re: Klinsmann has a message for all the haters still out there

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I also don't understand why we had to only bring four forwards when we could have dropped Yedlin for Donovan and not really lost anything on defense.

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First of all, Donovan is flat out not as good as he used to be, and there is no guarantee that he would have performed well in Brazil. Surely y'all can concede that. I agree it would be nice to have him now, but I'm not sure anything would have changed the other night anyway. He is not a Jozy replacement, and which midfielder would you have traded for him Monday night?

Secondly, JK simply did not want him on the team. He wouldn't have called him in had Jozy gotten hurt against Nigeria. It's either personal or he has legit reasons for thinking the team is better off without him.
Either way he's the coach and gets to make those calls.

I've accepted that it's personal, and that it might pay off . JK is setting a precedent (at the highest level, BTW) that no one is safe, and that everyone must be all in at all times.

I think the risk (missing out on a run this year) is greater than the reward, but that's his call. He promised bold change, so bold measures are to be expected.

But I don't buy "Landon wasn't a top 23 player." I also understand Jurgen has to sell that pitch to the public.

In short, I support the decision, and totally disagree. And I'll be pissed if it costs us.

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Landon wasn't a top 23 player."

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This is a TEAM, not a top players list. A team will go father than a bunch of players who only like to go 80 percent

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But I don't buy "Landon wasn't a top 23 player."

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WTF?

You don't bring the "top 23" players. That wouldn't make any sense. You bring the best team.

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pedestrian

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Indeed!

Occram's Razor would strongly suggest that it is personal, and I absolutely hate that this type of behavior is going on with the USMNT when for so many years we were one of the only national teams that avoided this bullshite (at least since Harkes nailed Wynalda's wife, and we all saw what that led to).

As for him not being as good as he used to be, I'll say that the guy played the best soccer of his life last summer so the spiritual journey or whatever was certainly no detriment. His play the last few weeks has also shown he could be very helpful to this squad.

For Ghana, I think Bedoya and Zusi were a better fit since they track back more, but I hate the idea of using those two as our most offensive players other than Dempsey the rest of the way.

My biggest issue is that we have four players on this team who should never see a single second of action in a top tournament, and our player pool is way too deep for that. This will be a pain in the arse as our squad loses guys to yellow card accumulations, injuries, etc.

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f he is a fraction of what he was in 2013, then there is no doubt he should start.

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Just no.

This new fabrication of Landon as an out of shape bum is hilarious, especially considering how much our captain hates to run back.

Of course I am one of the only people who never gets on Dempsey for that since I have watched a ton of tournaments and have noticed many of the most gifted players don't bust their arse that much. I don't fantasize about a roster of 10 guys like Edgar Davids-types and a goalie. But if I did, I certainly wouldn't be calling out Donovan.

The difference at Bayern Munich was night and day.

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Even the small group that defend it have resorted to "its his team, he can do what he wants

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OMG, they've resorted to stating a fact?