November 21st, 2016 at 3:17 PM ^
November 21st, 2016 at 4:16 PM ^
I think this is a "put somebody in charge that believes in MLS" move.
I was critical of the Klinsmann hiring from the start but this feels like running full speed in the wrong direction.
November 21st, 2016 at 4:19 PM ^
November 21st, 2016 at 6:33 PM ^
Your original thought seemed plausible enough in the abstract, though. It's not uncommon for a smaller federation to spend on a coach once they've qualified--there's always an Otto Rehhagel or Guus Hiddink type waiting around for a chance to coach a World Cup team.
But I don't think that's what's in store here.
November 21st, 2016 at 4:23 PM ^
Arenas doesn't use "no foreigners" allowed policy because USA would get worse talent wise with that in effect.
November 21st, 2016 at 4:44 PM ^
...as that Klinsmann thinks the best US players need to be overseas to get experience playing against the best possible opposition and Arena is on record saying they should play in MLS. The thing with Donovan laid this bare but it was an issue throughout.
November 21st, 2016 at 5:31 PM ^
I think it is 100% that. Klinsmann might not be the best in-game tactical coach, but he is a great recruiter. Can Arena recruit players like Fabian Johnson, JAB, Jermaine Jones, Julian Green, Terrance Boyd, Timmy Chandler, etc.
November 21st, 2016 at 6:13 PM ^
Does the federation really want those guys? I'm not sure everyone was on board with that approach and to me the choice of Arena seems to confirm that thought.
November 21st, 2016 at 6:29 PM ^
If that is the case, the federation is even dumber than I thought.
November 21st, 2016 at 6:52 PM ^
...they have "different goals and objectives," broader than having the best possible national team.
November 21st, 2016 at 7:14 PM ^
I just hope the younger players abroad still get the same chances as players playing domestically. I would hate to see a talent like CCV now or Haji Wright down the line not get called into camp.
November 21st, 2016 at 7:46 PM ^
I hope they aren't pressured to play in MLS. Same goes for the older players, if they're good enough. This is one thing Klinsmann did not have wrong: if you want to develop your game you need to play at the highest level you can.
November 21st, 2016 at 8:28 PM ^
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November 21st, 2016 at 8:54 PM ^
They're more interested in the health of MLS than in the quality of the national team. That conflict goes all the way back to Arena's first stint, although the details of the dispute have changed through the years and coaches.
Maybe they think MLS is critical to the long-term quality of the national team pool. Or maybe they're just trying to protect their interests in MLS. But they've made no secret of the fact that they want more MLS players on the national team and they want the national team players playing in MLS and they haven't appreciated their head coach's comments to the contrary. Arena has criticized Klinsmann on these grounds too and I don't think it's an accident that he's the replacement.
I'm not a USMNT fan so I won't comment on what's best for the national team, but I don't think it's fair to players if they're leveraged into playing into lower-division soccer. Pulisic deserves a career on a top-level club playing Champions League soccer. If they try to get him to sign an MLS contract I'll be pissed. (OK, when he's 35 and his legs have given out, that's fine.) Same goes for anyone else that reaches that level.
November 22nd, 2016 at 11:29 AM ^
play in the overseas especially in the Series A, La Liga, Premier League or Bundesliga league. These are the top of the top soccer league with world class players.
MLS is basically a class AA in the soccer league.
November 22nd, 2016 at 12:08 PM ^
Include Ligue 1 and Eredivisie in there too. Ajax and PSV are top notch for youth development.
November 21st, 2016 at 3:19 PM ^
November 21st, 2016 at 3:17 PM ^
It was time the performance in Costa Rica, although traditionally a hard place to play, was embarrassing
November 21st, 2016 at 3:20 PM ^
Wow. Maybe we'll play some technically correct soccer now...
November 21st, 2016 at 3:22 PM ^
Is this a posbang thread?
For the non soccer people, JK would be like if you combined Hokes' game management with Brandon's PR skills. It was terrible to watch from multiple perspectives.
November 21st, 2016 at 3:24 PM ^
It was time to part ways. I know there is chatter about Bruce Arena, I REALLY do not want a former coach getting the job again. Go get someone new that brings a new flavor to this team. We need to turn things around, quickly.
November 21st, 2016 at 3:24 PM ^
I was very hopeful for Klinsmann at the start but it just didn't happen. Probably right move.
November 21st, 2016 at 3:27 PM ^
Does this mean I never have to see Wondo play for the USMNT again? Please, can it?
November 21st, 2016 at 4:14 PM ^
November 21st, 2016 at 5:17 PM ^
Amen to this...he should've never made the '14 World Cup team and after that he should've never played another minute for the USMNT.
November 21st, 2016 at 3:28 PM ^
Arena is coming back. I'm betting it's finalized by tomorrow.
Technical Director is a whole other issue which will take longer to fill.
November 21st, 2016 at 5:20 PM ^
What about Peter Vermes?
November 21st, 2016 at 3:29 PM ^
God not Bruce. If it is, he'll prioritize MLS soccer players and the USNMT will go in the wrong direction.
November 21st, 2016 at 3:35 PM ^
November 21st, 2016 at 3:50 PM ^
Right? Why is this a concern? It was 10 years ago. US Soccer has changed immensely since then. Hell, Bruce has probably changed since then. The LA Galaxy have relied on non-MLS talent to win championships. You have to think he can adapt. Not to mention, this is more than likely a 2-year stop gap.
November 21st, 2016 at 4:19 PM ^
...is an MLS player. No exceptions.
November 21st, 2016 at 5:33 PM ^
Except for Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole, Giovani dos Santos, and Jelle Van Damme who are all national team players.
November 23rd, 2016 at 12:42 PM ^
What I was saying is that they rely, more than any other team in the league, on an influx of talent from European leagues. Rather than home grown talent.
November 21st, 2016 at 7:59 PM ^
I don't understand the Bruce hate. Were you people too young to watch the 2002 World Cup, where Bruce led the USMNT to the quarterfinals and almost beat Germany? I get he also coached at the 2006 WC where we finished last, but we were in a group with a good Czech Republic, Italy and Ghana. I for one am excited to have Bruce back, he is a proven winner at every level.
November 21st, 2016 at 3:29 PM ^
thought there was a time when he had it going on, but it was short and passed pretty quickly.
November 21st, 2016 at 3:30 PM ^
Auf Wiedersehen. Can Gulati find us a good coach?
November 21st, 2016 at 3:35 PM ^
That Jurgen didn't work out with this team. I was one of the most optimistic people you could find about the hire. New direction, outside influence, going to change the culture of this program.
And I stuck with him till the very end, like the flip phone. When others piled on early, I made excuses to cover him. But the evidence is just too much. I hate to accept what American soccer is. A bunch of hard working guys that will defend, wait for their opportunity and play with passion and chemistry. The last 5 years brought more skill but damnit they were so incredibly lost on the field. You cannot switch formations every 2 weeks and expect any form of consistency.
I won't mind Arena in the short-term. He's good enough to bring the team together.
November 21st, 2016 at 4:04 PM ^
November 21st, 2016 at 3:37 PM ^
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November 21st, 2016 at 3:37 PM ^
goodbye german pipeline I guess.
brian mcbride? no idea if he can coach but US soccer does not have a rich history and I do not think they can afford another overseas hire.
November 21st, 2016 at 3:37 PM ^
Embedding isn't working for some reason but Benny Feilhaber said a lot in his tweet
November 21st, 2016 at 4:00 PM ^
Did you mean this one?
Edit, yeah, not working. But it was something like:
:D
November 21st, 2016 at 3:45 PM ^
I'm sorry it didn't work out, but ... it didn't work out. We needed a change.
The loss to the Ticos was embarrassing, and there were no signs of improvement from the team in the past six months or so. OK Gulati, you've done the easy part. I hope you do the hard part well!
(Hint - the answer to the harder part is not Bruce Arena.)
November 21st, 2016 at 3:45 PM ^
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November 21st, 2016 at 3:49 PM ^
The talent was on this team, you knew you'd always get their best effort. As much as I couldn't stomach Bob Bradley, the team played their ass off for him. With as far as the chemistry and tactics have sunk on the USMNT, I just want to see 11 players working their tail off again.
November 21st, 2016 at 4:25 PM ^
had worse talent to work with than Klinsy.
November 21st, 2016 at 3:52 PM ^
Looking forward to some Mgo coaching search coverage, and the annyoning anti-soccer comments. Stick to reg-uh-ler sports!
November 21st, 2016 at 9:05 PM ^