quote:
I am one of the few in saying that I like Jurgen's methods. Sure, they seemed ridiculous at first, but he's clear as frick with the fact that EVERYONE has to push hard for a place in the squad and that you can't rest on your laurels. That's how it should be in any team. Donovan is not above that. That said, Jurgen knows the quality Donovan brings and will include him in the 23, if not in the 11.

Unless you're Brek Shea. Or Danny Williams.

Or on the current roster, Joe Corona and Julian Green.

ETA: I do agree that it's great for a team that (in theory) the best players play. But it will destroy a team and/or a player if they're not being judged by the same criteria as the other guy. And both are happening/have happened in Jurgen's tenure. If there's one thing I hate more than a guy who talks out of both sides of his mouth, it's a guy that says "everybody gets a fair shake" and then talks out of both sides of his mouth.

This post was edited on 5/19/14 at 7:03 pm

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Posted by cwil177

Baton Rouge

Member since Jun 2011

28942 posts

Posted on 5/19/14 at 7:34 pm to Sheep

quote:
Talking about how all 23 spots are up for grabs is cute but it's going to elicit as many eye rolls as a high school sex-ed teacher who says abstinence is the only form of safe sex.

I get your point, but I think this is a crappy analogy. Klinsmann wanted to motivate the players, and he has done so.

quote:
Unless you're Brek Shea. Or Danny Williams.

Or on the current roster, Joe Corona and Julian Green

Ok, like I said, Corona's inclusion doesn't make sense for this reason. Shea wasn't included in the final 23.

Danny Williams was playing (and playing well) right up until his knee injuries. He was voted third in the Reading POTY voting.

We know why Green is here. The kid is something special. See if he is ready to perform. If so, it's very possible he's already one of the top 23 players in the pool. If not, he stays home. The only person who lost out here was EJ (not on form) or Shea (not playing).

quote:
Landon Donovan is, by most estimations, the best player in U.S. Men’s National Team history – but he isn’t taking a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance for granted. As things stand, Donovan is one of the 30 players vying for 23 roster spots, and while he seems every bit like a lock, Donovan isn’t ready to call himself one and neither is his coach. “I liken it to 2002. In 2006 and 2010, I knew for the most part unless I was awful I was going to make the team,” Donovan told reporters Monday before training at Stanford University. “This time is more similar to 2002 when I was wasn’t sure.” “In that way, it’s as competitive as it’s been personally for me in a long time.”

And that's the point.

This post was edited on 5/19/14 at 7:38 pm

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