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Post by Soccerhouse on Sept 11, 2015 10:05:11 GMT -5
Is Klinsmann The Right Coach For The USMNT? with Alexi Lalas
Play along at home:
1) Is JK the right coach for the USNMNT right now? 2) If JK left the job today, who would you choose to replace him? 3) Is the US too reliant on Clint Dempsey? 4) You've been named the USMNT head coach, who do you start vs mexico at center back? 5) Is the US player pool better or worse than it was five years ago? 6) Can the United States beat Mexico?
My answers:
1) nope, but needs to stick around until at least mexico game 2) Bruce Arena, or someone better familiar with US soccer landscape 3) nope, but you have to have your best players on the pitch 4) this leads into the next question, but I'm not sure, and that's the inherent problem, it should be a no brainer! So I can't answer this question! 5) tough call, I can't honestly say yes, because if it is, its not showing on the field. So no, the player pool is not better. 6) Yes, but not very confident right now.
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Post by totaalvoetbal on Sept 11, 2015 10:48:33 GMT -5
1) He is not the right guy for the job, but they need to let him finish out the year. That way the new coach can use the January camp as a test run and is not thrown into the fire immediately. 2) I have always liked Jason Kreis even though he is having some trouble with NYCFC this year. Jesse Marsch, Peter Vermes, or Bruce Arena would be good to. I think an American coach who knows more about the American system would be good. That being said, someone like Marcelo Bielsa would be too good to pass up. Edit: I agree with Lalas on Gregg Berhlater too, he is a great young coach. 3) Yes we are, there are not too many "problem-solvers" on the USMNT right now. Dempsey is one of them. I think there are a few players who can ease that reliance, but Klinsi won't bring them in consistently or doesn't agree with me. People like Feilhaber, Nguyen, etc. 4) I would start Gonzalez and Besler. They had trouble against Belgium, but they are experienced and great players. I wouldn't be shocked to see a Brooks/Alvarado pairing, but that is too raw right now. 5) I think it is better, but some positions have a lot of talent (center mids), while we don't have enough talent in other places (forwards). I just don't think Klinsi has done a good job of exploring the player pool. Also the tactics have to be utilized to maximize the player's abilities. I do think the older player pool was more top heavy and now it is more evenly spread throughout. 6) Eh, maybe? I'm not thrilled with the USMNT right now, but Mexico just doesn't rise to the occasion against us, while the USMNT does.
Overall, this is tough because Klinsi is very good at some things, just not the things needed in the USMNT head coach. His skillset is better for a technical director, not a tactical head coach position.
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Post by rifle on Sept 11, 2015 18:47:31 GMT -5
1) No discernable identity change in their play, so regretfully.. no
2) Bielsa. Somebody that demands technical and tactical soccer, and will choke out a lazy player. (Slight exaggeration. Slight)
3) No. He frequently disappears in games too.
4) Besler or Brooks. Need to find more.
5) worse.
6) yep.
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Post by rifle on Sept 11, 2015 18:50:52 GMT -5
2) I think an American coach who knows more about the American system would be good.. What "system" do you mean?
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Post by totaalvoetbal on Sept 15, 2015 12:49:09 GMT -5
2) I think an American coach who knows more about the American system would be good.. What "system" do you mean? The youth development system as well as the relationships between the MLS, NASL, and USL. The United States has such a odd system in place when compared to say Spain, Germany, or even Poland. I think having this knowledge will help find answers to problems that maybe a foreign coach may not be as familiar with.
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Post by totaalvoetbal on Sept 15, 2015 12:50:07 GMT -5
Why do you think the player pool is worse?
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Post by rifle on Sept 15, 2015 14:05:41 GMT -5
Why do you think the player pool is worse? My response is based on the quality of the players I can see. I'm sure the pool MUST BE deep... but I can't see it.
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Post by rifle on Sept 15, 2015 14:20:07 GMT -5
What "system" do you mean? The youth development system as well as the relationships between the MLS, NASL, and USL. The United States has such a odd system in place when compared to say Spain, Germany, or even Poland. I think having this knowledge will help find answers to problems that maybe a foreign coach may not be as familiar with. Ah, OK. I see your point now. Thanks.
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Post by totaalvoetbal on Sept 15, 2015 15:28:47 GMT -5
Just for reference I wanted to post the starting lineup we used in the 2010 World Cup and compare to the 2014 lineup Klinsi used. I know this isn't exactly 5 years ago, but I think it is a good reference point since we use the exact same players in our lineups now with Beasley and Howard coming back.
2010: (World Cup game against England) GK: Tim Howard RB: Steve Cherundolo CB: Jay Demerit CB: Oguchi Onyewu LB: Carlos Bocanegra RM: Clint Dempsey CM: Michael Bradley CM: Ricardo Clark LM: Landon Donovan F: Jozy Altidore F: Robbie Findley Players Like Jose Torres, Feilhaber, Edu, Herc Gomez, Buddle, Holden, and Beasley came off the bench
2014: (World Cup game against Ghana) GK: Tim Howard RB: Damarcus Beasley CB: Matt Besler CB: Geoff Cameron LB: Fabian Johnson DM Kyle Beckerman CM: Alejandro Bedoya CM: Jermaine Jones AM: Michael Bradley F: Jozy Altidore F: Clint Dempsey Used players like Johansson, Zusi, Brooks, Yedlin, Wondo, O.Gonzalez off the bench.
After looking at this, I think it is much closer than I originally thought.
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Post by coachjd on Sept 24, 2015 10:36:36 GMT -5
Interesting interview, not sure I agree with Lalas on everything he said though...
1) Is JK the right coach for the USNMNT right now? 6 Months ago I would have said yes. Now, after losing the Gold Cup semi, I can't say yes. But I can't say to get rid of him right now either because of the importance of the upcoming games. Tactically there is to much shifting of style and players from one game to the next. I can understand experimenting, but not as frequently as he does. It is to much.
2) If JK left the job today, who would you choose to replace him? There are several options, but probably Arena would be my first choice, but I can't say that with 100% certainty.
3) Is the US too reliant on Clint Dempsey? No
4) You've been named the USMNT head coach, who do you start vs mexico at center back? Omar Gonz & Besler Experience is key for this game.
5) Is the US player pool better or worse than it was five years ago? Better, I think it is deeper and that there are currently more options at every position, except for striker.
6) Can the United States beat Mexico? Yes
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