Running, all-purpose World Cup thread

I realize that JK isn't all that experienced and he isn't a panacea for what ails the U.S. team, but it would be nice to have a coach who stressed offense and creating opportunities a little more. As opposed to what we all saw from Arena's team this time around, which was offensive in a different way.

 

The US could get another WC cycle out of Cherundolo, Conrad and Mastroeni. Add Adin Brown and Quentin Westburg in goal; Bobby Boswell, Bocanegra, Nat Borchers, Chad Marshall, Danny Califf, Robbie Russell, Frankie Simek, Michael Parkhurst, Jay DeMerit and Zak Whitbread in defense; Rico Clark, Brian Carroll, Brad Davis, Eddie Gaven, Justin Mapp, Peter Philipakos and Benny Feilhaber in midfield; Conor Casey, Brian Ching, Kenny Cooper, Eskandarian, GAM, Pat Noonan, Chris Rolfe, Taylor "Empty Net" Twellman, Brian West, Herculez Gomez, Chad Barrett, Nate Jaqua, Lee Nguyen and that Adu kid up front.

That's a good pool to start with. Get those friendlies lined up, Klinsy!

 

Clearly, Troop, you're a Yanks Abroad reader.

 

Not really ... just 100% pure SoccerGeek.


I do glance occasionally, but BigSoccer is a good place to get more than cursory information. If you ever have a chance to read the Juan Carlos Elliot story (YA, formerly in Juve's youth system), it's well worth an afternoon.

 

Anybody check the new rankings. And yes, Brazil is STILL number 1.

1  Brazil  1630  -- 
2  Italy  1550  +10 
3  Argentina  1472  +6 
4  France  1462  +4 
5  England  1434  +5 
6  Netherlands  1322  -3 
7  Spain  1309  -2 
8  Portugal  1301  -1 
9  Germany  1229  +10 
10  Czech Rep.  1223  -8 
11  Nigeria  1149  -- 
12  Cameroon  1109  +3 
13  Switzerland  1028  +22 
14  Uruguay  985  +8 
15  Ukraine  961  +30 
16  USA  933  -11 
17  Denmark  927  -6 
18  Mexico  924  -14 
19  Paraguay  915  +14 
20  Ivory Coast  909  +12 

Wouldn't Germany be over Portugal? Nigeria got in the top 20, and they didn't even make the group stages in Germany.

 

And Mexico drops below the US, despite actually winning a game and making the knockout round. Just another example of the complete worthlessness of the FIFA rankings.

 

I think it's time to make our own SportsJournalists.com World Soccer Rankings.

 

1. Italy


All others are second or lower.

 

Ghana isn't in the top 20? Is that just because it hasn't built up enough points over the past year or so?

 

For now. That team isn't really stocked with young guns. The only one I can remember at this time is Gilardino. Del Piero,Totti,and Luca Toni are getting up there. I could understand why they would see Brazil as the best for the NEXT World Cup because of they're young guns(Ronalidnho,Kaka,Adriano,and Robinhio). But Italy is the best RIGHT NOW.

 

I can't find the link, but whoever does the SI.com rankings agrees with FIFA on this.

 

With all due respect, the Home Depot Center is not Tahoe. Huntington Beach is slightly further than 15 minutes from Carson.

As for the rest . . . Klinsmann is probably the best overall candidate out there. If we wanted to make a safe hire based on proven coaching ability over time, ability to deal with the U.S.' unique rules in the NCAA and MLS right off the bat, and proven ability to win with American players, then either Bob Bradley or Sigi Schmid are the answer. Either of those hires would be a good, solid pick to continue the work Arena has done, and continue the steady process of getting better. And I would suport either one, as they are good guys, class acts, and yeah, they treat the media well.

Klinsmann is a sexy hire, a name hire, a guy that will turn heads both here and abroad. A hire that says we're starting to get impatient, and we expect to contend before Donovan and friends are finished playing World Cups. Can he fail? Sure. But if U.S. Soccer feels it needs to make a splash with a foreign coach and yet get a guy who has some respect for our country, our system, our national team and the way we do things, Klinsmann is the obvious choice. Plus, based on his reputation as a player, he can teach us to dive properly in big compeittions.

Rankings: No. 16-20 is about right for us, though still about five spots too high.