re: What have we learned from the most recent friendlies?

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Dijkstra

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I just want to see any semblance of an identity. That was my whole point behind defending him. I felt like he could give us an identity outside of "scrappy" players punching above their weight.

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Tennessee Jed

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the USA is still incapable of developing high-level international footballers.

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I quoted both of these because I think together they cut right to the quick.

To what degree do you all think some of Klinsmann's problems have to do, quite simply, with having made such a big deal out of "changing the way USA plays" and getting the fanbase enthusiastic about it but not really having the quality of players to do it?



Is this basic incongruity why he's being very cavalier in his flip flopping on tactics and player selection between dueling impulses of getting results and playing a more fluid game?



This isn't really to be overly harsh on USA's player pool. They're not awful but, at the same time, I'm sure Bosnia, Poland, Denmark (all countries that may not have depth but certainly have more key players at levels the USA does not) etc etc etc would all love to play like Germany or Spain and there's a pretty simple reason they don't unless it's against San Marino and even then they often look a bit out of character.

Italians, for example, absolutely worship Brazil's golden era of Samba futbol but get better results when they stick to their bread and butter of practicality with "11 coaches on the field".

I'm not defending Klinnsman because I don't think he's a particularly impressive manager and seems be a far too headstrong for his own good.


However, I can also see the side of the coin that says he's in a tough spot since USA's "bread and butter" is probably the exact style every one seems hellbent to abandon.