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Post by jash on May 22, 2014 21:11:34 GMT -5
Shocking, to be sure.
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Post by mamampira on May 22, 2014 22:03:17 GMT -5
Shocking indeed. Wrong IMHO. I don't think there's anyone on the roster that plays like him. He's played on the same level with Ronaldo too. These youngsters will suffer the intimidation factor playing Portugal. Chances of Surviving the group stages with Donovan on board even on the bench would have been higher. He's the guy that helped the US qualify in the last World Cup ...#smdh.
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Post by zizou on May 23, 2014 7:21:23 GMT -5
Did not find this shocking. He has not looked good. Energy has seemed lacking. He has looked a bit slow and like his touch is off. Even the training videos have not looked good. Problems keeping control of ball. Decision making has been uncharacteristically unfortunate. I did not think he looked that great even in Gold Cup where he was a big factor for USMNT. He did have some flashes for sure, but consistency was well below par. I don't think you can afford to have a guy this far off his peak game on the WC roster, experience or not, especially when there are young athletic and hungry guys available. Sounds like he has been seeing the writing on the wall for a while given his public statements. And I think the sabbatical dug a big hole with Klinsmann from which Donovan was never able to fully extract himself.
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Post by Soccerhouse on May 23, 2014 7:57:19 GMT -5
zizou has definitely, watched more than i. from what i saw, it just didn't look like donovan ever really liked klinsmann. that being said, he as to be on that roster. he wasn't going to be a starter, and maybe it was a communication issue. but donovan coming off the bench in the 70th minute is a great option, and you need his leadership and experience playing against 2 of the best teams in the world. i used to not be a fan, but the dude can play. maybe he has lost a step or 2, but i still think he should be on that roster. if i was demps and howard i would be furious, they have to be thinking are you kidding me, one of our best players isn't on this roster and we are in the group of death. either way, they will be lucky to win 1 game. but, personally, i don't expect us to look very good in either of the loses either. i thought we looked terribly defensively in our last friendlies and omar is the most over rated US futball player in the history of the word. i'm a firm believer that their is a huge problem with identifying talent in this country. its very hard for a late bloomer to rise up the ranks. that being said, i've never seen a superstar kid get held back, its usually obvious when a kid needs more. the problem is if a kid is at a non-da club for example anywhere in the country (not just atl), is the coach unselfish enough to realize that his stud needs to move on to bigger and better things ---- usually not........ so in summary, go USA, at least play some good soccer and keep it close
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Post by soccergator on May 23, 2014 8:30:35 GMT -5
one nation, one player got screwed. we need landon. hell, play him on d, he's better than omar who can't defend a 2 year old...  |
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Post by zizou on May 23, 2014 9:04:15 GMT -5
hell, play him on d, he's better than omar who can't defend a 2 year old... ok, this is an undeniable truth...that dude is scary slow and mediocre...but he is big! |
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Post by zizou on May 25, 2014 7:37:40 GMT -5
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Post by jash on May 25, 2014 8:44:50 GMT -5
Klinsmann probably didn't give Donovan a fair shot this year. His pre-selection inverviews implying that Donovan wasn't safe, and then his son's reaction are hints of something other than a clean decision.
Having said that, if Klinsmann had some kind of issue with Donovan's attitude, that cannot be discounted.
It's likely that neither Klinsmann nor Donovan will ever say, so all we can do is guess.
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Post by citycat on Jun 2, 2014 9:33:13 GMT -5
How can you leave Donovan off the roster? He is soccer in America. His experience alone is worth having on this team as they play in the Bracket of Death. This also marks the last time Donovan has the physical ability to play in the World Cup.
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Post by zizou on Jun 3, 2014 8:31:13 GMT -5
After watching the second game, and watching Julian Green try to be an international class player, I now do not understand this decision. I was willing to believe that Green's first action against Mexico was youthful jitters, a game during which he fell down, on his own, and dislocated his own shoulder. I do not care that JK says they were not competing for same spot (Donovan a forward, Green a midfielder-yea right), Green is not getting any playing time at the World Cup. If he does it will be a disaster. He is just not ready. He looked nervous and out of his depth in a friendly ... against Turkey! Can you imagine him against Ghana? How about Germany?
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Post by Soccerhouse on Jun 3, 2014 9:01:06 GMT -5
unfortunately, i truly believe JKs legacy will now be known as the coach that left off the greatest US soccer player ever.
i personally think this team is a mess defensively. i'm bracing for the worst to be honest, 3 loses by multiple goals.
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Post by zizou on Jun 6, 2014 10:07:55 GMT -5
unfortunately, i truly believe JKs legacy will now be known as the coach that left off the greatest US soccer player ever. i personally think this team is a mess defensively. i'm bracing for the worst to be honest, 3 loses by multiple goals. This is an interesting recent article in the NYT on JK and his approach to the USMNT program. It appears he does not believe his legacy has anything to do with this tournament, but with how things go over the next four year cycle. It is also sheds some additional might on the Donovan situation. This may indeed help define Klinsmann's legacy, but not in the manner some suppose. We will see. NYT article on Klinsmann and USMNT
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Post by Soccerhouse on Jun 6, 2014 15:57:15 GMT -5
My problem with the next 4 years mentality is there is no guarantees we even make the field!
But we are in for 2014- so put your best 23 out there.
His Kobe comments are just stupid.
If Kobe was heathy and the Olympics were this summer would coach k leave him off the roster because everything he did is in the past. Not a chance in hell. Kobe is still great.
JK is in cover is a@@ mode.
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Post by rifle on Jun 7, 2014 8:56:58 GMT -5
Kobe won't be healthy and productive like a young Kobe ever again. That Kobe is gone. Paying him a max salary deal just because of his past greatness, is foolish. That's Juergen's point and I agree with him regarding Kobe.
Landon, on the other hand, is still pretty good. It's debatable that all 23 guys making the trip are better. Fortunately, it's MLS season so fitness won't be a problem. When somebody gets hurt today and JK needs to add a player, LD is available and super motivated.
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