Problem with Klinsmann and U.S. Soccer is the root, not the stem

Excellent post.

The smartest option would be to hold on to what we have... Identify a trend in the program that is broader than just the senior team, and move forward either with or without him based on that data.

I'm really not sure what the whole point of this post was, but I'll respond to this:

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We're still the same team, though, with the same ceiling when he leaves, and it's dangerous to make any moves until we really take a look at where to go. Jurgen's had an excuse of "experimenting" to keep him afloat, but what happens when someone else fails without any experimentation whatsoever? The next manager we choose is going to really be a catalyst for either solid progress or a real decline.

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We have a higher ceiling with a better coach. I think that much is obvious. Jurgen isn't experimenting anymore. He's just a shitty coach. The next manager could be a catalyst for progress, or possibly one for decline, or perfectly average... and at this point I would be ok with average compared to what we currently have. If average means at least playing players in their natural positions, then I'm all for it.

I really don't understand how it's always the same response as if I'm advocating we keep him. I'm not. This idea that a better manager would give us a higher ceiling without any other change is ridiculous. We have the same ceiling regardless. A better manager just gives us more of a chance to reach it. The fact that Jurgen Klinsmann's record with the terrible year he's had as manager is still 1-2% better than Bob Bradley's in terms of wins says a lot. With tactics that are extremely questionable and universally criticized personnel choices, we're still where we were before when pretty much the same collapse happened under Bob Bradley to a lesser extent. This run of bad form is not up to our standards, but the team we were in qualifying and at the World Cup is who we are.

We have to be just as furious with USSF as we are Jurgen and demand more than just a firing to see any progress within the next 10-20 years. By blaming EVERYTHING on him, we're letting the other people who have backed and allowed this basically walk free. How Sunil Gulati isn't taking MORE heat for doubling down on his contract is beyond me.

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So no, Jurgen isn't the problem with US Soccer. He's a big problem with the US Men's National Team though.

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Well put.

It also annoys me that people continue to point to problems with youth development when they don't address ways of correcting that development. The trail has been blazed before by countries such as France, Germany, and Belgium. France in 1988 reorganized their youth structure, built 12 academies run by the FFF, and saw results within a decade. For a 10 year stretch you could argue they were among the best teams in the world, winning the WC and Euro 2000.

Then you have the cases of Belgium and Germany. Belgium reorganized their youth structure in 2000, using the money they received from hosting Euro 2000, and invested heavily in youth.

Germany underwent a similar reorganization in 2000, a reorganization that required all clubs in the DFB to have a youth academy, all of which was supplemented by massive investment. Klinsmann was part of this reorganization, but he wasn't instrumental in it. This article goes into a lot more detail. LINK

The US, in contrast, isn't getting that top down investment, isn't building youth academies that are run by the USSF, and isn't building coaching training centers. We can't boohoo the fact that kids have to compete with other sports when we don't give them the chance to excel in soccer. Giving those kids a chance requires real, consistent investment. The problems are this. The USSF doesn't have the money to build the infrastructure needed, and private investors will be put off because the results of building such infrastructure will be 20 years in the future. In the immediate return culture of the US, no one will invest in youth like this.

The US has one elite academy, the IMG academy, which is more a finishing school along the lines of Clairefontaine. That academy by itself has produced something like 80 professionals. Imagine if we had 12 of these schools across the country.

So yes Klinsmann is a problem, Gulati is a problem, but so are poorly written articles like this, which say nothing substantive at all. We had the right idea in hiring a German to rebuild our youth system, we just chose the wrong one.

I can't help but wonder if we're holding on JUST to make sure JK ends up as our technical director after he's done managing the senior squad.

I'm not saying he can't be an effective TD, but I haven't seen pointing to him being a good one. He has German NT success after their "youth focus" but how much of that was him?

I don't like the guy at ALL but who could we get that could turn it around? We're in a major transitional phase. Our best players are on the wrong side of 30 and while we have a few guys showing promise, not many look ready for the big time yet.

There is rationale for keeping him and firing him.


ETA:

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I think most have wanted Gulati gone for years. He's got some FIFA sleaze to him.

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And this. He seems scared of Jurgen. If anything, it should be the other way around.

That lazy guy has scored more goals before the age of 25 for the US than anyone else, other than a certain Landon Donovan. Other than that I agree with most of your points. Except I would switch Fabian to left wing and play Yedlin where he plays in the premier league (RB). And Benny Feilhaber in the 10 position (won't happen with Klinsmann though). Hyndman needs game time. I hope he gets a team that wants to play him in the January window. Maybe Nagbe can be that 10 for us and Bradley will move back. It's the perfect situation because Klinsmann can put Nagbe there and finally move Bradley back to his natural position, and do so without having to admit he's been wrong about him the whole time, because Nagbe is new to the pool (unlike Sacha and Benny). It's the best case, realistic scenario I can see for the US. Not sure what to do with our forwards between Jozy and Clint. They don't work together well because we don't have a speed option. Part of me wouldn't mind seeing Dempsey out left where he played his best club ball, so he can make late runs into the box. Altidore is our only hold up guy so in a 4-2-3-1 that leaves one possible starter there, with Clint probably underneath. If we go with a 2 forward set up I would want to see Wood getting a start. Morris seems like a solid "impact sub" at this point. I would be really intrigued to see what we could do with Clint on one wing and Fabian on the other. Not sure that would work defensively though (or which backs we would pair them with). I still think the 3-5-2 is the formation that best takes advantage of our strengths (CBs, central midfielders, better with a 2 forward formation) while minimizing our weaknesses, mainly a lack of viable backs/wingers. Plus Yedlin and Fabian can both be wingbacks in that system without missing a beat, Fabs on the left and Yedlin on the right.