ASN: 13 Soccer Writers Talk about Jurgen, Panama, Schooling

To honor Jurgen Klinsmann’s pastry-filled previous, we requested 13 soccer writers—sure, a baker’s dozen!—to inform us what they wish to see from the U.S. nationwide crew throughout Sunday’s match in opposition to Panama.

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Posted
February 06, 2015
12:29 PM

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Liviu Chicken, Si.com contributor
I’m unbothered by Klinsmann’s rants on health or his notion that the media must be educated—in any case, he was employed to evolve the American program, not preserve the established order—nevertheless it’s time to begin evolving on the sphere. The end result Sunday isn’t vital, however some progress in instilling a possession philosophy, which has been marketed as the concept for some time, can be good. The crew nonetheless has no discernible id; the U.S. didn’t play out from the again as soon as on purpose kicks in opposition to Chile and didn’t achieve this efficiently from the run of play both.

Travis Clark, TopDrawerSoccer.com
Contemplating the U.S. males’s nationwide crew appeared first rate within the first half in a 3-5-2 (sure they have been conceding possibilities and there was uncertainty on the again) I might wish to see it for a full 90 minutes. Additionally, some taking part in time for a few of the youthful bunch, together with Perry Kitchen, Wil Trapp, Dillon
Serna, Luis Gil, and Shane O’Neill. And with that, I am off to develop into extra educated about soccer.

Seth Vertelney, soccer author
I will be looking for 2 essential issues on Sunday. First, I might wish to see if Jurgen Klinsmann tries the 3-5-2 once more. Personally, I’d wish to see it as a result of the formation confirmed some actual promise in opposition to Chile, despite the fact that it was the primary we’d seen of it. Second, I wish to see if the crew experiences one other second-half fade. This had already been a problem in current video games, however in fact, Klinsmann introduced it to a complete new stage of scrutiny with feedback this week suggesting some U.S. gamers slacked off in the course of the MLS offseason.

John Godfrey, ASN editor in chief
Don’t be concerned about educating the media, Professor Klinsmann, most of us have superior levels from Feline State—a ending college for kittens. As a substitute, let’s discuss your present enrollment of student-athletes. We’re getting the sense they may be tempted to tune out, and even reduce class, until you revise the curriculum. Suggestion: Cancel this week’s deliberate lecture—”Human Anatomy and the MLS Slacker”—and substitute it with one thing like, “String Theory: Combining Passes, Retaining Possession, and Holding onto a Lead.”

Jonathan Tannenwald, philly.com

If health is absolutely that a lot of a priority for Jurgen, let’s see the gamers who in all probability have it in them to run probably the most: the kids. Let’s see Gyasi Zardes, Wil Trapp, and Luis Gil. Let’s see Matt Hedges (we’ve been ready lengthy sufficient), Miguel Ibarra, and perhaps even Jon Kempin. We all know what Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley, and the remainder of the veterans can do—and we all know they gained’t be a part of Olympic qualifying. If the time is now to develop the fellows who’ll go to Rio subsequent 12 months, then they should be on the sphere.

Ben Jata, soccer author

We’ll in all probability see one other combination of somewhat little bit of previous with somewhat bit of latest. All I wish to see from Jurgen is dedication. Decide a formation and persist with it. Attempt to restrict the quantity of gamers taking part in out of place and provides Miguel Ibarra and Matt Hedges the beginning. Attempt to discover some minutes for Perry Kitchen and Dillon Serna too. USA wins 3-1.

Kristan Heneage, soccer author
I wish to see progress. The World Cup was instance of a method the U.S. can play. Now the crew should diversify and push forward. They have to be about greater than health and start to actually show a tradition and a mode you can inform the children at U-23, U-20, to play. That is one other vital take a look at for Jurgen. He’s been praised for locating the twin nationals however now he has to construct one thing on the pitch and show he’s a supervisor and never only a tech director. I additionally wish to see extra Miguel Ibarra.

Jared Dubois, soccer pundit
If Jurgen was on Misplaced he would’ve already collapsed the universe in on itself. Primarily as a result of he has no Penny. He wants a relentless. By altering so many variables directly (formation, gamers, type) I am struggling to see what he can really glean from the run of video games for the reason that World Cup. The upside is that his subsequent formation is a 4-8-15-16-23-42.

John D. Halloran, Bleacher Report, ASN
How a lot experimenting must be accomplished for a coach to discover a constant type, formation, or system of play? Apparently, for Jurgen Klinsmann, three-and-a-half years and 61 matches in cost haven’t given him sufficient time. Following the loss to Chile, Klinsmann has tried blaming his gamers’ health, the size of the MLS season, the media, and even the followers. However it’s not unreasonable to count on that, by now, Klinsmann would have begun to implement his long-term imaginative and prescient, or the proactive type he promised followers almost 4 years in the past. Maybe that may begin in opposition to Panama on Sunday—I gained’t maintain my breath.

Charles Boehm, soccer author
It was a well-known Californian sportsman who popularized the phrase, “Just win, baby.” And whereas Jurgen Klinsmann and the U.S. males’s nationwide crew may absolutely use a kind of vs. Panama on Sunday, this observer is not even involved with the end result on the scoreboard at this experimental level within the cycle. No, for a crew that has these days appeared like they simply met within the car parking zone earlier than kickoff, some high quality and coherence each on and off the ball is the place to begin. String collectively some spells of fluid possession, composed combos, and perhaps even some attacking ingenuity. Simply play, fellas.

Brian Sciaretta, ASN contributing editor

With all that has been stated by Jurgen Klinsmann over the previous week and with the crew taking part in poorly for the reason that Portugal recreation in Brazil, this pleasant is definitely fascinating. The truth that that is the weakest opponent since Could solely raises the stakes. If the U.S. places in one other poor efficiency, questions will persist that maybe Klinsmann has misplaced the locker room and that the crew isn’t on target. The newcomers are at all times fascinating, however the veterans will inform the story. If Dempsey, Bradley, and Altidore aren’t efficient, the crew’s issues may be critical.

Will Parchman, TopDrawerSoccer.com
Klinsmann’s rantings on MLS apart, he is onto one thing with the 3-5-2. He simply has the improper defensive centerpiece in Jermaine Jones, who has the tactical self-discipline of the canine from Up. For those who take two wingbacks made for this method in Yedlin and Fabian and easily substitute Jones with Geoff Cameron, this setup has legs. I believe health points have been compounded by lack of particular expertise within the setup and Jones’ wanderings. However Cameron was made to sit down within the center, and it masks the shortage of a real No. 10 in midfield. I might preserve going.

Josh Deaver, ASN contributor

As I sort this, I am unsure how many individuals have already recommended that Lee Nguyen get the beginning within the midfield as playmaker—however, that. In any other case, with the personnel at Klinsmann’s disposal there is not a lot flexibility with the lineup and the 3-5-2 will possible make a return out of necessity. Whereas Panama is actually no pushover, I count on the second half (and perhaps the entire match) will probably be devoted to attempting out some Olympic-eligible talent–including Liverpool teenager Marc Pelosi who didn’t journey with the crew to Chile. Surprises? Miguel Ibarra will develop into the primary energetic NASL participant to begin for the nationwide crew in [Googling]…a really very long time.

OK, now it is your flip: Inform us what you wish to see on Sunday—in 100 phrases or much less.