Donovan cut
- Thread starter KurtRambis4
- Start date
Damn. That's a questionable cut. I know he's been a pre-Madonna most of his career, but he seemed to be playing pretty good for the team the second half of last year and seemed to have his attitude in the right place. Plus, he's a proven and talented player.
Did you not see him in the last USA vs Mexico match? He was awful. Couple that with his relationship with Jurgen... Makes total sense.
I've been telling everyone at work that he wasn't going to make the roster ever since that game. It was the final dagger.
Goes down in history was one of the greatest, but it was time to go. Wish it could have happened differently, not an ideal breakup, but it was the right call.
What I'm shocked about is Eddie Johnson not even making the 30-man. Talk about someone who's been playing well...
I've been telling everyone at work that he wasn't going to make the roster ever since that game. It was the final dagger.
Goes down in history was one of the greatest, but it was time to go. Wish it could have happened differently, not an ideal breakup, but it was the right call.
What I'm shocked about is Eddie Johnson not even making the 30-man. Talk about someone who's been playing well...
This post from two weeks ago outlined that he had an uphill battle to make the team. The crux of it is that Donovan is just getting older, and Klinsmann places a high value on how a player does in training. Sounds like he just can't keep up.
http://www.starsandstripesfc.com/wo...2/5742034/landon-donovan-world-cup-2014-usmnt
http://www.starsandstripesfc.com/wo...2/5742034/landon-donovan-world-cup-2014-usmnt
Read on twitter that the writing was on the wall...
and that Donovan wasn't surprised by the decision. I don't think Donovan was the player he was even three years ago but I thought he could have added something to the team. I'm guessing Klinsmann has a plan about how to play.
My biggest concern isn't so much about Donovan as it is about Klinsmann's man-crush on Jermaine "the human yellow card" Jones.
and that Donovan wasn't surprised by the decision. I don't think Donovan was the player he was even three years ago but I thought he could have added something to the team. I'm guessing Klinsmann has a plan about how to play.
My biggest concern isn't so much about Donovan as it is about Klinsmann's man-crush on Jermaine "the human yellow card" Jones.
Jermaine Jones is a good player. When paired with Bradley the US midfield is in an elite category.
I agree though that he can play quite erratic sometimes. I'll give him a pass though, because he spent some time when he was growing up living in Mississippi.
I agree though that he can play quite erratic sometimes. I'll give him a pass though, because he spent some time when he was growing up living in Mississippi.
I'm a bit shocked. I thought he'd keep him around for leadership's sake (like Lampard with England), but Klinsmann must be going fully in with the youth.
I can't see us getting out of the group stage with this team.
I can't see us getting out of the group stage with this team.
Really? I think this is easily the most talented group of players we've ever had. You've got leadership in Howard, Dempsey, and Bradley, and the youth that we have that is going to play is good enough to play in Europe.
I don't know. We're not getting out of the first stage regardless, but this is a good team.
I'm not impressed with Jones. He's good defensively but can't do much else that you'd like to see from a good holding midfielder.
There has been chatter that he might not make it ever since he didn't start against Mexico in a friendly. There was talk during the summer that he was done in the USMNT, after he took a sabbatical. He didn't play any of the last qualifiers, but was brought back in for the Gold Cup.
Chatter smatter...no one actually said this was a likely scenario. I guess that's why it's good discussion.
That said, maybe this makes the US better. That said, I can't imagine LD not being one of your top ~ 30 players.
I don't care what anyone says, Donovan should have been on the team. He's no longer a top starter, but he could help the team more than some of the guys kept, without a doubt. So, Klinsman had/has an issue with Donovan's sabbatical, according to some. Well, Timmy Chandler wouldn't even show up for WC qualifiers for 18 months, while he ignored US calls and claimed injuries - and Klinsman welcomed him back like some German prodigal son. And John Brooks, who was chosen ahead of Clarence Goodson, got TORCHED by Ukraine. Think about that for a minute if he has to line up against Portugal or Germany.
And Julian Green and Brad Davis? Please. I don't care if Donovan's lost a step or whatever. Late in a game and the US needs a spark against Ghana or Portugal. He thinks Green (who is very green) or Davis would be a better choice than Donovan?? No way. How can Klinsman justify those selections? Green is 18 and playing in the 4th division of German soccer and his international experience was about 5 minutes in one US friendly vs Mexico. Davis is a decent player on a set piece but isn't going to strike fear in anyone internationally. Neither has the experience and understanding of Donovan, nor Donovan's ability to create space and make touch passes that no one else can.
Just last Sunday, Tim Howard said in an SI interview that Donovan was still one of the 2 or 3 best players on the US squad. Now, Tim Howard probably knows a thing or two about who's who. And, for what it's worth, Carlos Bocanegra said the same tonight. Those two guys have played overseas for years so they know who can play and who can't.
I think this Klinsman decision smacks of some power play or something personal. Donovan is not a prima donna at all and it had nothing to do with his talents and what he can still offer. And that's crap.
And to the point about Jermaine Jones, I really feel like these German guys get a disproportionate amount of love from Klinsman.
And Julian Green and Brad Davis? Please. I don't care if Donovan's lost a step or whatever. Late in a game and the US needs a spark against Ghana or Portugal. He thinks Green (who is very green) or Davis would be a better choice than Donovan?? No way. How can Klinsman justify those selections? Green is 18 and playing in the 4th division of German soccer and his international experience was about 5 minutes in one US friendly vs Mexico. Davis is a decent player on a set piece but isn't going to strike fear in anyone internationally. Neither has the experience and understanding of Donovan, nor Donovan's ability to create space and make touch passes that no one else can.
Just last Sunday, Tim Howard said in an SI interview that Donovan was still one of the 2 or 3 best players on the US squad. Now, Tim Howard probably knows a thing or two about who's who. And, for what it's worth, Carlos Bocanegra said the same tonight. Those two guys have played overseas for years so they know who can play and who can't.
I think this Klinsman decision smacks of some power play or something personal. Donovan is not a prima donna at all and it had nothing to do with his talents and what he can still offer. And that's crap.
And to the point about Jermaine Jones, I really feel like these German guys get a disproportionate amount of love from Klinsman.
Not sure why this matters.
Does someone have to predict it for to actually take effect?
A juco soccer coach in MS I know tweeted: "late in the game and klinsman needs a spark, looks down the bench to find green, davis and bedoya." That's when it's going to hurt. Donovan may not be fit for 90 minutes anymore, but he could damn sure provide 20-30 at the end of a game.
That's absurd. He's backup for when Jones inevitably gets a yellow, and there is significant discussion as to whether the US is better with him instead of Jones. He is a better defender and allows Bradley to create in attack.
I like Dempsey, but I don't see him as much of a leader despite his captaincy. Jurgen said he did it more to get him to be more team focused and less selfish.
I saw that. But Dempsey is well liked and well respected by his teammates, and when it's on the line I think Dempsey CAN provide that "spark" everyone on here is referring to. He's been there.
But in the same series you're referring to, Donovan clearly says in the 1st installment that he can't do things like he used to, and sometimes in practice he has to tell coach "I have to sit this one out." I'm sorry, but ANYONE who does that for a Jurgen coached team isn't going to make the roster. I appreciate Landon just as much as the next guy, but RIGHT NOW I agree with him being left off. I don't think he'd be worth anything in the amazon jungle after the 284836929384 miles of travel our team has to do between each match. Yes, his experience is invaluable, but this is a young man's game more than any other. And inside this game his position is a young man's position. I don't get paid the big bucks to make decisions, but I have no reason to believe that Jurgen had any other motives to cut him than Green and Evans outperforming him RIGHT NOW in practice.
Again though, I really like this roster.
I don't think anyone wanted to actually predict it because Donovan is such a huge part of USMNT soccer history. But people have been discussing the possibility of him not making the squad well before this happened, so at the very least, this is not a shocking surprise. He's not been good this year for the Galaxy and reports from camp have been that he's not in shape.
Algeria goal is one for the ages.
I thought Klinnsman said something interesting in his press conference. Everyone's making a big deal about World Cup experience, and he won his first and only his first time around.
It will hurt to look down the bench and only see those guys, but I also don't believe that "off the bench guy" is a role that Donovan would have accepted and put pride into. On paper, yes, it would be better to have Donovan coming off the bench late in games, but, in reality, it just wouldn't have worked from a chemistry and leadership standpoint.
Not saying this JUCO coach isn't an excellent coach, but JUCO coaches have don't have to deal with super stars that have massive egos on make millions of dollars. It's just a different circumstance that is very difficult to manage unless you have experience doing so.
In 2002 FIFA selected him as the best young player in the tournament and he scored 3 of our 5 goals in 2010. So to say he underachieved in World Cups is just dumb. I don't think anybody showed up in 2006 for us. We only scored 1 goal in 3 games.
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I think
saying the guy underachieved is not a real accurate statement, but that's your opinion so whatever.
saying the guy underachieved is not a real accurate statement, but that's your opinion so whatever.
Last three trips to the World Cup...
3 wins
4 draws
5 losses
14 goals for
18 goals against
What WC experience are we worried about? Sounds about the same as football fans crying about losing too many starters when the team the year before was 4-8.
Klinsman has little to lose here and so much to gain. The future and potential of the youth far outweighs what Donovan May or May not do as the US navigates the group of death.
3 wins
4 draws
5 losses
14 goals for
18 goals against
What WC experience are we worried about? Sounds about the same as football fans crying about losing too many starters when the team the year before was 4-8.
Klinsman has little to lose here and so much to gain. The future and potential of the youth far outweighs what Donovan May or May not do as the US navigates the group of death.
not overly shocked and i'm ok with it.
i'm not saying im ok with it because I agree with it. I don't have enough information to really make that call.
what I am ok with is that Klinnsman has come in and said "public opinion be damned, i'm going to make the decisions that I think are best to win the world cup" and that makes me extremely excited. it had to be a very hard thing to do. Donovan may be the only player the high percentage of americans that only watch soccer every 4 years knows.
This was ballsy and I like it. we will need youth and energy to get out of the group of death.
i'm not saying im ok with it because I agree with it. I don't have enough information to really make that call.
what I am ok with is that Klinnsman has come in and said "public opinion be damned, i'm going to make the decisions that I think are best to win the world cup" and that makes me extremely excited. it had to be a very hard thing to do. Donovan may be the only player the high percentage of americans that only watch soccer every 4 years knows.
This was ballsy and I like it. we will need youth and energy to get out of the group of death.
There was a Washington Post article talking about the unusual position Klinsmann is in. Even the world's most elite and best known coaches only get 4 year contracts that coincide with the ending of the World Cup. Jurgen got a 4 year contract before even setting foot on the field to coach his first practice, and then he got a 5 year extension 3 years in.
Landon was in a eerily similar situation to Julian Green (not the part about being a dual citizen) as a 4th tier German league up-and-comer, and it took him like 1 or 2 years to jump from a second half sub to a solidified starter with the US.
Donovan is a better player right now, but Julian has a hell of a lot more potential... And it's a 100% fact Landon won't be back in 2018, likely Jurgen's final WC.
Do Americans want to blow their load on sending out an old man at the cost of taking away experience from an 18 year old who is likely going to be the face of American soccer for the next 15 years? It sucks. But it's business.
And it's obviously not just Donovan. A lot of guys were given the boot for questionable selections who on the surface have NO experience.
If the trend continues we should enter the 2018 field as a top 10 team. We're not far off now...
Landon was in a eerily similar situation to Julian Green (not the part about being a dual citizen) as a 4th tier German league up-and-comer, and it took him like 1 or 2 years to jump from a second half sub to a solidified starter with the US.
Donovan is a better player right now, but Julian has a hell of a lot more potential... And it's a 100% fact Landon won't be back in 2018, likely Jurgen's final WC.
Do Americans want to blow their load on sending out an old man at the cost of taking away experience from an 18 year old who is likely going to be the face of American soccer for the next 15 years? It sucks. But it's business.
And it's obviously not just Donovan. A lot of guys were given the boot for questionable selections who on the surface have NO experience.
If the trend continues we should enter the 2018 field as a top 10 team. We're not far off now...