we are in right now. Then again, I'm not the national team manager, so I really hope JK knows a lot more than we do right now!

 

You know what? I'm rescinding this comment. Because I'm sick and tired of the negative, doomsday attitude concerning our chances of advancing out of the so-called "group of death." If we truly have no chance, with or without Landon, why even bother to show up? Let's just forfeit our matches against Ghana, Portugal and Germany? Let's just save the money on airfare, room and board, support staff, etc., and tell the other teams in the group don't sweat it, we know we have no chance to advance, good luck.
And I'm also tired of hearing and reading that we can't win the tournament. Again, why bother? The core of this team is the best we've ever had, with world class talent and significant international and a World Cup experience. In fact , I'll predict that we WILL get out of the group. Once you get into the single elimination phase of any athletic tournament, anything can happen. Even though it's not likely, I'm gonna be optimistic and positive. And the next person who says we won't do anything in Brazil gets a virtual noogie.

 

Giant :text-+1: here!

 

[tweet]https://twitter.com/brad_evans3/status/469646551418023936[/tweet]

And a nice parting shot from the also cut Brad Evans. I like where his head's at.

 

And Landon weighs in in more detail. A class act through and through.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...novan-brazil-roster-jurgen-klinsmann/9542273/

 

To me McBride's opinion here is quite telling and leaves me no doubt this decision had nothing to do with Landon's form. McBride has never been a particular cheerleader for Landon, having stated he prefers Dempsey over Donovan, so the fact that he states so bluntly Donovan should be going to the world cup speaks volumes. Jonathan Klinsmann's tweet was no accident of a stupid teenager. That type of meanness and vindictiveness came from something; it is not a normal reaction unless you really don't like the player. It was not just he and his friends playing around . . . oh and wasn't it nice of the Fuhrer to drag his son's friends into that embarrassing situation in order to deflect some guilt. If you watched the Champion's League post game Brad Friedel stated flat out that the Donovan decision was about something other than Landon's soccer and the list goes on and on of other people close to the game and the players who have said similar things.

Heather, I'm glad you can cheer the USA on whole heartedly because most of the players on the squad deserve it. I just can't. I will be hoping this World Cup is an epic failure because I think that is the only way Klinsmann will be fired, which is what the USMNT needs the most. I don't understand why Gulati likes him so much. He seems to be a smart guy so I can't understand why he doesn't see the lack of logic, excuses, and double standards being applied by Klinsmann. The amount of disrespect Klinsmann has shown to several of the US team's best servants is not okay. He is a stupid egotistical tyrant who either has no understanding or no respect for Americans' views on character and sportsmanship.

 

One of my favorite articles written about the Donovan decision from Soccer America

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I took a break from the board for the weekend in the hopes that some of the vitriol might die down but I guess that wasn't long enough. "Stay classy" all. I am out for a while.

 

In an attempt to turn the vitriolic tide cited by the previous poster, here's a nice article about Wondo frm the San Jose newspaper which, for my money, did a better job than the 'Frisco paper covering the goings on in Palo Alto.

http://www.mercurynews.com/world-cu...is-wondolowski-usmts-little-engine?source=pkg