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Post by cjeagle on Jul 26, 2013 1:37:32 GMT 8
Just goes to show how big a difference a coach can make, isn't it? Of course this message will be lost with the Azkals.
Anyways Donovan has now surpassed the 150 caps/50 goals/50 assists record as a national team player, currently at 150/56/56, tied for 16th in goals and 11th for caps worldwide(men's category) with still a few years to go at 31 before he retires. Considering that the assist record has only been started recently, he may be the first male player recorded to have surpassed all 3 marks.
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Post by veryfatchocobo on Jul 26, 2013 16:18:57 GMT 8
Just goes to show how big a difference a coach can make, isn't it? Of course this message will be lost with the Azkals. Anyways Donovan has now surpassed the 150 caps/50 goals/50 assists record as a national team player, currently at 150/56/56, tied for 16th in goals and 11th for caps worldwide(men's category) with still a few years to go at 31 before he retires. Considering that the assist record has only been started recently, he may be the first male player recorded to have surpassed all 3 marks. And people said that Barcelona were only good because of the players and not Guardiola. Look what happened last season without him especially in the Champions League.... Though I'm pretty sure the PFF already knows that Weiss isn't the most competent.... Despite my opinions of him, Weiss is better than 100% of everyone here on this board so I shouldn't be talking much about it LOL.... Also to add on the Klinsmann circlejerk: he isn't afraid to play the Hispanic-Americans unlike the previous eras of US football. He recognizes the cultural diversity of the US, which is reflected in his team selection. America, at least in the populated areas, is almost always about diversity. And as expected, contrary to a small population of anti-immigrant/racist America, the Hispanics in America aren't really mad at their generation's children playing for the US. Hence why the US team can be super diverse and still be successful, which IMO the Philippines can't truly be (I'm a proponent of the Tagalog-only rule...). But at the same time, the PFF showing the door to Fil-Foreigners is great because there are so many others (like me and the rest of the National Team) that do recognize their "Pinoyness" and will represent "their country." Pinoys are one of the biggest exporters of people after all, which is definitely part of our culture. That's not to say that Klinsmann is purposefully choosing Hispanic-Americans over other cultural subgroups in the US. It just shows he's picking the best players regardless of race and ethnicity. This trend has to stay for the US to succeed as a country at the international level. Regardless if Donovan is playing well, he'll only play second string to Dempsey. Dempsey's playing for Tottenham, while Donovan's only playing in LA Galaxy. 4-2-3-1 is America's best formation (though they are playing 4-4-2 diamond atm; American Torres is too good to be benched and Bekerman's a great anchor). They are both CAMs. Klinsmann isn't stupid enough to play both of them in the same role unless Donovan plays LW.
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Post by cjeagle on Jul 27, 2013 1:20:51 GMT 8
We have been talking about this with other US soccer fans in bigsoccer. Klinsman will find a role for Donovan if he continues to excel. Klinsman was upset at Donovan for taking a sabbatical from soccer and he is forcing him to prove he still has what it takes, but he has always considered him the best American player ever(he has mentioned this in the past). It doesn't matter if he is playing in MLS. He could have easily went back to Everton and dominated there which he did in the past. MLS felt he is the one player they could not sell and gave him the money to stay. Donovan recognizes his role as the face of US soccer and the importance of growing the domestic game and has embraced it by staying home. Those of us who have been following both Donovan and Dempsey in bigsoccer since the beginning of their careers, know who the better player is and are not blinded by the MLS vs EPL decision that he has made. Besides Donovan has proven that he is versatile enough to play and excel in more than one position in the field. It is up to Klinsman to decide where to use both Donovan and Dempsey together in the field as they have done numerous times in the past to maximize their potential.
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Post by cjeagle on Jul 29, 2013 6:08:10 GMT 8
The US wins the Concacaf Championship 1-0 over Panama on a tremendous assist by Donovan to Shea who scored his 2nd match winning goal in this competition. US dominated possession 70+%, carried most of the play and deserved to win. Panama played a good counterattacking game. I was especially impressed by the imposing Panama centerbacks whose size and heft gave the US fits.
5 goals and 8 assists in 6 games for Landon in this tournament.
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Post by mrpmosh on Jul 31, 2013 17:37:53 GMT 8
It's Chepo de la Torre that's failing them, and it's obvious. He's smart enough to know what's wrong, but he just doesn't have a solution to the problem. Also, he refuses to use one of his solutions (Vela). Though personally, I think the current Mexican style of play is very arrogant, especially since the team doesn't seem to change from losses and ties. You guys should've kept Javier Aguirre..... Now Mexico's in a position 1 year before the world cup, and they're forced to change managers when it was obvious it should've been done last year. Compare them to the US. Mexico probably has better football-minded players (especially in terms of culture), but US's current system is infinitely miles better than Chepo's Mexico. Klinsmann turned his team on its head, changing how the US play within a year. They used to win scrappy games, but they're now playing the correct(!) football. It's great to see my country actually win games the real way instead of lucky/boring/ok games. It really gives me goosebumps watching them play now, when I'd often fall asleep watching them outside the WC. Klinsmann was almost out the door last year, too, and he's top of the world now. Truly a pioneer for US football, and he's not even American! Also, I didn't know Rimando was Pinoy....... De La Torre lost it, he doesn't want to move his 4-4-2 at all, he simply doesn't have any variant and every team already know how we play and how to play us (except Klinsmann, he has bunkered both times against us, yes, he got results, but so did Jamaica and CR at the Azteca while not bunkering). Well, we will continue with De La Torre for at least the coming 3 games, so I hope he already makes his mind and recognizes his system is not working at all and that his defensive style is for minnows.
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Post by cjeagle on Aug 1, 2013 1:46:08 GMT 8
I think the US will play Mexico very differently at home. Klinsman was smart to play cautiously on the road in Azteca stadium, but I predict he will revert to the new offensive style that the US plays now when they meet again in Ohio.
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Post by mrpmosh on Aug 1, 2013 14:18:33 GMT 8
I really hope so cuz this Mexico is made for counter.
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Post by cjeagle on May 13, 2014 7:32:27 GMT 8
30 man roster for the training camp in California in preparation for the World Cup:
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Post by cjeagle on May 23, 2014 8:19:52 GMT 8
I can't believe that Klinsmann just left out the best player in US soccer history, Landon Donovan out of his 23 man squad. If they struggle to score and don't make it out of the group in the World Cup, which is a strong possibility because of the caliber of teams they will have in the group, many fans will be calling for Klinsmann head, despite being given an extension for another 4 years. If that happens, they will probably call for Sunil Gulati's head as well, since he was the one who hired Klinsmann. They are bringing a very inexperienced squad(World Cup wise) to the World Cup and their leading scorer in the past 3 World Cup was just cut from the roster. This controversial decision is already being questioned by many soccer experts and sportswriters. Klinsmann is bringing 5 German Americans, an Icelander American, a Norwegian American(all the former players born abroad and products of other feds), and a Mexican American, a Colombian American and a Filipino American(Nick Rimando) to the World Cup(the latter group all American born).
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