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U.S. Men's National Soccer (Official Thread)

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I have no doubt he could have stepped up and contributed in Brazil, but I completely understand the decision. I think more than anything Klinsmann wants people in the squad who are 100% committed, and I don't think Donovan has counted himself as such for a couple years, despite his comeback from the sabbatical.
 
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jlb1705 said:
I have no doubt he could have stepped up and contributed in Brazil, but I completely understand the decision. I think more than anything Klinsmann wants people in the squad who are 100% committed, and I don't think Donovan has counted himself as such for a couple years, despite his comeback from the sabbatical.
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If that were the case, he wouldn't be bringing Timothy Chandler.
 
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Buckeye513 said:
I wonder how different the team would look if Jurgen's contract were up in July instead of 2018. The Landycakes decision is baffling.
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Donovan aside. If would be very different, I think. His missions is to build the program, and to him that means developing players he thinks will be around in '18 and he very good.

The other factor, I believe, is the draw. He's gonna need a near miracle to get out of the group, so expectations are low, and if a miracle is gonna happen he wants these young guys to have performed it. See program building.

I can see it both ways. I'm disappointed Donovan won't be there but I also see a lot of value in taking the longer view.
 
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I'm a huge Landon Donovan fan. He's honestly been one of my sports heroes, really since I saw him play in the 2001 MLS Cup for the Earthquake. Needless to say I am pretty crushed that he will not make it to Brazil. I had been preparing to see him in that US jersey one more time when I got down to Brazil in a few weeks.

However, he's done himself no favors since Jurgen arrived and I completely understand the exclusion from a competitive and future-state point of view. His mind had not been in the game for the majority of the last 2 years (and possibly longer) and it was showing. His performance as a whole did not warrant a spot on the 23. Still, I think (and had thought) you bring him and let him give it one last run- see if he has any magic when the lights are on. Dangerous in that you want to avoid a Claudio Reyna over-the-hill moment that costs the group, but no one has shown more testicular fortitude or been more deserving than Landon to travel with the team for a final Cup run based on his previous experience and importance to the Nats. But that rests on his shoulders as well, which is sad that he didn't have it in him.

As others have said, I am extremely disappointed- all the way around- that I won't get to see him put on that jersey. Since I'm on the younger side, it is a very odd feeling to follow someone's career so closely and then watch it come to an end. Still have a lot of memories for what he's done and the excitement he's given to US fans.
 
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OHSportsFan said:
I'm a huge Landon Donovan fan. He's honestly been one of my sports heroes, really since I saw him play in the 2001 MLS Cup for the Earthquake. Needless to say I am pretty crushed that he will not make it to Brazil. I had been preparing to see him in that US jersey one more time when I got down to Brazil in a few weeks.

However, he's done himself no favors since Jurgen arrived and I completely understand the exclusion from a competitive and future-state point of view. His mind had not been in the game for the majority of the last 2 years (and possibly longer) and it was showing. His performance as a whole did not warrant a spot on the 23. Still, I think (and had thought) you bring him and let him give it one last run- see if he has any magic when the lights are on. Dangerous in that you want to avoid a Claudio Reyna over-the-hill moment that costs the group, but no one has shown more testicular fortitude or been more deserving than Landon to travel with the team for a final Cup run based on his previous experience and importance to the Nats. But that rests on his shoulders as well, which is sad that he didn't have it in him.

As others have said, I am extremely disappointed- all the way around- that I won't get to see him put on that jersey. Since I'm on the younger side, it is a very odd feeling to follow someone's career so closely and then watch it come to an end. Still have a lot of memories for what he's done and the excitement he's given to US fans.
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Hammer meet nail. Could not have said it better, OH.

Though I agree LD did himself no favors in taking the sabbatical, I also applaud him for recognizing the drive, or lack thereof, within himself at that point in his life and career, and doing something about it. He came back reinvigorated, and performed well when given a chance on the pitch with the USMNT under Jurgen. However, it just feels like JK has held that against Landon this whole time. And truly, I wonder the purpose behind even naming Landon to the final 30 - seems to me like Jurgen has had his mind made up on this for quite some time.

Just spit-balling here, but it intrigues me how this all went down. Jurgen has talked about helping transform this nation into a soccer-loving country who stands behind their team with passion. The one thing we as USMNT fans have never really experienced is the outrage and/or disappointment with a manager's decision. Is this some sort of master plan by Klinsmann to drum up some more passion for the team? Is he trying to relieve some pressure from the players by putting more on himself with this move? Very interesting dynamic with what has happened here and a lot of psycho-analysis.
 
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Bulls-Eye said:
Hammer meet nail. Could not have said it better, OH.

Though I agree LD did himself no favors in taking the sabbatical, I also applaud him for recognizing the drive, or lack thereof, within himself at that point in his life and career, and doing something about it. He came back reinvigorated, and performed well when given a chance on the pitch with the USMNT under Jurgen. However, it just feels like JK has held that against Landon this whole time. And truly, I wonder the purpose behind even naming Landon to the final 30 - seems to me like Jurgen has had his mind made up on this for quite some time.

Just spit-balling here, but it intrigues me how this all went down. Jurgen has talked about helping transform this nation into a soccer-loving country who stands behind their team with passion. The one thing we as USMNT fans have never really experienced is the outrage and/or disappointment with a manager's decision. Is this some sort of master plan by Klinsmann to drum up some more passion for the team? Is he trying to relieve some pressure from the players by putting more on himself with this move? Very interesting dynamic with what has happened here and a lot of psycho-analysis.
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I do think the sabbatical did him no favors, but he has also been having rather poor season in MLS too. So I think that also factored into Jurgans decision.
 
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