The only thing surprising about Donovan’s comments this week, telling ESPN FC essentially that Klinsmann should be fired if the us loses to Mexico on Saturday, is the timing. And a week later, the U.S. U-17s open at the Under-17 World Cup in Chile against Nigeria.
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“The best teams in the world go down to Mexico and lose, so when we saw they tied Canada, we couldn’t believe it at the time”, said Mausser. If they lose a game, they are getting hammered in the press. It’s not that American fans expect to waltz through CONCACAF, but far weaker usa sides have managed to navigate the Gold Cup successfully. On Tuesday, the United States’ all-time leading goal scorer said Klinsmann should be fired if the United States can’t beat Mexico in the Confederations Cup playoff on Saturday.
“This is about having a group of players who understand exactly now what this is all about”. That doesn’t mean Donovan shouldn’t be allowed to speak his mind about Klinsmann as long as Klinsmann is coaching the U.S. That said, timing does matter, and there are times when Donovan’s blunt commentary will sound even more like the tainted musings of someone with a vendetta.
“I think if Jurgen wants to hold all the players to that standard, then he should be held to that standard too”.
Let’s assume that Klinsmann is going to resort to a more familiar lineup/formation for the CONCACAF Cup, perhaps sliding Michael Bradley back to his best holding midfielder role alongside a Jones/Williams/Beckerman. In a rare coincidence, fans will get a chance to see the future of the national team just as another era closes.
Trapp is a hybrid – Crew academy player with a couple of years under Caleb Porter at Akron thrown in – but MLS had little to do with the formative years of Lletget (five years at West Ham), Nagbe (the son of a former Liberian worldwide who spent three years at Akron) or Manneh (who moved from Gambia as part of Rush Soccer’s exchange program and joined the ‘Caps out of high school in Texas). Despite his eye for a pass, underrated defensive work, and shiftiness in midfield, Klinsmann just doesn’t favor Nguyen. “Why they chose to switch that in the World Cup, none of us will know”.
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Donovan’s statement needs a big caveat. He has a contract through the 2018 World Cup and he has no reason to negotiate a buyout. Wouldn’t you rather they spent that money on youth development, or lowered ticket prices, or paid more than 24 female players a living wage? Klinsmann isn’t a good first team head coach.
