re: MLS calls news conference at 3 PM to respond to Klinsmann

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On another note the all mighty Celtic is off to its worst start in 15 years.

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Due to the league getting better and a run of injuries to key Celtic players.

From a National Team Head Coach, Klinsmann is 100% correct. It was insane for his best midfielder Bradley to leave Series A/EPL for money at his age.

No one on this board or in the USA would agree that Bradley coming to the MLS versus staying in Series A or EPL is better.

Klinsmann is doing and saying what it takes to make our team better. He is scouting young players, pushing older players and making corrective criticism towards our domestic league.

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I somehow doubt that Bradley is any less driven or focused because somebody wanted to pay him more money to be THE guy somewhere.

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No one ever questioned Bradley's desire or focus. The level of talent he competes against in the MLS was questioned. Klinsmann is simply stating that the difference in talent he faces in the MLS versus his past teams will negatively affect his play for the national team. It is really clear and understandable.

If you don't think competing in Serie A on matchdays, maybe some CL games this year, and against players like De Rossi, Totti, Gervinho, Pjanic, Strootman, Benatia, etc would continue to improve his game and keep him at an overall higher level of sharpness than playing for fricking Toronto FC and not even making the MLS playoffs.

No one is saying it wasn't a good move personally, or even professionally if you consider the money. He had a kid, he missed home, he wanted stability I get all that. But from a pure soccer standpoint it's unquestionably a bad move, he obviously valued other things more highly.

One one hand I agree that Bradley has never looked sharper than he did when playing in Serie A with Chievo and then AS Roma. I think without even getting into "development at 26 years old" etc there's a lot to be said simply for form in light of the old adage "iron sharpens iron".


At the same time there was a lot more to this move than Bradley simply choosing to leave.

Bradley certainly could have played more matches after winter break last season but the writing was on the wall for his future in what has become one of the 2 or 3 deepest /strongest midfields in all of Europe.

People also focus on Bradley opting for the huge contract but Toronto also paid Roma about 3 times more than any European team would have paid due to his marketing value as an USMNT player to a MLS club.


This dynamic in general, where top USMNT players' values are so much higher in the MLS than in top European leagues, is one that I can understanding concerning Klinsmann.

In leagues like Serie A or La Liga etc there are so many very talented if not quite elite European and South American players for whom there is no domestic club that could/would pay a tenth of what Toronto paid and these are also often players who don't take up valuable non-EU spots on rosters.

I'll never defend Klinsmann over the whole Donovan WC fiasco but it's hard to find anything untrue or really even all that debatable in his comments aside from the fact that MLS corporate headquarters would have preferred it be "thought but not stated."

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It was insane for his best midfielder Bradley to leave Series A/EPL for money at his age.

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Exactly, the above statement was about money. Money to switch leagues. No one ever questioned his desire for playing or competing.

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Exactly, the above statement was about money. Money to switch leagues. No one ever questioned his desire for playing or competing.

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That's my point. Everyone says "Bradley made the wrong decision." Says who?

I feel he did the absolute best he could for himself, his family and (probably) for the growth of American soccer on the whole.

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Klinsmann should not have made those statements public.

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Klinsmann wants his players to push themselves to be their best and never be satisfied.

His statements reflect that.

I think y'all have a problem with it just because you don't like him.

Exactly, the Klinsmann defenders are using the substance of his statements and are acting like people are angry at him for WHAT he said instead of HOW he said it and WHERE he said it.

Very few people are saying what Klinsmann said was factually wrong.

Those of us who are fed up with Klinsmann are fed up with his need to make all his criticisms public and his need to tell the media everything he thinks is "wrong" with American soccer.

Garber obviously didn't agree with Klinsmann's decision to cut Landon Donovan, but did he spout off to the press about it when it happened? Nope. He keep his criticism private because it wouldn't have been good for US Soccer to have the commissioner of our domestic league second guessing the USMNT coach right before the World Cup.

I'm sure Garber would like the same professional courtesy returned.

But now Garber seems to be saying "frick that, if he says whatever the hell he wants about my league, I'll return the favor".

The Klinsmann family seems to have a tough time not saying everything that is on their minds without thought of the consequences.

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Those of us who are fed up with Klinsmann are fed up with his need to make all his criticisms public and his need to tell the media everything he thinks is "wrong" with American soccer.

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What we needed was somebody who wouldn't rock the boat. Somebody who would let the players get away with being satisfied with past accomplishments. And most of all we needed somebody who wouldn't ruffle the feathers of the old guard like Bruce Arena and Sheep.

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The Klinsmann family seems to have a tough time not saying everything that is on their minds without thought of the consequences.

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If only they could be as reticent as Landon and keep their mouths shut for the greater good like he always does.

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Very few people are saying what Klinsmann said was factually wrong.

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Besides Garber, you mean?