All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

Good read from the Times of London on Brian McBride:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2093-2092417,00.html

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More from the US-Germany injury front:
http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_280825.html
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_y...YwN0aA--?slug=ap-us-germany&prov=ap&type=lgns

Frankie Hejduk is out of the lineup, being replaced by Hamburg's Benny Feilhaber. Claudio Reyna - who wouldn't have been there anyway - left Citeh's last match in the 66th minute with an injury.

 

Okay, I know I've said on here how little I care for Reyna.... but with him being injured AGAIN, can we finally sound the death knell for his MNT career? I mean, cripes, who does he think he is, John O'Brien?

 

Reyna is just breaking down way too often. He is a great national team player and he's got some real skill, but I really wonder what should become of him.

I have been a proponent of his for quite a bit of time. I really like the way he plays and I believe he brings something to the table that a lot of the younger guys don't have.

But, now with a new injury, what is there to do? How long can I believe that he should be on the team?

 

Hejduk... out
Feilhaber... in

Interesting.

 

Maybe not -- players in Germany had to released, so it might be easier/cheaper to bring Benny in.

 

Interesting article on Soccernet about the DFB.... Frank Dell'Apa ends it by mentioning The Bruce's potential successor might very well be Klinnsmann. I know I certainly don't want to think about when it is that The Bruce turns in his whistle and clipboard, but that's an intriguing possibility... the guy already spends most of his time in the States, and he's obviously got a wealth of soccer knowledge....

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=362287&root=us&campaign=fp&src=3612287&cc=5901

 

I don't want Klinsmann near the US team. The next coach of the USMNT needs to respect MLS and the achievements of the players. Far too many Europeans don't pay attention. MLS players need to be rewarded with National Team exposure.

Also, Klinsmann has done nothing with Germany.

 

Regarding respect for MLS, Klinsmann might be a better choice than you think. He used to train with the Galaxy all the time before he was named Germany coach (you should have seen the reporters' reaction when he walked by after training while they were there to talk to Birgit Prinz about the women's world cup final). He would have more respect for MLS than the averag European candidate.

Of course, Bob Bradley has been rumored for the US gig, as have a bunch of other capable people. I would think that since the US now has established a league and coaches, we won't go to the foreign coach well again, unless it's a slam dunk.

 

Piotr, you may well be right on Klinsmann. I based my initial reaction entirely on the impression I receive from others.

As to American coaches... Sampson is still getting a job. That is depressing and sad. Bradley got knocked down a peg with the Metros debacle. I'm thinking the Revs' coach.

 

Bradley may well regain that peg if he can build Chivas. If Vergara gives him the time to do so.

Sampson . . . no comment.

 

While MLS is all well and good, if we fielded an all-MLS team in the World Cup, we'd get killed. It's fantastic for being a developmental league, but there's a reason why all of our top quality players are playing overseas. The competition and training that they receive in Europe simply can't be matched here. If you put a lineup of all-MLS against all-Europe players, the Europe guys win easily.

I don't have a problem with a foreign coach, assuming A) he knows the American culture and B) he knows the game. Klinsmann would satisfy both requirements, as does a former MLS guy - Walter Zenga. Plenty of other nations have foreign-born coaches, and it hasn't been detrimental to their progress. My problem with MLS coaches is that they all get recycled over and over again, worse than in the NFL. I mean, how the hell is Sampson still coaching? Thomas Rongen has run four clubs into the ground, yet he's still employed.

 

Zizz, you are right on Rongen. That guy's got to go. Now.

I am not stating that the team should be all MLS, but the reality is that there are several players in MLS right now that are better than some of the ex-pats overseas.

Additionally, many MLS players become successes in Europe after their MLS stint: McBride, Donovan, etc.

I'm not saying shut out those in Europe, I'm just saying that playing in MLS shouldn't be a detriment.

As to the training, MLS is still only 10-years old. Given time, we'll see how it progresses. Right now, it is doing a damn good job.


Which now brings up my next point...
Red Bull New York setup a free bus trip to DC for the opening game. Fans needed to leave a $25 deposit, which will be returned when show up.

600-seats were reserved within the first 45-minutes and reservations stopped. An hour or so later they opened up another three buses, which were promptly filled up.

Interesting.