USMNT: The March to Brazil - World Cup 2014

[BuckeyeRed27]

This was nothing more than a personal decision by Klinsman. If he wanted to go with a "youth movement" than he wouldn't have included Davis, Beckerman, Wondo or hell even Rimando, for their first world cups when they are all not going to be involved for 2018.

I will admit that I have a bias for Landon. He has been my favorite player since I started following soccer and I live in LA and go to 10+ Galaxy games a year. That said there is no way that he isn't in form and couldn't have helped this team. Two weeks ago against Portland he was the best player on the field by a mile.

This whole thing has really made me question Klinsman. Back when there were all those reports of tension in the locker room between the team, a big complaint from the native US players is that he didn't get how they operated. He was always harping on fitness and motivation and those players didn't like how it came across because he felt like they didn't understand them. This seems like confirmation that at some level he just doesn't get his team. I also question why would you do this and make a story and a big distraction. This is all anyone is talking about and will be until at least the start of the World Cup. He says that Landon was a little behind other players, which I don't buy, but lets say that is true. Is it worth making this the story of your World Cup team? I don't think so.

[RedTeamGo!]

http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci...landon-donovan

Klinnsman defending Landon Donovan cut.

Also, apparently the son of Jurgen tweeted a few hours after saying something along the lines of "HAHAHAHAHA DONOVAN GOT CUT HAHA"

I bet Jurgen loved that.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Dempsey, Bradley, Beasley, Howard have all been there before. The only difference is that at this point Dempsey and Bradley are quite a bit more talented than Landycakes.

Dempsey has. Bradley is a great player, but he is actually lacking a bit for experience. I love Beasley but if we are relying on him in this tournament we are screwed. Howard is a great leader but isn't going to score a goal (again).

[WMR]

I think it's because Landycakes abandoned his team in the middle of qualifying for 4 months.

You mean like Timothy Chandler? Wait, he's German-American, nvm.

[WMR]

4-1 US in the 66th ... Hat trick for Donovan.

First mention of Donovan in this thread.

[M2]

This whole thing has really made me question Klinsman. Back when there were all those reports of tension in the locker room between the team, a big complaint from the native US players is that he didn't get how they operated. He was always harping on fitness and motivation and those players didn't like how it came across because he felt like they didn't understand them. This seems like confirmation that at some level he just doesn't get his team. I also question why would you do this and make a story and a big distraction. This is all anyone is talking about and will be until at least the start of the World Cup. He says that Landon was a little behind other players, which I don't buy, but lets say that is true. Is it worth making this the story of your World Cup team? I don't think so.

I'd have put Landon on the squad, largely because there's 4-5 players who shouldn't see the pitch no matter what (e.g. Davis) and Landon could give you something as a late game replacement. However, if Landon clearly wasn't going to be starting then I get cutting him. It's a distraction now, but it will be in everyone's rearview by the time the team gets to Brazil. If Landon were on the squad and not playing, then it would have been a distraction in Brazil.

[WMR]

I'd have put Landon on the squad, largely because there's 4-5 players who shouldn't see the pitch no matter what (e.g. Davis) and Landon could give you something as a late game replacement. However, if Landon clearly wasn't going to be starting then I get cutting him. It's a distraction now, but it will be in everyone's rearview by the time the team gets to Brazil. If Landon were on the squad and not playing, then it would have been a distraction in Brazil.

He shouldn't have brought him into the camp, then, and cut him before they even played a friendly.

It was attention whoring from JK. He knew LD wasn't making the team before he called him in.

Obviously, he didn't want to give LD a chance to perform in the friendlies and make his decision appear even more asinine.

[WMR]

I'm sure everyone has seen JK's ahole son's tweet... makes you wonder what JK has been saying about LD behind closed doors. This was personal, not about putting together the absolute best WC squad.

[Caveat Emperor]

I'm sure everyone has seen JK's ahole son's tweet... makes you wonder what JK has been saying about LD behind closed doors. This was personal, not about putting together the absolute best WC squad.

Of course it was partly personal -- Landon left the national team during qualifications when Klinnsman wanted all hands on deck. He also burned Klinnsman by laying an egg in Germany in '09 at Bayern. I can completely buy Jurgen thinking "This guy has disappeared on me twice when I needed him," and leaving him behind for other players he trusts more.

Landon wasn't going to be in the starting 11 anyway -- better to leave the distraction behind now. The only major mistake I see out of all this was not just naming the 23 from the start and being done with it.

[Dwarftree]

@ Caveat Emperor:

Donovan did not let Klinsmann down at Bayern. He simply was not good enough. Period. I do not want to sound arrogant here. But Donovan, by European "standards", was never more than mediocre. At best.

Leaving him off the WC squad though is on a different page. I was really stunned too when i read that tbh.

[5TimeWSChamps]

[RedTeamGo!]

Didn't Bradley miss time with an injury?

I think Jurgen is building for 2018.

[WMR]

Donovan notches two goals this past weekend to become all time goal scorer in MLS history.

[5TimeWSChamps]

Dempsey scratched from tonight's friendly.

[bucksfan2]

@ Caveat Emperor:

Donovan did not let Klinsmann down at Bayern. He simply was not good enough. Period. I do not want to sound arrogant here. But Donovan, by European "standards", was never more than mediocre. At best.

Leaving him off the WC squad though is on a different page. I was really stunned too when i read that tbh.

Donavan seems like an enigma to me. He will go down as one of the greatest US soccer players ever, but his club career is anything but inspiring. He was a guy who had the talent to cut it in the top tier European leagues, but did he want to? He seemed like a guy who was quite content being the star of the MLS instead of becoming the best soccer player he could be.

I think Klinsman may be the right guy to build the USMNT. It appears as if he wants his younger players to play in Europe and is rewarding those who do. While Donavan was a great soccer player, the potential of the younger guys could make Donavan a distant memory.