OT!!! LANDON Donovan running for USMNT Pres?
Could happen.
http://www.espnfc.us/united-states/story/3234662/landon-donovan-conside…
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.
October 19th, 2017 at 3:00 PM ^
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.
October 19th, 2017 at 11:58 AM ^
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):
- 2008 Euro: Lost in Final to Spain
- 2010 WC: Lost to Spain in Semi-Final, won 3rd place
- 2012 Euro: Lost to Italy in Semi-Finals
- 2014 WC: Beat Argentina in the Final
- 2016 Euro: Lost to (edit) Not France (Portugal) in the Final
- 2017 Confederations Cup: Beat Chile in the Final
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?
October 19th, 2017 at 12:47 PM ^
2016 Euro: Lost to France in the FinalAs 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.
October 19th, 2017 at 1:03 PM ^
Only baseless rumors out there right now, but what do you think about Laurent Blanc for USMNT coach?
October 19th, 2017 at 3:50 PM ^
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.
October 19th, 2017 at 1:09 PM ^
Sorry--correct and fixed. Thanks.
October 19th, 2017 at 6:44 PM ^
Actually, Germany did lose to France but it was in the semis. France then lost to Portugal in the final.
October 19th, 2017 at 3:29 PM ^
http://www.espnfc.com/international-friendly/story/2484982/joachim-low-…
Joachim Low credits Jurgen Klinsmann for Germany success
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."
October 19th, 2017 at 4:06 PM ^
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!
October 19th, 2017 at 4:38 PM ^
That's fluff, man. Great news! We beat The Netherlands in a friendly!
They are also not in the World Cup.
October 19th, 2017 at 5:22 PM ^
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.
October 19th, 2017 at 5:57 PM ^
...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.
October 19th, 2017 at 6:32 PM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 2:56 PM ^
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.
October 19th, 2017 at 11:20 AM ^
DPJ is very talented.
October 19th, 2017 at 11:25 AM ^
him to have a breakout game at wideout
Maybe the PSU game will be the one?!
October 19th, 2017 at 11:59 AM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 11:23 AM ^
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!
October 19th, 2017 at 11:27 AM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 11:40 AM ^
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.
October 19th, 2017 at 11:53 AM ^
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
October 19th, 2017 at 12:18 PM ^
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?
October 19th, 2017 at 12:54 PM ^
There were rumors that some of the voters were really upset with the results and was looking to back another president.
October 19th, 2017 at 1:08 PM ^
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.
October 19th, 2017 at 12:23 PM ^
OP....re: smart asses...
October 19th, 2017 at 12:34 PM ^
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.
October 19th, 2017 at 12:51 PM ^
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.
October 19th, 2017 at 1:11 PM ^
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.
October 19th, 2017 at 2:32 PM ^
Yeah, I guess I'm in the "anyone but the current guy" camp.
October 19th, 2017 at 12:31 PM ^
Playing not like administrating.
October 19th, 2017 at 12:33 PM ^
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.
October 19th, 2017 at 12:51 PM ^
(into the ground?), i've got your man....
October 19th, 2017 at 1:30 PM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 1:23 PM ^
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
October 19th, 2017 at 1:40 PM ^
Condoleeza Rice for USSF President.
Come at me.
October 19th, 2017 at 1:48 PM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 2:03 PM ^
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.
October 19th, 2017 at 3:15 PM ^
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.
October 19th, 2017 at 3:24 PM ^
Bloody hell are US fans delusional.
October 19th, 2017 at 4:01 PM ^
. 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.
October 19th, 2017 at 4:21 PM ^
Of the last 29 CONCACAF Champions League ties played between Liga MX and MLS teams, the Mexican side has won 27.
October 19th, 2017 at 4:34 PM ^
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.
October 19th, 2017 at 5:43 PM ^
Playing in the US is the premier women's soccer league. For many players from abroad, playing here is the big time.
October 19th, 2017 at 5:43 PM ^
Playing in the US is the premier women's soccer league. For many players from abroad, playing here is the big time.
October 19th, 2017 at 3:16 PM ^
October 19th, 2017 at 4:35 PM ^
I'm in the "Anybody but Gulati" camp.