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Could happen.
http://www.espnfc.us/united-states/story/3234662/landon-donovan-consider...
This is good though. I think the more and more people that throw their name in the ring, the more pressure Gulati will feel. I'm in the "Anybody but Gulati" camp.
There, edited the title so people don't freak out.
Edited again because we have a lot of smart asses in these parts.
They need to elect someone who can make this their full-time job. I know that might not be what the position requires, but we need someone like Harbaugh, who lives for soccer and won't rest until the US is fielding a Top 5 squad.
MGoRoasted!!!
If they were close losses and our rivals were Brazil, Argentina, and Germany I'd be totally cool with it.
Will he beat Trinibad and Tobago to send us to the world cup at least?
Trinidad and Tobago = Iowa
Will he have to beat Trinidad and Tobago both? Simultaneously?
twelve people (and counting) have no time for self-deprecation.
Donovan can have some Lalas in him . . . likes to hear himself talk.
But anybody but Gulati.
If it takes a "name" like Donovan to make that happen, I'm all for it.
He's at the Lalas level of self-talk-listen (?). But yea he has a bit of that.
Never go full Lalas.
I can't stand Lalas. Cannot currently think of a sportscaster I dislike more...
Britt McHenry?
Need an international who isn't an MLS sock puppet.
I'm also in the running for USMNT Prez. Me, Clarence Boddicker. I've got some ideas. First, we rob a bank. Then we use the money to buy lots of cocaine. Lastly, we sell that cocaine. Profit...
What's more American than free enterprise?
Using the cocaine instead of selling it?
The old Steve Martin routine about how to become a millionaire:
"First.. get a million dollars..."
saw an article where he said he would run but it's not a paid position and he needs to provide for his family. Rebuild US soccer from ashes, or make millions sitting at NBCSN doing Premeir League.
Silly this is not a paid position.
Can we make it a paid position? I mean not that he should be making Jim Delany, f*** you sort of money, but I do think it is reasonable for the USSF president to have some sort of salary for exactly this reason.
Julie Foudy or Kyle Martino would be my two top "former player/current talking-head" choices. Both seem like high-character individuals who can check their egos at the door, listen to the problems that are embedded in the US Soccer system, and simply hire the best people to solve those problems. They could be the "Jim Hackett" that US Soccer desperately need.
Between Landon Donovan and Eric Wynalda, I think I would lean toward Wynalda. Donovan has heavy ties with the Bruce Arena/MLS camp (not that I'm anti-MLS, but rather it would just be more of the same), he was always flighty about soccer in general with his retirements/comebacks, and I always have concerns about hiring your most gifted players and putting them in charge of development (Klinsmann all over again). Wynalda has some red flags for me as well (a little Alexi Lalas vibe to him), but he's getting backed by some people whose opinions I trust.
Eric Wynalda has some Lalas vibes in that he likes to hear himself talk, but he isn't a mouthpiece for Garber like Lalas is.
He was hated by the mls fans because he routinely spoke against the status quo. If we have to pick between those four, my vote would go to Wynalda.
Exactly. He's not Lalas, but he does enjoy the sound of his own voice; and honestly, that trait is near the bottom of what you should look when electing someone to the highest power. However, he just may be passionate about what's broken and be better suited to fix it.
Add Claudio Reyna as another person I would like to see run. His comments this week hit home:
"Our approach and our behavior to the sport here — to coaching, to everything, is just wrong," Reyna told Goal on Tuesday. "We’re far too arrogant. We’re far too obnoxious. We are egotistical having never won anything or done anything, and that’s not the case around the world."
OT?
I thought this had to do with DPJ.
(and I'm not trying to be billy badass here)
Don't care about OT and non-OT stuff. Not shit to talk about right now on a Thursday.
And no you didn't. Unless you don't know what USMNT means.
and coudn't giev a flying F### at this point on PSU week
This is OT. It's a perfectly valid topic for the board, but it's OT. And I had already seen the headline about this, thought it was interesting, and still saw the name "Donovan" on MGoblog and thought DPJ off the bat.
His critique is not spurious at all.
All you need to do to understand that it's not about Donovan Peoples-Jones is read about 3 or 4 more words in the title.
what gives? not like you.
Total misclick. Switched it to a downvote.
...just saying.
As R & S says, title needs a slight adjustment. But this is interesting. At least it could dislodge Gulati and pave the way for real change.
Still, it's not known if Landon has any actual skill at management or at organizing something like this. He could, by virtue of passion, be a step up. He could also have a number of significant flaws. And having once been a vital player is not a qualification, as anyone who realizes what a great player Jurgen Klinsmann was should understand.
Agree. Donovan has no experience in performing this type of job. If he wants it, he needs to get involved at a lower level and accumulate more experience in a management role. While I might be wrong, Donovan would likely be a disaster waiting to happen with his lack of experience.
If he was still coach the U.S. would be heading back to the cup. Unfortunately he made an executive decision to cut a whiny little bitch who publicly stated he didnt know if his heart was still in the game.
Yes he lost back to back games to Mexico and Costa Rico. They are now both top 20 ranked teams who qualified for the cup.
Landon Donovan after not making the squad went on TV as an analyst and did nothing but trash the U.S. team during the Cup in Brazil. That alone should disqualify his bid.
If that's true, why hasn't Klinsmann gotten another job?
His ground-level organizational initiatives were important, of course. And I don't care about what players he chooses. But his results haven't been good, and nobody else seems anxious to give him another shot.
the German National Team after his 3rd place finish. He publicly stated that he was taking some time away to spend with his family.
He has been rumored for a couple jobs, Southhampton being one, but showed no interest.
There are a lot of smoldering hot takes in here.
1. You are patently wrong about Only Americans thinking Klinsmann is a horrible manager. Toni Kroos: "During his time at Bayern I personally missed everything: An idea of how to play football, adequate communication -- and success." Lahm also wrote that the players had to meet before matches to discuss a gameplan since JK didn't have one.
2. Germany's success at the 2006 was mostly due to Joachim Low's tactical acumen. Let's see what they've done under Low (78-9-11 in competitive matches):
3. Klinsmann's 2014 team was knocked out in the exact same place as Bob Bradley's team in 2010. Ghana was Luis Suarez'd in the QF or they would have been in the Semi-Final vs The Netherlands.
4. Honestly I thought Donovan handled being left off the 2014 World Cup Squad by a petty egomaniac better than most professional athletes. He didn't attack the player, he questioned JK's decision-making and tactical ability like very nearly every other member of the media.
5. Are you Timmy Chandler?
2016 Euro: Lost to France in the Final
As a fan of les Bleus I wish this were true, but alas, the game against Germany was in the semis and Portugal won the final.
Only baseless rumors out there right now, but what do you think about Laurent Blanc for USMNT coach?
Doesn't seem that innovative of a coach or a strong presence in the locker room. The USMNT could do worse but I don't see him as anything special.
Blanc was similar to Deschamps now, a defensive-minded guy coaching what should be an offensive-oriented team. Both guys have had OK records but it feels like the team is capable of more.
Sorry--correct and fixed. Thanks.
Actually, Germany did lose to France but it was in the semis. France then lost to Portugal in the final.
http://www.espnfc.com/international-friendly/story/2484982/joachim-low-c...
Germany coach Joachim Low credits predecessor Jurgen Klinsmann for laying the foundation for the German World Cup triumph in 2014.
Without the "drastic changes" implemented during the United States coach's tenure for his home country, the Nationalmannschaft "would not have been able to enjoy this kind of success."
In 2004, following a second consecutive group stage elimination from the European Championships, and with the home World Cup less than two years away, the German FA (DFB) appointed Klinsmann as the new head coach. The former world class attacker had already moved to California, his new home and returned to the pitch under the moniker Jay Goppingen for PDL side Orange County Blue Star in 2003.
Upon his return to Germany, Klinsmann called for changes within the structure of the German FA and the national team. He was full of ideas he picked up during his time in California, and accelerated an overhaul of the German system, which slowly began back in 1998 when the DFB first set up a new youth programme.
Klinsmann appointed Joachim Low, whom he got to know when Low was earning coaching credentials in 2000, as Klinsmann's assistant coach. Following the World Cup in 2006 in Germany, Klinsmann left, Low took over and continued on the path. What eventually followed was Germany's 2014 World Cup triumph in Brazil.
"Whenever I travel the world, and I do that often enough, people tell me that the Germany team is a unit," Low told reporters during a joint press conference with Klinsmann prior to the international friendly in Cologne.
"Of course, people talk about the football we play too. But the team idea is what strikes people the most. Jurgen laid the foundation in 2004, and we continued with that idea.
"With Jurgen a new era began. The youth performance centre was already in place previously," Low said. "Jurgen has altered decisive things, which still resonate today. He put a new manager in place, sports psychologists and American fitness trainers."
He added: "They were drastic changes, which were incredibly important back then. Without those, they wouldn't have been able to enjoy this kind of success."
The Germany coach believes that Klinsmann has not changed since spearheading U.S. Soccer's efforts to take that country's team a step forward.
"He's someone, who knows his way, goes straightforward and has the power to implement this way against every opposition, if he is convinced of it. That's something which is reflected in the team too," Low said.
"I was impressed by the tempo at which U.S. played against Netherlands, and their mentality too. The team has made remarkable progress, play on a very high level tactically. They played with an unbelievable dynamic and intensity against the Netherlands."
Two coaches, long-time friends, one of whom gave the other his break by naming him as his assistant some time ago, hold a joint press conference prior to a match between their two teams.
And they say nice things about each other. Stop the presses!
That's fluff, man. Great news! We beat The Netherlands in a friendly!
They are also not in the World Cup.
yet you guys all hold onto the fact that he was the problem. I remember laughing at all of you that were excited Bruce Arena was rehired.
U.S. Soccer peaked under Klinsmann. They will be lucky to match his success again in the next 12 years.
...but I think the national team peaked under Bradley. They won a WC group, which is no mean feat and hadn't happened in 80 years, and unlike 2014 they were competitive in their knockout loss. And I know it's not really a major tournament and countries don't always send their full A sides, but Spain and Brazil both sent damn good teams and the '09 Confed Cup was a spectacular success.
US Soccer peaked at the 2002 World Cup. Arena was never the answer, especially long term.
His success matched Bradley's and wasn't as good as Arena in 2002. But he was better than Steve Sampson! But he won one Gold Cup...but also got blown out in the Confederation Cup playoff.
As a Germany fan I was very critical of the Klinsmann hiring; I thought he'd be a fine hiring for a front office position instead. He's not a good tactician; he hasn't been a success anywhere without Löw handling the tactics for him.
But he brought one thing to the table I think the US needs badly: an understanding of what it takes to succeed at this level and of the importance of testing yourself against the best competition available. If you think he was wrong about that, Donovan would be your man.
DPJ is very talented.
him to have a breakout game at wideout
Maybe the PSU game will be the one?!
Can Landon Donovan play quarterback? Has kind of a Tate Forcier body type. Kind of a prerequisite for having a big game is a QB who can put the ball within 10 feet of you
Just a note on the title, while we are at it. Technically he would be running for the USSF (United States Soccer Federation) Presidency, not just for the USMNT. Don't forget about our world beating USWNT and Youth programs!
I want Tokyo Sexwhale.
Who knows if he knows anything about running a huge organization?
I think Landy is a smart guy, but trying (unsuccessfully) to launch a San Diego team and being a very, very small part of the ownership group at Swansea doesn't exactly prepare you for running all of US Soccer.
The biggest issue with the position is that it's unpaid. That will disqualify many candidates right there.
This position requires a CEO, not a great soccer player. Plus with Landon's struggles abroad I'd be worried he'd be too inward focused on MLS players/coaches/development. I want someone who can push the Federation to invest in youth programs, and who will find a good german coach this time, and try to model our system on Germany's as much as possible.
Having said that, anyone but Gulati
I do not fully know how the president race and election goes down.
However, the more I think on it... Is it potentially bad that there are too many names being involved? Will this split people too many different ways? Or when we elect in February, is it just Gulati vs one main elected person?
There were rumors that some of the voters were really upset with the results and was looking to back another president.
I don't really follow this, but I think that a candidate needs three letters of support from some higher governing body (maybe the board)? So It's not going to be a free for all, I think maybe 3 candidates tops will run and people will consolidate support behind that group.
OP....re: smart asses...
I know next to nothing about soccer (or futbol, or whatever the hell you want to call it), but are you excited about it because he's actually qualified for the job, or is it because "OMG he scored that goal that one time in the World Cup seven years ago"?
I'm not criticizing but I'm just curious. Personally I don't care who gets the job, as long as they know how to manage the organization and know how to find/develop talent, prevent it from leaving to go play somewhere else, etc.
Basically, go find your Theo Epstein. He doesn't have to be someone who's played for USMNT, or someone who has even played professionally or at the collegiate level (Epstein never did). Just someone who can run an organization effectively.
About the !! points. I was given a bunch of shit for not labeling it OT or putting Landon in the title, because apparently people don't enjoy reading past one word.
And I'm not criticizing you for it either. I was genuinely curious as to why Landon Donovan may be a good candidate to be USMNT president.
I don't know if Landon Donovan knows anything about how to run an organization, but maybe he does.
Yeah, I guess I'm in the "anyone but the current guy" camp.
Playing not like administrating.
Here's a crazy idea: what if we elected someone who has some experience, you know, running a large and successful soccer operation?
If we don't want to repeat the mistakes of the past, we need a leader who has experience operating a successful, large-scale soccer organization.
Landon Donovan is not that, and I would not want him to pick our next manager (coach).
I wish Americans would stop being satisfied with talking heads, CEOs, and economics professors.
(into the ground?), i've got your man....
I'd rather stick with the melted Pez dispenser
I'm not sure he's the best fit for the job. Anybody who rooted against his own country shouldn't be considered.
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/06/landon-donovan-united-states-world-cup
Condoleeza Rice for USSF President.
Come at me.
Those Mutant Ninja Turtles needed some leadership. Those teenagers are out of control.
I mean, I completely want Gulati O-U-T but I really don't think someone like Landon Donovan has the expertise. The track they should be taking here is to make it a paid position and try to bring someone in from overseas to run.
It could happen but for it to achieve meaningful changes, he has to be more than a figure head. He has actually bring in effective changes outside of the immediate factors such as who is the next team manager.
Consider why is there such a huge gulf between the success achieved by the national women's and that of the men's team?
1. The women's national team is arguably the number one team sport team for women in the US.
2. They have a pipe line of top talent coming up from high schools and college programs all over the country. That is quite visible when USWNT plays another good team. They can sub in first line attackers and midfielders without dropping the quality of play.
3. They get OK support (they should actually get more and more par with what the guys get given the higher degree of success) - they have actually won Olympic gold and multiple World Cups. Being a true world champion in anything other nations take seriously is not a pushover.
What are the men facing?
1. The US main soccer league MLS is not the best in the world, but maybe in the top 5 (English, Spanish, German, Italian leagues are ahead).
2. The top team male sports athletes in the US are not gravitating to soccer in the way they do for women's soccer. There are about 1 million guys playing football and about 800,000 playing futbol but there is probably a qualitative difference in speed, strength and size. This does not begin to factor in skill and training.
3. They do have decent support but haven't been able to convert that into tangible wins. They struggle against small countries with small populations. But in these places, futbol is like baseball, basketball and football all rolled up into one sport - it is the be all and end all of team pro sports.
If he can help develop one or two kids to join Christian Pulisic he might be able to turn the tide. It won't be easy.
Bloody hell are US fans delusional.
. There are about 1 million guys playing football and about 800,000 playing futbol but there is probably a qualitative difference in speed, strength and size.
It's time to let this excuse go. Raw athletic ability is not the problem. The players on the current USMNT are perfectly fine at running, cutting, jumping, all that stuff. They are not deficient compared to their competition.
The problem is a lack of skill. That comes from poor youth coaching.
As for MLS, it's closer to a top 15 league than top 5.
Of the last 29 CONCACAF Champions League ties played between Liga MX and MLS teams, the Mexican side has won 27.
USWNT, 2b) Don't forget the NWSL. Having a sustainable pro league is important for players who don't make a cut for the WNT to improve and get called up again for a future camp and then make the cut. Allie Long and Crystal Dunn come to mind. Lynn Williams, too. Probably others.
Also, foreign players from all over come to play in the NWSL.
Playing in the US is the premier women's soccer league. For many players from abroad, playing here is the big time.
Playing in the US is the premier women's soccer league. For many players from abroad, playing here is the big time.
Available?
I'm in the "Anybody but Gulati" camp.
