Comments on: If Jozy Altidore’s not on, the U.S. has options

By: @C_Tobin

@C_Tobin — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 01:34:03 +0000

I don’t understand the articles examining Altidore’s play except to just acknowledge the fact that he is somewhat of a lightning rod for US supporters. Everyone has a Jozy opinion.

I place the blame for Friday’s ‘effort’ squarely on Klinsman. Clearly a three man defensive midfield wasn’t working but we never changed out of it. If there is anyone I want a feature article on it is Jermaine Jones. I have no idea what his role was Friday. Clearly Jermaine can play the destroyer role well, but I don’t see a spot in the Klinsman setup for that player. He’s been given plenty of time to prove himself useful to the USMNT setup and now it is time to give those minutes and call ups to someone else.

By: drewvt6

drewvt6 — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:33:54 +0000

I like to think Klinsmann keeps Zusi around because he can be a game changer with his freekicks.

I’d really like to see Corona get some run, but I’m not sure the aggressive Jamaicans are the team for him to do it against. Maybe Guatemala would be more fitting? Corona sees the field so well. He finds ways to make passes and he possesses the ball. I just think he gets knocked off the ball too easily right now for the international level.

By: docstraw

docstraw — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:56:52 +0000

I suppose at a certain point you can’t screw around anymore with too many different faces and there are always deserving guys who get left out … BUT Klinsmann appears to have many more “pets” than Bob “Father of Bornstein” Bradley ever did. And he does a lot more “square peg/round hole” with this bunch than anyone should be comfortable with, in my opinion. I am sorry we have a lot of defensive midfielders, but good lord, pick one, let the rest sit on the bench, and make some room for a guy or two who can move the ball around from the midfield.

By: Steve Davis

Steve Davis — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 15:27:38 +0000

Great questions, Doc. I know a lot of people share those opinions. Only thing I can say is that Klinsmann has invested a lot of time in showing “his group” the Klinsmann ways. That is, the guys that got in early will continue to benefit. Not saying it’s right or wrong … just looking for possible explanations.

By: docstraw

docstraw — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 15:20:30 +0000

Bradley is hurt, that is why he isn’t included. Not sure I get Klinsmann’s love for Corona and Zusi. Is Zusi that much better than Pontius, who might provide more in wider positions? Is Corona a better option than Kljestan?

By: bigdinla

bigdinla — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:35:09 +0000

Altidore is not the problem. The garbage midfield he brought is the problem. Bradley not being included is flat ridiculous. Beckerman is not even CONCACAF quality!

By: whordy

whordy — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:31:10 +0000

Overall – in terms of the last year – yeah Altidore hasn’t made impact under Klinsmann. But I can’t help but feel like this article is badly timed, as coming out after Fridays debacle is questionable as there was so much bad on that field it’s not far to single Altidore out. That midfield was miserable, and Altidore got 0 service. Yes Dempsey and Gomez made themselves more visible, but that is also more their job to come back for the ball and make runs. Altidore was and still is a target forward tasked with staying forward.
As for articles questioning players under Klinsmann, are we going to get one on Jones, Edu and Beckerman? Because those are the players who were exposed and should be questioned.