Klinsmann talking with U.S. Soccer

[Webster]

Do we lose more MLS guys to Europe? I know that Dempsey wants out ASAP. As an aside, the only funny thing that I ever heard from "Red Bull Nation," the team sponsored supporters group was them singing to Dempsey "Stuck in the MLS" to the tune of "Born in the USA"

Anyone else look to be leaving? Reis? Landon?

 

[Pastor]

Do we lose more MLS guys to Europe? I know that Dempsey wants out ASAP. As an aside, the only funny thing that I ever heard from "Red Bull Nation," the team sponsored supporters group was them singing to Dempsey "Stuck in the MLS" to the tune of "Born in the USA"

Anyone else look to be leaving? Reis? Landon?

Come on now! Landon's mettle was tested and it came back as tin foil.

I can see a guy like Ching wanting to go over. Hell I wouldn't mind seeing him in a Rangers kit. Josh Wolff was as good as gone, until a visa issue came up. I can see another attempt made for him in the off-season. Eddie Johnson is another one but who knows really.

 

[sporting_guista]

You're forgetting one thing: England's roster--results notwithstanding--is filled to the brim with world-class players who can get by against Jamaica and Malta. Those guys play the best every week in their domestic leagues. You going to tell me Houston Dynamo-Real Salt Lake has the same cache' as any Premier League match, much less a Champions League match? C'mon, you're delusional if you think the US' standing is the same as other nations, and therefore they can follow the same model.

I believe that the proper response isn't to try and compare the local league fixtures with that across the pond.

Is Brian Ching preparing for the World Cup by scoring goals against RSL? Yes, but it isn't exactly like he's going against some defense made of paper.

MLS isn't the equivalent of the EPL, but it isn't so far behind that the competition doesn't matter. What matters is that the players continue to push forward and challenge themselves regardless of the competition.

Beasley was, at one point, considered the best player on the US roster. What is he doing now? He's not even an option for Reading. He's damn near dropped off the face of the earth.

Meanwhile a guy like Dempsey goes out and looks like a world beater in the W.C. but the perception is that he's a lesser player since he is a "lesser" league.

Are you kidding me? It's totally valid to rate the "local league fixtures." Brian Ching going against RSL is like going against a paper defense if you compare it to what Peter Crouch or Lampard go against in the EPL. How about aTriple-A pitcher mowing down Triple-A batters. Bring him to the majors? Sure, but how many cannot hack it against big-league hitters. Same thing going on with US players. If you're good enough, you're not playing in MLS. Why do these guys like McBride and Landon, who are talented, bail out at the first given opportunity. Most of them are exposed once they cross the pond BTW.
Now if you're talking, like in Beasley's case, about being buried on the bench at Reading, then sure, he should be back here playing fulltime. But I bet he comes back a better play after being exposed to that environment.

 

[kingcreole]

In other words, let's start making the other sides score 3 or 4 goals to win instead of 1.

Germany 4, Costa Rica 2
Germany 1, Poland 0
Germany 3, Ecuador 0
Germany 2, Sweden 0
Germany 1, Argentina 1 (Germany wins on PKs)
Italy 2, Germany 0
Germany 3, Portugal 1

Only once at the World Cup did Germany allow more than one goal in regulation. Germany's defense clamped down on Argentina, Portugal, Sweden and Ecuador. Not many three goal games necessary.

 

[Twoback]

Yeah, all that great preparation really helped Lampard in the World Cup.
He was awesome. ???

 

[Webster]

Beasely is at Man City, not Reading. He started this Monday, the first time that he has been healthy since he got there.

Bobby Convey is at Reading, and has knee issues which have kept him on the bench.

 

[Pastor]

Right, Man City. My mistake. Convey is on the left at Reading.

Are you kidding me? It's totally valid to rate the "local league fixtures." Brian Ching going against RSL is like going against a paper defense if you compare it to what Peter Crouch or Lampard go against in the EPL. How about aTriple-A pitcher mowing down Triple-A batters. Bring him to the majors? Sure, but how many cannot hack it against big-league hitters. Same thing going on with US players. If you're good enough, you're not playing in MLS. Why do these guys like McBride and Landon, who are talented, bail out at the first given opportunity. Most of them are exposed once they cross the pond BTW.
Now if you're talking, like in Beasley's case, about being buried on the bench at Reading, then sure, he should be back here playing fulltime. But I bet he comes back a better play after being exposed to that environment.

McBride has been in Europe for a few years now playing against Lampard and against the same teams that Lampard is playing against.

Beasley has also been in Europe since about 2002. First he got better and slowly he slid down to the point where he looked like crap in Germany. Now, he's buried on the bench.

RSL may not be Newcastle but they aren't that far away. There are some **** teams in the EPL that would have a hard time beating a team as poor as RSL, Watford comes to mind.

Landon and Clint "headcase" Mathis are the only Americans I can think of that "bailed" out of Europe. Landon did it because he couldn't handle the pressure and Mathis did it because he's ****ing insane.

Go over the list of Americans in Europe (www.yanks-abroad.com) and tell me that the US roster isn't comprised of players playing against the "top" competition.

 

[TrooperBari]

I'm so-so on Klinsmann, but if he can get the US to open up and attack, the way he did Germany, then bring him in ASAP and get to work. The US is playing in Copa America, and it should do everything to make at minimum, the Final 4 there. From there, stop having friendlies with Jamaica, Malta and the Maldives. Bulk up the "friendly" schedule with Euros. Play Portugal, Spain, France, the former Soviet states; anyone who plays soccer regularly, y'know, in the winter and spring when most leagues are in action--Don't even get me started on MLS.
Here's a freebie for Sunil: Organize a summer tournament here in the US - no more than four teams. US, England, Germany Brazil. Weeklong affair. England-Germany in the opener, Brazil-US in the nightcap. Play Game 1 in NY, Game 2 in Foxboro. Championship game in Miami, third-place game in DC. Keeps travel within reason, nice exposure for US. Eventually it grows to eight teams, gains some weight, and the US sharpens up against quality talent.

Just a thought....

Shocking as it may seem, countries aren't lining up to play the US. Euro teams have plenty of options right next door, which removes the need for trans-Atlantic travel.

They used to have that summer tournament you spoke of ... remember the US Cup? The last edition was sometime in the mid-90s with the US, Ireland, South Africa and the Mexican C team (a.k.a. the Tri-Pumas).

I do remember the US Cup; covered it a couple of times in fact. It was well received in the Boston area, especially the one year when Ireland, Portugal and Italy were invited. I believe the US won it, somehow??
As to a previous post, I understand my lineup was ambitious and unlikely-just an example. Money talks; make it worth their while to travel 'cross the pond, or fly over there. Have an occasional training camp in Spain or France, no one here will complain, or notice, trust me.
My point is, if the US wants to be a world power, then act like one. Hire a real coach, play real opponents, succeed in real competitions.

Make it worth their while? How? We're just now getting to the point where Soccer House doesn't have to schedule Mexico in L.A. just to pay the bills.

 

[TrooperBari]

Beasley was, at one point, considered the best player on the US roster. What is he doing now? He's not even an option for Reading. He's damn near dropped off the face of the earth.

Point of order, Il Pastore.

Beas is on loan at Man City from PSV. He put in a solid 70 minutes or so Monday against Boro ... left to a good ovation, too. Still working through an ankle injury, though.

Convey -- the YA at Reading -- is out with a knee injury.

 

[TrooperBari]

Do we lose more MLS guys to Europe? I know that Dempsey wants out ASAP. As an aside, the only funny thing that I ever heard from "Red Bull Nation," the team sponsored supporters group was them singing to Dempsey "Stuck in the MLS" to the tune of "Born in the USA"

Anyone else look to be leaving? Reis? Landon?

Come on now! Landon's mettle was tested and it came back as tin foil.

I can see a guy like Ching wanting to go over. Hell I wouldn't mind seeing him in a Rangers kit. Josh Wolff was as good as gone, until a visa issue came up. I can see another attempt made for him in the off-season. Eddie Johnson is another one but who knows really.

Wolff's contract is up. He had a deal done with Derby, but his work permit application was turned down (despite having recommendations from Arena, MLS and Premiership managers). MLS turned down a $5mil offer from Real Sociedad for EJ.

Landycakes isn't going anywhere, and Reis doesn't have the caps. There have been multiple reports of Euro scouts at New England and D.C. matches, so those are probably the best bets. Dempsey is all but gone, and Twellman and Joseph might not be far behind.

 

[Webster]

$5 million for EJ? Wow -- he just doesn't impress me.

I forgot about Joseph -- I could see him in England.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

MLS needs to change its policy soon. They're pissing off guys like Johnson and Dempsey, holding them back from career opportunities.

Why not open their league up to the loan system? That way, they can loan out players, those guys can find out if they are good enough, and MLS gets an improved player. And God forbid they take a big-name loan of a dude who wants to see what playing in the US is like, while someone else pays his salary.

 

[Boomer7]

I don't think Dempsey will be pissed off for long. He won't be back with the Revs next year.

 

[Pastor]

A few things:
1) I remember the EJ offer. That was before the WC and the league turned it down because Dallas was opening a new stadium and they wanted/needed someone on the marquis.

2) Joseph received an offer a month or two back from England. MLS turned it down under the auspices that it would disrupt team chemistry so close to the end of the season.

3) Dempsey did not receive an offer worth enough money. I am thinking the offseason will be more kind.

4) The MLS system regarding contracts, players, free agents and loans is awful. There is no reason that the league won't accept loans from foreign teams. None.

There is also no reason that players can't become free agents when their contract expires. That system forces middle of the road players to disappear. Why wasn't Henry Ring playing for any team? Well, after his old team didn't want to raise his salary, he was let go. So, he becomes a free agent, right? No, if a new MLS team wants to sign him, they must still compensate his old team. That is bull****.