You got your wish.
http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2016...rgen-klinsmann
![]() |
![]() |
You got your wish.
http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2016...rgen-klinsmann
Coaches usually don't make it two cycles and Klinsmann is not known for his tactical acumen (or his player relationships for that matter)
My guess is Arena for the end of the cycle and then someone new. I think Arena gets them through the hex and into the WC group stage. Don't know about any further.
We might have to build around Pulisic, Wood, and 2022.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/u-socce...201319837.html
Yep, he had to go.
Surprisingly, given his back ground, he is clueless about tactics. His team is always a step behind, out of place, and there are no adjustments during the match when the other side is having success.
Bruce Arena will do well enough to get us to Russia for 2018.
They are protesting having to directive that there will be no protests during the National Anthem
''Don't be a bad dagh..."
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/br...005103265.html
We are in deep doo-doo....
For the past 20+ years qualifying for the World Cup Finals has been a mere formality. The top three CONCACAF teams automatically make the field of 32, and the fourth place team gets a play-in match, which usually the CONCACAF teams wins. None of that has been a concern for the USA since we have finished either 1st or 2nd in the qualifying, and were never in any danger of missing out.
But, we have a tough road ahead to qualify for Russia 2018. Even without the rash of injuries we were looking at a 1-3 start. Now, even our home match later this month is in question due to as many as 7 starters out with injuries.
I'm not that worried. I don't think we will be in 1st place or anything, but remember Mexico in the last CONCACAF? They won only TWO matches and made it to the World Cup. The play in game is not usually an issue. If we get a draw or better with Honduras we should be ok. Panama should be a fairly confident victory.
Now two losses in March might reorient my thinking, but you can't control injuries and its too soon to worry about not qualifying.
USA 6 Honduras 0
Wow!
It would be easy to just say, welcome back Bruce Arena. And surely he deserves credit. But, this was about our veterans and that kid, Christian Pulisic. I like the combo of Altidore-Dempsey-Pulisic up top. They put so much pressure on a defense. And Michael Bradley playing where he is most comfortable/effective as a holding midfielder. Tim Howard in the goal.
On to Panama.
Two things:
1. Arena playing people where they are comfortable. He's not "tinkering" every game which is the main thing that infuriated me with Klinsmann. A good manager puts his players in the right spots to win the game.
2. We have a great midfield lineup. Best in years. Nagbe (a Klinsmann reject), Bradley (in his natural position), Lletget (a Klinsmann reject), and especially Pulisic (who will be the greatest 10 we've ever had).
Already I see people downplaying the victory, saying it was Honduras. Yet we forget we were without some of our starters. Wood, Jones, Chandler, Yedlin
I'll take 6-nil
Greatest ever? I hope so. Since our current "greatest ever(s)" are all retired.
1. Landon Donovan
2. Claudio Reyna
3. Tab Ramos
Reyna and Ramos were not pure #10's, mostly midfielders. But, they did what the team needed and often pushed the pressure higher, thus moving forward into a semi-10 at times. But, both could have played the #10 and done very well, but the US didn't have someone of that quality to play behind them.
Landon Donovan is hands down the best of all time. Pulisic shows all the qualities of a world-class striker, but he needs to grow in the other areas and do ALL the things LD did, if he truly wants to be the greatest ever. He is just 18! He has all the time in the world to grow into the position. For the US, our #10 has to get back on defense a lot. We don't have the luxury of defending with just 7 plus the GK. LD was magnificent tracking back and making plays, as a midfielder, in our defending one-third.
Our back four needs a lot of help....
Yeah the back 4 were clearly the weakest link. I might have started Demarcus over the rookie, but that's a minor quibble. Brooks shows times when he's the best newbie on the field and times when he is lost. I don't know what to do with him. Cameron and Gonzalez were serviceable but can get lost on the pitch.
Hopefully we can get a healthy Chandler, Yedlin back which makes our back four a little better.